The Trailhead
Every journey has a first step. And some of the greatest, most meaningful journeys begin at trailheads. Welcome to ours! Here you’ll learn about gear, see route and trail intel, and dive into stories, images, and videos from our global community of adventureheads like you. Think of it like "The Third Place"–not home, not work, but your other most important/favorite place. The spot to hang out around like-minded people and have your life decisions and priorities validated. You won't need to justify your latest gear purchase or explain why you're using up all your paid time off hours to this crowd. They get it. Let’s go!
THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL GEAR LIST AND AN IDEAL BASE WEIGHT FOR HIKING
So! You've decided to go for a 2,190-mile walk in the woods! First off, CONGRATULATIONS! The Appalachian Trail is a transformative experience for those who follow its iconic white blazes. Second, g...
You’re Entering A World of Pain: Jeff Garmire Talks About the Cave Where It Dwells
Words and Photos by Jeff Garmire
Thirty thousand miles and always counting, give or take a few yards or inches, all done on foot. Jeff Garmire (@thefreeoutside) is still heading out whenever he can...
Time to Clean House: Getting Your Gear In Order For The Next Trip or Off-Season Storage
Words and Photos by Tina Haver Currin
Like Newton's third law of motion, what gear goes out must inevitably come back in. And if you're anything like me, you pull goodies from your gear closet with...
One Hundred Divided By Eight: Deedra Zeeh Goes to School in the Appalachian Trail's 100-Mile Wilderness
Words & Photos by Deedra Zeeh
What do you tell others about a 100-mile walk in the woods? How do you describe it? Do you tell them that you feel more alive than you have in years? Do you tell t...
Points in the Right Direction: Backcountry Travel with the Gaia GPS Navigation App
Words from Mike St. Pierre
Mike St. Pierre here, founder and CEO of Hyperlite Mountain Gear and avid adventurer. I’ve traveled extensively both on and off trail. And while I’m familiar with the old...
Chasing Ten with Steve "Doom" Fassbinder
How long have you been going light?
It's been a lifelong learning curve.
What’s the base weight of your pack before adding consumables like food and fuel?
This can vary greatly on the type of trips...
Lots of Ground to Cover (To Cover a Lot of Ground)
Therese Hobson’s Studious Approach to Gear for the Appalachian Trail
Therese Hobson completed a NOBO thru hike of the Appalachian Trail this year, taking with her not just gear, but a good base of ...
Thoughtful Spending
Over years and thousands of miles hiking, paddling, and biking along the length of North and South America, Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes has been very intentional about what constitutes her carry weight...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 14: HYGIENE
PROPER PLANNING FOR A CLEAN GETAWAY
There’s the “must’ve been out for a hike” scent, and then there’s the “thawed out from permafrost after a thousand years” aroma. Depending upon how long you’ve...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 13: TREKKING POLES
QUADRUPEDALISM – IS GOING BACKWARDS GOING FORWARDS?
One of the easiest ways to reveal where your pack and accessory weight is vs. your center of gravity is by hiking without trekking poles. On un...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 11: HEADLAMPS
CONSIDERATIONS IN THE LIGHT OF DARKNESS
If you’re staying out past dark, or even if you didn’t plan on staying out, having a good headlamp in your kit can be the difference between safety and you...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 09: WATER TREATMENT
MOUTH WATERING HYDRATION TIPS.
Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink? Not likely. There are myriad ways to ensure that if there’s some of that precious liquid around, you’ll be able to...
