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!
STEPPING BACK TO STEP FORWARD ON A CALENDAR YEAR TRIPLE CROWN
Words and Photos by Izzy Tonneson @izzytonneson
When I got off trail earlier this year, I knew I needed to take a hard look at what went wrong.
Stepping away from the Calendar Year Triple Crown was...
ADVENTURING IN SOUTH AMERICA: THE SALKANTAY TREK AND AUSANGATE CIRCUIT
Words and Photos by Luke Stetson @luke.stetson
I have always heard that Peru is a beautiful country with breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and kind people, so back in the spring of 2023, when pla...
GET THE EFFICIENCY OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM: A HOW-TO WITH TINA CURRIN
Words and Photos by Tina Currin @tinacurrin
When you make a great sandwich, do you slap mayo on the bottom slice where it belongs, or do you smear it on top like you’re decorating a birthday cake? ...
“I’LL SEE IF I CAN DESTROY IT”: SCOTT NECHEMIAS PUSHES THE NEW DYNEEMA® WOVEN COMPOSITES TO THE LIMIT
Words by Tom Fairbairn, Avient, Photos by Scott Nechemias
In Washington’s Alpine Lake Wilderness, where each mountain pass reveals another shimmering turquoise basin, Scott Nechemias has just los...
THE BRUCE TRAIL: THRU HIKING A LESSER-KNOWN BUT FULLY BELOVED CANADIAN TRAIL
Words and Photos by Carl “Professor” Stanfield @prof_carl
For as much time and energy that goes into preparing for a thru hike, sometimes the hardest part can be accepting the need for change. As p...
BACKPACKING LEGENDS, TAKE TWO: MIKE ST. PIERRE AND R&D GET INTO THE NEW WINDRIDER, SOUTHWEST, AND JUNCTION
Words and Photos by Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Hyperlite Mountain Gear's origin story is rooted in our founder, Mike St. Pierre's love of adventure and backcountry exploration by way of long trails or...
TRAVEL EVOLUTION: MARCO JOHNSON GOES FROM TWO LEGS TO TWO WHEELS
Words and Photos by Marco Johnson
I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of Northern NY, 70 miles south of Quebec, Canada. My early heroes were the French Voyageur fur trappers. My front yard was...
ROAM ON THE RANGE: PRELUDE TO A NORTH CASCADES CROSSING
Words and Photos by Tyler Brilinski
Ask any avid adventurer which range of the American West holds the greatest grandeur, and you will get many answers. All of them are correct: the endless peaks...
THOSE GOOD ‘OL FEARS: KATE THE WILD HEADS FOR THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL
Words and Photos by Katelin Reeser @katethewild
I’m planning to thru hike the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail this summer. With over 4,000 thru hiking miles to my name, you’d think I’d have lit...
BACKPACKING IN JAPAN: Q&A WITH MASAKI ARATA OF YELLOWKNIFE OUTDOOR SHOP
Words and Photos by Masaki Arata @arata.taizo.masaki
WHAT KIND OF TRAILS ARE THERE IN NORTHERN, CENTRAL, AND SOUTHERN JAPAN? COULD YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES?
Japan stretches from north to so...
BACKPACKING IN JAPAN: MEET SOTA SAKAMOTO AND THE KUMANO KODO ROUTE
Words and Photos by Sota Sakamoto
Japan is a mountainous country, with mountains in every corner of the country, and without exception, people live there. The Japanese have used mountain resource...
WORK TRIP: PACKRAFTING THE DEBSCONEAG LAKES WILDERNESS OF MAINE
Words by Nelson Brown, Photos by Nelson Brown
My paddling career started in 2019, guiding multi-day sea kayak trips in Kenai Fjords National Park. The rugged coastline, temperate rainforest, and ...
