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!
DREAMER TO SCHEMER: PROFESSOR CARL’S EVOLUTION AS A BACKPACKER
Words and Photos from Carl “Professor” Stanfield @prof_carl
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Wise sentiment though it may be, I’d dissent from this ancient Chinese prov...
SUCCESS AT LAST: NEIL IRWIN AND THE CAPE WRAITH TRAIL IN SCOTLAND
Words and Photos from Neil Irwin @neil_irwin
After a battery (pun intended) of unexpected obstacles the first time Neil and his friend Benn embarked on the Cape Wraith Trail, they made their return...
WHY NOLS INSTRUCTORS RECOMMEND HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR: JEFF WOHL AND JEREMY CRONON
Since 1965, the instructors and students of the nonprofit global wilderness school, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), have immersed themselves in backcountry settings or through course...
FALL ON VERMONT'S LONG TRAIL WITH MAX KIEL
Words and Photos by Max Kiel
Fall is the best hiking season of the year. Just my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, I love being out there any time of the year, but that window from late September thro...
WHY THIS CALENDAR YEAR TRIPLE CROWNER (AND PROFESSOR) LOVES THE CONTOUR 35
Words and Photos by Carl “Professor” Stanfield I’ve been a part of the long-distance hiking community for just over six years. In that time, I’ve racked up about 16,000 backpacking miles, most of w...
STUCK IN WATER CANYON*: AN AMERICAN DISCOVERY TRAIL SURVIVAL STORY
Words and Photos by Briana DeSanctis
*Water Canyon is no longer on the official route of the ADT
It was October in the isolated Nevada desert, and there I was, thousands of miles into my American ...
SHOP VISIT: ALPENGLOW SPORTS
They’re the essence of a “Happy Place”–a great local gear shop produces its own kind of serotonin! Get to know Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City, California.
You know what your local gear shop means t...
The Joys of an Unplanned Hike
So much of our lives are now carefully planned, fully optimized, and streamlined for maximum efficiency. And to me, that's a problem.
OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF HIKING SOLO: TIPS FROM REBECCA SPERRY
Words & Photos by Rebecca Sperry In the past six years since I started hiking, I've spent over 90% of my time on trail hiking solo.
TWENTY, TWENTY, TWENTY FOUR HOURS TO GO: QUICK OVERNIGHT GEAR LISTS!
Photo: @spmartin You never know when the urge might be too much to bear–you gotta spend a night outside!
Ultralight Backpack
Whether you’re a backpacker, thru hiker, backcountry packrafter, bikepacker, climber, or world traveler, the one thing everyone could all give three cheers to is the mighty pack.
BETTER WITH FRIENDS: PETER BUGG'S HORSESHOE MESA TRIP REPORT
Words and Photos by Peter Bugg @bugglife IG @plbugg My sister says that if you do something more than once, you’re allowed to say you “always” do it.
