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!
Living Your Best Life In The Dead of Winter: A Hike Up Mount Marcy
Words by Max Kiel, Photos by Dan Oliver and Max Kiel
Many outdoor enthusiasts might view winter as an off-season of sorts. Several feet of snow cover our favorite trails, sub-freezing temps make it...
Putting It All Out There And Getting It Back Together On The Colorado Trail
By: Lauren "Yardsale" Jones
They call me Yardsale.
An obligatory trail name gifted to me due to the ridiculous mess I make at camp with my clothing strewn about on branches, logs, and tent neverth...
An Appalachian Trail Experience in Four Parts: Max Kiel Gets into the Best Section Hikes
Words and Photos by Max Kiel
If you're a backpacker or a regular reader of this blog, you have probably heard of the Appalachian Trail before. You may have even hiked on the trail at some point. If...
Savings You Can Feel: Tina Currin's Top Tips For Getting Ultralighter on the Cheap
Words and Photos by Tina Currin
If ultralight backpacking has a reputation for anything, it's tiny gear at a hefty price. Dive into any heady discussion with ultralight enthusiasts and you'll event...
“It Will Be Fun," She Said: A Friendly Introduction to Packrafting on the Colorado River
Words and Photos by Eszter Horanyi
The sand was never-ending. Each step was an effort, and the grains of sand building up in my shoes were starting to press against my toes and the arches of my fee...
Mind Over Mileage: Finding Fortitude on the Appalachian Trail
Words and Photos by Max Kiel
Fortitude /ˈfȯr-tə-ˌtüd: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage
I'm not going to lie; my time spent thru hiki...
Reunited with Ribbons–Back Into the Real World on Canada's Great Divide Trail
Words & Photos from Eloise Robbins
If any trail could heal my soul, it would be this one. Wild and remote, the Great Divide Trail follows the squiggly line on the border between British Columbi...
Straight Back Through The Sierra Nevada, More or Less
Words & Photos by Katelin Reeser
We stood confidently before the iconic range that lay just beyond the desert, The Sierra Nevada. Once again, we would become awe-inspired by the golden light, ...
Getting The Bird On The Arizona Trail
Words & Photos by Taylor Bell
So, there's this one bird called the elegant trogon.
You might call it the holy grail for birdwatchers in this country. It's a beautiful, exotic-looking bird, an...
Toe-To-Toe with The Devil: A Duel with the Most Difficult Trail on the East Coast
Words and Photos from Max Kiel
Located in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, the Devil's Path has gained a reputation of being a particularly challenging and dangerous traverse. Even the ...
Details From The Witness: The Photography of Michael DeYoung
Any time spent on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear blog or website will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to do...
Push Backs in the Adirondacks: A Four-Day Summit Chasing Trip in the High Peaks Wilderness
Words by Max Kiel, Photos by Dan Oliver
I anxiously stared at my watch, waiting for the clock to strike 2:00 pm. The date is Saturday, September 25, 2021, and I was at work at Confluence Running, a...
