The Trailhead

The TrailHead

WHAT 60 YEARS OF CARRYING HEAVY PACKS HAS TAUGHT NOLS ABOUT HOW TO LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

WHAT 60 YEARS OF CARRYING HEAVY PACKS HAS TAUGHT NOLS ABOUT HOW TO LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

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 Joys of an Unplanned Hike

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

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.
OBSERVING SHOREBIRD MIGRATION WITH KIM MCNETT IN ALASKA

OBSERVING SHOREBIRD MIGRATION WITH KIM MCNETT IN ALASKA

The Alaska State Ferry docked in Cordova after midnight.
TWENTY, TWENTY, TWENTY FOUR HOURS TO GO: QUICK OVERNIGHT GEAR LISTS!

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

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

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.
Sleeping Bags + Quilts

Sleeping Bags + Quilts

What could be said about the importance of a quality sleeping bag or quilt that wouldn’t be universally understood?
Chasing Ten With Tyson Perkins

Chasing Ten With Tyson Perkins

How long have you been going light? I started really getting into backpacking with a few roommates at the time around 2012.
THE INFLATE DEBATE: INFLATABLE PADS VS FOAM PADS

THE INFLATE DEBATE: INFLATABLE PADS VS FOAM PADS

Words and Photos by @Abby_Evans @abbigator53 Getting a comfortable night's sleep in the backcountry is essential for a happy backpacking trip.
NOTHING MISSING

NOTHING MISSING

Plans put on hold. Frenzied weekends or meticulously stacked PTO hours all idling but raring to jump into action. WE NEED ACTION!
bundled-up group photo

A GRAND CANYONEERING ADVENTURE: PIPE CREEK TO PHANTOM RANCH

Words and Photos by Peter Bugg @bugglife One of my favorite video games is Plants vs. Zombies.
DAILY DRIVER SETUP FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

DAILY DRIVER SETUP FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

I work in the outdoor apparel industry at Florence, a new brand made for thriving in the elements.