The Trailhead

The TrailHead

WORK TRIP: PACKRAFTING THE DEBSCONEAG LAKES WILDERNESS OF MAINE

WORK TRIP: PACKRAFTING THE DEBSCONEAG LAKES WILDERNESS OF MAINE

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!

A BACKPACKING GEAR LIST FOR NEW HIKERS

A BACKPACKING GEAR LIST FOR NEW HIKERS

From Hyperlite Mountain Gear Huge skies, dense forests, shades of blue and green you’ve never imagined. Climbing peaks and covering distances you didn’t think you could. The sense of accomplishment...
PACKING LIST FOR MULTI-DAY HIKING TRIPS

PACKING LIST FOR MULTI-DAY HIKING TRIPS

You’ve saved up paid time off hours, spending weeknights researching trails and reading every last word on The Trailhead. The time has finally come to get out of Dodge and have the backpacking expe...
SHIFTING GEAR: QUADZILLA TWEAKS HIS SETUP FROM THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL FOR THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

SHIFTING GEAR: QUADZILLA TWEAKS HIS SETUP FROM THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL FOR THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

Words and Photos from Jack "Quadzilla" JonesAny gear heads in the audience here? Thought so! As you well know, selecting the right equipment for any trail is an addictive art form, and how others d...
THOUGHTS FOR FOOD FROM A TRIPLE CROWNER: HOW QUADZILLA FUELS UP FOR THE BIG MILES

THOUGHTS FOR FOOD FROM A TRIPLE CROWNER: HOW QUADZILLA FUELS UP FOR THE BIG MILES

Words and Photos from Jack "Quadzilla" Jones It’s probably your number one job on trail–eating! It’s likely the number one topic of daily conversation amongst The High Mileage Set, too! But what ki...
KNOWING WHERE YOU NEED TO BE: A BACKPACKING TRIP TO THE CENTER OF SELF

KNOWING WHERE YOU NEED TO BE: A BACKPACKING TRIP TO THE CENTER OF SELF

Words and Photos by Peter GierlachAs my best friend and I pulled into the Pharaoh Mountain Wilderness in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, a sense of peace swelled over me whe...
ONE LAST HIKE WITH A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND

ONE LAST HIKE WITH A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND

Words and Photos by Sarah Strattan The jar of Chandler's ashes had sat on my shelf for months now. I've seen people keep their loved one's ashes in urns, proudly displayed above a fireplace or simi...
BETTER GEAR + EXPERIENCE = FARTHER DISTANCE: THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

BETTER GEAR + EXPERIENCE = FARTHER DISTANCE: THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

Words and Photos by Rebecca SperryWe all see them on the trail and internally (or externally) cringe. Maybe they have on a backpack; maybe they’re just carrying a water bottle. Their footwear might...
Jack "Quadzilla" Jones on the trail

ACCESSORIES TO COMPLIMENT A TRIPLE CROWN: QUADZILLA’S GEAR LIST, PART ONE

Words from Jack “Quadzilla” Jones, Photos by Chris Shane & Jack "Quadzilla" Jones Jack "Quadzilla" Jones is setting out this year to achieve what only a small number of backpackers have; a ...
THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: HUMBLY HYPOTHERMIC ON THE COLORADO TRAIL

THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: HUMBLY HYPOTHERMIC ON THE COLORADO TRAIL

Words & photos by Josh Sheets The Colorado Trail (CT) is often billed as “mile for mile, the most beautiful trail in America.” In 2018, I experienced each one of the beautiful 486 miles from D...
AND NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER: UNDERSTANDING THE WONDERFUL, WILD, AND WACKY DESERT

AND NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER: UNDERSTANDING THE WONDERFUL, WILD, AND WACKY DESERT

Words and Photos by Michael DeYoung On a cold, wet day in early November, my adventure photography crew descended Orderville Canyon in Zion National Park from the top down, a 12-mile slog and 300...
SIXTY-SEVEN POINTS TO POINT TO: THE GEAR LIST FOR THE NEW ENGLAND DIRETTISSIMA

SIXTY-SEVEN POINTS TO POINT TO: THE GEAR LIST FOR THE NEW ENGLAND DIRETTISSIMA

Words and Photos by Will Peterson Thru hiking the New England 4,000 Footers in May means that I'm in for the entire range of New England trail conditions. I will contend with high levels of mud and...
Have Camera Pod, Will Travel: A Season Capturing Images In Wild Places

Have Camera Pod, Will Travel: A Season Capturing Images In Wild Places

Words by Matt Morelli / Photos by Matt Morelli and Sam Conley I was making my way down the trail, bounding with excitement as I moved through the great halls of granite that are the Wind River Rang...