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!
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...
WILDERNESS DIKE CHASING IN PRIDE MONTH WITH SADIE FORD
Words by Sadie Ford, Photos by Danny Kern
In a certain peak in Oregon, the landscape is covered with exquisite dikes–the most of any volcano in the west. A rare geological feature that shoots out o...
WHO’S HAD A HAND IN YOUR GEAR? MEET FRANCINE FROM R&D
Francine was our first hire, and for the past fifteen years, she’s applied her otherworldly sewing abilities to every product we’ve made, figuring out how to streamline the manufacturing process wh...
DAILY DRIVER SETUP FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
I work in the outdoor apparel industry at Florence, a new brand made for thriving in the elements.
Hygiene
There’s the “must’ve been out for a hike” scent, and then there’s the “thawed out from permafrost after a thousand years” aroma.
Kitchen Cookware
A trusted mug, pot, or spoon can be favorite pieces of gear in a backpacker’s kit.
THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE WATER
Words & Photo by Jessica Kelley My rugged little Summit Pack has not yet been to the top of any summit, anywhere.
Water Treatment
Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink? Not likely.
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.
