| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Backpacker's Bible: 10 Skills Every Backpacker Must Know
We've created a plan to help you upgrade your trail time in all the ways that matter: bigger views, more solitude, easier miles, and more. Don’t hang up your boots until you’ve mastered this definitive list of 10 skills and life-altering experiences.
Backpacker Bible: Make Fire
When disaster strikes in the backcountry, don't pin your hopes on prayer. Your ability to spark a flame could be the difference between survival and six-feet-under.
Backpacker Bible: Never Get a Blister
Your body is a temple? Then your feet are the altar. Treat them right, and enjoy every hike from the first mile to the last.
Go Higher with Tips from Senior Editor and Professional Mountain Guide Shannon Davis
Tackle that big mountain with tips from our in-house mountain guide
Pick the Perfect Pack: Measure Your Torso Length
One of the most critical pieces to finding the ideal backpack is your torso length. Backpacker Gear editor Kristin Hostetter shows you how to get started.
Cramping My Style
I have two questions about cramps: How can I avoid or prevent cramps just above my knees, in my quads? And how can I stretch out cramps in that area?
How Many Ways Can A Camelback Work
If I had to survive on bad water for several days (say I fell in a canyon with no water) would enemas of the bad water actually keep me from dying of dehydration and not give me diarrhea? I heard of a family lost at sea with a hydration bladder was able to survive this way.
Tendon-friendly Boots?
I tore tendons in my left ankle when I was younger, and as a result, don't have the most stable of ankles while hiking. Braces tend to be too hot and irritating inside a boot - is there any specialty boot or aftermarket product to help?
THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE
Food & Nutrition
Adventure Upgrade: Cook Like a Pro
Pack and prepare a week's worth of mouth-watering meals.
Recipe: Smoky PB Chicken Chili
Peanut butter is the secret ingredient to this smoky chiliHealth & First Aid
Backpacker Bible: Never Get a Blister
Your body is a temple? Then your feet are the altar. Treat them right, and enjoy every hike from the first mile to the last.
Ski Strong: Beat Blisters
Outsmart stiff boots and constant heel lifting with these anti-friction tips.Survival
Backpacker Bible: Make Fire
When disaster strikes in the backcountry, don't pin your hopes on prayer. Your ability to spark a flame could be the difference between survival and six-feet-under.
Escape Plan: Cross Summer Snow
How to safely traverse a small, seasonal snowfield.Fitness
Build Backpacking Muscles
Strengthen three key areas - shoulders, ankles, and core - this winter so you can tackle tougher trails next spring.
Yoga for Backpackers
Ease post-hike pain and prep muscles for the next day.Navigation
Adventure Upgrade: Navigate Off Trail
Open up a new door to adventure–by leaving the well-trod route behind.
BACKPACKER Map Maker iPad app
Plan hikes and backpacking trips, plus other outdoor adventures like never before on detailed, interactive topo maps and aerial photos.General Skills
Backpacker's Bible: 10 Skills Every Backpacker Must Know
We've created a plan to help you upgrade your trail time in all the ways that matter: bigger views, more solitude, easier miles, and more. Don’t hang up your boots until you’ve mastered this definitive list of 10 skills and life-altering experiences.
Backpacker Bible: Camp Well
Who says spiritual travelers must shun earthly comforts? You just worked all day to reach a magnificent high-country cirque. Now create a campsite to match.
Adventure Upgrade: Cook Like a Pro
Pack and prepare a week's worth of mouth-watering meals.
Recipe: Smoky PB Chicken Chili
Peanut butter is the secret ingredient to this smoky chili
Recipe: Pumpkin Peanut Soup
A can of pumpkin makes for an interesting trail soup
Ski Strong: Stay Fueled
Conquer cold with proactive hydration and calorie-packed nutrition.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Desserts
Fast-and-easy desserts for the trail.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Lunches/Snacks
Knock off more miles after a tasty trail-side lunch.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Breakfasts
Fuel a long day on the trail with these tasty breakfasts.
Dirtbag/Gourmet: Fall Desserts
Enjoy comfort sweets that complement any autumn campfire meal.
Recipe: Butternut Squash and Honey Apple Cakes
Get a hearty dose of fruit and vegetables right on the trail.
Dirtbag/Gourmet: Hot Cereals
Fuel your day with these energy-packed twists on classic breakfast bowls.
Backpacker Bible: Never Get a Blister
Your body is a temple? Then your feet are the altar. Treat them right, and enjoy every hike from the first mile to the last.
Ski Strong: Beat Blisters
Outsmart stiff boots and constant heel lifting with these anti-friction tips.
The Manual: Stay Healthy at Altitude
Play it safe against altitude sickness.
Prof. Hike: Leave Blisters in the Dust
Blisters are the most common on-trail injury, but blisters are also easy to prevent.
How-To Slideshow: Learn to Tape a Sprained Ankle
This low-bulk bracing is used by sports trainers and wilderness medics to stabilize weak ligaments and discourage further injury. You can apply all sorts of extras like pre-wrap liners, ankle pads, and skin adhesive, but here's the down and dirty trail version.
Survive This: Frostbitten Feet
Frostbite is bad news. Learn how to safely treat frozen feet.
Everest Contaminated by Toxic Metals
New research reveals high levels of arsenic and cadmium in the mountain's snow and soil. Plus: Should you worry about similar pollution in North America's high country?
The Biggest Winner: Why Backpacking Burns Fat
Your body is an engine. It runs on a mix of carbohydrates, fats, and a very small amount of protein. And it's a finely tuned engine, using the best fuel for every need.
Lighten Up: Losing Weight by Hiking
Make one simple resolution–to hike more in 2011–and we guarantee you'll lose that spare tire around the middle. Here's the proof, the plan, and the inspiration.
How-To Slideshow: Boot Lacing for Maximum Comfort
In this guide, we show you methods for lacing your boots to prevent blisters and maximize comfort.
Backpacker Bible: Make Fire
When disaster strikes in the backcountry, don't pin your hopes on prayer. Your ability to spark a flame could be the difference between survival and six-feet-under.
Escape Plan: Cross Summer Snow
How to safely traverse a small, seasonal snowfield.
Survival: Save Yourself in Whitewater
Hard-won-lessons and tips about whitewater kayaking from the front lines of survival.
Prof. Hike: Don't Get Lost, Have a Backup Plan
Bad things happen to good hikers. Everyone should have a smart back-up plan--or two.
Rip & Live: Survive Desert Extremes
Triple-digit temps by noon. Freezing at night. Scarce water. The desert is as dangerous for unprepared hikers. Give yourself an edge and learn to survive this hostile territory while backpacking.
Prof. Hike: Rely on Yourself, Not on Your Phone
Join the effort to make mobile phones safer for the trail.
Prof. Hike: This Post Might Save Your Life
How your cell phone calls for help even when you don't have service
Ask A Bear: Bags vs. Canisters?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Prof. Hike: The Instinctive 127 Hours
Why Aron Ralston's survival required more than a multi-tool
Ask A Bear: Are You A Good Swimmer?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Build Backpacking Muscles
Strengthen three key areas - shoulders, ankles, and core - this winter so you can tackle tougher trails next spring.
Yoga for Backpackers
Ease post-hike pain and prep muscles for the next day.
How to Walk
Yes, there's a better way to put one foot in front of the other. Improve your stride, trek farther, and end leg and back pain with our guide to the new science of healthy hiking.
Tough Guy Challenge Week 4
We're down to the last two weeks of our five-week Tough Guy Challenge. Are you still hanging in there?
Tough Guy Challenge Week 3
Week three of our five-week challenge will have you navigating obstacles and increasing mileage.
Tough Guy Challenge 2011
Think you're a tough guy (or gal)? Take our five-week challenge and enter our video contest for a chance to prove it.
How to Do Everything - Banish Blisters, Build Lung Power, and More.
Hike farther, faster, and pain-free with these training tips and exercise.
How to Do Everything - Become a Mileage Monster
Hike farther, faster, and pain-free with these training tips and exercise.
Hiking Exercises: Beef Up Your Lower Back
Try this exercise to give your lower back the strength you need.Hiking Exercises: Cure Outer-Knee Pain
Nothing's worse on the trail than knee pain. Prevent and cure it with this exercise.
Adventure Upgrade: Navigate Off Trail
Open up a new door to adventure–by leaving the well-trod route behind.
BACKPACKER Map Maker iPad app
Plan hikes and backpacking trips, plus other outdoor adventures like never before on detailed, interactive topo maps and aerial photos.
The Manual: Plan a Trip with GPS
Learn how to plot your own digital adventures with precision--then print the maps and prep your GPS.
BACKPACKER MAGAZINE APPS
From the iPad to the iPhone and Android, check out these BACKPACKER mobile apps.
Winter Hiking: Navigate Through Snowscapes
The land changes come winter, and so should your route finding techniques.
Survival: Off-Course With No Map or Compass
Uh-oh, you forgot to download free maps at Backpacker.com, and now you're lost in the woods without any navigational tools. Smart! Now follow these rules to get found.
The Manual: Travel Off-Trail
Navigate across scree, snow, and rivers without getting blocked or lost.
The Manual: Plan an Expedition
Go big with these expedition trip planning tips.
Navigate: Forests and Mountains
Skirt forests and mountains with ease with these tips and gear.
Navigate: Whiteout, Darkness, and Fog
Just because you can't see in front of you doesn't mean you can't navigate.
Backpacker's Bible: 10 Skills Every Backpacker Must Know
We've created a plan to help you upgrade your trail time in all the ways that matter: bigger views, more solitude, easier miles, and more. Don’t hang up your boots until you’ve mastered this definitive list of 10 skills and life-altering experiences.
Backpacker Bible: Camp Well
Who says spiritual travelers must shun earthly comforts? You just worked all day to reach a magnificent high-country cirque. Now create a campsite to match.
Backpacker Bible: Hike Farther
For hikers, pushing your limits will certainly yield more views–plus better fitness, confidence, and, perhaps, perspective.
Backpacker Bible: Go Higher
Once you've been to the mountaintop, few other experiences will compare. For soul-cleansing, skill-building, life-affirming thrills, put a big one on your bucket list.
Adventure Upgrade: Camp Comfortably in Winter
Extend your backpacking season: Here's how to stay warm and protect your gear.
Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Drop into a Slot
Explore wildly sculpted rock.
Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Paddle Pristine Shorelines
Sea kayaking unlocks a new world of solitude and scenery.
Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Hike 30 Miles in a Day
See a week's worth of terrain on an epic dawn-to-dusk hike.
Adventure Upgrade: Take the Family Hiking and Camping
Use these tricks to get your kids begging for another trip outside.
Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Easy Upgrades
Kick it up a notch with these quick fixes.
Tools & Experts
Ask A Bear
Our resident bruin expert answers all your burning ursine questions in this weekly feature.
Ask Him a Question
Survival 101
From essential bear safety to how-to slideshows on creating a survival bracelet, get all the worst-case-scenario info you
need.
Learn to Survive
Professor Hike
Get a degree in outdoorology as the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Backpacking and Hiking answers all your
essential questions.
Head to Class
Backcountry Bartender
Looking for the perfect spirit to sip fireside? Look no further than these picks from our resident.
Shake it Up
Recipe Center
Become a culinary expert with our comprehensive guide to cooking up a backcountry feast.
Get Cooking
Gear Pro
Pose your burning gear question to Kristin Hostetter and she'll drop some knowledge on how to fix, mend, improve, and more.
Read the Latest
Medicine Man
Our wilderness medicine guru talks first-aid, health, and emergency management.
Get Schooled
Gear Checklists
Make sure you remember everything for your next outdoor adventure by use the same checklists that Backpacker editors have used for years.
Get Packing
Ultimate Fix-It Guide
Learn how to make your gear last forever with our guide to the 55 most common repairs and maintenance musts.
Do it Yourself
My Profile
Join Now
Most recent threads
The Political Arena
Intresting Perspective on Iranian Agression!
Posted On: Feb 10, 2012
Submitted By: cgaphiker
Submitted By: cgaphiker
The Political Arena
President Obama lays down the Christian card
Posted On: Feb 10, 2012
Submitted By: KenV
Submitted By: KenV
MASTER YOUR OUTDOOR EXPERTISE WITH OUR TIPS
Go Higher with Tips from Senior Editor and Professional Mountain Guide Shannon Davis
Tackle that big mountain with tips from our in-house mountain guide
Skills 101: Bushwhacking
Navigate through unruly terrain with these helpful tips
Pick the Perfect Pack: Measure Your Torso Length
One of the most critical pieces to finding the ideal backpack is your torso length. Backpacker Gear editor Kristin Hostetter shows you how to get started.
TIP 80: Pack More Layers
Throw extra layers in a duffel, take it to the trailhead, and let the local conditions determine your apparel choices.
International Travel
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' trek abroad.
Navigation Center
Learn how to orient a map, navigate any terrain, and the ins-and-outs of GPS devices.
BACKPACKER's Free Smartphone GPS App
Record and share you adventures with our new, free navigation app. Plus, discover thousands of GPS-enabled hikes in national parks and major cities.
Green Guide
A backpacker's guide to environmental issues and "green" gear.
