Mysteries
Haunted mountains? Vanished campers? Bloodthirsty creatures? An evil wind that lures hikers over a waterfall? We dare you to hike America's scariest trails.
True tales from BACKPACKER editors and readers
Bigfoot? He's a softy compared to the other menacing monsters lurking in the woods near you.
Lost? Murdered? When the wilderness swallows people without a trace, who's to say what happened?
Alpine views and starry skies are nice, but on these unsettling hikes you might see something really stunning.
When bodies can't be buried, do their spirits ever rest? Hike to the scene of this wreck and find out.
Go ahead and hike to this park's famous lakes and waterfalls. Just watch your step–and your back.
Never let your guard down on this deadly peak, where the weather–and spirits–are unpredictable.
With more than 200 murders recorded here, it's no wonder the Chisos Mountains are named for ghosts.
After three decades of silence, a reporter reveals the story he was afraid to write.
Search-and-Rescue guru Robert Koester creates a quick profile of the average victim and his behavior.
Wouldn't it be cool if you could turn your friends into mewling, terrified--I mean, wouldn't it be cool to be able to tell a great ghost story on your next camping trip? Here's how.
Ghost stories always seem scarier beside a flickering campfire. So, dim your headlamp and scoot up closer: our writer-at-large explores the ghoulish beginnings of these age-old tales and shares a few of his all-time favorite blood-curdlers. We dare you to read on.
On a snowy night in New Hampshire, Congressional candidate Gary Dodds crashed his car, wandered into the woods, and collapsed. Twenty-seven hours later, rescuers carried him out. And then the real drama began.
Use this step-by-step guide to beat 7 common backcountry fears. Plus, ideal hikes for overcoming–or avoiding–the source of your scare.
Conquer any fear with this DIY guide to applying a proven treatment plan called cognitive-
behavioral therapy. Think of it as training for the mind.
Don't let groundless phobias ruin–or even prevent–your backcountry adventures. Here's a foolproof plan for overcoming your terrors.
Animals can't talk. But Ed Newcomer can. As an elite U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service detective, he goes undercover to protect threatened raptors, bears, even butterflies–and bring poachers and smugglers to court. Inside the agency's latest covert operation.
Can I get married in a national park?
How do hikers meet their maker in the backcountry? The answers may surprise you.
On August 25, 2005, Johan Otter and his 18-year-old daughter, Jenna, hiked right into the worst nightmare of any Glacier National Park backpacker: a 300-pound mother grizzly protecting two cubs. Here, in his own words, the 45-year-old physical therapist from Escondido, CA, shares the incredible story of their life-and-death struggle.
Did High Sierra ranger Randy Morgenson succumb to depression or disaster?
From snowblindness to wrong turns, everyday wilderness adventures can turn ugly if you're not prepared for everything.
Follow correspondent Kevin Fedarko into the remote Utah slot canyon where Ralston famously separated himself from his right forearm.
John Donovan disappeared in a high-elevation blizzard, leaving rescuers and friends stumped. His backpack contained a miracle clue. Bill Donahue investigates.
Retracing the route to people's accidents can help us prevent our own. These 10 trips lead you to the exact locations of disasters from Denali to the Grand Canyon.
Will anyone ever climb the dangerous northwest face of Alaska's Devil's Thumb? Maybe they shouldn't.
Why are Sherpas so studly?
Deep in the heart of the forbidden Tibetan kingdom, a long-awaited adventure inherited from the author's father takes an unexpected twist.
Deep in Wyoming's Wind River Range, an accident with a sliding boulder makes a hiker confront his life, his fate, and his faith in God.
When you hike the world's highest peaks in search of the legendary snow leopard, be prepared for the unexpected.
When our firstborn son left us, the word "burial" was never uttered.
High on a Montana mountain, the mystery of a long-lost climber continues to unravel for those willing to make the arduous trek and search for clues that literally lie at your feet.
Plus 24 other round-the-campfire brain stumpers every nature buff should know.
