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Local Hikes in the East
Paddle an Outer Banks island, hit a new trail in Tennessee, stargaze in Pennsylvania, and grab nine more adventures.Local Hikes in the Central U.S.
Sample a section of Missouri's Ozark Trail, harvest Minnesotan morels, see endangered sea turtles in coastal Texas, and more.Local Hikes in the West
Get your waterfall fix in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge, find solitude in Wyoming, check out a new Denver-area state park, and tag more spring hikes.First Night Out
We've gathered top skills for new backpackers and a dozen unforgettable—yet beginner-friendly—trails. What they say is true: You'll never forget your first time.First Night Out: Year of the Reader
Three readers who hit the trail for the first time (newbies!) in 2013 as part of our Year of the Reader celebration.First Night Out: Essays
Three authors write about the moments that changed their impressions of the backcountry forever.ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Can you walk off a war? A veteran who served in Iraq embarks on a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail to find out.First Night Out: Top 10 Rookie Mistakes
Dodge these common errors with our prevention primer.First Night Out: Cooking
Learn how to set up your kitchen, store food, and wash dishes in the backcountry.First Night Out: Treat Water
Learn how to treat water in the backcountry.First Night Out: In Camp
How to choose a campsite, set up camp. and sleep comfortably.First Night Out: On the Trail
How to dress comfortably and stay fueled while hiking.First Night Out: Fauna
Three trails teeming with wildlifeFirst Night Out: The Ten Essentials
Outdoor experts have refined the list of key safety and survival tools into these 10 categories. Don't leave home without them.First Night Out: Packing and Planning
Tips on packing and planning for your first night under the stars.First Night Out: Water
Three beautiful water-side hikesFirst Night Out: Views
Three hikes with spectacular viewsFirst Night Out: Flora
Three hikes with scenic wildflower vistasLife List: Grand Challenge
Push yourself on a self-supported, 167-mile race through the Southwest. The blisters will go away; the accomplishment will stay with you forever.Treat Deep Wounds
Miles from the trailhead, your hiking partner springs a gusher after taking a fall on an iffy scramble. Here's what to do.Instant Upgrades
Improve your balance on uneven terrain, figure out if your water filter is still working, and determine the crossability of a questionable river or stream during spring and early-summer.Gear Review: MSR Reactor 1.0 Stove
An integrated burner, pot, and heat exchanger sized for solo hikers.Master Class: Cook Like a Pro
Use these tips to advance your cooking skills and improve your camp grub's taste and nutritional value.Trail Mix — East
Your region's go-now guide: Take in Pennsylvania's nighttime skies in the Cherry Springs State Park, ascend the 2,625-foot Mt. Moosalamoo in Vermont, enjoy the new 38-mile section of the Cumberland Trail in Tennessee, and more.From the Field — East
Let our field scouts' beta fuel your next adventure from the wildlife-rich Sky Meadows State Park Loop, to thickets of mountain laurel in Georgia, and more.Mountain Map: The Wasatch Front, UT
Minutes from Salt Lake City, The Wasatch Front is a gold mine for adventure. The 2.1-million-acre area includes 22 peaks above 11,000 feet and with at least 300 feet of prominence, houses 78 bikeable miles on 11 different bike trails, and boasts an average of 226 sunny days annually.Trail Mix — Central
Enjoy the wildlife of Mississippi, search for Morels in Minnesota, view the nesting turtles on Texas' Padre Island, and more.From the Field — Central
Take in the birder's paradise around Vern Wolf Lake in Wisconsin, cleanse yourself in the mist of a 15 foot waterfall in Arkansas, marvel at a 320-million-year-old sandstone formation in Ohio, and more.Top 3: Knife-edge Ridges
Test your bravery with these scrambly hikes that take you to airy heights and rewarding views. Don't forget to watch your step.Trail Mix — West
Your region's go-now guide: get your heart rate up by climbing 1,500 feet in 2.4 miles in Santa Barbara, visit the newest state park in Colorado, enjoy the solitude of the Wyoming Range, and more.From the Field: BACKPACKER Trail Scouts' Top Western Local Hikes
From a panoramic hike above Sin City and Lake Mead to a slot canyon adventure in Utah, our scouts provide trail beta.Rip & Go: Eagle Creek Loop, Columbia River Gorge, OR
Spot waterfalls and wildflowers on a rainforest loop into one of the gorge's wildest canyons.Rip & Go: Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC
Paddle to explore beach, dunes, and maritime forest on an uninhabited barrier island.Rip & Go: Ozark Trail, Huzzah Conservation Area/Mark Twain National Forest, MO
Climb from ravine to ridge for views over a trio of river valleys.Build It: Make an Efficient Alcohol Stove
Use extreme-distance hiker Andrew Skurka's plan to construct an ultralight, ultracheap cooking system.Recipe: Puyallup Planked Salmon
Take your fish seriously with this recipe for Planked Salmon.Recipe: Slippery Hooks Fish Fry
Keep it simple with this recipe to spice up freshly caught fish.Recipe: EBC (Egg, Bouillon, and Chive) Soup
Slurp up satisfaction with EBC soup.Recipe: Klondike Thai Peanut Shrimp
Bring the ocean to the forest with Klondike Thai Peanut Shrimp.Recipe: Back Rock Bami Goreng
Enjoy healthy eating with this veggie-infused stir fry.Recipe: Backcountry Master Class
Bring the written word to life with these featured Master Class backcountry dishes.Recipe: No-Drawings-Needed Poached Trout
Eat fresh with this hook-to-table recipe for Poached Trout.Recipe: No-Drawings-Needed Poached Trout
Eat fresh with this hook-to-table recipe for Poached Trout.Recipe: World Traveler Foil Packets
Travel the world from the comfort of your campfire with these globally-inspired Foil Packets.Recipe: Fabulous Fry Brownies
Indulge yourself with the chocolatey goodness of these Fabulous Fry Brownies.Recipe: Indian Fry Bread
Take your trail meals up a notch with this easy Indian Fry Bread.Recipe: Cornmeal Fry Biscuits
Fry up your own breakfast biscuits with this easy recipe.Gear Review: REI Backpacker Plus Extended First Aid Kit
Be prepared for trips of all lengths with this first aid kit from REI.2013 Adventures NYC
Save Money on Your Trailhead Drive
Are you blowing big bucks driving to your favorite hike? Use these gas-mileage-boosting tips so you can get to more trailheads for less money.The Truth About Bears: The Maps
Bears in the lower 48 have rebounded from decades of declining populations and shrinking habitat. Also improving: your chance of seeing a bruin in the wild. By Ted AlvarezThe Truth About Bears: The Mystery
Grizzlies vanished from North Cascades National Park five decades ago. Or did they? Our scout joins the search for Washington's elusive mountain ghosts. By Ted Alvarez2013 Reader Photo Contest - Your Best Shots
For 40 years, BACKPACKER readers have explored the wilderness and returned with photographic gold. But we were wowed by the entries for this contest—more than 650 of them. Check out these finalists (and this year's winner), then go to backpacker.com/photos to submit your own images. We’ll showcase the best entries in upcoming issues.Local Hikes in the East — March 2013
Tromp through a Florida cypress swamp, find solitude on a Catskills peak, look for rare Carolina blooms, plus 9 more.Local Hikes in the Central U.S. — March 2013
Snag a dozen great winter trips, including a texas Hill Country overnight, a Lake Superior snowshoe, and a hike to Apostle islands ice caves.Local Hikes in the West — March 2013
Soak in a New Mexico hot spring, spot wintering bighorn sheep in the Winds, hike to a lost California oasis, and more.Gear and Go Tour
In celebration of our readers, we have designed a second tour (in addition to our popular Get Out More Tour) that will launch in 2013, the GEAR and GO TOUR.10 Steps to Raising Kids Who Love the Outdoors
You want your kiddos to enjoy the outdoors – camping, hiking, biking, etc. – as much as you do. Northwest editor Michael Lanzas has 10 tips on how to accomplish that – and have fun along the way.Trail Mix — East — March 2013
Your region's go-now guide: Visit a new hikers' hostel connected to 50 miles of trail in Maine's Bigelow Mountains, see the rare Oconee bell in South Carolina's Jocassee Gorges area, explore the world's longest mapped cave system near Louisville, and more.From the Field — East — March 2013
Our trail scouts' top local hikes, including fire tower views in New Jersey, a New York waterfall, and more.Rip & Go: Florida Trail, Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
Traverse a primeval landscape of cypress swamp, hardwood hammocks, and pinelands.Mountain Map: White Mountains, NH
The Granite State's crown jewel is an epicenter for alpine adventure, from peakbagging to ridgewalking to hut camping. Where to start? In the heart of the Whites, with beta from our map team. Trek across windswept plateaus, tag a handful of the range's 48 peaks above 4,000 feet, and get a taste of high-altitude tundra.Trail Mix — Central — March 2013
Your region's go-now guide: Explore ice caves on Wisconsin's Apostle Islands, overnight in peace in northern Missouri, and more.From the Field — Central — March 2013
Follow the footsteps of Wild West outlaws in Oklahoma, marvel at Gooseberry Fall's frozen cascades, search out arrowheads at Hot Springs National Park, and more.Rip & Go: Lost Maples Loop, Lost Maples State Natural Area, TX
Warm up for hiking season with a mellow escape to a maze of limestone plateaus.Top 3: Better in Winter
What off season? Bundle up and reap the benefits of colder weather in these snowy playgrounds.Trail Mix - West - March 2013
Your region's go-now spring guide: Scramble to Salado Indian cliff dwellings in Arizona, spot bighorn sheep in Wyoming, and more.From the Field — West — March 2013
Our trail scouts' top local hikes: ancient Oregon volcanoes, a Nevada slot canyon, a hidden California oasis, and more.Rip & Go: Jordan Hot Springs, Gila Wilderness, NM
Explore a slot canyon and soak in a warm backcountry pool in the country's first designated wilderness.Life List: Northern Lights Ski Tour, Alaska
See the world's best sky show from your private backcountry cabin.Hiking Wales: Fresh Tracks Through History
Beachside trek meets pub crawl meets castle tour on Europe's newest long trail, the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, officially opened in May 2011. We have the beta on its highlights.The Path to Shangri-La: Eastern Tibet's Unclimbed Peaks
Climb hiker-friendly 16,000-foot summits--and maybe nab a first ascent--on a shoestring budget, plus get an unchaperoned glimpse of Tibetan culture.Limit Pusher: Three More Epics
Test yourself on these wild routes.Chile: Private Patagonia - Five More Multisport Trips
Explore spectacular places by air, land, and sea.Chile: Private Patagonia - Puerto Toro
Take your pick of adventures from this major ferry stop about three hours from Natales: Beach camp next to a private glacier or paddle to a gem lake.Chile: Private Patagonia - Cordillera Baguales
Escape to trekking and horseback riding nirvana on Patagonia's high plains.Chile: Private Patagonia - Fjord De Las Montanas
Explore peak-lined Chilean waters by boat or by foot—in solitude.Chile: Private Patagonia
Explore Chile's mind-bending terrain without joining the throngs on the popular trekker circuit. On this paddle/hike/horse adventure, you'll have glacier-chiseled fjords, sky-piercing mountains, and best-ever camping all to yourself.Meet the 2013 BACKPACKER Reader Reporter Team
Meet the four lucky readers -- two guys and two gals -- who will scouring the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market for the greatest (and weirdest) new gear!Meet the Gear Testers: Dennis Lewon
Backpacker Editor Dennis Lewon prefers solid design over shaving weight.Mileage Master Skills
Going the distance? Use these tips to ease big-mile trips.Canada: Treasure Island
You don't have to travel across the world to get off the map. British Columbia's Haida Gwaii boasts uncharted coastline, seaside hot springs, and more sea lions, whales, and bears than you can count.Norway: Home of the Giants
Norway's Jotunheimen National Park bristles with glacier-clad peaks amid northern Europe's highest mountains, but a five-star hut system makes it a place you can bring your kids. And mom.Mountain Map: Los Angeles - San Gabriel Mountains
Find solitude high above Los Angeles.Local Hikes in the Central U.S.
Camp lake-side in Arkansas, summit 800-foot Nebraska bluffs, see Wisconsin's best foliage (alone), and dayhike near Dallas. Plus: 8 more autumn hikes.Local Hikes in the East
Kentucky's Land Between The Lakes, see a South Carolina swamp (without the bugs), hike through four states in one huge day, and more.Local Hikes in the West
Make a late-season hike to an aspen-dense Colorado mesa, spot bears in the Beartooths, explore gypsum dunes, and discover more fall must-hikes.Carry the best maps for your adventures.
New Elite program from map partner Trimble Outdoors serves up best-in-class trip planning tools, exclusive map data, and mobile app extras.Meet the Gear Testers: Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan
Elisabeth has been testing gear since she was a BACKPACKER intern.Meet the Gear Testers: Julie Ellison
As excited as she gets about new gear, Climbing's Gear Editor knows that the best gear is the items that she comes back to again and again.Meet the Gear Testers: Jon Dorn
BACKPACKER's former Editor-in-Chief says that his best tester quality is his clumsiness.Meet the Gear Testers: Jackie McCaffrey
When it comes to gear, Jackie believes in comfort.Meet the Gear Testers
Meet the Gear Testers: Bob Woodward
Bob has been testing gear for 50 years.Meet the Gear Testers: Nancy Prichard Bouchard
Nancy believes you get what you pay for.Meet the Gear Testers: Allison Woods
When it comes to gear, tester Allison believes in open-mindedness and innovation - just don't forget about designing gear for the ladies.Expert Panel: Instant Upgrades
Smokies Adventure Guide (2012 National Parks Series: Part 5 of 6)
Leave it to our seasoned map contributors to find solitude in America's most-visited park. This exclusive trip planner serves up routes guaranteed to get you off the tourist trail and into deep wilderness.Trail Mix: Great November Hikes in the East
Your region's go-now guide: Explore New York City, hike four states in 24 hours, and perfect days in NC, GA, and NH.The High Life: Granite Park Chalet, MT
Discover Glacier's historic lodging.The High Life: White Mountains Traverse, NH
Hike our quieter insider's variation on this classic route.The High Life: Never Summer Yurts, CO
Discover your own private Rockies paradise.The High Life: Haute Route Pyrenees, France
Go high and wild in Europe's other Alps.The High Life: Hidden Lake Peak Fire Lookout, WA
Claim an eagle's roost above Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.The High Life: Hut, Hut, Hike!
Why should a backpacker want anything other than a tent? Michael Lanza can think of five good reasons.The High Life: Maine Hut Trail, ME
Explore a new shelter system with old-school wild.The High Life: Pennine Alps, Switzerland
Dine lavishly in the homeland of huts.The High Life: Kepler Track, New Zealand
Score iconic Kiwi scenery without lining up.The High Life: Lake O'Hara, Canada
Explore the best of Yoho National Park.The High Life: High Sierra Camps, CA
Hike Yosemite's granite-rimmed loop.The High Life: Rifugio Lagazuoi, Italy
Climb to a view over all of the Dolomites.Top 3: Ghostly Hikes
Test your courage—and your quads—this Halloween on one of these spooky cemetery trails.Life List: The Source of the Amazon
Trek to the Peruvian high spot where the planet's most powerful river is born.Skier's Paradise: Backcountry Hut & Yurt Destinations
Maximize your winter fun with a backcountry basecamp where you can spend all day skiing or snowshoeing, and all evening lounging by the fire. These 10 huts and yurts will make you hope the snow never melts.Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Snow Peak Starter Kit
A dining kit made for ultralight soloists.Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2012
261 reviews and camping tipsKiller Trips: Wildlife
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.Killer Trips: Terrain
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.Killer Trips: Gravity
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.Killer Trips: Weather
Our favorite high-risk, high-reward adventures in North America.Build Trail-worthy Ankle Strength
Four moves that'll help you make an injury-free transition to lightweight hiking shoes.Trail Mix: East
Your region's go-now guideTrail Mix: Central
Your region's go-now guideFrom the Field: East
Our trail scouts' top local hikesFrom the Field: Central
Our trail scouts' top local hikesMeet the Gear Testers: William Rochfort
William feels an obligation to share the outdoors with others, and good gear is how you get them there.Meet the Gear Testers: Tanner Jackson
Tanner likes to think of himself as a tester and guinea pig for real-world accidents.Meet the Gear Testers: Steve Howe
If you're looking for experience in the outdoors, Steve Howe is your man.Meet the Gear Testers: Shelby Carpenter
When it comes to gear, Shelby believes in weight, comfort, and function.Meet the Gear Testers: Molly Loomis
Molly believes in ditching the frills, shaving weight, and giving gear a real beating.Meet the Gear Testers: Merrill McCauley
Tester Merrill believes in quality, well-built gear that won't fail on you when it counts.Meet the Gear Testers: Kelly Bastone
Tester Kelly has tough standards, and it takes a lot to convince her that something new can replace what she already has.Meet the Gear Testers: Gerben Sherpbier
President of Dartmouth's Outing Club, Gerben considers the practicality of gear and has a soft spot for the tall folks.Meet the Gear Testers: Dan Nelson
A long-time tester, Dan is tough as nails and scrupulous with gear.2012 Be A Mapper Contest Official Rules
Meet the Gear Testers: Cameron Martindell
Tester Cameron is as meticulous as they come.Meet the Gear Testers: Becca Stubbs
Becca is president of the Hiking Club at the University of Colorado - Boulder.Meet the Gear Testers: Annette McGivney
Southwest Editor Annette has been testing gear since 1990. She is on the trail every day.Troubleshoot This: Burned by Boiling Water
Out Alive: Hammered by Falling Rocks
After an off-trail slide tosses two hikers down a slope, they’re trapped by their injuries.Gear: Car Camping
Ultra LuxeLoad the trunk this Labor Day with weight-is-no-object comfort gear.
Gear Review: Primus FireHole 300
A souped up camp kitchenTrail Mix: West
Your region's go-now guideFrom the Field: West
Our trail scouts' top local hikesThe Long Way Home
When Karl Bushby set out to hike 36,000 miles across four continents, he vowed he would only return to his native England on foot. Which could be a real problem if he ever wants to get there.Life List: Walking Safari, Kruger NP, South Africa
Trek among giraffes, rhinos, lions, and elephants in one of the world's premier wildlife parks.Expert Panel: Instant Upgrades
We asked a few of our favorite pros how to fix some common backcountry annoyancesEasy Epics: 17 Drive-up Campsites a Backpacker Will Love
Combine the best of car camping (spacious tents, comfy chairs, frosty margaritas!) and the best of backpacking (deep solitude, outrageous scenery, swimming holes!) with these 17 accessible hideaways.Grand to Grand Ultra - Win a free race entry!
Grand to Grand Ultra is a 160-mile stage race from the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to the highest point in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument--and we have a free race entry to give away!From The Field: East
Our trail scouts' top local hikesFrom The Field: Central
Our trail scouts' top local hikesFrom The Field: West
Our trail scouts' top local hikesCanyonlands Adventure Guide (2012 National Parks Series: Part 4 of 6)
Our field scouts scrambled up airy ledges, trekked to giant arches, and dropped into deep gorges to bring you the best dozen trips in this slickrock paradise.September 2012 Table of Contents
Summit Fever: The Sierra Challenge
When 37 hardcore hikers set out to scale 10 of the Sierra's highest and remotest peaks in a single Herculean, 10-day, 154-mile push, it will be an all-pain, 54,000 feet of gain kind of adventure.Trail Mix: East
Your region's go-now guide.Trail Mix: Central
Your region's go-now guide.Trail Mix: West
Your region's go-now guide.Meet the Gear Testers: Kristin Hostetter
BACKPACKER's fearless gear editor since 1994, few (if any) know outdoor gear like Kristin Hostetter.Life List: Buckskin Gulch, Utah/Arizona
Yes, all wilderness is sacred. But this mystically beautiful slot canyon is holier than most.Expert Panel: Instant Upgrades
Heroes: Rue Mapp, 40
This culture activist is bringing diversity to the outdoors.Gear Review: Coleman Sportster II
This tank-tough stove is easy to use and boils water fast, even in below-freezing temps.Backpacking Fitness
Boost performance and be a better backpacker with these fitness- and strength-building moves from our experts.The Troubleshooter’s Handbook
Murphy’s Law, meet your match. Our experts offer trip-saving fixes for 44 mishaps, from bug bites to bad partners to broken bones.Heroes: Kyle Maynard, 26
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is plenty hard with two strong legs. Imagine crawling to the top, like the first congenital quadruple amputee to reach the summit.The Other Way In
Hike to life-list hot spots without waiting in life-list lines. These under-the-radar trails deliver everything but the crowds.The Last Bus
A former Denali ranger shares her secrets for finding solitude, scoring the most coveted permits, seeing wildlife, beating the weather, and more. Follow her from-the-field advice for the ultimate trip in America's wildest park.Life List: Buckskin Gulch, Utah/Arizona
Yes, all wilderness is sacred. But this mystically beautiful slot canyon is holier than most.Grand Teton Adventure Guide (2012 National Parks Series: Part 3 of 6)
Our map scouts scaled 13,000-foot peaks, trekked to hidden lakes, and explored glacier-carved canyons to bring you our 21 favorite routes in America's most vertiginous range.Out Alive: Bitten by a Rattlesnake
A dayhiker fights for her life—as her body shuts down.Expert Panel: 11 Pro Tips
Pro Tips: Boost Performance, Planning, Safety, and MoreAugust 2012 Table of Contents
Heros: Becca Stubbs, 21
Student and president of the Hiking Club at the University of Colorado, BoulderHiking Makes You Smarter
Yes, the views and fresh air and exercise make every backpacking trip worthwhile. But now, new research shows, staying home is just plain dumb. Learn why backpacking boosts brainpower in this exclusive report from the frontiers of environmental neuroscience.Trail Mix: Central
Explore Chicago's wild places, seek out solitude, and experience three perfect days, all this summer.Trail Mix: East
Explore wilderness bounty, see fawns in Shenandoah National Park, and experience three perfect days, all this summer and all in the east.Trail Mix: West
Explore high points, see astronomical rarity and experience three perfect days, all this summer and all in the west.From the Field: West
Explore the west coast in a whole new way with these five summer hikes.From the Field: East
Experience the east in a new way this summer with hikes that each offer a special glimpse of what the east coast has to offer.From the Field: Central
Looking to relax this summer? These central hikes offer beautiful lakes, great views, and a breath of fresh air.Burn After Reading
Empty White Mountain summits. Tourist-free Yellowstone geysers. Rarely hiked Yosemite ridges. Rangers, guidebook writers, outfitters, and ultra-hikers dish their favorite routes for the first time.Best Week: Continental Divide Loop
Tour glacial valleys and navigate to off-trail lakes and waterfalls on this six-day circuit.Best Weekend: Gorge Lakes
Hike cross-country to explore this secluded chain of hanging lakes.June 2012 Table of Contents
Best Day: Longs Peak via Clarks Arrow and the Keyhole
Scramble up a 12.7-mile sneak route to the park's highest peak.Rocky Mountain Adventure Guide (2012 National Parks Series: Part 2 of 6)
Our map team scouted more than 500 miles of trails and cross-country routes to bring you a summer's worth of escapes in the Rockies.Gear Guide 2012: Adventure Medical Kits SOL Survival Medic
A compact kit that provides you with the survival essentials you need while you're on the go.Local Hikes
Jump-start your hiking season on these spring-ready trips from around the country.Gear Guide 2012: Bargain Gear
$50 or less can buy you some nice gear. Here are our favorite finds.Gear Guide 2012: Bargain Stove
The Olicamp Xcelerator Titanium was a favorite for our ultralight AT thru-hiker.Mt. Rainier Adventure Guide (2012 National Parks Series: Part 1 of 6)
We mapped nearly 300 miles of trail to bring you the only resource you'll need to jump-start your adventures in this premier park.Rip & Go: Oregon Coast Trail - Ecola State Park to Arch Cape, OR
Slip past tides along cliffy coasts on an easy-to-plan long weekend.America's Best Campsites
Park your tent in one of these 10 spots, and you'll be happy in the morning. Guaranteed.May 2012 Table of Contents
Editors' Choice 2012: MSR WhisperLite Universal Stove
The ultimate stove: anywhere, anytime, any gasKids, Camping, and Abuse: A Q&A with Tracy Ross
Contributing editor Tracy Ross talks about the aftermath of publishing her abuse memoir, The Source of All Things, which originated as a BACKPACKER feature story and is now available in paperback.Hiking Switzerland: Around the Alps in 80 Days
Well, maybe 105. But who's counting? Contributing editor John Harlin defies conventional wisdom with a 1,400-mile circumnavigation of this mountainous kingdom.America's Newest Long Trail
Don't have time to hike all 1,200 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail? No worries: Our scout pinpointed the finest two-week stretch.Died and Gone to New Zealand
Hiker heaven, redefined, is a month-long hike/paddle/camp in Adventureland.Everest Confidential: Trekking Through Nepal's Khumbu Region
See the Himalayan giants--and cross three passes more than 17,000 feet high--on this off-the-radar route through the Khumbu region.The Jesus Trail: Hiking from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee
Every hike is a pilgrimage, but this new path from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee is holier than most. Literally following in His footsteps, the 40-mile route immerses hikers in biblical history.BACKPACKER GPS Trails PRO Trips
We've taken the best trips on backpacker.com and made them even better. Check out updated, interactive PRO trips and PRO bundles on GPS Trails. Use your Android or iPhone to discover these premium guides, or map your own adventures and share them with your friends.Gear Review: MSR WindPro II Stove
A stable canister stoveBACKPACKER PRO Maps: Custom maps for your adventures
We've teamed up with map partner myTopo to create custom, pre-planned adventures printed on waterproof topo paper. No need to buy and carry multiple maps. Bonus: PRO Maps sync with your handheld GPS, your smartphone, or your tablet for a complete in-field mapping experience. Our archive is over 100 maps strong and growing.Passion Player: Q&A with Michael Franti
On Wednesday night, reggae-hip-hop-fusion artist Michael Franti was recording a new track for his follow-up to the hit album "The Sound of Sunshine." On Thursday night, he rocks The Depot at Outdoor Retailer in a concert presented by Wolverine. BACKPACKER's Jonathan Dorn and Anthony Cerretani spoke to Franti right before the show about how the outdoors influences his music, lifestyle, and clothing line.Blister Wars
Don't get sidelined by these common and painful foes. Fight back with these tips and tricks for preventing and treating any kind of hot spot problem.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.International Adventure Travel
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' backpacking trek abroad.Backpacker Expeditions
Backpacker magazine has teamed up with AvidTrips–the leading travel platform that connects travelers directly to local tour guide operators–to create three awe-inspiring expeditions exclusively for Backpacker readers. Our Backpacker Expeditions will challenge your outdoor fortitude and indulge your passion for discoveryUltimate 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: Catch a Golden Trout
Cast for beautiful fish that live in beautiful lakes.Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Hike 30 Miles in a Day
See a week's worth of terrain on an epic dawn-to-dusk hike.Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Easy Upgrades
Kick it up a notch with these quick fixes.Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Discover the World Off-Trail
Be a real explorer by going where others don't.Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Climb to Heart-Pumping Heights
Scramble a class 3 route and claim your own private peak.Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Become a Backcountry Batali
Serve a 5-star meal that matches the scenery.Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Grab Steep Thrills
Ski remote winter terrain—and have the most winter fun.Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Climb Big Trees
Discover a higher world.Ultimate Adventure Handbook
Tired of the same old weekend loops? Looking to create memories your grandkids will talk about? In this how-and-where guide, we serve up 15 extraordinary escapes that will shatter your expectations of "normal." From adventure moviemaking to canyoneering, we'll take you places you've never been—but will long to visit again soon.Case Study: Lost in the Gila Wilderness
Name: Ross Mason, 44Predicament: Off-course and severely dehydrated
Location: Gila Wilderness, New Mexico; November 2010
Readers' Choice Field Gear Test
Four trail-proven picks from the winners of our Be a Gear Tester ContestAdventure Travel: New Zealand
Hiker heaven, redefined, is a month-long hike/paddle/camp in Adventureland.Secret Switzerland
Discover solitude on the Swiss border with this highlights tour of John Harlin's favorite trips—rope not required.Churchill River Canoe Route
Escape time as you glide through an endless chain of connected lakes.Asulkan Valley, Glacier National Park
Hit four technical summits in the birthplace of North American mountaineering.Woodbury to Silver Spray Huts, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park
Link two gorgeous cabins by scrambling through craggy alpine country.Drinnon Pass to Gimli Col, Valhalla Provincial Park
Routefind across precipitous ridges to an ice-filled lake.Backpacking Canada, the Big Empty
Empty of people, that is. Because the 3,000 miles of wilderness that stretch from Newfoundland's fjordlike coastal cliffs to British Columbia's rainforest and skyscraping peaks are brimming with every type of mountain, water, and wildlife adventure a card-carrying backpacker could want—crowds not included. Our Rocky Mountain Field Editor spent two months exploring places we've never covered to assemble our most extensive guide to Canadian backcountry yet.Escape Plan: Warm a Hypothermia Victim
Treat severe hypothermia with this life saving technique.Survival: True Reader Escapes
Seven lucky-to-be-alive subscribers share their real-life backcountry disasters. Here’s how they survived, and what you can learn from their mistakes.True Tales: Struck by Lightning
Bad decisions and running scared got this reader struck by lightning--but he survived.True Tales: Can't Breathe at High Altitude
A scape of pulmonary edema sends this reader down the mountain, fast.True Tales: Flipped, Soaked, and Freezing
Two readers shiver for their lives through a cold, Alaskan summer night.True Tales: Charged by a 500-Pound Grizzly
A charging grizzly comes too close for this reader's comfort.True Tales: Uncontrolled Slide Down an Icy Slope
A summer snow slope gives this reader the scare of his life.True Tales: Caught in a Flash Flood
Rising water sends this reader running--and hiding--in Utah.Ski Strong: Beat Blisters
Outsmart stiff boots and constant heel lifting with these anti-friction tips.Readers' Choice 2012: Reader Leader: Glacier Magic
More than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners here, starting with Colleen Contrisciane-Lewis, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. She earned the all-expenses-paid grand prize: an assignment to hike—and report on—her dream trip. Read about her 85-mile, weeklong transect of Glacier National Park on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.Readers' Choice 2012: Glacier Magic
Iconic scenery bolstered by serious solitude? Get them both on this weeklong traverse.Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2011: Kitchen Gear
Two stoves, a deluxe kitchen set, and a bunch of pots and pans.Readers' Choice 2012: Reader Leader Contest Winners
More than 150 of you entered our contest to become a BACKPACKER field scout. Meet the winners.Readers' Choice 2012: Appalachian Trail, 100-Mile Wilderness, ME
Tackle the Northeast's most remote wilds for bears, moose, and berries.Readers' Choice 2012: Grasshopper Glacier, Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness, MT
Visit a glacier with millions of extinct grasshoppers entombed in its ice.Readers' Choice 2012: Skyline-To-The-Sea Trail, Castle Rock Sp, Ca
Hike through a towering redwood forest on this easy-access overnighter.Readers' Choice 2012: Evolution Loop, Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, CA
Hike cross-country to a pocket of dreamy lakeside camps on the John Muir Trail.Readers' Choice 2012: Creekside Loop, Pisgah NF, NC
Looking for a mellow weekend with swimming options? We have you covered.Readers' Choice 2012: Shoal Creek Loop, Gros Ventre Wilderness, WY
Backpack to a local ranger's favorite mountain getaway.America's Best Backcountry Ski Tours
Upgrade your winter fun at these 8 beginner-friendly, expert-ready spots.Iceland: Tested
After a season of backcountry skiing, hiking, and climbing everywhere from the Rockies to the Andes, we took the year's best winter gear for a final shakedown in Iceland's remote Glacier Fjords. What we found: awesome ice-carved terrain and the sweetest boat-in camping and skiing on earth.Great Family Hikes: Chosen by the Editors of Backpacker
Hit the trail with your kids on these family-friendly hikes all over the country.Reader Leader Application: Become a Backpacker Field Scount
Tell us about your dream destination and why it fits in the pages of Backpacker Magazine...and we may just send you there.Holiday Gift Guide 2011: SOL Survival Medic Survival and First Aid Kit
Pocket-sized waterproof survival and first aid kitReaders' Choice 2012: Your Neck of the Woods - Southeast Hikes
See Shenandoah's tallest waterfall, traverse secluded ridgelines, score cliff-top panoramas, swim beneath falls, and walk through wildflowers and oak stands on the Florida Trail.Readers' Choice 2012: Destinations
Get more hiking, gear, and wildlife-spotting advice from our map contributors—and see our full survey results.Readers' Choice 2012: Top 3 - West Hikes
The region's best picks from our top field correspondent, who's notched more than 1,800 trail miles throughout the West and mapped 116 trips.Rip & Go: West Clear Creek Canyon, Coconino National Forest, AZ
Rock-hop and wade your way down a wild sandstone corridor.Survival: Prevent Blisters and Frostbite
Prevent these two painful toe problems.Survival: Improvise a Splint and Treat Burns
Two skills to take with you to the backcountrySurvival: Carbon-Dioxide Poisoning
Ventilate your tent to avoid this danger.Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Optimus Crux Lite Canister Stove
Do not underestimate this tiny stove's competence!Rip & Go: Little Lyford to Gorman Chairback - 100-Mile Wilderness, ME
Ski (or snowshoe) hut-to-hut in the East's wildest preserve.Rip & Go: Iron Mountains - Little Dry Run Wilderness, VA
Score quiet views of the southern Virginia highlands on this lush loop.Rip & Go: Two Lakes Loop - Hoosier National Forest, IN
Camp next to forest lakes and rock-hop across clear streams.Survival: First Aid Emergencies
Hard-won-lessons and tips about medical emergencies from the front lines of survival.Perfect 10: North America's 10 Most Memorable Hikes
Ten trails. Ten unmatched miles each. Get maximum bang for each boot step on hikes that our most-traveled contributors call their all-time favorites.2011 Editors' Choice Snow Award: SOTO Muka Liquid Fuel Stove
A stove that combines the versatility, power, and cold-weather performance of liquid fuel with the ease of no-priming-required canisters.Rip & Go: Cranberry Loop - Monongahela National Forest, WV
Circle an upland swamp rich with views, solitude, and wild edibles.2011 Editors' Choice Snow Award: Soto Muka Stove
A stove that combines the versatility, power, and cold-weather performance of liquid fuel with the ease of no-priming-required canisters.Gear Review: Primus ExpressLander Liquid-Fuel Stove
A reliable, user-friendly cooker that's extremely lightweight for liquid fuel.Rip & Go: Lake of the Clouds to Summit Peak - Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, MI
Hike a high escarpment above a northern forest and Lake Superior.Local Hikes: Extend Your Season
Cooler days mean fewer crowds and bugs—and riots of leafy color. Here are 38 fall-weekend classics near you.Rip & Go: Trapper Creek Wilderness Loop - Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
Climb through towering evergreens to in-your-face Cascade views.Case Study: Hypothermic on Mt. Washington
Name: Rachel Drayer, 24, and Matt Pierce, 24Predicament: Hypothermia rescue in whiteout
Location: Mt. Washington, NH
Rip & Live: Spiders
Itsy bitsy? Sure, but spiders loom large in hiker phobias. They shouldn't: Only a few subspecies of the black widow and brown recluse can inflict enough damage to cut short a hike. Here's what you need to know about North America's most venomous spiders, from how to avoid them to treating their bites.Rip & Live: Survive Spiders
Itsy bitsy? Sure, but only a few subspecies of the black widow and brown recluse can inflict enough damage to cut short a hike. Here’s what you need to know about North America’s most venomous spiders, from how to avoid them to treating their bites.Gear Review: Jetboil Sol Ti Premium Cooking System
Jetboil’s Personal Cooking System (PCS) is fast, fuel-efficient, and foolproof, and this new titanium version is barely half the weight.Deepest Daks
Journey through America's most accessible wilderness in search of untouched places, and you might just find peace of mind to match the lakes and hills.Rip & Go: Godwin Trail to Inspiration Point - Shawnee National Forest, IL
Cross deep, vine-laced forests to bluff-top views over rivers and prairie.Rip & Go: Two Gorges Loop - Gorges State Park, NC
Trace the watery divide between the Carolinas.Saving Lives: When to Evacuate, First-Aid Essentials
Learn to decide when to walk out and when to stay put with a variety of backcountry medical ailments.Rip & Go: Debsconeag Loop - Maine Public Reserved Lands, Nahmakanta Unit, ME
Cross the northeast's wildest moose country beneath fall's fiery canopy.Perfect 10: Free PDF Trip Planning Guides
We've picked the top 10 miles of North America's 10 most memorable hikes. Find your way to wilderness nirvana with these map and planning guides.Rip & Go: Stratton Loop - Lye Brook Wilderness, VT
Climb to an expansive view of green rollers that inspired two long trails.Rip & Go: Hilgard Basin - Lee Metcalf Wilderness, MT
Climb to a wonderland of tundra, rugged peaks, and dreamy lakes.A Piece of Quiet
America’s leading advocate of wilderness silence shows the way to Mt. Rainier National Park’s quietest corner. Plus: 9 more campsites with life-list listening.Rip & Go: Three Sisters Loop - Lava Beds National Monument, CA
Discover hidden wonders in a cave-riddled wilderness.Rip & Go: Horse Heaven Loop - Wyoming Range, WY
Discover a pocket of wildlife beyond Yellowstone's borders.Rip & Go: Broken Top Loop - Deschutes National Forest/Three Sisters Wilderness, OR
Cross ancient lava fields on a lake-filled weekend.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 & Go: New England National Scenic Trail - Mt. Grace State Forest, MA
Walk deliberately into woods filled with waterfalls and stone walls.Madman Walking?
Warren Doyle has hiked the Appalachian Trail 16 times, and he has a no-fee plan guaranteed to help others complete the 2,180-mile trek. The hardest part? Hiking with Warren Doyle.Saving Lives: Prioritize, Plan, Protect, and Monitor
Once you've stabilized a backcountry injury or illness, the next step is to prevent the patient from worsening. Here's some key steps to take.Saving Lives: Size Up the Scene and Identify Lethal Dangers
When an emergency strikes, your mind can go blank. These easy clues and rhymes will help you remember what do to first.5 Steps to Saving Lives
How the pros treat an injured hikerProf. Hike: Leave Blisters in the Dust
Blisters are the most common on-trail injury, but blisters are also easy to prevent.Ultimate Peak Planner
BACKPACKER and CLIMBING have teamed up to bring you a one-stop resource for scaling the best treks and technical climbs in the country.Backyard Everests: Mt. Wilson
Navigate a vertical sandstone maze to guaranteed solitude on a high-desert summit.Backyard Everests: Mt. Stuart
Scramble a sneak route to Rainier-worthy views-of Rainier and much more.Backyard Everests: Stone Mountain
Top a Yosemite-like dome in a sea of green.Backyard Everests: Mounts Webster and Jackson
Claim a rare feat on this classic-in-waiting loop.Backyard Everests: Spruce Knob
Stand atop The Mountain State's most famous peak.Backyard Everests: Mt. Alice
Feel like you've notched a first ascent.Backyard Everests: Mt. Conness
Walk a scary-narrow rock fin to an airy summit.Backyard Everests: Elephant Head
Tackle tricky terrain to gain a solitary alp.Backyard Everests: Pfeifferhorn
Bag a stout weekend adventure-and vistas from the big lake to the High Uintas.Backyard Everests: Lone Pine Peak, Inyo National Forest
Climb without crowds to the state's top mountain view.Rip & Go: Tonahutu Loop - Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Cross elk-filled woods and bighorn- busy flats on this park's quiet side.Rip & Go: Santa Rosa Island - Channel Islands National Park, CA
Venture off SoCal's coast for long beaches, hidden canyons, and sea life.Rip & Go: Rocky Point to Round Lake - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, MN
Glide through back-to-back lakes on a classic North Country canoe trip.Summer Adventure Atlas: 50 Hikes / 50 States
When you're planning a weekend outing, you don't want good, you want the best. Well, here's perfect. These hikes tour the deepest backcountry, best views, and quietest wilderness areas in every state.Case Study: Disaster on Katahdin
Name: Michael Hays Predicament: Shattered kneecap, dehydrated, starving Location: Baxter State Park Days lost 4National Parks: Grand Canyon
Discover surprising solitude and endless vistas on an easy-access multiday trip between rim and river.National Parks: Glacier
Rule #1 when planning a hike through this iconic park: Let your ambition match the scenery.Summer Camping Secrets: At the Stove
Bake without an oven! Build your own spice kit! A DIY guide to dining while summer camping.National Parks: Olympic
On a climb from the Hoh River's silty riffles to high-country glacier views, pass through a moss-hung rainforest that might be the lushest place in America.National Parks: Grand Teton
Wade through wildflowers, listen to wolves, and escape the crowded trade routes in this secluded corner of the park.National Parks: View Finder
Go ahead, look again. And again. These images are worth a third, fourth, and then a tenth gaze.National Parks: Yosemite
Enjoy this legendary park (without the legendary crowds) on a four-day trip through the Clark Range.National Parks: Yellowstone
A forgotten explorer's route leads to off-trail, high-peak adventure and bona fide solitude.How To Slideshow: Improvise An Ankle Brace
Sprained or broken ankles are the most common injury for hikers and backpackers. Here's how to deal.How To Slideshow: Build A Backcountry Knee Splint
Your hiking buddy torqued their knee? This simple splint can prevent further injury and let you both limp home.Summer Trail Smarts
Get ready for your summer adventure with these these essential on-trail skills.Backpacking 101: Summer Trail Smarts
Learn to tie a basic, but essential knot, staunch a bleeder, and purify water.Tough Guy Challenge: Week 5
It's the final push. Complete the final week's challenge and get ready for next week's call to submit your video.Editor's Note: New National Parks
The prognosis for naming new sanctuaries looks grim. Is our best strategy to vote a few misfits off the island?Prof. Hike: The Backpacker's Reading List
Seven great books and the outdoor places to enjoy themLocal Hikes: Midwest
Hike these long trails in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and head south to Texas to see Horned Lizards.Local Hikes: Southeast
Hike these long trails in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida, and paddle three days in the Everglades backcountry.Rip & Go: Long Path Loop - Harriman State Park, NY
Enjoy soaring views from open ridges on this easy-access overnight.Rip & Go: Rockytop Loop - Shenandoah National Park, VA
Escape Skyline Drive to discover secret summits and hidden valleys.Rip & Go: Twin Valley Trail - Five Rivers MetroParks, OH
Ramble along a wide river to quiet, old-growth hollows.Summer Trail Smarts: Staunch a Bleeding Wound
Use these first aid techniques to control and treat a bleeding wound.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?National Parks: Best of the Rest (Acadia to Zion)
Your life-list only starts with the top 10 parks. Our favorite hikes from the next 40 will fill it with glacier-edge paddling, desert-oasis exploring, and more.National Parks: Great Smoky Mountains
For guaranteed solitude in the park's southwest reaches, explore this quiet loop during the off-season.National Parks: Denali
Denali isn’t just for experts. These guinea pigs will prove it. Probably.Going to Extremes
Can you ever really have too much of a good thing? Once you've seen the biggest tree, largest glacier, and deepest canyon, nothing else compares.The High Life: Hiking Utah's Highline Trail
Watch your step on Utah' Highline Trail. The nonstop views and rampant wildlife are distractingly spectacular. Plus: Gaze away on 9 more elevated hikes.Tough Guy Challenge Week 3
Week three of our five-week challenge will have you navigating obstacles and increasing mileage.Rip & Go: Alamo to Capulin Canyon - Bandelier National Monument, NM
Climb across mesas and up canyon walls to a cave full of pictographs.Rip & Go: Rock and Serene Lakes Loop - Mt. Hood National Forest, OR
Discover real wilderness just two hours from Portland.Local Hikes: Mountain West
Hike these long trails in Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado, and raft an eight-mile section of the Arkansas River.Local Hikes: West
Hike these long trails in Washington, Oregon, and California, and climb to a 10,064-foot peak in Angeles National Forest.National Parks: North Cascades
Come for the sheer, glaciated peaks, but be mesmerized by rain-fed waterfalls that pour down on all sides.National Parks: Capitol Reef
Discover a private paradise by crossing the park’s convoluted Waterpocket Fold.Hiking Hells Canyon, ID
This remote chasm boasts big views, craggy mountains, abundant wildlife, and staggering solitude.National Park Slideshows
See scores of stunning images from the Grand Canyon, Denali, Yosemite, and more.Gear Guide 2011: Essentials
Welcome to accessory and apparel heaven: puffy jackets, stoves, windpants, knives, iPad apps, solar panels, GPS, hydration, first aid, socks, camp food, baselayers, and more.Tough Guy Challenge Week 2
Build on week one's regimen by mastering even more survival and navigation skills and improving your overall fitness level.Tough Guy Challenge Week 1
Rev up for the first week of our plan to make you the ultimate tough guy, or gal.Mother's Day Gift Guide: TRAIL DINNER DATE
A backcountry setup for the maestro in the kitchen.Mother's Day Gift Guide: Optimus Terra HE Cook Set
A gourmet cook set for fancy feastsMother's Day Gift Guide: Jetboil Sol Advanced Cooking System
Smaller, lighter, and even better performing than the originalMother's Day Gift Guide: MSR DragonFly Stove
Don't just boil water, cook up a masterpieceHow-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.2011 Be A Mapper Contest Official Rules
Gear Review: Jetboil Crunchit
Easily puncture and crush spent fuel cans with this handy tool.Gear Review: GSI Crossover Kitchen Set
Everything you need to cook up a feast in the backcountry.Gear Review: MSR Alpinist 2 Cookpot
A 2.4-liter hard anodized aluminum cookpot.Gear Review: Jetboil Sumo Cookpot
A 1.8-liter aluminum cookpot.Gear Review: Soto Muka Stove
A white gas stove that doesn't require priming.Gear Review: Adventure Medical Kits' S.O.L. 3 Survival, Medical & Gear Repair Pak
A first aid kit that can handle way more than blisters.Gear Review: Adventure Medical Kits’ S.O.L. 3 Survival, Medical & Gear Repair Pak
Gear Review: Adventure Medical Kits’ S.O.L. 3 Survival, Medical & Gear Repair Pak
Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Trekker Pad
The Trekker is a more affordable descendant of the NeoAir, which won our Editors' Choice Award in 2009.Almost Editors' Choice
5 near-perfect pieces of gear in our 2011 Editors' Choice testingGet Higher: Best Firetower Hikes
For sheltered scenery high above the trees, there's no better place than a fire tower. Try one of these editor-approved hikes to backcountry rooms with a view.Local Hikes: Mountain West
Hike Denver's lost wilderness, a twofer of peaks in Idaho, lava tubes in New Mexico, Zion's sneak route, and Bozeman's trout-filled lake.Hike. Pray. Protest.
Does God love camping? A new church movement foot-soldiered by wilderness-loving young people could transform the way conservative Christians perceive and protect the environment. We hit the trail with the new green evangelicals.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.The Wrong Way: Top 52 Hiker Mistakes
Your guide to 52 common mistakes hikers make--and how to avoid them.Right Place, Perfect Time: An Oasis in California's Desert Peaks
Peakbag in the White Mountains—without lugging in water.Right Place, Perfect Time: Olympic's Spring Waterfalls
Hike through a wild water park in Enchanted Valley.Right Place, Perfect Time: Aurora Borealis
Notch the best northern lights show in the Lower 48.Right Place, Perfect Time: Frazil Ice
Witness a river of slush flow through Yosemite Valley.Right Place, Perfect Time: Geminid Meteor Shower
See shooting stars from a five-star backcountry observatory.Right Place, Perfect Time: Best River Paddle
Hit Idaho's Owyhee River just right, and you get one of the West's best paddles to yourself.Right Place, Perfect Time: Monarch Butterfly Migration
See these colorful flutters fuel up for the long flight to Mexico.Right Place, Perfect Time: Showiest Fall Colors
Hit the leaf jackpot on these classic footpaths.Right Place, Perfect Time: Golden Eagle Gathering
Soar with the world's largest migration.Right Place, Perfect Time: Brightest Wildflower Bloom
Wait for El Nino and cruise through mesmerizing fields of seldom-seen desert blossoms.Local Hikes: Southeast
Ascend Rocky Top in Tennessee; spot herons and Pelicans in a Florida bayou.Local Hikes: Midwest
Discover east Texas's longleaf pine forest; see the Boundary Waters on foot.Rip & Go: Turkey Creek Trail
Hike through three ecological zones in east Texas's carnivore country.America's Best-Kept Secrets: Wind River Range, WY
America's Best-Kept Secrets: Gila Wilderness, NM
America's Best-Kept Secrets: John Muir Wilderness, CA
America's Best-Kept Secrets: Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, MT
America's Best-Kept Secrets: Dark Canyon Wilderness, UT
America's Best-Kept Secrets: Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, WA
America's Best-Kept Secrets: White Cloud Mountains, ID
America's Best-Kept Secrets: Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR
America's Best-Kept Secrets: Linville Gorge Wilderness, NC
America's Best-Kept Secrets: Eagles Nest Wilderness, CO
America's Best-Kept Secrets
The only thing better than enjoying the life-list scenery in the country's premier national parks? Getting that same scenery, minus the crowds. Find it in these 10 backcountry hotspots, along with no-hassle permits, choice campsites aplenty, and solitude to match the world-class terrain.Local Hikes: West
See California dunes, Nevada red-rock canyons, Alaska's deep forest, quiet Oregon Coast, and Washington's Cascade lakes.Rip & Go: Pine Tree Loop
Paddle to shoreline solitude, then perch on dunes above the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland's Assateague Island National Seashore.Rip & Go: Goldmyer Hot Springs - Snoqualmie NF, WA
Track beneath waterfalls and icicle-hung trees to a soothing soak.BACKPACKER MAGAZINE APPS
From the iPad to the iPhone and Android, check out these BACKPACKER mobile apps.Gear Review: Ultra Light Kettle Co. mKettle
A cool way to boil and carry water, all in one package.Special_Section Pagination Test
Subtitle Subtitle SubtitleSubtitleSubtitleSubtitleSubtitleSubtitleSubtitleSubtitleSubtitleSubtitleRip & Go: Thunderhead Loop
Hike from forest floor to a rocky ridge linking twin summits in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Gear Review: MSR Universal Canister Stand
An easily packable pot stand that will end tipping.March 2011 Table of Contents
Trip Finder: West
Your favorite western hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Rip & Go: Lyell Canyon, Yosemite
Escape front-country crowds on a trek to the park's idyllic interior.Our Backyard: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Climb, hike, and camp in Joshua Tree National Park.Readers' Choice: West
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the west.Readers' Choice 2011: America's Best Hikes
The undisputed local experts—you—chose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways from Alaska to Alabama.2011 Reader Photo Contest Winners
These six winning shots represent the best photos we saw all year from you, our readers.Reader Rated: Weekend Warrior Gear
Get comfort and convenience with these four well-priced picks.How-To Slideshow: Adjust Your Trekking Poles For Varying Terrain
In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you the proper height of trekking poles for various types of terrain.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.Gear Review: Primus Eta Solo Stove
Complete kitchen in an easy to pack compact packagePrint & Go Weekend Trip Planners
Free Print & Go PDFs give you turn-by-turn trail instructions and photos embedded on a usable topo map. Also: gear checklists, driving directions, and geo-references for finding the nearest campground, restaurant, gas station, and grocery store.Trip Finder: Southeast
Your favorite Southeast trips—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Rip & Go: Approach Trail Loop, Chattahoochee National Forest, GA
Relax in a hiker-friendly lodge at the Appalachian Trail's southern tip.Our Backyard: Everglades National Park
Paddle to a beach-camping paradise in the Everglades.Readers' Choice: Southeast
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the southeast.Trip Finder: Southwest
Your favorite Southwest hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Rip & Go: McKittrick Canyon
Soak up high-desert views amid the Lone Star State's tallest peaks.Trip Finder: Great Plains
Your favorite Great Plains hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Rip & Go: Big Piney Trail
Roll from dark hollows to dolomite ridges in the Ozark highlands of Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest.Stove Buying Guide
What’s your cooking style? In this guide, gear editor Kristin Hostetter walks you though all the camp stoves options, so you can pick the type that best matches your needs.Our Backyard: Black Hills National Forest
Explore the wildest corner of the Great Plains.Readers' Choice: Great Plains
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Great Plains states.Our Backyard: Glen National Recreation Area
Explore slots and marvel at arches in Glen Canyon.Rip & Go: Big Creek Loop
Hike from a wildlife-choked river valley to soaring mountain views.Rip & Go: McCargoe Cove to Rock Harbor
Hike among moose and wolves on this two-day escape to Isle Royale National Park.Trip Finder: Alaska
Your favorite Alaska hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Trip Finder: Appalachians
Your favorite Appalachians hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Trip Finder: Northwest
Your favorite Northwest hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Readers' Choice: Appalachians
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Appalachians.Rip & Go: Devil's Path
Conquer the rocks, ridges, and ravines on the East's toughest trail.Trip Finder: Northeast
Your favorite Northeast hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Our Backyard: Denali National Park
Explore Denali's top dayhikes, photo ops, and epic wildlife treks.Our Backyard: Trinity Alps Wilderness, CA
Follow trail-savvy locals to nine sweet spot in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.Readers' Choice: Great Lakes
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Great Lakes.Readers' Choice: Northeast
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Northeast.Our Backyard: Chequamegon National Forest, WI
Our Backyard: Green Mountains
Nine ways to see Vermont's Green MountainsReaders' Choice: Rockies
Your favorite parks, weekend getaways, peak ascents, campsites, and more in the Rockies.Trip Finder: Rockies
Your favorite Rockies hikes—from dayhikes to weekenders to multiday trips.Rip & Go: Four Pass Loop
Like peaks, lakes, and wildflowers? You'll love this Rockies classic in White River National Forest.Our Backyard: Glacier National Park
Trek through grizzly terrain in Glacier National Park.Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Under $150
Stay connected, warm and well fed, with these staple gift ideas.Time-Tested Gear: Essentials
Apparel, cookware, stoves...swimsuits?Rip & Go: Enchantment Lakes Basin - Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA
Discover a hidden basin filled with wildlife, lakes, and granite peaks.Rip & Go: Crow Pass Trail - Chugach State Park, AK
Cross the west edge of the Chugach for glaciers, bears, and wildflowers.Readers' Choice: Northwest
The undisputed local experts—you—choose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways in the Northwest.Readers' Choice: Alaska
The undisputed local experts—you—choose the top parks, trails, campsites, and weekend getaways in Alaska.Reader Rated
Extra gear reviews from our January 2011 Reader Test Team reports.Gear Review: Vargo Titanium Hexagon Wood Stove
A wood or pellet-burning stove that doubles as windscreen.Gear Review: Snow Peak Hybrid Trail Cookset
An all-in-one titanium kitchen kit.Gear Review: Snow Peak Crab LI Stove
A sturdy stove with claw-like appendages that grab most surfaces.Gear Review: Coleman All-in-One Cooking System
A propane system that takes camp cooking to a whole new level.Rip & Go: King's Canyon CA, Grand Canyon AZ, Shenandoah VA
From routes to food to post-hike brewski, we've got your weekend backpacking plans dialed. This week, we've got three killer adventures in Kings Canyon, Shenandoah, and the Grand Canyon. Ready? Read. Rip. Go!Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Best Winter Trips
We traveled to Fjordland and discovered that nothing compares to skiing glacier-clad mountains above deep-water fjords. Plus: 20 winter adventures, from California to New York.Top 25 Winter Trips: United States
Find the best skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter camping trips in the U.S.Best Winter Trips: 10th Mountain Division Huts, Colorado
Get backcountry spoils--snorkel-deep pow on remote Rockies peaks--with frontcountry comforts (warm fire and hot toddies, anyone?) in this famed hut system. More than 350 miles of trails wind through prime winter terrain, connecting the 31 full-service cabins.Best Winter Trips: White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Few places serve up fierce, unpredictable winter weather quite like Mt. Washington, the 6,288-foot capstone of New Hampshire's White Mountains. Battle hurricane-force winds--and 20-plus feet of annual snowfall--while tackling the East's best mountaineering, or choose from hundreds of miles of snowy trails for a lower elevation romp.Best Winter Trips: Teton Range, Wyoming
Towering 7,000-plus feet above Jackson Hole, the Tetons wrest more than 30 feet of snow from passing storms and pile it thick on road-accessible slopes.Best Winter Trips: Mt. Rainer National Park, Washington
The granddaddy of the Cascades looms above Seattle like a great white beacon for snow junkies. The mountain's 25 major glaciers hold enough ice to bury Manhattan 150 feet deep, and some of the planet's highest recorded snowfalls guarantee powder for all. Paradise, the park's winter epicenter, has year-round road access.Norway: Tested
Traverse a Glacier: On Norway's west coast, ancient ice scapes offer an otherworldly adventure.Best Hikes Ever: Northville-Placid Trail, Ny
Explore the Adirondack's valleys.Best Hikes Ever: Willow Gulch, UT
Explore resurrected sandstone slots.Best Hikes Ever: Olympic Traverse, WA
Go from rainforest to glaciers.Best Hikes Ever: Redwood Creek Trail, CA
Feeling small among the world's tallest trees.Wyoming Hikes
Go high and wide in Wyoming's untamed range.Best Hikes Ever: Boundary Waters, MN
Immerse yourself in Minnesota's liquid wilderness.Long Trail Hikes
Traverse the first long trail in Vermont.Best Hikes Ever: Sabino Canyon Trail, AZ
Hike to a natural day spa.Best Hikes Ever: Four-Pass Loop, CO
See the Rockies' most iconic mountains.Best Hikes Ever: Bucking Mule Falls Trail, WY
Watch a waterfall cascade from the sky.Best Hikes Ever: Southern Traverse, AK
Tackle an epic adventure in the far north.Best Hikes Ever: Wonderland Trail, WA
Circumnavigate the West's most majestic mountain.Best Hikes Ever: North Vista Trail, CO
Aim upward for majestic views over an ancient canyon.Best Hikes Ever: Ben Avery Trail, AZ
Trek a desert landscape under a purple sun.Best Hikes Ever: Gospel Hump Loop Trail, ID
Find private valleys, mountain passes, and riverside campsites.Best Hikes Ever: Duffer Peak Trail, NV
Ascend a remote summit pyramid far away from civilization.Best Hikes Ever: Jenkins Mountain Trail, NY
Skirt lakes to soaring ’Daks views.Best Hikes Ever: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, AK
Find deep solitude where the continent crashes into a frigid ocean.Best Hikes Ever: Falls Hollow Trail, VA
Hike through waterfall spray to a rarely summited grassy bald.Best Hikes Ever: Chupadera Mountain Trail, NM
Rise from the desert floor to an airy, see-all perch.Best Hikes Ever: St. Mary to McDonald Lake, MT
Hike lake to lake through bear central in Glacier National Park.Best. Hikes. Ever.
We've covered 245,591 miles of trails in our 37-year history. Here are our 20 all-time favorite trips, plus—shocking!—20 routes we never covered.Best Hikes Ever: Grand Island Loop, MI
Hike along bluffs and fern forests in total solitude on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.Best Hikes Ever: Zion Narrows, UT
Sluice through towering walls of sandstone in Utah's Zion National Park.Best Hikes Ever: Mt. Cabot Loop, NH
Bag a little-known triple crown in New England's northern woods.Best Hikes Ever: Prairie Trail, ND
Weave around grassy meadows and mirror lakes.Best Hikes Ever: Summit Lake Trail, CA
Backpack a knee-trembling route through an active geothermal zone.Best Hikes Ever: Turkey Trail, KS
Snag views of swaying prairie grass stretching to the horizon.Best Hikes Ever: Burr Oak State Park, OH
Traverse rolling hills to star-gazing meadows.Best Hikes Ever: The Needles Traverse, CO
Forge your own route through the Rockies' most rugged corner.Best Hikes Ever: The Lost Coast Trail, CA
Hike America's most punishing paradise.Best Hikes Ever: Appalachian Trail, GA-ME
Thru-hike America's most revered long trail: the Appalachian Trail.Best Hikes Ever: Denali, AK
Pick your pilgrimage through the backcountry Holy Land: Mt Eielson Loop or Kesugi Ridge.Best Hikes Ever: Elk Trail, PA
Track through dense forests ringing with bugling.Best Hikes Ever: Balsam Cap and Friday Mountain, NY
Brave thick forest to reach rugged twin summits.Best Hikes Ever: Presidential Traverse, NH
Tag a team of the East's most challenging peaks in the White Mountains.Best Hikes Ever: Logging Lake Trail, MT
Hike a forested, fire-scarred trail between two iconic pools.Best Hikes Ever: Sandpiper Trail, SC
Emerge from crane-crossed coastal grasslands to pristine beaches.Best Hikes Ever: Escalante Route, AZ
Plumb the wild depths of the Big Ditch.Best Hikes Ever: Teton Crest Trail, WY
Traverse the nation's most photogenic range on the Teton Crest Trail.Best Hikes Ever: John Muir Trail, CA
Step for scenery-packed step, nothing else compares to the John Muir Trail.Reader Leader Contest Winner!
After sifting through scores of submissions, we've chosen a reader who will be an official BACKPACKER field scout.The Peak: Mt. Marcy, Adirondacks, NY
Take the scenic--and sporting--route to New York's highest summit.Natural Wonders: Hells Canyon, Bighorn Sheep, and Longleaf Pines
See North America's deepest river gorge, the west's most violent mating Display, and the Southeast's last longleaf pines.Natural Wonders: Longleaf Pines, GA
Walk beneath trees that predate the Revolutionary War.Natural Wonders: Sparring Bighorn Sheep
Witness bighorn rams' skull-bashing attempts to win a date.Natural Wonders: Hells Canyon, OR/ID
Hike into North America's deepest river gorge--a canyon that could hold five stacked Sears Towers.Top 3 Rainy Season Hikes: Neshannock Creek, PA
Cast a fly to land lunker brown trout.Top 3 Rainy Season Hikes: Emerald Pools, UT
Explore Gushing, Rain-fed waterfalls.Top 3 Rainy Season Hikes: Mill Creek, CA
Rains summon salmon and slugs.Top 3: Rainy Season Hikes
Make the best of fall storms on trails that improve with soggy weather.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: The Press Traverse, WA
Cross the Olympic Range on a forgotten explorers' path.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Middle Fork Trail, NM
Trek along–and in–the Gila River.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Foothills Trail, SC
See bears, gorges, and waterfalls on this 77-mile South Carolina hike.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Resurrection Pass Trail, AK
This 39-mile Alaska hike offers big scenery without a bush plane.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Knobstone Trail, IN
Climb high (really!) in the Midwest.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Greenstone Ridge, MN
Traverse a seldom-hiked national park.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: West Coast Trail, BC
Tackle Vancouver Island’s wild coast.High Sierra Trail, Ca: 50-Mile Thru-Hikes
Go straight to the top in the Range of Light.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Toiyabe Crest Trail, NV
Cross Nevada's loftiest range in 6-7 days.50-Mile Thru-Hikes: Loyalsock Trail, Pennsylvania
A 59-mile "long trail" through Pennsylvania.Less is More: 50-Mile Thru-Hikes
Ten point-to-point treks with the payoffs of a thru-hike, but hikeable in a week.Survival: Injured with...No First-Aid Kit
You're hiking. You slip. You're hurt. But the first-aid kit is back in the car--12 miles away. What should you do?Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Backcountry Kitchen Accessories
Everything you need to stay sated in the backcountry.Rip & Go: Mathews Arm Loop - Shenandoah National Park
Ramble through brilliant red and yellow fall foliage.Rip & Go: Grandview Loop - Grand Canyon, South Rim
Descend to the Ditch's primitive core on a three-day loop.Rip & Go: Paradise Valley - Kings Canyon National Park
Hike in the spray of waterfalls deep in the heart of black bear country.Gear Review: Primus OmniFuel
Cook with just about any fuel with this versatile stove.Coming Soon: BACKPACKER's Life List: The International Edition
Our free guide to the 20 best international hikes ever written about in the pages of BACKPACKER.Gear Review: Joshua Tree Climbing Salve
Fight rough effects on your skin with this moisturizing climbing salve.October 2010 Table of Contents
20 Best International Hikes: Sign Up for a Free Digital Download
BACKPACKER's Life List: The International Edition is a free guide to the 20 best international hikes ever written about in the pages of Backpacker.Top 10 Page Turners: The Best Backpacker Stories Ever
Our editor-in-chief's picks for the finest writing in this magazine's history.The Seven Deadly Sins (And Why We Love Them)
This classic roundup appeared in the June 2003 issue of BACKPACKERLocal Hikes: St. Louis, MO
The best local hikes near St. Louis.Local Hikes: Knoxville, TN
The best hikes near Knoxville, TN.Local Hikes: Spokane, WA
The best hikes near Spokane.Local Hikes: Portland, OR
The best hikes near Portland.Local Hikes: Anchorage, AK
The best hikes near Anchorage.Local Hikes: Boise, ID
The best hikes near Boise.Local Hikes: Portland, ME
The best hikes near Portland, ME.Local Hikes: Rochester, NY
The best hikes near Rochester.Local Hikes: Burlington, VT
The best hikes near Burlington.Local Hikes: Philadelphia, PA
The best hikes near Philly.Local Hikes: Manchester, NH
The best hikes near Manchester.Local Hikes: Boston, MA
The best hikes near Boston.Local Hikes: Pittsburgh, PA
The best hikes near Pittsburgh.Local Hikes: Albany, NY
The best hikes near Albany.Local Hikes: New York City, NY
The best hikes near New York, as selected by the Big Apple's best hiking clubs.Rip & Go: Horse Mountain to Traveler Mountain - Baxter State Park, ME
Reach great granite heights on Katahdin's next-door neighbor.Rip & Go: Watchtower to Sheephead Loop - Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, MT/ID
Have rocky ridges and sparkling alpine lakes all to yourself.Rip & Go: Stuart Fork to Alpine Lake -Trinity Alps, CA
Discover the inner sanctum of California's second largest wilderness.Top 3 Waterslide Hikes: West Clear Creek, AZ
Hike through a winding canyon, then cool off in a whitewater spa.Ranger Confidential: Secrets of the National Park Rangers
True tales from the front lines--and behind the scenes--of America's national parks.VIDEOS: Winter Test Fest
Video footage & backcountry skills tips from Backpacker's winter ski testing in Norway & Colorado.September 2010 Table of Contents
BACKPACKER Editors' Choice 2007: MSR Reactor and Primus EtaPower
These cooking systems offer remarkable power, efficiency, and wind resistance to gourmet cooks and noodle boilers alike.Print & Go: Heart Lake and Mt. Sheridan, Yellowstone NP
Experience the rugged side of Yellowstone on this two-day, 23.1-mile backpack. You'll track past steaming creeks and old-growth lodgepole on the way to a campsite near Heart Lake's rocky shoreline. On day two, rise early for the 2,800-foot climb to Mt. Sheridan's 10,308-foot crown.Print & Go Weekend Trip Planners
Free Print & Go PDFs give you turn-by-turn trail instructions and photos embedded on a usable topo map. Also: Gear checklists, driving directions, and geo-references for finding the nearest campground, restaurant, gas station, and grocery store.Tahoe Rim Trail: Above it All
On a thru-hike of the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, two brothers get some perspective - on America's largest alpine lake, and each other.Top 3 Trailhead Pub Hikes: Buttermilk Falls SP, NY
Explore waterfall-filled Gorges with fossils preserved in the shale walls.Top 3 Trailhead Pub Hikes: The Barr Trail, CO
Climb a fourteener for a view across the continental divide.Top 3 Trailhead Pub Hikes: Deschutes River Trail, OR
Hike streamside near pacific northwest greenery and caribbean-blue eddies.The Peak: Mt. Mitchell
Enjoy solitude and fixed-rope scrambling on the East's highest mountain.Life's Short, Hike More!
What makes a backpacker a backpacker? It's not the garage full of gear or piles of guidebooks--it's the experiences, from thru-hiking a long trail to pushing your personal envelope to inspiring a child's love of wilderness. Here we present BACKPACKER's new Life List: 10 experiences to add to your tick-listnow--and the key skills you need to nail them.New Life List: Explore Patagonia
Experience the thrill of being a pioneer: Trek to a remote corner of the globe.New Life List: Summit a Himalayan Peak
The roof of the world is open to everyone, and your personal Mt. Everest is waiting.New Life List: See a Grizzly
Coming face to face with the biggest predator in North America might just alter your worldview.New Life List: Bag a Remote Peak
Stand alone atop Washington's Glacier Peak--a summit that others rarely see, let alone climb.New Life List: Traverse a Mountain Range
Walking a high ridge with countless views and no people is the stuff of dreams. Make it real in Olympic National Park's Bailey Range.New Life List: Tackle a Monster Dayhike in the Grand Canyon
See a week's worth of scenery in 24 hours, and redefine your idea of what's possible.New Life List: Shoot a Wall-Worthy Photo
The only thing equal to a life-list trip? An image that brings it back to life.New Life List: Ultimate Family Paddling Adventure
World-class scenery, luxe camping, and easy paddling await your family on the Green River in Canyonlands. Your kids will remember this forever.New Life List: Climb a Via Ferrata
Get a taste of the vertical alpine world--no experience required.New Life List: Thru-Hike the JMT
A lifetime of weekend trips is like trying to live on appetizers. Get real sustenance with a two-week trek through the best of the Sierras on California's John Muir Trail.20 Full Moon Hikes
The moon is full on Monday, July 26. Get out this weekend to explore open meadows and ridgelines at night.My Toughest Gear: MSR PocketRocket
Online gear tester Will Rochfort weighs in on his toughest piece of backpacking gear to date–and how it has impressed the ladies.Download BACKPACER Photo Wallpaper for Your Computer, iPhone, iPad, or Blackberry
Need instant inspiration? Download these BACKPACKER destination photos–Switzerland, Grand Canyon, & John Muir Wilderness–and get lost.Rip & Go: Snowy Range Loop, Medicine Bow National Forest, WY
See snaggly summits and hook trout galore on a high-alpine trek.John Muir Trail, Cherokee National Forest, TN
Contemplate the south's wild side on the trail that launched America's greatest wilderness champion.Hiking Wales: Plan Your Trip
Use our guide to make your Wales hiking adventure a reality.Hiking Wales: Brecon Beacons National Park
Cross a sprawling preserve of broad mountains, lonely ridgelines, and lush river valleys.Hiking Wild Wales: Offa's Dyke Path
Follow a long-distance trail along the once-violent, now-bucolic border between England and Wales.Hiking Wild Wales: Snowdonia National Park
The highest peak. The wildest ridges. The largest lake. Find them all in Wales's alpine heart.Hiking Wild Wales: Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Tiptoe along oceanside bluffs with views across the Irish Sea.Secret Hikes: Yellowstone National Park
What crowds? Lose yourself in the Lamar Valley on this weeklong hike.Secret Hikes: Appalachian Trail
The last lonely stretch of the AT beckons from the mountains of western Maine.Secret Hikes: Glacier National Park
Score wildlife sightings daily, choice views hourly--and at least one juicy burger--on this weeklong circuit.Secret Hikes: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Explore a granite wonderland, cross two little-used passes, and score High Sierra solitude on this point-to-point hike.Secret Hikes: Zion National Park
Pack an extra memory card for what is, mile-for-mile, the most photogenic hike in the Southwest.Secret Hikes: North Cascades National Park
Dive into the heart of the Lower 48's wildest park.Secret Hikes: Badlands
Ever dreamed of exploring another planet? Hike here.Secret Hikes: Isle Royale National Park
Trek to shoreline campsites through woodlands rife with moose, birds, and wolves.Secret Hikes: Olympic National Park Hiking
Walk from lush rainforest to wide-open glacier views on this 43-mile sneak route.Secret Hikes: Hiking Grand Canyon National Park
Surprise: This park's busy corridor trails offer a fast track to a private slice of heaven.Fast Responders:The Medical Wilderness Adventure Race
In a Utah mash-up of adventure racing and wilderness medicine, everyone wins.Secret Hikes: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Climb from sublime desert to pine forests and peaks with 100-mile views.Secret Hikes: Grand Teton National Park
Rise above the crowds and earn solo views of elk, wildflowers, and summit sunsets.Secret Hikes of the National Parks
The perfect dozen: Embark on one of these 12 treks, and turn America's most iconic preserves into your own private paradise.High Note: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with Rock Stars for a Cause
The only problem with cancer survivors and rockers joining forces for a fund-raising concert on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro? It's hard to cheer when you can't breathe.Hiking Wild Wales
Don't be fooled by the cozy pubs and low elevations. The birthplace of mountaineering overflows with challenges, from rugged peaks to history-laden coastal treks.Natural Wonders: World's Tallest Geyser, North America's Smallest Bird and Best Shade Tree
Discover the world's tallest geyser, North America's smallest bird, and the country's best shade tree on these three treks.Top 3: Ghost Town Hikes
Walk 100 or more years back into history--and deep into wilderness outposts now reclaimed by nature--with these routes to three abandoned frontier communities.Top 3 Ghost Town Hikes: Dogtown, MA
walk 10 miles of demise carved in stone.Top 3 Ghost Town Hikes: Boston Mine, CO
Visit a Wrecked alpine village.Top 3 Ghost Town Hikes: Glorietta Ghost Town, NM
Hike to a hotel with no visitors.Gear Review: First Ascent Mountain Guide Lite Pants
The fit, the fabric, and the details make these pants shine.The Manual: Plan an Expedition
Go big with these expedition trip planning tips.June 2010 Table of Contents
Gear Review: Monatauk Gnat Stove
This 1.6 oz. canister stove has our tester neglecting his regular go-to stove.Local Hikes: Northeast
Hike across a state, gain the country's best foliage view, and top alpine balds. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)Local Hikes: Midwest
See moose, bag a high-desert peak, and sample a quiet long trail. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)Local Hikes: New Hikes Near You
Our army of reader-reader scouts mapped 59 local hikes from South Carolina to Northern California. See their favorites, then learn how to download tracklogs and waypoints.Local Hikes: Northwest
See five volcanoes, camp at secluded lakes, and hike through a swarm of butterflies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)Zones: 6 Topographies, 18 Amazing Trips
Whether you're looking for Coastal, Canyon, Peak, Forest, or Urban hikes, we have those. Plus some paddling (Water) trips for good measure.Zones: Forests
Hike amongst the trees in these Washington, California, and Vermont hikes.Zones: Peaks
Hike high points on Mt. Rainier, Mt. Washington, and Mt. Whitney.Zones: Canyons
Marvel at Mother Nature on these canyon hikes in Utah and North Carolina.Zones: Coastal
Hug the coastline in these Michigan, California, and British Columbia hikes.Zones: Water
Hit the water, and see plenty of wildlife and scenic views, on these paddling trips in Alaska, Florida, and Minnesota.Colorado Trail: Find Solitude
How to beat the crowds and find solitude in the RockiesWater: Boundary Waters, MN
Looking for animals? This Minnesota paddle is a sure bet.Water: Ten Thousand Islands Loop, FL
See the Everglades by boat on this 23 mile trip.Water: Muir Inlet, AK
Paddle along Glacier Bay's dynamic shores.Coastal: Nootka Trail, British Columbia
Hike Canada's Pacific Coast harbor on this British Columbia trail.Coastal: Pictured Rocks Lakeshore, MI
Hike Lake Superior's shoreline in this 12+ mile hike.Coastal: Lost Coast Trail, CA
This 26-mile trek along California's coast should have been a highway...except it was too riddled with cliffs to build on.Canyon: Davis Gulch, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, UT
This picturesque Utah hike features natural arches and ancient petroglyphs.Canyon: Linville Gorge Loop, NC
Head to Asheville, North Carolina for this beautiful gorge loop.Canyon: Narrows of the Virgin River, UT
Hike, swim, and scramble in this 16-mile slot canyon route.Peak: Mt. Washington, NH
If you don't mind the potential of extreme weather and wind, Mt. Washington is your hike.Peak: Mt. Whitney, CA
Check out the Mountaineer's Route of Mt. Whitney if you're looking for a challenge.Peak: Mt. Rainier: Disappointment Cleaver Route
This challenging climb on Mt. Rainier gains almost 2,000 feet per mile.My Island, My Map: Creating a Custom Map of Bainbridge Island
If you think you missed the age of exploration and discovery, you haven't tried the latest mapping tools. Join our tech scout as he learns how to hike like a cartographer--and sees the wilderness in an entirely new way.Grand Canyon: Treasure Map
Score your own private paradise with this insider's guide to uncrowded areas in Grand Canyon National Park.Forest: Giant Forest Loop, CA
See giant sequoias, including General Sherman, on this great family hike.Forest: Hoh River Trail, WA
This Olympic National Park trail features serious elevation gain and switchbacks galore.Forest: Monroe Skyline, VT
This 15-mile section of the Long Trail traces the spine of Vermont's Green Mountains.Urban: The Vegas Strip, NV
This 5.3 mile sunset tour of Vegas takes in all the sights and sounds.Urban: Manhattan, NY
If you don't mind the crowds, hiking Manhattan is urban hiking at its finest.Urban: Walt Disney World, FL
Hike Disney's Magic Kingdom with the family.Table of Contents: May Maps Issue 2010
Gear Review: Gear Aid Repair Kits
Whether it's a torn pack, cracked buckle, ripped tent mesh, or leaky sleeping pad, these kits can pretty much restore anything that breaks.Be A Backpacker Map Correspondent
Become an official BACKPACKER Map Correspondent and get FREE GEAR!OFFFICIAL RULES: BE A BACKPACKER MAPPER CONTEST
The official rules for entering and winning prizes in our "Be A Mapper" Contest.'BE A BACKPACKER MAPPER' GIVEAWAY: Official Rules
Official rules for "Be A Backpacker Mapper" GiveawayHike America's Long Trails
We know. You've always wanted to hike a long trail. Lucky for you, we've got the comprehensive guides to make your dreams a reality. Check out the best sections and dayhikes along the AT, PCT and CDT. PLUS: See how four hikers beat the recession...by hiking through it.Meet the Backpacker.com Gear Test Crew
We pulled these four guys off the streets, eh, the trail, to test some of the compelling and crazy products that come across our desks everyday.Gear Review: Z-Medica QuikClot Sport
Stop big bleeds fast.National Parks Hall of Fame: Photo Galleries
Catch the best views in the nation's marquee parks from the comfort of your computer. Prepare to drool...now.Gear Review: Ultimate Survival Technology BASE Kit
This light survival kit has all the essentials.Toughest Gear: MSR XGK-EX Stove
A masterpiece of no-compromise indestructibility.BACKPACKER Editors' Toughest Gear
Thirty indestructible gear picks from two decades of hardcore field-testing.Spring Hikes: Trip Planner
From Georgia to Oregon, spring blossoms are finally pushing through the winter frost. That means it's time to clear the cobwebs out of the boot soles and bag your first hike of the spring. Here's our exclusive guide to the best spring dayhikes around the country from east, middle, and west.Gear Review: Elemental Herbs Sport SPF 22 Tinted
Get all-day protection without the greasy white tint with this chemical-free sunscreen.Gear Review: Elemental Herbs All Good Goop
This healing balm soothes cracked skin, dry lips, and minor cuts and burns.Gear Review: Soto OD-1R Micro Regulator
Finally, a canister stove that thrives in cold weather.Gear Review: Primus Express Spider
With a low center of gravity and a wide, stable burner, this stove is perfect for big groups or melting piles of snow.Gear Review: JetBoil Flash
With great fuel efficiency, quick boil times, and a small packed size, this stove is ideal for campers who need hot water fast, without the fuss.Editors' Choice 2010: Soto OD-1R Micro Regulator Stove
Gear Review: EZ Grill
A disposable grill for backcountry feastsGear Review: Adventure Medical Kits Day Tripper
A handy, all-inclusive first aid kitUltralight First-Aid
Build your own superlight first aid kitGear Review: Optimus Terra HE
A great two-pot cooksetGear Review: Evernew Aluminum Ceramic Non-Stick Deep Pots
A ceramic coated cook pot with a fry pan lidGear Review: Smartshield SPF 30 Spray with Insect Repellent
An all-natural sunscreen with bug repellantGear Review: Adventure Medical Kits Blister Medic
Stop blisters in their tracks.Gear Review: Adventure Medical Kits Heatsheets Emergency Bivy
A light emergency bivvy sackNational Parks Center
We've collected the best hikes, most amazing photos, and mind-blowing videos for the ultimate National Park planning center. Get inspired and get hiking now!Natural Wonders: Smallest Deer, Frozen Waterfall, and Death Valley's Wildflowers
Three treks to life-list phenomena from Death Valley to Colorado.Top 3 Luxury Hikes
Hit the trail, then hit the oh-so-soft mattress at one of these hiker-friendly lodges.Ultimate Rocky Mountain Destinations
Disappear into Yellowstone's forgotten peaks. Bag Colorado's most exciting Fourteener. Hike Utah's unknown long trail Our field editors pick 24 epics for your Rockies life list.The Big Easy: Backpack Alaska
Plan your perfect Alaskan trip–from a budget-friendly weekend to an entry-level expedition–with field reports from Steve Howe.The Rangers are Watching: Webcams in Yellowstone
Are wilderness webcams good for the backcountry–or bad for privacy?Thru-Hiking the Recession
The upside to being downsized? Having time to hit the nation's long trails.Higher Love: Father & Daughter Climb Mt. Chamberlin
On a remote Arctic peak, a father and his teenager encounter the hardest of all human challenges.Fly Fishing Mystery Alaska: A Fish Story
Imagine an Alaskan paradise with trout bigger than your leg, bears, and caribou traipsing by camp, and no people–except your good friends. This place exists, we just can't tell you where it is.Destination Alaska: Castner Glacier
Witness the effects of climate change on a challenging trek in the Delta Mountains.Destination Alaska: Devil's Pass
Easy routefinding and life-list sights make this thru-hike a must for Alaska novices.Destination Alaska: Grizzly Pass
Hike to a private paradise deep in the Talkeetna Mountains.Destination Alaska: Harding Icefield
Hike a classic in Kenai Fjords–and escape the crowds by making it an overnight.Destination Alaska: The Goat Trail
Tackle an epic route through Chitistone Canyon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve.Destinatons Alaska: Johnson Pass
Hike a historic, kid-friendly trail to wildflower meadows and fish-filled lakes.Destination Alaska: Flute Glacier
Just minutes from town, score big scenery fast on the South Fork of Eagle River.Destination Alaska: Lost Lake, Chugach Mountains
Bring plenty of supplies to this alpine plateau in the Chugach Mountains–you'll want to extend your stay.Destination Alaska: Thompson Pass
See the awesome Valdez Mountains on this off-trail adventure to Point Odyssey and beyond.Rip & Go: Big Moose Mountain - Maine Public Reserved Lands Little Moose Unit, ME
Hike to an historic fire tower and camp beside secluded ponds.Rip & Go: Soldier Creek Loop - Fort Robinson State Park, NE
Explore an unknown Nebraska wilderness for a surprising dose of rolling hills, wildlife, and solitude.Rip & Go: Dewey Point - Yosemite National Park, CA
Discover the rewards of winter camping on this easy snowshoe trek.Southern Rockies: Truchas Traverse, NM
Hit three 13,000-foot peaks in the wildest wilderness south of Glacier.Southern Rockies: Wheeler Peak, NM
Climb to the crown of the Sangre de Cristo Range.Southern Rockies: Twilight Peaks, CO
Explore a secret wonderland in the West Needle Mountains.Southern Rockies: Continental Divide Trail, CO
Hike high on this above-treeline route through the Weminuche Wilderness.Central Rockies: Green River Lakes, WY
Hike to the heart of the Winds.Central Rockies: Highline Trail, UT
Discover Utah's best-kept secret.Central Rockies: Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
Climb this iconic summit on an uncrowded sneak route.Northern Rockies: Gallatin Skyline, Yellowstone National Park
Go high for the see-it-all hike in this iconic park.Northern Rockies: Dawson Pass Loop, Glacier National Park
See the best of Montana without the crowds.Northern Rockies: Moose Creek, Grand Teton National Park
Find solitude with this surf-and-turf trip.Northern Rockies: Thompson Peak, ID
Climb the high point of the Sawtooth Mountains.Northern Rockies: Imogene Pass Loop, ID
Swim, climb, nap–repeat. This Sawtooths trek has it all.The Peak: Mt. Tamalpais, CA
At Mt. Tam you'll find wilderness solitude with Pacific views only 20 miles from San Francisco. Plus, there's a beer garden.Natural Wonders: Death Valley's Wildflowers
Trek through lush fields that thrive on just two inches of annual rainfall.Natural Wonders: Colorado's Tallest Frozen Waterfall
See a 365-foot cascade turned to ice at Bridal Veil Falls.Luxury Hikes: Amicalola Falls SP, GA
Trek to an off-the-grid bunkhouse.Luxury Hikes: Muleshoe Ranch, AZ
Discover a desert oasis.Luxury Hikes: Navajo Lake Trail, CO
Hike to a hot springs and private cabin.Editors' Choice 2010 Videos: Hiking the Swiss Alps
Hike Switzerland's Via Alpina route with the Backpacker editors in our video series.Editors' Choice 2010: Switzerland Photo Slideshows
View stunning vistas and snowy passes in these photos of Switzerland's Via Alpina route. Included: the Eiger, the Wetterhorn, and Jungfrau Glacier.Reader Essays: Close Encounter
Paula Patterson learns how to share the trail–but not her tent–with the wildlife.Reader Essays: Yogi, Meet the Kids
Finding it hard to get the whole family out for a hike? Let Danny Griffs show you the way.Your Favorite Places: Readers' Choice Trips 2010
Who knows the secret trails and must-do classics in every corner of the country? Our teams of regional experts, recruited from the ranks of readers like you. Here are their top hikes from coast to coast.Midwest Readers' Choice Hikes
Mississippi river vistas, ocean-size grasslands, and guaranteed solitude.Mountain West Readers' Choice Hikes
A weekend in Glacier, a quiet 14er, and the Rockies' best hot springs.Northeast Readers' Choice Hikes
A state high point, killer foliage, and a hike loaded with waterfallsNorthwest Readers' Choice Trips
Crashing waterfalls, hidden lakes, and a choice Denali view highlight the 2010 Northwest Readers' Choice hikes.Southeast Readers' Choice Hikes
Colossal trees, sweet swimming holes, and the USA's best picnic spot.West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes
The world's prettiest shoreline, giant pines, and Yosemite's premier view.West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Kalalau Trail, HI
Hike Hawaii's all-world coast to a secluded beach.West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: The Ruby Crest Trail, Humboldt NF, NV
Explore lonely alpine scenery in this off-the-radar wilderness.West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Thru-hike the John Muir Trail, CA
Trek 211 miles through hiker heaven.West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: California's Giant Sequoias, Sugarbowl Loop, Kings Canyon NP
Take a lightly trafficked trail into the word's biggest grove.West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Sentinel Dome, Yosemite NP
Bag a granite peak with big views and small crowds.West Coast Readers' Choice Hikes: Lakes Trail to Pear Lake, Sequoia NP
Get a highlights tour of the High Sierra backcountry.Readers' Choice Southeast Hikes: Ramsey Cascades, Great Smokies, TN
See big water, massive trees, and tiny amphibians.Readers' Choice Southeast Hikes: Mt. Rogers NRA, VA
Celebrate the arrival of summer with an unrivaled circus of color.Readers' Choice Southeast Hikes: Max Patch Bald, NC
Have a picnic on one of the Southeast's biggest balds.Readers' Choice Southeast Hikes: Clingmans Dome to Silers Bald, TN
Bag four scenic peaks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Readers' Choice Southeast Hikes: Thru-hike the Florida Trail
See wild, historic surprises in the Sunshine State.Readers' Choice Southeast Hikes: Raven Ridge - Blackbird Knob Loop
Dolly Sods Wilderness, WV
See a Great White North south of the Mason-Dixon.
Readers' Choice Northwest: Golden Larches - Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA
See this deciduous pine turn electric-yellow.Readers' Choice Northwest: Wahtum Lake, OR
Find primo lakeside camping on a rainforest-to-alpine loop.Readers' Choice Northwest: Lost River Range, ID
Want guaranteed peace and quiet? Hike to two of the Lower 48's most remote alpine lakes.Readers' Choice Northwest: South Spur, Mt. Adams, WA
Climb the Northwest's tallest nontechnical volcano.Wonderland Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park
This classic alpine loop belongs on every backpacker's tick list.Readers' Choice Northwest: Hannegan Peak and Copper Ridge - North Cascades NP, WA
Enjoy unparalleled views from one of the country's finest skyline trails.Readers' Choice Northeast Hikes: Ricketts Glen State Park, PA
22 falls in a one day. Need we say more?Readers' Choice Northeast Hikes: Panther Gorge and Mt. Marcy, Adirondack Park, NY
Bag New York's high point and two other big peaks.Readers' Choice Northeast Hikes: Bernard Mountain, Acadia National Park, ME
Hike to a crowd-free view of the ocean.Readers' Choice Northeast Hikes: Vermont's Green Mountains Foliage
Ogle fiery color in the Green Mountains.Readers' Choice Northeast Hikes: Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness
Explore the Appalachian Trail's wildest stretch.Readers' Choice Northeast Hikes: Burroughs Range Loop, Catskill Mountain Preserve, NY
Scramble to the Catskills' highest peaks.Readers' Choice Mountain West Hike: Santa Maria Spring, Grand Canyon NP
Gaze into the world's most beautiful labyrinth.Readers' Choice Mountain West: Mr. Bubbles, Yellowstone NP
Relax in an effervescent bath far from the dayhiking crowds.Readers' Choice Mountain West Hike: West Maroon Pass, CO
Trip through kaleidoscopic color amid high-alpine splendor.Readers' Choice Mountain West: Mills Lake, Rocky Mountain NP
Get big payoffs on an easy hike.Readers' Choice Mountain West: The Colorado Trail
Thru-hike America's highest trail.Readers' Choice Mountain West: Gunsight Pass, Glacier NP
See the park's famed glaciers from a high mountain pass.Readers' Choice Midwest Hikes: Nachusa Grasslands, IL
Explore a vast, trail-free prairie.Readers' Choice Midwest Hikes: Aurora Borealis Isle Royale NP, MI
See the country's best light show.Readers' Choice Midwest Hikes: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, OK
Bushwhack into what very well might be the quietest spot in America.Readers' Choice Midwest Hikes: Effigy Mounds National Monument, IA
Climb to views of the mighty Mississippi River.Readers' Choice Midwest Hikes: Ice Age Trail, WI
Thru-hike one of the country's least-known National Scenic Trails.Midwest Reader Map Team
Readers' Choice Midwest Hikes: Garden of the Gods to Lusk Creek Canyon, Shawnee NF, IL
Hike the River-to-River Trail over rugged ridges, through narrow canyons, and into small caves.Reader Essays: Grandpa's Lesson
William G. Godlove discovers that even a short hike can last forever.Reader Essays: Wilderness Served
James Dammar dishes up some brotherly love on Isle Royale.Reader Essays: Great Smokies Solitude
Greg Hoover shares his secrets for finding quiet on the busiest trail in the country's busiest park.Reader Essays: Timber!
Jon Heaton and his son survive a deadly Yellowstone windstorm.Reader Essays: If Clark Griswold Went Camping ...
The trip would start like this, imagines Wayne Wright.Reader Essays: Going in Circles
Reece Price finds himself lost and alone in the desert.Reader Essays: Hold Your Fire
Robert DeNike demonstrates how NOT to greet a bear.Reader Essays: Stampede!
Caught between a goat and a hard place? Don't move, says Daniel Claar.Reader Essays: Bullfight!
John Joy goes fist-to-nose with an invasive species.Reader Essays: My First, Worst Trip
New to hiking? Brian Simpson has a foolproof plan for doing it all wrong.America's Worst Trail: A Love Story
Is the reward always equal to the effort? Uh...maybe, says this bloodied, bruised, and bandaged reader.Inspirational BACKPACKER Readers
Meet five of BACKPACKER's most inspirational heroes–they're also readers.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Risk Factors
Most common backcountry injuries.The Five-Star Camp Kitchen
Car camping? Here's the ultimate setup for any chef.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Evacuate or Wait for Rescue?
Your buddy just slid down a steep scree and broke his leg. Should you go for help–or haul him out? It's a tough call. The answer depends on several factors. Here's how to decide.Rip & Go: Iron Mountain Loop - Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Lose the leaf-peeping crowds on this quiet ramble above Virginia's loftiest canopies of color.Rip & Go: Sage Creek Loop - Badlands National Park, SD
Explore off-trail in a wilderness with more bison than boot prints.Rip & Go: Badwater Basin to Gold Valley - Death Valley National Park, CA
Don't waste winter: Tackle this cross-country canyon trek in the Lower 48's largest national park.Injury-Proof Your Legs
Loosen up–and stay pain-free–with resistance stretching.Protect Your Vision in the Backcountry
Here's how to prevent–and treat–three common backcountry eye problems.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Stay or Go?
Use this chart to determine if you can finish your trip–or should hightail it to the ER.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: What to Pack
Construct a solid emergency kit with these medical must-haves.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: First Aid Improv
"Be prepared" is a great maxim, but be honest: Who among you packs a SAM splint and an irrigation syringe on every backpacking trip? Fear not–everyday items can serve as medical equipment in a pinch.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Extreme First Aid
When you're miles away from medical help and it's serious: Here's how to handle extreme injuries in the backcountry.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Muscles & Bones
Sprains, strains, and fractured bones. Here's what to do in the case of a distressed limb.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Environmental Threats
As much as we try to protect ourselves from extreme elements, sometimes the elements hedge even our greatest efforts. Here's what to do when Mother Nature wins.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Heavy Bleeding
Check out what to do when it's much more than a simple scrape or puncture wound.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Dental Emergencies
Soothe tooth pain with these helpful remedies.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Gastrointestinal Illness
Ugh. It's happened to us all. Here's how to handle a bad belly when you're away from far from home.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Animal & Insect Bites
Though we love backcountry wildlife (well, mostly), sometimes we get no love back. Read up on what to do when Mother Nature bites.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual: Minor Wounds
No wound, now matter how minor, should go ignored in the backcountry. Check out these quick tips to clean it up and keep trekking.The Ultimate First-Aid Manual
Treating injuries miles from the ER is an essential skill. But don't pack a medical text: Instead, learn what really matters. Wilderness Medicine Institute cofounder Buck Tilton boils down a lifetime's worth of experience into 62 tips every hiker should know. Read it, save it–and go forth to save lives.National Parks Hall of Fame
The all-time best. That's what every hiker wants on a national park trek, and that's what you'll get if you tackle one of these 25 trips.Natural Wonders: Blowholes, Salmon Runs, & Wine Country
Hawaii's Nakalele blowhole rivals Old Faithful. Plus: Trek to Oregon's salmon run and California's wine country.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Solitude
If less people, more elk has become your mountain mantra, check the Guadalupe Mountains backcountry camping sites and trails and get that so sought after alone time.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Loop
Don't go up, go around. Rainier's Wonderland Trail loop offers the marathon hiker two weeks of backpacking bliss.National Parks Hall of Fame: Park Finder
Zero in on your perfect hike, from thrilling slots to soak-awhile hot springs.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Alpine Hike
Live longer, take the North Circle Route. Glacier's highcountry views and crisp alpine air are rumored to add years to a backpacker's being.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Dayhike
Beat the crowds by tackling this classic dayhike by moonlight.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Canyon
The Tanner Trail in the grandest of U.S. canyons is a camping classic.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Wildlife
Who ever said out of sight, out of mind was certainly not referring to the wealth of wildlife that are making some big noise in Thorofare Valley.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Cross-Country Adventure
Traverse alongside delicate ecosystem, open tundra and hit nine summits on this "grand slam" of cross-country treks.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Wildflowers
Smelling the flowers doesn't require slowing down your trek (though you might want to) through the explosion of wildflowers that cover the Great Smoky Mountains each year.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Coastal Hike
Swap summits for sand scrambling along nearly 18 miles of quiet coastal terrain.National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Peak
No crowds. No frills. No cakewalk. This hang-on-for-your-life climb is not for the meager-hearted.National Parks Hall of Fame: Ranger Rated
No one knows the national parks better than the rangers who patrol them. We polled a bunch of insiders on their favorite national park sights, sounds, and tastes.Gear Review: Lafuma Futura Clipper Chair
Kick back, throw your feet up and enjoy this super comfy camp lounger.Gear Review: Lodge Logic Deep Dutch Oven
Cook almost anything in this burly outdoor oven.Gear Review: REI Weekend Cooler
Keep your weekend fixings cool with this soft, spacious cooler.Gear Review: GSI Infinity 4 Person Deluxe Tableset
This sturdy four-person mess kit boasts more than pretty colors.Gear Review: Kelty Kitchen Sink
On dish duty? This portable basin makes scrubbing easy.Gear Review: Coleman Fold N Go Grill
Interchangeable cooking surfaces make this compact stove a cook's backcountry dreamClimber, Guide, Gear Geek: Gear Design Advice from Peter Whittaker
Calling all equipment designers: Everest summiteer and Rainier veteran Peter Whittaker has some advice.Fall Foliage Photo Special
Learn how to take the perfect fall foliage photo with our tutorials and slideshows.BACKPACKER 3D Trail Flyover Videos
Fly these classic hikes in 3D with our guided tours.America's Scariest Trails: What are You Afraid of?
Haunted mountains? Vanished campers? Bloodthirsty creatures? An evil wind that lures hikers over a waterfall? We dare you to hike America's scariest trails.America's Scariest Trails: Really, I Saw it Myself
True tales from BACKPACKER editors and readersAmerica's Scariest Trails: Bloodthirsty Creatures
Bigfoot? He's a softy compared to the other menacing monsters lurking in the woods near you.America's Scariest Trails: Vanished
Lost? Murdered? When the wilderness swallows people without a trace, who's to say what happened?America's Scariest Trails: Supernatural Sights
Alpine views and starry skies are nice, but on these unsettling hikes you might see something really stunning.America's Scariest Trails: Tragedy in the Grand Canyon
When bodies can't be buried, do their spirits ever rest? Hike to the scene of this wreck and find out.America's Scariest Trails: Yosemite's Supernatural Wind
Go ahead and hike to this park's famous lakes and waterfalls. Just watch your step–and your back.America's Scariest Trails: Mt. Washington's Phantom Crowds
Never let your guard down on this deadly peak, where the weather–and spirits–are unpredictable.America's Scariest Trails: Big Bend's Deadly Past
With more than 200 murders recorded here, it's no wonder the Chisos Mountains are named for ghosts.The Lost Boy of the Ozarks
After three decades of silence, a reporter reveals the story he was afraid to write.BACKPACKER First Aid Center
From splinting a broken leg to duct taping a bloody wound, the BACKPACKER First Aid Center is an invaluable resource for backcountry first aid.Bushwhackers Wanted: Portland's Forest Park to the Pacific Ocean
Be the first to thru-hike an exploratory route from Portland to the Pacific.A 2,175-Mile Dayhike: Trekking the Appalachian Trail in One Day
The Dartmouth Outing Club targets an Appalachian Trail hiking record.Your Daily Tread: Local Hikes Across the U.S.
What's better than hiking every weekend? Hiking every day. Here are the best big-city escapes from New York to Los Angeles. Plus: Bill Donahue explores the remote reaches of Portland's Forest Park and discovers secrets even locals don't know.The Wild Edge: Exploring Portland's Forest Park
When urban trails blend with raw wilderness, the sum is much greater than the parts.Quick Escapes: 10 Trails Near Major Cities
The perfect metro-area trail: close, wild, uncrowded. Here are 10 major city options.Rip & Go: 10,000 Islands Loop - Everglades National Park, FL
Kayak to pocket beaches and Gulf islands at Florida's southern tip.Rip & Go: Wood Lake - Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, MT
Cross the Stillwater Plateau to trout-rich ponds at the foot of Montana's second highest peak.Rip & Go: Loowit Trail - Mt. St. Helens National Monument, WA
Tackle a challenging, rocky route in the shadow of America's most famous volcano.The Peak: Mt. Le Conte, TN
It's not the smallest peak in the Smokies, but spend a night on its summit (no tent required), and you'll agree it's the finest.Natural Wonders: Freaky Bats, Dry Falls, Winter Witch Hazel
Washington, Arkansas, and Georgia are host to these three life-list phenomena treks.Top 3 Battlefield Hikes
Close your eyes and hear the bullets fly: These three routes pass through parks drenched in United States military history.Watch It, Hike It: An Episode-by-Episode Guide to The National Parks: America's Best Idea by Ken Burns
Catch these highlights from The National Parks: America's Best Idea, then download maps to hike to them yourself.National Parks Confidential: Q & A with Filmmaker Ken Burns
On the eve of his much-anticipated documentary, Ken Burns discusses the heroes and history of America's most precious wildlands–and the new challenges they face now.Insider's Guide: Yellowstone
From camping with wolves to fly-fishing smarts this insider's guide has you covered.Vanishing Act: Explore Yellowstone's Northern Fringe
Disappear into Yellowstone's secret northern fringe, where you'll find a rejuvenated landscape and total solitude (except for the bison and grizzlies).Recipe: Sesame-White Bean Potato Cakes
These potato cakes are heavy on the carbs–and taste.Recipe: Italian-Style Potatoes
Spice up boring potatoes with some summer sausage, brown sugar, and tomatoes in this Italian-inspired dish.Recipe: Wasabi Potatoes with Salmon
The wasabi adds a kick to instant potatoes, while the salmon is a perfect protein source.Out of Africa: Interview with Ultrahiker Justin Lichter
In an attempt to hike the continent's wild divide, one ultrahiker does something he's never done–quit.Gear School: Liquid Fuel Stoves
These workhorse cookers are ideal for long expeditions, cold weather, and foreign adventures.Undiscovered Hikes: 19 New Trails
Hike these paths before the masses find them.Footprints Needed: Colorado's Undiscovered Black Canyon
Descend into Colorado's Black Canyon and explore a park that has everything–life-list scenery, challenging terrain, a revitalized river–except hikers.Rip & Go: Black Balsam Knob to Cold Mountain - Pisgah National Forest, NC
Trek 18.2 miles from the South's best view to its most famous mountain.Rip & Go: Wheeler Peak Loop - Wheeler Peak Wilderness, NM
Connect alpine lakes and tag three summits on this wildflower- and wildlife-packed loop.Rip & Go: Loon Creek to Horseshoe Lake - Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, ID
Explore a supersized wilderness that's home to Idaho's densest population of gray wolves.How to Lead a Summit Hike
Keep a group of peakbaggers safe with these field-proven tips.The Manual: How to Explore a Slot Canyon
Explore these redrock mysteries safely with expert tips on gear and technique.The Peak: Windom Peak, CO
Take a historic train to the trailhead and climb this Colorado beauty, nestled deep in the Weminuche Wilderness.Natural Wonders: Tallest Hoodoo, Largest Gators, Lost Maples
These three treks to life-list phenomena will take you to Bryce Canyon, Florida gator land, and fall foliage in the Texas desert.Top 3 Family Dayhikes
Pack up your brood for a day in the outdoors with these kid-friendly trails.Insider's Guide: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
From secret spots to the perfect campsites, this insider's guide has the goods on the Smokies.Time Travel: Hiking Historical Homesteads in the Smokies
A unique route linking historic homesteads yields an exciting Smokies adventure for hikers and history buffs alike.Higher Education: Should 13-Year-Old Jordan Romero Climb Everest?
Romero climbed Denali at 11 and has bagged five of the Seven Summits. He hopes to climb Everest in 2010, but is mountain climbing good for a growing kid?Vote on America's Best Trail
For our 2010 Readers' Choice issue we want to know your favorite trail in America.Backpacking Alaska: Glaciers, Wildlife, & Peaks On Every Corner
During a one-month August journey, BACKPACKER undertook multiple crowd-free Alaskan backpacking routes and returned with extensive photos, video, & GPS.Rip & Go: Five Mountain Loop - Adirondack High Peaks, NY
Trek to the trail-free summits of Macomb, Hough, and The DixesRip & Go: Paintbrush-Cascade Canyons Loop - Grand Teton National Park
Climb through bear country to a campsite with views of The Grand.Rip & Go: Spider Glacier - Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA
Stroll through wildflower-filled meadows to a frozen slice of the Cascade Range.Top 3 Perfect Substitute National Forests
Get national park-caliber scenery without crowds (or entry fees!) in these dead ringers for Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, and Yosemite.The Peak: Mt. Rainier
From the best guiding service to ultimate summit routes, Washington's highest peak is still the greatest.Insider's Guide Rocky Mountain National Park
From the top day hike to the key skills you'll need, we'll have you ready for the Rockies in no time.Full Circle: The Rocky Mountain Grand Loop
Follow a long-forgotten loop in Rocky Mountain National Park across the Continental Divide, through moose-infested meados, and up Longs Peak via a rarely climbed route.Eat Your Medicine: Natural Pain Relievers
Three pack-friendly snacks that soothe tired, overworked muscles.Which Water Treatment is for You?
Fast, hassle-free, ultralight,–we explore five different water treatment scenarios and the right system to use.How to Avoid Mosquito Bites
Stay itch-free this summer with these guide-tested tips.The Smokies' Homesteads: Exclusive Google Flyover Video and Tracklog
Marcus Woolf explores history and wilderness during a six-day trip through the Smokies.Yosemite Rescue Dogs: Could This Dog Save Your Life?
Kristin Bjornsen hikes into the Sierras to meet Gus, a new breed of highly trained rescue professional that's already patrolling Yosemite for lost and injured backpackers.Professor Rescue: Q & A with SAR Statistician Robert Koester
By crunching numbers on the thousands of lost hiker cases in the backcountry each year, Robert Koester hopes to keep you on track.August 2009 Table of Contents
Canned Heat: Stove Reviews
Tiny. Featherweight. Simple. Affordable. From the windy peaks of Colorado's Rockies to the icy summits of New Hampshire's Presidentials, these canister stoves kept us fat and happy.The Kitchen Sink: Backcountry Cookware Reviews
Everything you need to eat well in the backcountry.Weekend Planner: Go High-Tech
Go wireless, get dialed in, and navigate like a pro with these gadgets.Weekend Planner: Bring the Kids
Follow our fool-proof three-stage guide to getting your kids as psyched as you are about getting outside.Weekend Planner: Pack Less
Get outside earlier and faster by taking less with you. Here's how to ditch excess gear and pack light, tasty food.Weekend Planner: Join Others
Team trips will help get you outside faster than solo outings.Weekend Planner: Organize Your Gear
If you want to hit the trail before everyone, you'll need to get your gear in gear. Here's how.Weekend Planner: Work Smarter
A little thought and planning in the office can put you on the trail earlier than everyone else. Get started with this primer from productivity experts.BACKPACKER's Ultimate Weekend Planner
We guarantee you can triple your trail time this summer. How? Our step-by-step guide solves every challenge–work overload, gear chaos, no partner, family demands–so you can enjoy more of what you live to do every weekend: hike.America's Newest Wilderness
A quick guide to the best acres, trails, and views.Hike It, Save It: Red Buttes, Oregon/ California
Threatened by OHVs, logging, and overgrazing a 120,000-acre proposed addition to Red Buttes Wilderness would quintuple its size and benefit the Pacific Crest Trail.Hike It, Save It: Tumacacori Highlands, Arizona
Urban sprawl and local opposition lead the threats to this 84,000-acre tract of Coronado National Forest.Hike It, Save It: Seneca Creek, West Virginia
A two-day, 17-mile zigzag along blueberry-lined mountain ridges will give you a dose of the 24,000-acre "Crown Jewel of the Monongahela," threatened by oil and gas drilling.Hike It, Save It: Handies Peak, Colorado
The biggest threat to his critical gap between the Weminuche and Uncompahgre Wilderness Areas? Off-highway vehicles.Hike It, Save It: Upper Desolation Canyon, Utah
Oil and gas development threaten these 65,000 acres. Float the Green River to see what's at stake.Hike It, Save It: Utukok Uplands, Alaska
On the Brooks Range's Arctic slop, coal mining and oil and natural gas drilling are threats to half a million caribou, and the Arctic's highest concentration of grizzlies.Hike It, Save It: Scotchman Peaks, Montana/Idaho
Development, bureaucracy, and apathy threaten this Glacier-like mecca, home to grizzlies, fields of beargrass, and superlative alpine hiking.Hike It, Save It: Chestnut Ridge and Tracy Ridge, Pennsylvania
Oil drilling and vacation homes threaten on of the last Chestnut tree bastions, a 5,191-acre proposed Wilderness Area in the Allegheny National Forest.Hike It, Save It: Maine's Grafton Loop
The thread to this Down East trail? Vacation homes. Passing through roughly 10 miles of private land that has yet to be protected, wilderness designation could neutralize the looming threat.Hike It, Save It
It's never been easier to help save the wilderness–no donations, no petitions, no pulaski swinging required. The only thing you have to do is go backpacking.Rip & Go: Eagle Rock Loop - Ouachita National Forest, AR
Climb riverside bluffs in the South's oldest national forest.Gear Review: Evernew Color Ceramic Non-Stick Deep Pots
Camp cooking and cleanup goes much faster with Evernew's ceramic-coated pots.Gear Review: Evernew EL9 Solar Clip Light
This sustainable light gives cap-wearers a viable headlamp alternative.Gear Review: Soto Micro Regulator Stove
This stove comes tailor-made for winter campers and high-altitude mountaineers.Gear Review: Brunton Raptor Stove
Few stoves are tougher or more stable than the Brunton Raptor.MSR Pocketrocket Stove Review
This tiny, fast stove performs great in poor weather.Gear Review: Optimus Crux Lite Stove
The Optimus Crux Lite is meant for backcountry foodies who need precise cooking control.Gear Review: Primus Express Stove
If you need speed, this boil-test champ is your stove of choice.Gear Review: Snow Peak LiteMax Stove
Extremely lightweight and versatile, this stove can handle just about anything.Sleep Better Now: Improve Your Backcountry ZZZ's
Our restless guinea pig snooze-tested the latest science and gear to bring you a simple plan that's guaranteed to improve your backcountry ZZZ's.Kings of the Hill: Q & A with Ed Viesturs, The Whittakers, Seth Waterfall, Dave Hahn, & Melissa Arnot
Three generations of American mountaineering royalty discuss their sport, their fears, and their new mission: design great gear.Backcountry Tooth Care
Treat dental problems–from minor to major–with these tips.The Biggest Loser: Hikers That Get Lost
Search-and-Rescue guru Robert Koester creates a quick profile of the average victim and his behavior.Perfect Substitutes: Crowd-Free Destinations
You know that the big-name parks draw big-time crowds. But each of those outdoor icons has a lesser-known replacement that offers some of the same classic features and epic scenery–and you get it all to yourself.The Mosquito Truth: Behind the Bite
Get the bug dope ready: The bloodthirsty mosquito is heading your way this summer.Hike Forever: Ultimate Hiking Workouts
The secret to long-term health and fitness? Reap backpacking's many benefits–a strong heart, lean muscle, superior endurance–through every stage of your life. Here's how.America's Best Day Hikes: Midwest
Beaches, wildlife, and prairies in Minnesota, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, North Dakota, Kansas, and Illinois make the Midwest a hiker's paradise.America's Best Dayhikes: Northeast
From blueberry picking in New York and New Hampshire to pure solitude in New Hampshire and Maine, moose sitings in Vermont, and peaks in New York, these the hikes feature the best of the Northeast.America's Best Day Hikes: Southwest
From canyons to rock art to waterfalls, the Southwest has an abundance of natural beauty.America's Best Day Hikes: South
Take is stunning rivers and waterfalls, killer views, and amazing wildlife in Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Texas with these hikes.America's Best Day Hikes: Rockies
With alpine views, hot springs, wildflowers and wildlife, these hikes in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana offer the best of the Rockies.America's Best Dayhikes
From dawn-to-dusk epics in Utah canyons to lazy-picnic blueberry strolls in Maine–plus hikes to peaks, redwoods, hot springs, beaches, and more–here are 100 ways to spend a perfect day on the trail.Insider's Guide: The Grand Canyon
From dayhikes to weekends to weeklong hikes our Grand Canyon expert will have you ready to hit this natural wonder in no time. PLUS: Get dialed with essential skills.Depth Perception: Trek to Grand Canyon's Royal Arch
The best view in the Grand Canyon can't be seen from the rim. Brave the trek to Royal Arch, hidden deep in the gorge, and your world will never look the same.Rip & Go: Glen Camp Loop - Point Reyes National Seashore
Hike across forested hills to gape at ocean vistas just one hour north of San Francisco.Rip & Go: Bowen-Baker Loop - Never Summer Wilderness, CO
Get national park scenery without the crowds on an alpine overnight with lakeside camping.Rip & Go: Jacks River Trail - Cohutta Wilderness, GA
Disappear into the largest–and probably the wettest–wilderness east of the Mississippi.Climb This Peak: Katahdin
This iconic summit shouldn't be rushed. Save the experience on this 33-mile trek.Hike the Wind River Range
A stunning new hike—plus two thrilling classics—in the Rockies' top spot for big backpacking adventures.Yosemite's North Rim: Exclusive Google Flyover Video & Photo Slideshow
Kelly Bastone hiked a long-forgotten trail through Yosemite's North Rim and documented the trek on video, in photographs, and using GPS.Readers' Choice 2010: Submit Your Favorite U.S. Hike
Video/Blog: Kings of the Mountain--Ed Viesturs, the Whittakers and more
Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, Dave Hahn, and young guns Seth Waterfall and Melissa Arnot are joining forces to create a new line of gear and attack Mount Everest.Gear Guide 2009: Weeklong Packs
Heading out for a long haul? With these backpacks, you'll have the room you need for long trail comfort.Gear Guide 2009: Weekend Packs
From this year's Editors' Choice winner to the ultimate organizational wonder, these weekend packs are perfect for heading to the hills Friday to Sunday.Gear Guide 2009: Daypacks
Heading out for the day? We have your can-do ultimate daypack. From the best bargain to the lightest on the market, these packs have everything you need.Gear Guide 2009: 3-Person Tents
From the most headroom to the best deal, three isn't a crowd with these tents.Gear Guide 2009: Tarps
All you need is a roof over your head you say? A tarp might be just what you're after.Gear Guide 2009: Mountaineering Tents
Head to the high-country with these altitude-ready tents.Gear Guide 2009: 1-Person Tents
Going solo? Options abound with these 1-person tent choices.Gear Guide 2009: 2-Person Tents
From the most innovative to the most eco-friendly, pitch one of these 2-person tents for your home away from home.Gear Guide 2009: Heavy-Duty Boots
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.Gear Guide 2009: Light-Duty Boots
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.Gear Guide 2009: Mid-Duty Boots
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.Gear Guide 2009: Boots
We tested 150 boots this year, tallying enough trail miles to hike from Acadia to Denali–and back. Why? To help you find the perfect outdoor footwear.Gear Guide 2009: Tents
Home improvement: The best new shelters are roomy and light, thanks to innovative pole structures that expand space and reduce weight and bulk.Gear Guide 2009: Backpacks
How do we know this year's packs are lighter and more comfortable than ever? We spent the last 12 months lugging loads from Denali to the 'Daks to bring you the 32 best.Gear School 2009: Essentials
From sleeping pads to trekking poles, we'll have you good to go in no time.SOUTH
Special Survey: Best Cities to Raise an Outdoor Kid
Accessible national forests like the George Washington and Jefferson surround national park gems like Great Smoky and Shenandoah in a southern terrain that varies dramatically from Florida's Everglades to West Virginia's wilderness.
Vote Now! What's the Best City to Raise an Outdoor Kid?
Get This Gear: Essentials From A to Z
We tested more than 500 products–stoves, clothes, cameras, filters, tech tools, knives, and meals–to find these proven performers.Ridge Runner
Undeterred by injuries that would cripple most men, a Colorado hiker nears the halfway point in a pioneering attempt to thru-hike the true crest of the Continental Divide. In this extended online interview, Dunmire talks about his gear essentials, near misses, and the challenges that lay ahead as he continues to trace North America's spine.Get An Edge on Knife Safety
A knife expert's guide to blade selection and safetyThe Cure: Treating Frostbite
Frostnip and frostbite are poetic names for a serious health issue: frozen skin. Frostnip occurs when the first layer of skin freezes, creating pale blotches on the affected area (usually the fingers and toes). If unchecked, the condition deepens into frostbite, in which multiple layers of skin freeze. Frostbite turns the flesh white and makes it feel solid to the touch. It often causes permanent tissue damage, and in rare cases requires amputation.
Ethiopia Backpacking Trips
Explore secret Africa on an alpine wildlife safari.Polar Route, Greenland
See sheer-sided fjords, calving glaciers, and the northern hemisphere's largest ice sheet.Rolwaling And Khumbu Valleys, Nepal
Experience the magic of the remote Himalaya.Sarek National Park, Sweden
Lose yourself in Europe's last great wilderness.Overland Track, Australia
Explore a hiker's fantasy island on Tasmania's rough-and-wild long trail.Cordillera Apolobamba, Bolivia
See the Andes the way Cortez did–totally wild.Tongariro Northern Circuit and Heaphy Track, New Zealand
Discover the best of Kiwi wilderness–north and south–with these two hikes.Austria Backpacking Trips
Score classic Alps scenery, adventure, and hut culture without the classic crowds.Higher Calling: Adventure in Valencia, Spain
Spain's little-known Valencia region beckons the mountain-minded adventurer with dramatic topography, sun-drenched hiking and biking, and sumptuous end-of-day feasts.Hike the Classics
It takes a certain kind of trail to earn such a lofty title. But our top 10 deliver unrivaled scenery, challenge, local culture, and most of all–fun.Stateside Adventures: Closer Than You Think
A veteran traveler discovers a world of adventure in his backyard.Globetrotter: Leo Le Bon, the Godfather of Trekking
In this interview the founder of adventure travel dishes on his favorite wild places, oddest encounters, and the world's next great trekking destinations.China: The People's Hiking Revolution
As prosperity spreads across China, so does a passion for the outdoors. But can millions of new trekkers save Asia's vast wilderness from the march of development? Welcome to the world's next hiking frontier. PLUS, check out China's Top Treks.Travel Like a Pro: For the Extreme Traveler
Bound for one of the globe's most exotic locales? Thrive in any environment with these tips.Travel Like a Pro: How to Stay Healthy
Tackle everything from jet lag to malaria (and those pesky mosquitoes) with our guide to staying healthy abroad.Travel Like a Pro: What to Do When You Get There
Start your adventure right with these tips on getting to the trailhead and keeping in contact once you get there.Travel Like a Pro: Tips for En Route
Leave that fuel canister at home, and other tips to consider when you're packing for your international adventure.Travel Like a Pro: What to Do Before You Leave
Don't suffer through a poorly planned trip: Use our tips to choose a destination and create a to-do list to begin your adventure.The World's Best Unknown Treks
We've traveled to 10 countries and uncovered the best adventures you never knew existed.Review: Adventure Medical Kits SmartTRAVEL First Aid Kit
From stings to dehydration, this fully-stocked kit has everything you'd need to handle a medical issue, even when overseasPassport Protection: Aloksac ShieldSak Review
This tech-saavy passport sleeve protects your documents from radio wave scannersCamera Pack: LowePro CompuRover
LowePro CompuRover is the outdoor photographer's best friend.Traveler's Daypack: Patagonia Scramble 35
For a rough day on the trail, wear Patagonia's stable Scramble 35 daypack.All-In-One Luggage: High Sierra Overpass Wheeled
Roll, carry, or tote around your gear with the versatile High Sierra Overpass Wheeled bag.Classic Duffel: The North Face Base Camp Series
The North Face Base Camp Series duffel is reliable through the worst dragging, zipper-yanking and rain.Lightweight Roller: Granite Gear Ultraflight 115
Durable and lightweight, the Granite Gear Ultraflight 115 will keep you rolling.International Multisport Meccas: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
Trek across the roof of the Andes, mix in some trail riding–on bike and horseback–and climb a 19,000-foot volcano.International Multisport Meccas: Julian Alps, Slovenia
Traverse the unknown end of the Alps–by trail, canyon, and cliff face–on this demanding journey in and around Triglav National Park.Wilderness Wonders: Hottest Geysers
Superheated water sprays from Yellowstone ground.The Perfect Circle: Hiking the Annapurna Circuit
Nepal's Annapurna Circuit can't compete with the world's best treks for lavish huts, extreme solitude, and sumptuous cuisine. So why is it still number one? Let us count the reasons.International Multisport Meccas: Queenstown, New Zealand
Hike, paddle, and swim narrow canyons before running class IV rapids on an inflatable boogie board.International Multisport Meccas: Darjeeling, India
Trek between Buddhist villages, raft Himalayan whitewater, and ride an elephant in the shadow of 8,000-meter peaks.International Mulitsport Meccas: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Float, backpack, and mountain bike Canada's wild west coast.February/March 2009 Table of Contents
Poll: What's Your Favorite National Park?
Readers' Choice Awards 2009
Discover the best hike in every state, as voted by BACKPACKER readers. Plus: your essential gear, most desirable tentmate, worst-ever adventure movie, and our picks for the best reader-submitted photos.Hiking The Annapurna Circuit: Q&A With Shannon Davis
Associate editor Shannon Davis tells us more about the highs and lows of his honeymoon trek (featured in March 2009's "The Perfect Circle") on the sky-scraping Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.Reindeer Games: Tracking Caribou in the Slate Islands
Happy coincidence for wildlife-loving paddlers: Canoes and woodland caribou converge like nowhere else on Earth in Ontario's Slate Islands. PLUS: See video of caribou on the move.Pioneering Frostbite Treatment
One Minnesota doctor and his team have discovered a new treatment that reduces the need for amputations.Hiking with Chronic Conditions
Have one of these three common health problems? Stay safe on the trail by taking sensible precautions.Survive This: Frostbitten Feet
Frostbite is bad news. Learn how to safely treat frozen feet.What's the Most Packable Firearm?
The Trip Doctor reveals what works better against grizzleis than buckshot.Trek Copper Canyon Rim to Rim
Hike North America's deepest canyonLife List: Climb Mt. Whitney
Climb the Lower 48's highest peak on a route with all of the thrills but none of the crowds.Best Damn Weekend Ever: See California Condors in the San Rafael Wilderness
We'll show you how to see these majestic birds in the wild.Where Can I Find the Best View of the Northern Lights?
You guessed, it, you need to head North. Here's where you'll get the best view of the Northern Lights.Quick Fix: Dayhike Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Plunge from rainforest to caldera in Hawaii's famously explosive national parkMr. Haugen's Highpoints
Denver teacher Mike Haugen sets a new state summits speed record–fifty state highpoints in less than 50 days!The Alaska Wolf Debate: Q&A with Tracy Ross
Author Tracy Ross discusses her feature story "Dogs of War" devoted to the debate raging in Alaska over the famed Toklat wolf pack.I'm Hiking with Stupid - A Buddy Story
The last time our author took his buddy camping, they stopped speaking for a year. A decade later, they still haven't hit the trail together. Which means there's only one thing to do: Try again.Pack Man: The Appalachian Trail Guru
Thirty miles up the trail from Springer Mountain, Winton Porter shelters and feeds thru-hikers–and works tirelessly to slash their pack weight.Thoreau Slept Here: The Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail
Maine's newly minted Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail tracks the famous naturalist's 1800s expeditions. Good news: It's still wild.Little Big Houses: Three-Season, Double-Occupancy Shelters
At right around two pounds per person, these three-season, double-occupancy shelters do everything but weigh you down.Trip Doctor: Rent Gear for Newbies?
I'm organizing my first group trip. Can I rent gear for newbies who may not be ready to buy?The Works: Snowshoe the Sierra
Pick your own path to an empty 14er.Life List: Raft And Hike The Grand Canyon
Explore hidden gorges and spy rarely seen wonders on this three-week raft trip designed specifically for hikers.Quick Fix: Big Bend National Park
Scout for gold–and desert views–amid this Texas park's spray of late-fall foliage.How to Do Everything - Cooking
Eat like a pro with our recipes for every course.How to Do Everything - First Aid & Health
Close a wound, remove a tick, prevent poison ivy rash, and more essential tips.How to Do Everything - Gear
Patch a tent hole, layer for extreme conditions, clean your stove, make an old bag warmer, and more.How to Do Everything - Camping
Find water anywhere, make a fire in five minutes, learn secrets for battling mosquitoes, and more.How to Do Everything - Packing & Planning
We'll show you how to be ready to the the trail in 20 minutes, guaranteed. Now gear up!ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR SKILLS SPECIAL: How to Do Everything
Want to be a better hiker? Look no further. Our comprehensive guide is packed with the backcountry secrets that separate average campers from true wilderness experts.Tell a Great Ghost Story: How to Scare People and Win Friends
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.Terror in the Trees
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.I Will Survive
Flesh-eating bears. Dive-bombing eagles. Can a regular guy escape certain death armed with only the clothes on his back and the skills he learned on TV from Les Stroud, Bear Grylls, and John Rambo?Life-or-Death Decisions - Caught in a Storm
When a storm comes out of nowhere, learn how to handle the unexpected.Life-or-Death Decisions - Injury
Learn how to plan and react when and unexpected injury creeps up on you.Life-or-Death Decisions - Lost
How did you get here? How can you get out? Staying found starts at home.Life-or-Death Decisions
Survival depends on more than dumb luck–to live to see another day, you must correctly navigate a tricky series of choices. Here's how to do it when the consequences couldn't be higher.Rescue Me!
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.3 Ways To Save: Adventure Racing
Adventure racing isn't for those without high pain thresholds, but here's three ways to cut down on the inevitable hurt.Walking Bataan: The Hardest Miles
Survivors of the Bataan death march overcame one of history's most grueling walks. What kept them on their feet? and could you do the same? every year, more than 4,000 people hike through the New Mexico desert to find out.
Thru-Hike The Roadless Sierra
Thru-hike the most remote miles in California's range of light
Above & Beyond
The world's tallest tree towers above a secret location deep within the lush, tangled backcountry of Redwood National Park. Determined to find this giant, our correspondent discovers something more incredible than he ever imagined.The Long Trail to Jail
Is he a pilgrim, a victim, or a thief? The Appalachian Trail provides a path and refuge to all sorts of seekers. Few are as baffling as the man they called Saved.Never Fear: The Phobias
Use this step-by-step guide to beat 7 common backcountry fears. Plus, ideal hikes for overcoming–or avoiding–the source of your scare.Never Fear: The Fix
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.Never Fear: Q&A with Barbara Rothbaum
Never Fear: How to Beat Backcountry Phobias
Don't let groundless phobias ruin–or even prevent–your backcountry adventures. Here's a foolproof plan for overcoming your terrors.Health News: Breathe Easy
What to know about hiking with asthmaHow to Rescue an Injured Hiker
Your partner can't go on. Should you stay–or go for help?Survive This: You're Wet & Cold
Here's how to avoid hypothermia.Destination Nowhere
The most remote spot in the Lower 48 is inside Yellowstone National Park. It's also the goal of our correspondent. What he encounters–and what it says about the solitude backpackers treasure–will surprise you. PLUS: See more of his photos and read a Q&A.River Keeper
Grand Canyon raft guide and Havasupai tribal member Shana Watahomigie becomes a paddling–and Hollywood–pioneer.September 2008 Table of Contents
How to Score Denali's Choicest Permits
The system was rigged, says a former ranger. Here's how to beat it.Denali National Park
Hike with grizzlies in this remote northern corner of Alaska's greatest park.Yellowstone National Park
America's first national park is a playground for grizzlies, wolves, moose, and hikers (not in that order).Olympic National Park
Explore two ecosystems in this hinterland of moss-draped forests, ancient trees, and snowcapped peaks.How to Light a Campfire in the Smokies
Trees, trees are everywhere, but sometimes there isn't a dry twig in sight.Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Graze blueberry patches, explore swimming holes, and tag the South's high points on this sultry hike.How Your Kid Can Save a Park
Send him out on a work trip. Let wilderness do the rest.Grand Canyon National Park
Drop into America's belly on a little-known hike that dips in and out of four different canyons, each blessed with gurgling spring water.24 Hours of L.L. Bean
It's the gear world's ultimate endurance event: a full day and night roaming the aisles at Bean's flagship store in Freeport, Maine. Will our man survive?Walking the Talk
First John Francis stopped riding in cars. Then he stopped talking. More than three decades, two continent-spanning hikes, and countless trail miles later, he's still following his remarkable path of protest–only now he's not alone.Yosemite National Park
Climb classic Sierra passes, ogle granite monoliths, and camp above treeline in John Muir's second home.Glacier National Park
Scramble up class III peaks and cross late summer snowfields on this strenuous but straightforward trip through Montana's big-mountain country.National Parks Lifelist: Intro
National Parks Lifelist
The ultimate vacation in one of America's iconic parks requires the ultimate hiking plan: classic scenery, no crowds, and secret campsites. Here's how to spend a perfect week in Glacier, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Olympic, Denali, and the Great Smoky Mountains.Health News: Get Naked!
And other ways to prevent tick-borne infectionsCanyon Confidential: Utah's Grand Gulch
To discover the best-kept secrets in Utah's Grand Gulch, you need to start at the bottom.Quick Fix: Apostle Islands
You don't need a boat to see this spectacular national lakeshore. Here's how to explore the best of its bluffs and beaches by foot (and paddle).Is Inadequate Funding the Main Problem Facing the National Park System?
This question fuels the debate regarding how to help the aging national park system improve.Beyond Destination Nowhere: Q&A with Mark Jenkins
Mark Jenkins, the author of "Destination Nowhere," discusses his Yellowstone assignment to find the most remote spot in the United States.Searching for Solitude: Mark Jenkins Photos and Interview
In "Destination Nowhere" (September 2008), Mark Jenkins explores the most remote wilderness location in the continental United States–a top-secret spot in Yellowstone. See his trip photos and read an interview with Jenkins where he discusses the assignment.Big Trips Made Easy: Hayduke Trail, UT
Finding total Southwest solitudeBig Trips Made Easy: Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA
Exploring a high, wild corner of the North CascadesBig Trips Made Easy: Allagash Wilderness Waterway, ME
Floating a liquid maze in the Northeast's lake-riddled forestsBig Trips Made Easy: High Sierra, CA
Rambling a granite redoubtHike It: 4 Big Trips Made Easy
Ready to dial up the adventure meter? Try out your digital skills–and go places most people can't–on these life-list journeys.The Grand Tetons: 5 Hikes, 7 Days (or so)
How to retrace each segment of the author's perfect week from "A Perfect Week in the Tetons."A Perfect Week in the Grand Tetons
You won't waste a minute with our only-the-highlights hiking and climbing guide to the West's archetypal range. From the loftiest summits to the loneliest cross-country routes, this seven-day sampler visits every type of Tetons treasure-and then some.Health News: What's in Your Bottle?
The Specialist: Heat Doctor
Stay cool with expert tips for boiler days.Thru-Hike the Tahoe Rim Trail
Spectacular lake views, granite-edged trails, and surprising solitude will make you want to go in circles on the Tahoe Rim Trail.The Onion vs. Mr. Magoo
On your mark, get set ... hike. Inside a 5,600-mile footrace on the country's hardest trail.National Park Vacation Planners: 3D Videos and Downloadable Beta
3-D hike videos, complete trip planner pdfs, our interactive ParkFinder tool, and more.The CDT Project
We sent 209 readers out to GPS the Continental Divide Trail, the biggest, baddest long-distance path of them all. They brought back the makings of the first authoritative map of this American classic. These are their stories–and their favorite sections.Climb Higher
With the right preparation–and a little help from a half-dozen friends, two exotic techno-gadgets, and one very sweaty hypoxic chamber–can a sea-level-dwelling rookie climb the highest peak in Colorado?Eat Better
Want to hike farther, explore tougher terrain, and carry big loads without bonking? To achieve your biggest backcountry goals, you have to change how you eat.Train Smarter
Get trail-fit in six weeks with this simple exercise plan.Summer Fitness Special: Hike Stronger, Live Longer
Achieve peak performance on the trail with our complete guide to training and eating like a backpacker.Hiking The Sierra High Route
On this burly, 210-mile traverse, which crosses 33 passes and barely touches established trails, you can find Alaska-sized scenery, complete solitude, and just enough risk to keep things interesting.Secret Agent Man
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.The Cure: First Aid For Fido
Dogs can get hurt on the trail just like you. Here's how to treat 5 common problems.Keep Your Feet Happy
Long-distance runner Russell Secker feels your foot pain–and he knows how to get rid of it.Prime Your Pump
You can't hike with a bum ticker–follow these heart-healthy strategies to stay on the trail longer.Paddle and Hike Voyageurs National Park
With a thousand islands and countless passages, this little-visited treasure is a watery maze. Here's the way in–and out.The Porters' Progress
Two Everest-scaling Sherpas face their biggest challenge yet–surviving suburban America.February 2008 Table of Contents
April 2008 Table of Contents
Rock Star: Brett Dennen
Once a guide and counselor near Yosemite, up-and-coming musician Brett Dennen is now taking his backcountry jams to the masses.Backpacker Editors' Choice 2008
The year's best packs, boots, tents, jackets, and sleeping bags. Period. Plus, a never-die headlamp, a life-saving beacon, a back-saving ultralight chair, and more innovative, trail-tested gear.Carbon-Neutral Costa Rica: How I Lost 5,400 lbs While Packing for the Trip of a Lifetime
In search of a guilt-free adventure in the tropics, Jason Daley discovers the line between saving the world–and seeing it.Iceland: Live Earth
The planet's most dynamic landscape is full of bubbling hot springs, steaming geysers, and kaleidoscopic lava flows. Hike Iceland's epic Laugevegur Trail, and join the action.Hot Springs: Soak Here Now
6 more must-dip pools from Alaska to HawaiiHot Springs: The Perfect Pool
Here are the top wilderness soaks on the continent. Can you keep a secret?Tune Up: Protect Your Joints and Build Pivot Power
Get ready for spring with 3 joint-specific routines.Sprained Ankles: Watch Your Step
The latest health news reveals that ankle injuries are more common than you'd think. Here's some beta.Skills Health: Make Time For Exercise
Full schedule? Here's how to work in working out.Taste Test: Best of the Bars
What to grab when you need a boostStoves on a Plane
Air travel advice from an FAA expertThe Backcountry Bathroom
Nature calls, even in the wilderness. We've found 5 products that will make your outdoor bathroom runs easy, hygienic, and safe.Trip Finder: Stay-Dry Spring Hikes
Stay dry on spring treks in Minnesota, New Mexico, and more.Backpack West Virginia's Cranberry Wilderness
Discover a slice of rare Eastern wild country in West Virginia, where Canadian taiga meets Southern forests.Where Am I Lowest On The Food Chain?
Want to hike where the most predators exist? Pack your courage and follow these directions.Top 3 Trail-Building Trips
Want to boost your backcountry karma? Here are three places to hike–and give back.National Parks Inc.
Like it or not, national parks are officially in the business of business. Will this focus destroy the soul of a national institution - or save it in these lean times?Backpacker Magazine Launches Fully Redesigned Website with New Multimedia and GPS-Supported Content
New features and web-based tools enable Backpacker's passionate online community to share trips, post pictures, and get the latest in gear reviews and adventure news and content.Fitness Advice from Top Outdoor Experts
For these three fitness gurus staying fit is a job requirement.Your Weeklong Dream Trip
Your Next Big Peak
Your Longest Dayhike Ever
March 2008 Perfect System: East
March 2008 Perfect System: Southwest
March 2008 Perfect System: Rocky Mountains
March 2008 Perfect System: Northwest
Backpacker 2008 Gear Guide: Perfect System
The best gear in the world can be worthless in the wrong conditions. That's where Backpacker's Perfect System comes in.The Future of the National Parks
Everyone loves national parks - but are they being loved to death? Join a star-studded roundtable to explore the fate of this embattled American institution.Trip Doctor: National Park Weddings
Can I get married in a national park?3 Ways To See Yellowstone
Want to hike visit Yellowstone in winter? Follow our guide to get all the winter highlights.March 2008 Essentials Review: First-Aid Kits
Medicine Man: High-Altitude Kids
Advice on kids and herbs at altitude.Hiking Honeymoon: How to ruin a perfectly good marriage
What happens when a couple's vows are tested by hard miles and hunger pains on the John Muir Trail? A sore-footed bride tells all.Secrets of the Guides
Camp like a pro with 83 field-tested tips and techniques from experts who earn their paychecks in the backcountry.The Works: Trek Tasmania
Half a world away, you'll find exotic highs while hiking in Tasmania.What Would Davy Crockett Do?
He'd toss the titanium stove and build a big fire. Our man enrolls in a traditional guide school and learns how to survive - and think - like an American original.March 2008 Essentials Review: Camp Kitchen
Packs, tents, boots, and bags--that's easy. Now comes the hard part: Everything else. Below, you'll find our top picks for all the lust-worthy backcountry essentials you'll need to make your trip safe, fun, and simple.May Close-to-Home Hikes
Our map team has been hard at work plotting the coolest hikes. Check out May's selections here.Backpacker Gear Guide: Essentials
Packs, tents, boots, and bags–that's easy. Now comes the hard part: Everything else. Below, you'll find our top picks for all the lust-worthy backcountry essentials you'll need to make your trip safe, fun, and simple.Survive This: Trapped by a Rock
When a scramble turns to a nightmare learn how to help yourself.Survive This: Lost in the Desert
When you're stuck in the desert unexpectedly conserve, conserve, conserve.A Dozen Ways to Die
How do hikers meet their maker in the backcountry? The answers may surprise you.Survival Story: Surviving a Grizzly Attack in Glacier National Park
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.Missing in Action: How a Backcountry Ranger With 28 Years Experience Disappeared
Did High Sierra ranger Randy Morgenson succumb to depression or disaster?Lost: True Tales of Wilderness Treks Gone Desperately Wrong
From snowblindness to wrong turns, everyday wilderness adventures can turn ugly if you're not prepared for everything.Learning About Survival Where Aron Ralston Outwitted Death
Follow correspondent Kevin Fedarko into the remote Utah slot canyon where Ralston famously separated himself from his right forearm.Lost & Found
John Donovan disappeared in a high-elevation blizzard, leaving rescuers and friends stumped. His backpack contained a miracle clue. Bill Donahue investigates.How to Stay Safe in the Wilderness
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.The Brown Death: Pine Beetles vs. Forests
Pine beetles are felling more trees than wildfires and the timber industry combined.The Future of Forests
As the earth warms, here's how higher temps will affect our forests.Trail Food: 3 Edible Nuts
You're lost, hungry, and starting to shiver: Time to play squirrel.Stretches for Hikers
Recover from high-mileage days with these before-and-after stretches.Welcome to the New Backpacker.com!
With more features, a new look, and the most informative content this side of the trail, the new Backpacker.com is amped up with the best in adventure, gear, travel, skills, and survival on the web.The Impact of Climate Change on Florida's Everglades, Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias
What do Florida's Everglades and Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias have in common? Both face uncertain futures as temperatures rise.Can a Lime-Green Vegetable-Oil-Powered Beetle Save the Earth?
One writer ditches his S.U.V. for a vegetable oil-powered Volkswagon Beetle and drives into the Sierras to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and test his environmentalist platitudesNational Parks Report Card
We surveyed more than 40 scientists, conservationists, and professional adventurers, then ranked the 15 parks that are most in peril from climate change.Snake Bite First-Aid
Learn the steps to take if you're bitten by a poisonous snake.Packing List: Kitchen Kit
When cooking in the backcountry, don't leave home without...18 Sudden Threats: The Right and Wrong Responses
Things happen fast in the wilderness. It's important to learn the right and wrong actions beforehand so you can react accordingly.Gear: Accessories
From water purifiers to first-aid kits, these accessories are also essentials.Dinner Camping Recipes
Restaurant-quality dining on the trail. Choose from Mushroom and Tomato Orzo with Pesto or Chicken Posole Wraps for your next campfire dinner.Appetizer Camping Recipes
Unwind after a long hike chilé fondue, French bread bruchetta, or an Asian peanut dipBreakfast Camping Recipes
Spice up your oatmeal with lemony blueberry sauce. Or go for camp-side blueberry pancakes--topped by more blueberry sauce.Week-Long Backpacking Menu
Avoid the Pop-Tart rut with Backpacker's seven-day, two-person shopping and menu list.Weekend Menu: Vegetarian
Eat for energy minus the meat with this three-day, two-person meal plan.Weekend Menu: Simple Meal Preparation
A three-day, two-person menu and shopping list for those who go camping to escape the rigors of everyday life--including the kitchen.Weekend Menu: Campsite Gourmet
From cashew-ginger chicken to fruited scones, tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for the trail and the campsite.Day Hike Menu: Ultralight
What to eat when you're one person spending one day on the trail and looking to travel lightHomemade First Aid Kit
There are plenty of pre-packaged first aid kits out there but, here are some good ingredients that should go in most kits for most types of hikes. Keep in mind that the longer the hike, or the larger the group, the more safety gear you should bring.Gear Checklists and Shopping Guides
Make sure you don't forget a thing with our comprehensive gear checklists for pretty much any trip occasion. Plus, learn how to pick the perfect piece of gear.The Backpacker Interview: From Jail to Trail
Inspired by a mountain view, Don Moseman walked out of prison and hiked his way to a better life.Survive a Mangled Ankle
Help yourself hike out after an ankle injuryRegional Trail Recipes
Four trailworthy variations on favorite regional recipesLearn Backcountry First Aid
Use this quick guide to determine what type of backcountry first aid training you need.Survive This: Meeting a Menacing Stranger On the Trail
Learn how to avoid shady characters on the trail.How to Recycle Spent Fuel Canisters
Different cities have different rules for recycling your used fuel canistersHow to Keep Your Food Warm In Camp
3 simple heat shields to keep your meals toasty in the backcountryHow to Protect Your Heart While Hiking
Cardiac arrest is the number three killer in the outdoors&ndashlearn how to prevent, recognize, and treat trail-side heart issues.Flavor In a Flash: Ultralight Spice Kit
Enhance bland backpacking food with an ultralight spice kit including everything from curry to soy sauce.The Essential Weekend Backpacking Menu
Banish blah food with this 3-day guide to quick, delicious meals.Camp Stove Cooking: Curry in a Hurry
4 easy recipes that will warm your whole body.Holistic First Aid
A naturopath's top 5 remedies for common backpacking injuries.How to Prevent Blisters
Sweaty feet, thick socks, and sturdy boots are a blister cauldron. Learn four easy ways to keep your feel clean, dry, and blister free.Post-Hike Beverages: Hot Trail Toddies
4 steamy drinks to spice up your after-dinner stargazingHalf The Weight, Twice The Fun: Hike The John Muir Trail
Find out what happens when four people hike the 221-mile John Muir Trail in just a week. Then learn how to bag the classic in more sensible lightweight fashion.The Menu: Be an Ultralight Gourmet
No, it's not an oxymoron. You, too, can say buh-bye to endless energy bars and instant rice glop--and eat like royalty for less than two pounds a day.The Skills: Ultralight or Bust
A 10-step plan for getting your base pack weight under 15 poundsThe Plan: Doing Ultralight Right
In 10 days, carrying just 25 pounds, you can pound through the John Muir Trail...happily. Get the plan.Quiz: Would You Survive?
The wilderness can be deadly if you don't know what you're doing. Take our test to rate your survival IQ—and learn a few skills that might save your hide.The Source of All Things
Recently released as a full-length memoir, The Source of All Things was first published as a feature article in BACKPACKER in December 2007. This is the full-text of that article.The Gear: Cut the Fluff
Shave pounds from your whole packing list.The Hike: John Muir In a Week
Got a few days off, a pair of healthy feet, and a pain threshold higher than Dean Karnazes? You can (possibly) blaze the length of America's Most Beautiful TrailGods Of Rock: The Adirondack Mountain Club trail crew
Sharpen your double-bit axe, get your pecs ready for action, and shoulder the biggest pack you've ever seen. Then dive into the trenches with a screwball trailbuilding crew, fixing the neediest hiking paths in the Adirondacks. Assuming you're not afraid of some very heavy lifting, this just might be the ultimate summer job.Grizzly Details: Surviving a Bear Attack
Hiker Gerald Holzer recounts a 2005 grizzly attack in Yellowstone.Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
Learn the signs so you can get on the road to recovery faster.The Pacific Crest Trail's High Sierra
Some things are so inevitable there's no sense disputing them: death, taxes, and the unrivaled beauty of the Sierra.Tick Identification 101
Get to know the ticks that cause Lyme-and those that don'tReality Bites: Lyme Disease
A park ranger's struggle with the tick-borne illness.Health: Other Tick-Borne Diseases
A comprehensive guide to tick-borne illnesses beyond Lyme Disease.Lyme Disease And You
The latest on prevention, symptoms, and treatmentTicks: Avoid the enemy
To protect yourself from ticks-and reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease-follow these steps.Blood tests for Lyme?
Several tests can detect the Lyme bacteria. Find out which one you should take if you are bitten.Can Lyme Disease Become Chronic?
Simple question, complex answer.How To Remove A Tick
Use this quick approach to remove ticks from your body.Lyme Disease By The Numbers
Any way you slice it, Lyme disease is an expanding problem. Use this map and chart to understand how the disease is growing.The Pacific Crest Trail's Sonora Pass
You won't want to miss this breathtaking 8-mile dayhike.Bitten: Lyme Disease
Lyme disease may be the nation's #1 wilderness health threat, but it's no reason to avoid the outdoors. Check out this special report on tick-borne illness to learn how to protect yourself and your family.Hell On Wheels
Bob Coomber is determined to become the first man in a wheelchair to ascend a 14,000-foot mountain.Beating Poison Ivy
Learn to recognize, avoid and treat poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Start by scrolling through the photos below.Physical Conditioning: Spring Training
30 days to a killer trail body with cardio and strength workouts for backpackers.Start smart: First Aid For Kids
Teach your youngsters the basics; it could save your life.Stove Review: Jetboil GCS
A revolutionary stove-and-pot set that'll cramp your prep time with super-fast boils.Stove Review: Vargo Jet-ti
A compact, superlight canister stove to call your own.Health Tips: Beat Winter Blues
Fend off a cold-weather slump with these expert strategies.Get (Even More) Trail-Fit This Winter
4 indoor workouts that'll keep you outdoors-ready3 Ways To See: Yellowstone
Pick your poison with three epic adventures in Yellowstone: camping, canoeing, and ski touringThe Future Of National Parks
Everyone loves national parks--but are they being loved to death? Join representatives from the Park Service, Department of the Interior, Sierra Club, American Hiking Society, and more to explore the fate of this embattled American institution.National Parks Inc.
Like it or not, national parks are officially in the business of business. Will this focus destroy the soul of a national institution--or save it in these lean times?Yosemite @ $7.38 An Hour: Seasonal Work in the National Parks
Our scribe-turned-pizzaman labors in the land of granite and pulls back the curtain on the seasonal-employment fantasy.Utah Hikes: The Case For Glen Canyon
Drought is giving Glen Canyon--and those who love it--a second chance. Here are four spectacular reasons why we should protect this Southwest wilderness by making it America's next national park.Essential National Park Skills: The Ultimate Park Pass
Write your own ticket to new adventures with these 10 territory-expanding skills.Last Chance Adventure: Oregon's Umpqua National Forest
Can you see the forest through the trees? Join a bittersweet trek through an old-growth wilderness in its final days.Mountaineering Fitness: Climb Like Ed
Got summit fever? The sky's the limit with a fitness plan and climbing tips from world-class mountaineer Ed Viesturs.Wide Awake And Dreaming
The author sets out to camp in New York's Central Park--and winds up roused by matters of life and death.The Specialist: Climb Better At Altitude
Feel good at 10,000 feet with advice from a Rainier guide.The Cure: Beating Blisters
Catch the hot spot before it's too lateThe Works: Trek Tasmania
Up high and down under--Tasmania's wildest hiking route.Secrets Of The Ultrafit: Heidi Wirtz
Get strong with yoga poses used by a world-class climberPaddling's Greatest Getaways
16 wild ways to find backcountry solitude and big-time scenery. All this, and you can bring the ice chest, too.Foot Fixes: How to Deal with 4 Common Boot Problems
Prevent blisters, hike grit-free, and find arch support in a lightweight bootThe Specialist: Don't Get Sunburned
A lifeguard's guide to using sunscreenThe Cure: Beating Sunburn
Hot first aid tips for treating sunburn8 Weeks to Fitness for Any Hike
No gyms, no weights–and, with our easy-to-follow plan–no bonking on the trail.The Lost Trail: Chasing Yellowstone's Nez Perce Path
Hike a historic long path through Yellowstone--if you're lucky enough to find it.The Cure: Treating Bee Stings
Health tips for backpackers experiencing life-threatening or just plain annoying bee stings on the trailAlive Again: New Findings in the 1972 Andes Plane Crash
Colorado climber Ricardo Peña's surprising discovery raises new questions in the infamous tale of survivalUltimate Summer Escapes: The Best Dayhikes and Backpacking Trips Near You
Coming soon to your city: far-out adventures that are shockingly close to home.America's Hardest Dayhikes
Push yourself on any of these challenging hikesThe Specialist: Breathe Easy
7 tricks for averting on-the-trail allergiesPost-Hike Massage: Here's The Rub
4 techniques to soothe trail-weary musclesThe Cure: Treating Knee Pain
Show your knees a little TLCThe Unbearable Lightness Of Being Scott Williamson
To hike from Mexico to Canada and back, a man needs strength and speed and luck. He needs something else, too. If only he knew what it was.New Zealand Backpacking
It's better than you've heard, and closer than you think. Here's how to see it all in 10 perfect days.Oy, Wilderness: First-Time New York Campers
Three days. Two nights. Five New Yorkers who had never slept outdoors. And a leader who has some issues with map and compass. What could go wrong?More New Zealand Adventures: Climb, Paddle, Jump!
Canyoning, mountaineering, kayaking, and camping, Kiwi-styleTune Up: Your First Adventure Race
Get ready for your first race with a fitness plan from a world champThe Cure: Treating Snow Blindness
Sunburned eyes can throw you to the sidelines for a painful 48 hours. Learn how to prevent and treat this winter threat.The Grizzly Detective: Tracking Bears in the Bitterroots
America's preeminent bear tracker backpacks Idaho's most remote wilderness looking for signs of the lost grizzlies of the Bitterroots--and winds up staring at the great bruin's future.Epicenter: The Scene In Bishop, California
Hike and climb-and then kick back-in a High Sierra sweet spot.High Points: Mt. Hood, Oregon
Head through the Pearly Gates for a heavenly sunriseHigh Points: Mt. Whitney, California
You could do it in a day, but don't rush this one.High Points: Mt. Elbert, Colorado
Come enjoy this high peak's playgroundHigh Points: Borah Peak, Idaho
Don't forget your sound judgment when summitting this high point.High Points: Granite Peak, Montana
The toughest high point in the lower 48High Points: Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Your car does all the climbing here.High Points: Kings Peak, Utah
The mosquitoes make it challenging, but the towering sedimentary rock makes it worth it.High Points: Mt. Rainier, Washington
Get to the top and you'll hear a joyous echoHigh Points: Wheeler Peak, New Mexico
Bighorn sheep and golden eagles await you at this high point.High Points: Humphreys Peak, Arizona
An easy high point with an unpredictable personalityHigh Points: Boundary Peak, Nevada
Expect unexpected challenges to reach the summitHigh Points: Gannett Peak, Wyoming
The longest and wildest approach in the bunchHigh Points: Brasstown Bald, Georgia
Come visit this Cherokee named place of fresh green.High Points: Guadalupe Peak, Texas
This peak lives up to its reputation.High Points: Driskill Mountain, Louisiana
The mile-long walk invites contemplation like few other high point approaches.High Points: Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina
A high point that provides an alluring combination of scenery, storms, and access.High Points: Britton Hill, Florida
A humble high point in a low-lying stateHigh Points: Black Mesa, Oklahoma
Welcome to this delightfully weird world of extremes.High Points: Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina
It's all about the journey.High Points: Black Mountain, Kentucky
Look closely for the path to this high point.High Points: Woodall Mountain, Mississippi
America's bloodiest high pointHigh Points: Clingmans Dome, Tennessee
A downright goofy dome marks this highpoint.First Aid: How to Stop A Bleeder
Let our wilderness EMT teach you the best way to treat those gushing cuts and scrapes.High Points: Cheaha Mountain, Alabama
Go from the path of racecars to the path of a high point.High Points: Mt. Magazine, Arkansas
Hit the high point and move on to the other attractions this park offers.Save Your Feet: How to Prevent Foot Problems
You think thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is a long walk?High Points: Eagle Mountain, Minnesota
Find this high point in the largest national forest outside of Alaska.High Points: Taum Sauk Mountain, Missouri
Lay low like Jesse James at this high point.High Points: Mt. Sunflower, Kansas
Something's happening in this spot where nothing happened.High Points: Mt. Arvon, Michigan
The view is nothing to write home about, but this newly crowned high point deserves a visit.High Points: Timms Hill, Wisconsin
This old logging camp and woolly mammoth marching ground provides incredible views.High Points: Hoosier Hill, Indiana
A fitting place to ponder the true meaning of the term Hoosier.High Points: White Butte, North Dakota
If you loathe traffic, the commute to White Butte is pure ecstasy.High Points: Panorama Point, Nebraska
There's not a bad napping spot anywhere.High Points: Charles Mound, Illinois
Access is limited, but well worth the view.Thirst
Is there a sense that's more powerful? We'll let you be the judge.High Points: Campbell Hill, Ohio
Time it just right to get to the top of this one.High Points: Harney Peak, South Dakota
Traveling to this point will leave you at a loss for words.Family Camping Tips
Ideas to help make the backcountry family friendlyTight Ain't Right: How to Stretch for Hiking
4 simple stretches to relieve stiff, sore muscles.An Overnight Success?
Need a crash course in backpacking? Join our newbie and his brooding teenager as they fend off mountain lions, overzealous retail clerks, and other beginner hazards.High Points: Mt. Rogers, Virginia
Allow the plants to color the landscape as you make your way along the trail.High Points: Spruce Knob, West Virginia
Watch out for rough weather and serpentine-like roads as you drive up to this highpoint.High Points: Ebright Azimuth, Delaware
True highpointers will find this peak.High Points: Mt. Marcy, New York
A long hike to the highpoint where weather and black flies could pose a challenge.High Points: High Point, New Jersey
You'll find numerous surprises as you explore the lakes, rivers and forests of this highpoint.Being Caribou Returns Home
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 6.Devil's Thumb: It Can't Be Climbed
Will anyone ever climb the dangerous northwest face of Alaska's Devil's Thumb? Maybe they shouldn't.Secrets of Yosemite National Park
Sneak in the side door for a private viewing of the finest in California's High Sierra real estate.A Hiker's Guide To Surfing and Snorkeling
Use your backpacking skills at the best surfing, climbing, trail running, and even paragliding spotsBeing Caribou: Arctic Summer
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 5.Stone Cold Campers
They kill swiftly and silently. They flit like ghosts through enemy forests. And they will brew you a fine cup of cowboy coffee. Meet America's deadliest hikers as we hump ruck with the Special Forces.Luxury Gone Wild At Ahwahnee
A night in Yosemite's most famous hotelBody Of A Backpacker
It's lean, it's mean, and it can last forever.Survival Starts With A Kiss
Learn the latest survival smarts with this military acronymBalancing Act
Secrets for staying on your feet from dancers, tightrope walkers, running backs, and more.Good Gear Gone Bad
It's all fun and games 'til someone gets a tent pole in the eye.Highlander Genes
Why are Sherpas so studly?Being Caribou: A Mountain Of A Shortcut
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 4.Being Caribou: Calving Grounds
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 3.Being Caribou: 350 Miles On Skis
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 2.Jiffypop Pan
This classic snack offers more then just a tasty treat for backpackers.My Crest Is SPF 30
Preventing sunburn is as simple as brushing your teeth.A Better Mouse Trap
Rodents can be real pests in campsites. Use this trick to stay rodent-free the whole trip long.Good News About Bad Food
Got burgers on the brain? Learn why some experts say it's okay to indulge.Being Caribou: Spring Migration
We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 1.Touched By A Grizzly
Can anyone really know what lurks in the heart of a grizzly? In the wilds of Russia's Kamchatka peninsula, Charlie Russell believes he is beginning to find out.Being Caribou: Caribou Facts
18 facts you didn't know about Alaska and Canada's Porcupine Caribou herd.Being Caribou: Caribou I Am
How do you plan an expedition to follow 123,000 migrating caribou across Canada and Alaska? Very carefully.Being Caribou: ANWR Or Bust
Will he keep up? Karsten Heuer embarks on an audacious 1,200-mile expedition-cum-caribou chase.Being Caribou: Protecting the Porcupine Caribou Herd
Protection one of Alaska and Canada's largest caribou herds is so close, yet so far away.Being Caribou: The Route
How do you plan a route following 123,000 migrating caribou across Canada and Alaska? Try to keep up.Foot Mechanic Quiz: Fixing Foot Problems Before The Hike
Do your foot troubles warrant an expert's opinion? Take this quiz to find out.The Wild List: A Guide To The Best Outdoor Spots
A definitive guide to the hottest, sweetest, looniest, and most colorful spots in the great outdoors.Stop Your Sniffling: Allergy Advice
Don't let itchy eyes and a sneeze-machine nose ruin your hike. Here's our guide to keeping allergies at bay.Stay Warm In Winter
Winter warmth is easy with these tips from arctic explorers, cold-weather experts, and army docs.Dreams Of Tibet: Exploring Lost Himalayan Mountains And Cultures
Deep in the heart of the forbidden Tibetan kingdom, a long-awaited adventure inherited from the author's father takes an unexpected twist.Hot, Light, And Cheap: Homemade Camp Stove Contest Winners
The best ultralight cookers built by BACKPACKER readers.Trapped! The Mike Turner Story
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.Healthy Hiking For Men: Preventing Jock Itch And Other Problems 'Down There'
A wilderness guide to proper care and maintenance of the family jewels.Know Your Backcountry Bugs
Guide to common bugs in the backcountry.Itch-Free Summer
Ten ways to avoid bug bites and what to do if bitten.Your Backwoods Pharmacy
When illness or injury strikes, the medicine you need is in the plants alongside the trail and at your feet.Snow Leopards: Gray Ghosts Of The Himalaya
When you hike the world's highest peaks in search of the legendary snow leopard, be prepared for the unexpected.Challenge The Backpacker Editor: The Ultralight Report
Torrential rain and wind expose chinks in our author's ultralight armor, but don't dampen his enthusiasm for the pleasures of unencumbered trekking.Weak In The Knees
12 ways to get more miles out of your legs.Avalanches: The Big Slide
Watching snow fall is a backcountry joy--unless it's barreling 80 mph down a mountain and you're in its path.Walk Through The Pacific Crest Trail's Alpine Wonderland
Follow the Pacific Crest Trail through Washington's volcano country and discover the high life.Good News For Sore Joints
Got a bum knee or ankle? Better treatments for post-hike joint pain are on the horizon.Eating On The Runs
To keep trekking when you have the trots, feed your body the right fuel.Best Backpacking In West Virginia
Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in West Virginia.Best Backpacking In Wyoming
Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Wyoming.Rash Decisions: Fighting Backcountry Itches
Here's what I keep in my first-aid kit to battle the itchiest rash known to medical science.The View No More
How America's tragedy affected one New Jersey hiker.Retaining Water While Hiking: Don't Sweat It
When water is scarce, minimize the amount your body expends.Sleep Comfort In Camp
Trouble sleeping in camp? Try our tips for a good night's rest.Mind Over Mileage: Breathing Techniques For Hiking
Feeling pooped at the end of the day? Try these relaxation and breathing techniques to put more pep in your step.10 Simple Ways To Get To Sleep In Camp
Getting a good night's sleep on the trail is easier said than done. Our experts show you how to get your 20 winks.HIking British Columbia's Savage Coast
Hike a rugged, historically rich trail for 21 miles along a nearly deserted island off British Columbia's coast.Tips For Camping With Kids
Nuggets of knowledge from those who have brought their youngsters into the backcountry.Drinking Risky Water
If disaster leaves you deep in the backcountry without any means to disinfect drinking water, what do you do? Follow these methods to stay hydrated without getting sick.Fighting Backcountry Asthma: Waiting To Inhale
If you have asthma but don't have an inhaler, follow these procedures to breathe easy in the backcountry.Saddle Sore? Tips To Heal Your Rear
Experiencing a sore butt on the trail? Try these healing tips.Keeping Utah's Outdoor Secret
Should secret wildernesses be revealed? Utah's Anasazi artifact hotbed Cedar Mesa begs the question.Coping with Leeches
How to deal with and treat those bloodsucking leeches.Lost Soul Or Yukon Slasher?
When you're deep in the wilds, a bedraggled stranger wandering into camp triggers a moral dilemma: Offer him dinner or run for the hills?Baca Ranch: The Southwest's Yellowstone
For years, hikers have dreamed of trekking in Baca Ranch's untouched, wildlife-thick backcountry. You'll soon get your chance.Rx Drugs On The Trail
Prescription drugs you should carry on the trail.Hike To Protect Wilderness From Drilling
How many miles of trail or acres of wilderness will we sacrifice for a tank of gas? Here's a look at eight threatened wildernesses and what you can do to stop the drilling.Spotting The Elusive Wolf
Our guide to spotting wolves on Michigan's Isle Royale.The Mountain Knows
When our firstborn son left us, the word "burial" was never uttered.Field Fix: Clear Your Stove's Fuel Jets
Got a clogged stove? Try this cleaning method before eating that camping meal cold.Hiking Through Lessons Of Fire
Years and even decades after a forest fire, the healed land tells amazing tales about the benefits of flame.Swallowing Camp Stove Fuel
How to treat yourself if you gulp down stove fuel in camp.Firewalking: A Forest Fire's Aftermath
In an ancient cycle older than man, the fires that torched the West in summer 2000 are causing a dramatic and stunning rebirth of the once-charred landscape.Chicken Soup For The Trail
Some trailworthy soups can even help you heal.Stride Right, Feel Better
Tips to improve your hiking stride.Aluminum Pots Are Safe
Cooking with aluminum pots in camp won't cause Alzheimer's.Belly Ache Or Poison?
What to do if the berries you munched weren't safe after all.Hiking Pain Explained
What causes pain on the trail?Stop Camp Snoring
If you have a problem with snoring (that is, if you have a tentmate who snores), try this remedy on your next night in camp.Backwoods Headaches
We head for the hills to escape the tensions of everyday life. So why do our heads often pound like a drum soon after hitting the trail?Stop Trail Chafing
Stop chafing with these tips.Breathing Easy
A double lung transplant slows, but doesn't stop, Pacific Crest Trail hiker Dennis Coffey.Treating Backcountry Swimmer's Ear
How to identify and treat swimmer's ear in the wilderness.Foods For Backcountry Recovery
Our medicine man gives his food suggestions for recovering in the backcountry.Going Tribal
We know the strength that courses through flesh and bone when standing at a trailhead, ready to set out and practice our primitive art.A Fly In The Ointment
Antibiotic ointment, a basic element of every first-aid kit, has gotten a bad rap lately.Bug Bites: Close Your Clothes
Use these tips to bug-proof your clothes.David Brower's Last Interview
Activist and former backpacker David Brower reflects on his life in the political trenches and on the trails.Blister Prevention: Hiker, Heel Thyself
Think blisters are a sure thing when you hike? Think again: Here's your ticket to preventing and treating the dreaded sores.The Mountaineer's Herb
Ginkgo helps with altitude sickness and cold.Grand Canyon Magic
"With some eagerness, and some anxiety, and some misgiving, we enter the canyon below?." -John Wesley Powell, August 13, 1869Death On Montana's Granite Peak
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.Bacteria In Paradise
On your next tropical dip, beware of water-borne bacteria.Have Diabetes, Will Travel
Even diabetes can't slow down hikers with these health tips.Buying A Better Stove
After a long, hard day, nothing is more disappointing than a stove that refuses to fire. Follow these 10 essentials for foolproof stove features and techniques.Filtering Vs. Chemicals Vs. Boiling Water
Water treatments defined.Just Go
Sometimes, despite all the commitments and obligations, you know what you have to do.Poison Ivy, Bees and Wasps
Do you know your backcountry poisonous threats?Burn Treatment: A Heated Situation
To stem the pain, act fast when treating burns.Another Tick-Borne Disease
You can add another disease to those you might get from ticks: ehrlichiosis.Fighing Shin Splints
Soreness and tightness in your shins (aka shin splints) can make every step along the trail painful.Cold Doesn't Always Mean Dead
You can freeze to death and still live to tell about it.Avoiding Caffeine Withdrawal
Your daily cups of java seem innocent-until you hit the trail and don't get your normal caffeine buzz for a couple of days.Natural Toothbrushes
Forgot your toothbrush? You can still practice good hygiene.Thwarting Cryptosporidium
Think crypto comes only from polluted water? Your healthy camp mate could be a carrier.Cleaning Pads With Medicine
Keep scrapes clean with lightweight cleaning pads.Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail
Everything you'd want in a long trail.Hypothermia: Just The Facts
Quick Tips to Prevent, Recognize, and Treat Hypothermia.Ironwoman Senator Of The Yukon
Compared with the rough-and-tumble Chilkoot Trail, the Senate is a walk in the park for Ione Christensen.Backpacker Body Odor Throughout History
Smelling foul in the outdoors is nothing new. Check out these historical tidbits.Zipped-Tight Water Safety
Use ziplock baggies with your water purifiers for extra safety.Backcountry Body Odor: What's That Smell?
Body odor can get pretty bad on the trail. Here's how to make sure you never again hear the words, "What's That Smell?"Too Cold For Comfort
How to improve your tolerance for cold and enhance your outdoor performance.Sweat Glands: 3 Million And Counting
Your 3 million sweat glands can make for a sweaty, smelly hike.Hiking While Pregnant
With a few precautions, expecting hikers can hit the trail.Giving Thanks At Washington's Jackson Wilderness
The best way to honor a wilderness-minded senator is to hike the Jackson Wilderness.Before The Trail, Cut Your Toenails
We're not saying you need a pedicure, but a toenail trim doesn't hurt on the trail.Wrinkled Hats Ward Off UV Rays
New trail-tested advice for shading your face from the sun.Smashed Finger Relief
Your finger got crushed between a rock and a hard place. Here's what to do.Cover Up In The Desert
Follow this cover-up advice before you head into the desert.Treating Achilles Tendinitis
Hikes with a lot of elevation gain and loss are prime for getting tendinitis in the Achilles tendon.When Hiking, Beware Dirty Water
Unless you're partial to polluted water, don't fill your bottle during or just after a major storm.Wildlife Myths And Manners
When you have park visitors asking such questions as, "The animals aren't really wild, are they?" you have a recipe for disaster.National Parks: Best Wildlife
Where the words "wild" and "life" take on new meaningRobert Taylor: A True Trailblazer
Robert Taylor wants African-Americans to know "there's something great out there."Wilderness: Access For All
Should we pave the wilderness and install escalators for the disabled? No, says a former backpacker.Quest For The Jackalope
Is the legendary jackalope the most endangered species in the Lower 48 or just an old cowboy tale that refuses to die?Wind Chill Bites
Wind chill can nip noses or lead to frostbite. Here's what you should know.Stressed? Start Backpacking
Startling research reveals the backcountry melts tension.The Joy of Wilderness Music
In a strange way, music and wilderness go hand in hand.Wilderness Of Hope
Five troubled teens and three well-meaning volunteers head into the Colorado mountains, hoping the wilds will help heal the youngsters. But in the end, it's hard to tell whose lives were forever shaped by the experience, the youths or the adults.West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest
Classic eastern mountain scenery along West Virginia's skyline pathway.HIkers' Strong Shoulder Treatment
Sore shoulders after lugging a pack? Try this exercise remedy.Splints For Broken Bones
Suffer a bone-related injury and one of these high-tech splints will quickly become your best friend.The Prophet Of The PNT
With the fervor of a pulpit-pounding evangelist, Ron Strickland has wandered the land, preaching the gospel of the Pacific Northwest Trail he hoped to create.Alternative To Bug Spray: Permethrin
Another bug-beating option.Bonus Backcountry Bug-Off Tips
Other tips to beat the most annoying backcountry biters.Eye To Eye With Raptors
Eyeball to beak with impressively taloned hawks in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest.Oregon's Volcanoes In Full Bloom
Vast meadows of wildflowers sprawl across the ridgetops and valley bottoms of the Three Sisters.Bug Off: Tips To Keep Away Insects
Tips to beat the most annoying backwoods bitersLove Thy Rattlesnake
Encountering a rattlesnake is a splendid moment in time, a cherished wilderness event--at least that's the view of Arizona researchers trying to change public perception of all things fanged.Elksong
At a campsite along the Snake River, the bugling goes on night and day.Perfecting Your First Aid Kit
Whether it's old and dirty or fresh off the store shelf, your first-aid kit should be able to handle any emergency.Gear Rx: Stoves And Water Filters
See if your stove or water filter is safe to repair.Bruce Babbitt: Not Your Average Bureaucrat
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit knows he can't please everyone. So rather than try, he spends his time righting environmental wrongs and preserving wildlands.Stamp Out Foot Fungus Naturally
Finish foot fungus fast -- and naturally.Julia 'Butterfly' Hill Leaves Redwood Home
Protester celebrates victory in a two-year battle to save a giant redwood by coming back to earth.Winter Harm: Cold Dangers
Cold can harm in subtle and quick ways, so it pays to be prepared.Homemade Stove Platforms
Or anything else, for that matter, once you use this easy-to-make stove platform.Treating Aches and Pains
A personal perspective on healing back, joint and other body pains.Knee Injuries: An Unexpected Twist
If you've had a knee injury, follow these exercises before you hit the trail again.The Wisdom of Abo Dude
To all the techno-weenies with your space-age outdoor gear, Cody Lundin has some advice: For that day when your butt's on the line, you better know how to get primitive.Hiking Medicine: Trail Rx
Got a first-aid kit? Great. Now add these over-the-counter medicines and it'll be perfect.Survival Kit
Make your own backcountry survival kit.Fixing A Blister
A simple blister remedy gets you back on the trail fast.You Can't Strut With Fallen Arches
Test to see if your "shocks" -- the arches of your feet -- are blown.Climbing: A Higher Calling
In every backpacker's life, there comes a time when you stare awestruck at a mountain and wonder, "What's it like to climb that sucker?"Break In Your Boots
Log some easy "city" miles in your new hiking boots before that epic trip.Fighting Altitude Sickness
What happens when you go from sea level to altitude too fast? One brave editor found out the hard way, and offers her blow-by-blow findings in hopes that you don't suffer a similar fate.Wash Your Feet
Clean and rub them, and feet will go the distance.Tales Of A Wilderness Rescuer
After you've spent a cold, drizzly, miserable night searching for a lost or injured hiker, sometimes a few simple words of thanks make it all worthwhile.When Panic Attacks
Stay calm, have a bite to eat, and remember there's nothing to fear but fear itself.Stretching: Muscle Relaxers
Use these specific stretches to alleviate muscle pain.Fighting Cramps On The Trail
Nothing cramps your style like a knotted muscle. Here are simple ways to stay pain-free.The Mother of All Beginner Trips
Imagine that your well-coiffed, country club mother calls and says, "I want to go backpacking." Would it be your worst nightmare or a family dream come true?The Devil Wore Sneakers
Last time you went looking for a new place to hike, you probably consulted a guidebook. We all do. So why is author Michael Kelsey getting lambasted for giving us what we want?Solo Hiking Alaska: Fear Walked With Me
A once-in-a-lifetime solo hike through Lake Clark National Park, where the midnight sun shines like candlelight on the mountains.The Colors Of Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias
Wrangell-St. Elias National park is known for its jaw-dropping scenery, but there's just as much beauty at your feet.Healing Thorns, Splinters, And Other Pricks
How to deal with all kinds of things that get under your skin.Fish Hook Wounds: Catch And Release
Fish hooks can be painful and dangerous -- here's how to get 'em out.ANWR: Postcards From The Edge
Journey to Alaska's far northern edge, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where the midnight sun shines like candlelight on the mountains.Knee Help?
No joint is more prone to injury than the knee. Here's what to do when faced with a backcountry blow-out.How To Splint A Bum Knee
Pretend Your Leg Is A Jelly Roll.How Your Knee Works
The big hinge in your leg is essential to hiking -- here's how the knee gets you over the pass.Wilderness First-Aid Courses
Take an advanced wilderness first-aid course and you'll never have to say "I didn't know what to do" to the next-of-kin.Animal Rut: Doing The Wild Thing
They paw, prance, bang heads, and curl lips. The rut is on, and there's no better time to observe the wild kingdom.Foot Odor: Toxic Sock Syndrome
If your feet are a source of backcountry air pollution, here's how to keep them smelling sweet.Of Mice And Lyme Disease
Stay away from mice out on the trail, and you'll stay away from disease-carrying ticks.West Virginia Mountain Hobnobbing
Birds and deer are your only companions on this stretch of the Allegheny Trail.Yosemite: Treasure Of The Sierra
Forget what CNN and Your Daily News say about Yosemite's crowds and crime and traffic. the "treasure of the Sierra" is still a golden place for backpackers to escape.Modern Man Vs. Mad Dog
A techno-packer and a yard-sale minimalist go stride for stride to find out what kind of equipment is best for a good time. Or more importantly, does it really matter?Cancer Concerns
When it comes to hikers with skin damage, not all cancers are created equal.Understanding Sunscreen Labels
Here's how to make sense of your sunscreen.A Blank Spot On The Map
We travel to New Mexico's Aldo Leopold Wilderness to understand the roots of the preservation movement and see just how far we've come.Why Do Fireflies Glow?
Plus 24 other round-the-campfire brain stumpers every nature buff should know.Go Now! The Wilderness Life List
The 10 once-in-a-lifetime adventures any backwoods fanatic should have under his hipbelt before hanging up the ol' pack.A Few Ounces Of Prevention
The 25 often-overlooked ways to stay healthy and injury-free.Sprained Ankle Relations
How to keep hiking when your ankle takes a turn for the worse. Plus, keeping them strong and trail-ready.Taping Ankle Injuries: Stick To It
Athletic tape can still do wonders for an injured ankle.You Can Leave Home Without It
Putting the Ray Jardine ultralight way to the test.Ultralight: The Ray Jardine Way
He rocked the world of climbing, challenged the accepted wisdom in sea kayaking, and now Ray Jardine turned his renegade way of thinking to backpacking.Not-So-Wise Tales
If you think ringworms crawl or chewing poison ivy prevents the itch, you're obviously a fan of medical fiction.Hypothermia 101
As the temperature dips, hypothermia can threaten survival for backwoods adventurers unaware of its warning signs.Paul Schurke: Chillin' With The Iceman
Your odds of surviving, much less enjoying, a -30°F night in the woods rate right up there with a snowball's chance in you-know-where. That is, unless you make friends with a guy they call The Iceman.Grand Staircase-Escalante: The Last Best Place
Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante is huge, remote, controversial, and one of the finest destinations for backpackers in the Lower 48.Goat Rocks Wilderness: A Real Eye-Popper
Some say Goat Rocks Wilderness has the best scenery along the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Decide for yourself.Quick And Dirty: How To Cope
Here's how to stay sanitary in the backcountry.Backcountry Diarrhea: Treating The Runs
When diarrhea strikes in the backcountry and there's no porcelain for 20 miles, the proper response can save your trip.Head Cases: Wilderness Head Injuries
If you take a hit to the head in the wild, think twice before deciding to hike on.Insect Stings: What's Bugging You?
If the thought of a spider bite or bee sting makes your skin crawl, then preventing a painful encounter is the key.Poisoned In Camp?
How to deal with common backpacking substances that are more toxic than three-day-old socks.Drowning Victims: In Over Your Head
Your partner just disappeared under an icy torrent. Quick, do you know what to do next?Mt. St. Helens: The Cataclysm and Beyond
A trek through the blast zone of a restless volcano raises questions about a father's legacy and a child's future.Gall Wasps In Trees
What makes those golf-ball-size lumps on trees? A tiny wasp with a lot of nerve.Praise For Porcupines
Even though they eat boots and pack straps, there's newfound appreciation for porcupines.Mountain Lions: Return Of The Ghost Cat
The mountain lion is the only North American predator that occasionally stalks humans. Do you have anything to fear?Canada's Lewis and Clark: Alexander Mackenzie
When it came to continent crossing, the noted U.S. explorers were a step behind Canada's Alexander Mackenzie. And until you hike his namesake trail, you can't truly appreciate the toughness of his journey or the magnitude of his accomplishment.Big Bad Wolves?
On their own and with help from the government, wolves are reclaiming their former range. Should you worry?
