Camping

Gear Picks by Kristin Hostetter

For BACKPACKER'S Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2012, Kristin tested tons of gear. Here are a few of her special favorites.

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.

Editors' Choice Snow Award 2012: Sierra Designs Ymir 55 Backpack

A pack made for multi-day ski touring.

Editors' Choice Snow Award 2012: First Ascent Katabatic Tent

A stable, light, livable, four-season tent.

Gear Review: Patagonia Troposphere Hardshell Jacket

A shell that offers winter-worthy protection at a year-round weight.

Cooking Backcountry Eggs

Don't be afraid of cooking this superfood in the backcountry.

Gear Review: Exped Pegasus Tent

The next best thing to a hut

Gear Review: L.L. Bean 2-Person Backcountry Dome

A tough, spacious two-person tent for under $400.

Gear Review: Brooks Range Invasion Tent

This tent is so small and light, you'll barely notice it in your pack–until you need it.

Gear Review: Easton Expedition 2P Tent

Carbon poles with monofilament connectors make this tent light and cold-weather friendly

Outdoor Retailer Summer 2012 Recap Day 2

On day two of the Summer 2012 Outdoor Retailer show, our reader test team tackled ultralight, three-season hiking, and breathability.

Test Kitchen: Coffee

We perked more than 100 caffeinated cups to find the best trail-brew technique. Here’s how to choose your method, gear, and grounds.

Gear: Stanley Ninteen13 One-Hand Vacuum Mug

Multitasking dads will love this easy-sipping cup.

Gear: Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Pro

A rugged battery pack that will let him stay charged up and connected.

Gear: Eton Rukus Solar Sound System

Turn an iPod into a campground sound system.

Gear Guide 2012: Kelty Lowdown Camp Chair

A camp throne built for long-term schlepping and chilling.

Gear Guide 2012: Osprey Poco Plus Kid Carrier

Haul your little one in this lightweight and customizable backpack kid carrier.

America's Best Campsites

Park your tent in one of these 10 spots, and you'll be happy in the morning. Guaranteed.

Editors' Choice Gold 2012: Kahtoola MICROspikes

Tackle slick terrain with confidence–and a light load.

Adventure Upgrade: Camp Comfortably in Winter

Extend your backpacking season: Here's how to stay warm and protect your gear.

Adventure Upgrade: Take the Family Hiking and Camping

Use these tricks to get your kids begging for another trip outside.

Adventure Upgrades: Hike Smarter and Farther

Take your backpacking to the next level. Our experts craft custom plans for readers who asked for help with navigation, winter camping, thru-hiking, and more.

Ultimate Adventure Handbook: Become a Backcountry Batali

Serve a 5-star meal that matches the scenery.

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.

Escape Plan: Warm a Hypothermia Victim

Treat severe hypothermia with this life saving technique.

Readers' Choice 2012: Glacier Magic

Iconic scenery bolstered by serious solitude? Get them both on this weeklong traverse.

Readers' Choice 2012: Appalachian Trail, 100-Mile Wilderness, ME

Tackle the Northeast's most remote wilds for bears, moose, and berries.

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.

Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Western Mountaineering Flash Down Booties

Goose down booties with a nylon shell that pack down super small.

Big Wild Empty: The Bob Marshall Wilderness

Think there's nothing wild left in the Lower 48? Don't tell the grizzlies on this traverse of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Summer Camping Secrets: At the Stove

Bake without an oven! Build your own spice kit! A DIY guide to dining while summer camping.

Summer Camping Secrets: In Camp

From picking the right campsite to stargazing like a pro, these summer camping tips will ensure a restful overnight.

Summer Camping Secrets: On The Trail

Once you've left camp, these tips and techniques will make your on-trail miles more enjoyable.

Summer Camping Secrets: Avoid Crowds, Hit the Trail Faster

With a little pre-planning you can hit the trail and beat the crowds all summer long.

How To Slideshow: Fit A Week's Gear In A Weekend Pack

Don't own a massive pack for your big annual adventure? Here's how to make it all fit.

Recipe: Farmer's Mash

For a hearty vegetable stew, make this easy Farmer's Mash recipe in less than 10 minutes.

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie

This gourmet chicken pot pie is an easy recipe for a warm and filling backcountry dinner.

Gear Review: Pacific Outdoors Peak Elite AC

This pad delivers low weight and low cost, making no more grumpy mornings.

Gear Review: Exped SynMat UL 7

Stay warm and comfy with this insulated sleeping pad.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Smartwool Spring Glove

Breathable merino wool and rugged leather make for happy hands

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Deuter Kid Comfort III Kid Carrier

Our favorite toddler-hauler

Mother's Day Gift Guide: ERGObaby Performance Infant Carrier

The best way to tote your infant on a hike

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Kelty Big Dipper 30 Jr. Kids Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag that grows with your child.

Gear Review: Yarns

You'll be the life of the campfire with a few tips from the pros.

Gear Review: Stoic Welder Gauntlet Mitt

A 100-percent wool-lined glove that heats hands instantly.

Gear Review: Black Diamond Arc Gloves

A great all-purpose glove for high-output activities.

Gear Review: Outdoor Research Backstop Gloves

Gore Windstopper covers the back of the hand from cuff to fingertips.

Gear Review: Black Diamond Contact Crampons

Stainless steel crampons that bite into ice and repel slushy buildup.

Gear Review: High Peak Chameleon 20/0

A budget-conscious convertible bag that changes to match its environment.

Gear Review: Mammut Altitude Winter Sleeping Bag

The Altitude's 800-fill down is protected from the elements by a waterproof/breathable ShelterTX shell and full-length, rubberized, splashproof zipper.

Gear Review: Zeal Optics Transcend SPPX Goggles

The GPS-enabled cyborg goggles you've been dreaming about

Gear Review: L.L. Bean Boreal Sliding Snowshoes

Have a blast in rolling terrain with these snowshoe/ski hybrids.

Gear Review: Crescent Moon Over-Shoe Booties

Turn any shoe or boot into a fully insulated winter trekker with these over-shoe booties.

Gear Review: Platypus Insulator Hydration System

An all-in-one lightweight hydration system for snow lovers.

How-To Slideshow: Rigging a Tent

This is your guide to creating convertible guy lines and rigging a tent securely on rocky surfaces.

Our Backyard: Everglades National Park

Paddle to a beach-camping paradise in the Everglades.

Gear Review: Salomon Nytro WP Cold-weather Hiking Boots

Just because they have fur doesn't mean they're not serious backcountry boots.

Time-Tested Gear: Tents

A-frames, domes, party tents–we've tested them all.

Gear Review: Coleman All-in-One Cooking System

A propane system that takes camp cooking to a whole new level.

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.

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Kelty Cosmic Down 20° Sleeping Bag

Want to fly business class on a coach fare? Gift the Cosmic.

Winter Camping Skills: Bring the Right Cooking Gear

Don't forget these essentials when you're headed into the cold.

Winter Camping Skills: Plan Your Menu

Use these tips to plan perfect winter camping meals.

Winter Camping Skills: Melt Water

There are two basic ways of melting water: passive and active.

Winter Camping Skills: Build a Camp Kitchen

Site your stove a few steps from your tent, so you can conveniently melt snow or brew drinks. If you're camping in the same spot for several days (and in deep snow), dig out a snow kitchen.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Mountaineering Gear

Head high with an axe, crampons, and more.

Winter Hiking: Master Winter Travel

Quick tips for your transportation of choice.

Blizzard Wizards: Cold Weather Hiking Experts

Meet our four cold-weather experts.

Winter Hiking Repair Kit

Pack this essential kit to handle your unpredictable gear mishaps.

7 Steps to a Bombproof Tent

Your tent will withstand anything with these tips.

4 Key Winter Camp Accessories

Don't leave home without these winter camping essentials.

Build a Winter Basecamp: Beat the Deep Freeze

Our pros tell you how to set up a deluxe–yet weatherproof–winter basecamp.

Cold Weather Camping: Sleep Better Than a Hibernating Bear

12 secrets for keeping your core (and your gear) warm in the coldest weather

Layering For Cold Weather: Dress to the Nine-Belows

Master the art of layering to keep comfy all winter.

Winter Hiking: The Cure for the (Un)Common Cold

Life's too short to be a three-season hiker. Follow these expert tips on staying warm, picking your route, and cooking savory meals--and add winter's deep solitude and frozen dreamscapes to your adventure calendar.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Boots

Warm up with 7 picks for every winter pursuit.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Backpacks

Carry in comfort, from dayhikes to hut trips.

Four All-Star iPad Apps for Camping

Is the iPad coming to a campsite near you? It saves its weight in maps, guidebooks, novels, songs, and more. Here are four top apps for hikers.

Gear Review: Muck Boot Arctic Sport Winter Boots

These are the warmest (and lightest) boots you will ever need for winter.

Gear Review: Sorel Alpha Pac Winter Boots

These will keep your feet warm on the coldest of hikes.

Gear Review: MSR Lightning Axis Snowshoes

Rely on the jagged steal crampons for grip and add-on tails for super float.

Gear Review: Redfeather Vapor Snowshoes

Run, really run, in the snow with the help of these snowshoes.

Gear Review: Lowa Baikal GTX Hiking Boot

This all-purpose boot provides great support and warmth.

Gear Review: Mammut Alugator Expert Shovel

Dig quickly and easily with this all-aluminum shovel.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Baselayers

Keep your bod warm & toasty all fall and winter long.

Gear Review: Klean Kanteen Wide Insulated

This thermos converts into an insulated mug whenever you're ready for a warm drink.

Gear Review: MSR Reactor 2.5 Pot

Boil water in minutes with this cookware.

Gear Review: SOLE Exhale Slippers

Ditch your hiking boots for these fleece-lined slippers and relax.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Gloves & Mitten

Keep your fingers warm and functional this winter with these five digit warmers.

Gear Review: Flylow Tough Guy Gloves

Gloves that are rugged and cheap.

Gear Review: Columbia Carabineer Gloves

Gloves made with thermal-reflective Omni-Heat lining.

Gear Review: Black Diamond Virago Mitt

Tuck chemical handwarmers in these mitts for long-lasting heat.

Gear Review: Mountain Hardware Pistolero Gloves

Tough gloves that still let you use your fingers for delicate tasks.

Gear Review: Arc'teryx Alpha SV Gloves

The best gloves for wet and cold we tested.

Ultimate Backcountry Beds

For five months, we tested 50 bags, pads, and other snooze-related gear to find perfect sleep systems for every season.

Ultralight Bargain: Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Pads

For warm summer nights, this two-pound system delivers sweet dreams for just $138.

Basecamp Luxury: Sleeping Bags, Sleeping Pad, and Camp Pillows

Get all the comforts of home with this four-star setup.

Winter Warmth: Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Pads for Cold-weather Camping, Plus Tips for Easy Sleeping While Camping

Stay toasty in the deepest freeze with an overstuffed bag and cold-weather pad.

Three-Season Backcountry Sleeping Bags & Sleeping Pads

Get big comfort, low weight from a premium down bag and a super-cush pad.

Gear Review: Exped SIM Lite 2.5 Short Sleeping Pad

A shortie summer pad that offers surprising comfort for its size and weight.

Gear Review: Deuter Dream Lite 500 & Sea to Summit's Reactor Thermolite Sleeping Bag

A 40° mummy that disappears inside a pack.

Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest DreamTime Sleeping Pad

A sleeping pad made for luxurious car camping.

Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Pinole 20° & Big Agnes Cabin Creek Sleeping Bag

An affordable mummy bag that's super soft inside.

Gear Review: Big Agnes Dual Core Sleeping Pad & Klean Kanteen Classic Water Bottle

A winter warm sleeping pad that's also easily packable.

Gear Review: Sierra Designs BTU -20 Sleeping Bag and Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0&Deg;

An Arctic-worthy 800-fill down mummy.

Gear Review: NEMO Cosmo Air & Pacific Outdoor's Equipment's Peak Oyl Mtn Women's Petite Sleeping Pads

An extra wide and extra long sleeping pad with three inches of cushion.

Gear Review: Rab Neutrino 400 & Eureka! Riner 40°F Sleeping Bag

A premium down bag that masters three seasons.

Gear School: Snowshoes

Get out more this winter with the right pair of 'shoes.

How's Your Camping Etiquette - Answers & Scoring

You took the quiz - now see how you fared.

Gear Review: Sierra Designs Convert 3 Tent

A four-season tent that can truly handle the elements.

Gear Review: Big Agnes String Ridge 2 Tent

A wedge-style, double-walled tent that packs super small.

Gear Review: Integral Designs SilTunnel Tent

A floorless tunnel tent that's ultralight for it's four-person capacity.

Gear Review: Hilleberg Keron 3 Tent

A roomy tunnel tent that's quick to set up.

Gear Review: Hilleberg Altai XP Yurt Tent

Sleeps eight and sits 12, this is the tent for a group expedition.

Gear Review: Brooks-Range Rocket A2 Tent

A lightweight, all-conditions shelter for two.

Gear Review: REI Arete ASL 3 Tent

If you dip your toes in winter camping this tent is for you.

Gear Review: The North Face Mountain 25 Tent

This tent survived the worst of Mt. Washington's epic weather.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Sleeping Bags & Sleeping Pads

Sleep better all year long with these warm sleeping bags & pads.

Gear Review: Kelty Alpine Sleeping Pad

A closed cell/open cell foam system that provides maximum comfort.

Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Solar Sleeping Pad

An indestructible sleeping pad with an aluminized surface layer that reflects body heat.

Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear ExtraLamina 20 Sleeping Bag

A roomy and comfortable bag built for big guys (or gals).

Gear Review: Western Mountaineering Lynx Sleeping Bag

An 850-fill bag that packs down to the size of a basketball.

Gear Review: Marmot Never Summer MemBrain Sleeping Bag

A warm and weatherproof bag at a sweet price.

Gear Review: Sierra Designs Euphoria Sleeping Bag

A women's bag that stays warm even when wet.

Gear Review: MontBell U.L. Super Spiral Down Hugger #1 Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag you won't want to get out of.

Gear Review: Brooks-Range Elephant Foot Sleeping Bag

Pair this bag with a puffy jacket for an ultralight, ultratoasty setup.

Gear Review: Exped Waterbloc 1000 Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag that doesn't require a tent.

Professor Hike: Top 10 Beginner Hiker Blunders

"I've made the mistakes so you don't have to."

Budget Apparel Guide: Bargain Baselayers

For $35 or less, keep your core warm and toasty.

Camp Chef Makeover: The Winter Hiker

Staying warm does require extra calories when hiking in the winter.

Gear Review: Venture Snowboards Zephyr Splitboard

It's skis! It's a snowboard! It's a splitboard!

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.

Gear Review: Microcrampons

When the conditions call for grip but not burly crampons, strap on one of these three microcrampon options and feel secure on ice and snow.

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.

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.

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.

The Peak: Humphreys Peak, Arizona

Discover aspens and alpine hiking, plus views of the Grand Canyon, on this trek up Arizona's 12,633-foot highpoint.

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: Glorietta Ghost Town, NM

Hike to a hotel with no visitors.

The Future of Maps

Four cutting-edge cartographers--from Google's explorer-in-residence to Tom Harrison himself--help us chart the course of the next revolution in wilderness mapping.

Local Hikes: Southeast

Climb to two killer views, see the South's best flowers, and hike to secluded falls. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

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: Mountain West

Spot a grizzly, basecamp amid Fourteeners, and relax in secluded hot springs. (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: California/Nevada/Hawaii

Hike to the world's best tropical campsite, see elephant seals, and trek through poppies. (Click linked trips for GPS waypoints, photos, and more.)

3D Interactive Grand Canyon: Our Toughest Routes

Tackle our toughest and least-crowded routes in the Grand Canyon with this interactive map.

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.)

Life List: Colorado Trail

Bag a peak every day (and a view every step) on the country's highest-elevation footpath.

Life List: Switzerland's Via Alpina

Devour the world's best scenery, chocolate, and cheese on the Via Alpina.

Life List: Grand Canyon

Learn where solitude reigns--and why. Plus: Tackle the hardest Big Ditch route we've ever published.

Colorado Trail: Find Solitude

How to beat the crowds and find solitude in the Rockies

Coffee-mate: Thermos Round-up

No one takes a to-go cup on the trail. Unless it's one of these hardy thermoses or hot/cold bottles.

Gear Review: XY Zin 10

Upgrade any camp dinner with this medium-bodied wine.

Gear Review: Bamboo Mini Utensil Set

A fork, knife, and spoon for the green and ultralight crowd.

Gear Review: Marmot Eigerwand Jacket

This synthetic-filled puffy stays warm even in wet, sloppy snow.

Gear Review: Exped Air Pillow

Get some real sleep on your next trip with this packable pillow.

Gear Review: Starbucks VIA

The best instant coffee ever

Gear Review: Thinsulate Thermal Insoles

Boost your boots' warmth with these insoles.

Gear Review: Grand Trunk Nano-7 Hammock

A super-comfy hang-able camp "chair"

Gear Review: EZ Grill

A disposable grill for backcountry feasts

Gear Review: Travel Yahtzee

A great rainy day tent game

Gear Review: Snowpeak's Titanium Flask

The finest flask for your finest single malts

Gear Review: Hi-Tec Renegade Trail WP Jr. Kids' Hiking Boot

A real backpacking boot for kids

Gear Review: Optimus Terra HE

A great two-pot cookset

Gear Review: Evernew Aluminum Ceramic Non-Stick Deep Pots

A ceramic coated cook pot with a fry pan lid

Gear Review: GSI Outdoors Minimalist

The perfect solo cookset

Gear Review: The North Face Nuptse Bootie III

The ultimate winter camp shoe

Beginner's Guide to Winter Camping: A Seven Part Series

Rocky Mountain Editor and survival blogger Steve Howe gets you out of the house on your first winter camping trip with this seven-part how-to guide.

How to Cross a Spring Snowfield

Cross the steeps safely and avoid avalanches with these guide-approved tips.

January/February 2010 Table of Contents

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Rugged Nordic Touring Ski Gear

From boots to bindings to skis, this rig will have you set for the backcountry.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Backcountry Touring Ski Gear

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Telemark Ski Gear

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Alpine Touring Ski Gear

Skip the resort crowds and find clean powder with this backcountry ski gear.

Gear Review: Petzl Summit Ice Axe

Gross a glacier or handle snow travel on big peaks with this versatile mountaineering axe.

Gear School: Crampons

Traverse snow and ice safely with the right set of points.

The Manual: Deluxe Winter Camping

Don't let frigid temps keep you inside. Here are five tips for deluxe winter camping.

Recipe: Spicy Pad Thai with Chicken and Veggies

For authentic takeout on the trail, try this spicy Pad Thai.

Recipe: Easy Pad Thai

Craving something Asian on your next trek, but don't want to put in a lot of effort? Try this easy Pad Thai.

Gear Review: Eagle Creek Abominable Snowbag

This convenient travel snowbag pays for itself quickly.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Snowshoes

Hit the trail in the winter with one of these nine snowshoes.

Gear Review: Tubbs Couloirs Snowshoes

These wide-decked Tubbs snowshoes are perfect for long hauls and large loads.

Gear Review: TSL Over the Top Snowshoe

These TSL snowshoes are best for day-long adventures over varied terrain.

Gear Review: TSL Escape Snowshoe

New to snowshoeing? Check out this stable snowshoe for beginners.

Gear Review: Redfeather LaCrosse with Pilot II Bindings Snowshoe

Great shoe for deep powder and big mountains

Gear Review: MSR Denali Tyker Snowshoe

Best shoe for the mini mountaineer

Gear Review: MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoe

Check out this staff favorite voted best-all-around snowshoe.

Gear Review: GV Snowshoes Cat Trail Ultralight Snowshoe

This ultralight aluminum-based snowshoe will keep you moving fast.

Gear Review: Primus Gravity MF II Stove

This reliable camp stove runs on any gas, quick to heat and easy to use.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide: Winter Essentials

From a Quickie sled to sunscreen used by the U.S. ski team, these five winter essentials are must haves.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Socks, Gaiters, & Booties

Keep your feet warm and happy with these socks, gaiters, & booties.

Fall/Winter Gear Guide 09: Ski Gear

This guide covers ski gear for telemark, alpine touring, backcountry touring, and rugged Nordic touring.

Cold Comfort: Winter Camping Guide

No crowds, no bugs: Winter camping holds rewards aplenty– once you master the gear and skills required to thrive in frigid climates.

Gear Review: Zamberlan 1009 Vioz Top GT RR Mountaineering Boot

Insulated backpacking boots with enough support to carry a 50-pound pack.

Gear Review: Columbia Winter Trek XMT Omni-Tech Hiking Boot

Ideal for treks on packed snow, this boot is great for wintry day hikes.

Gear Review: Kamik Snowpass Snowshoe Boot

Ideal for snowshoeing, or wintry day hikes, this boot keeps your feet dry and warm.

Gear Review: Helly Hansen Lynx Snowshoe Boot

Whether it's snowshoeing, light day hiking, or sloshing through town, this boot does it all.

Gear Review: Zamberlan 4041 Expert Pro GT RR

Sturdy yet light, this boot is great for the most extreme day hikes.

Gear Review: La Sportiva Baruntse Mountaineering Boot

Made for big peaks, this boot is warm, and great for ice and snow

Winter Camping: Recipes & Menu Planner

These recipes are fortified with extra warmth and calories for winter camping.

Winter Camping: Winter Checklist

Get the gear you'll need to stay warm and happy on a winter backpacking trip.

Winter Camping: Safety & Survival

Assess your winter climbing risks with this handy chart.

Winter Camping: Navigation

Learn to figure out where you are (even in a whiteout) and prevent, or stop, a snowy fall.

Winter Camping: Winter Essentials How To...

Learn how to cook, make water, and...go to the bathroom when the backcountry is a winter wonderland.

Winter Camping: Camp & Trail Skills

Learn how to choose between a tent and a snow cave. Plus the best ways to travel in the snow.

Winter Camping: Gear & Clothing

Your complete guide to choosing, fitting, and using essential winter gear.

Winter Camping: Getting Started

Winter camping requires extra planning and gear. But it's well worth the effort.

Gear Review: Pacific Outdoor Pneumo Zips Storage Bags

You'll never use zip-top plastic bags again after trying these Pacific Outdoor PU-coated nylon storage bags.

Gear Review: Dermatone Lips 'n Face with Z-Cote Sunscreen

This sunscreen goes on clear and blocks sun and wind. Bonus, it also moisturizes.

Gear Review: Talus Outdoors ColdAvenger Classic Face Mask

This Talus face mask mixes your hot breath with the cold outside air to keep your face warm and snot free.

Gear Review: TSL Quickie Sled

For sledding or glissading, the TSL Quickie is a speedy descent.

Gear Review: Crescent Moon Gold Series Snowshoe

Comfortable and stable straps win this snowshoe the best binding award.

Gear Review: Feathered Friends Geoduck Pillow

Stuffed with 750-fill down, this camping pillow gives you 5 inches of pure comfort and support.

Gear Review: Coleman LED Quad Lantern

No kid gets left in the dark with this versatile LED lamp.

Gear Review: Molehill Mountain Equipment 4-Way Stretch Pullover and Leggings Kids' Baselayers

Cozies made for camping comfort

Gear Review: The North Face Blue Ridge BX Kids' Sleeping Bag

Affordable starter mummy bag for kids 2-10 compresses down to soccer ball size.

Gear Review: 20Sub3 Rugged Maps Lite

No more plastic bags or map cases, these waterproof, and tear-resistant topos will last a lifetime.

Gear Review: Granite Gear AirVent DryBlocs Solid Stuffsacks

Don't let the these light weight stuffsakcs fool you, they keep your gear dry in the wettest conditions.

Gear Review: Nemo Asashi Tent

This tent stands up to rough conditions, assembles in minutes, and has room for the whole family.

Gear Review: L.L.Bean Microlight 2 Tent

True to product description, this tent gives you more for the money.

Gear Review: MSR Asgard Tent

Spacious for two, the "bow frame" geometry of this tent stands up to the toughest conditions.

Gear Review: Big Sky International Mirage 2-Person Tent

weighing in at 2 lbs. 6 oz, this ultralight tent fits two with room to spare.

Gear Review: The North Face Mica 12 Tent

Unmatched in weather-worthiness, this solo tent earned top honors among testers.

Gear Review: Polar Buff Headwear

This versatile headpiece is half fleece, half microfiber–it can even double as a pillow.

Family Camping: Tips & Stats

How many miles, and how heavy a pack, can your kid handle? Plus, big tents, first aid, and newbie adults.

Family Camping: Fun Food

Meal-by-meal tips to please the whole family

Family Camping: How to Pull it Off

87 tips for making your next family trip easy, fun, and comfortable

Backpacker's Guide to Family Camping

A realistic, hassle-free handbook for taking kids outdoors

The Kitchen Sink: Backcountry Cookware Reviews

Everything you need to eat well in the backcountry.

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.

Gear Review: Evernew EL9 Solar Clip Light

This sustainable light gives cap-wearers a viable headlamp alternative.

The Manual: Take Your Dog Hiking

Make Fido's next trip doggie heaven with our tips on finding pooch-friendly trails, loading a dog pack, and treating injuries.

Readers' Choice 2010: Submit Your Favorite Skills Tip

Gear Guide 2009: Sierra Designs Big Dog

This legit 20° kids' bag will keep your little ones toasty in the backcountry.

Gear Guide 2009: REI Cirque ASL 2 Tent Review

Want to get a winter tent without breaking the bank? The Cirque is the tent for you.

Gear Guide 2009: MSR Dragontail Tent Review

This winter tent is long, lean, and livable.

Gear Guide 2009: LOWA Khumbu Ice GTX Boot Review

Brave cold, wet weather with LOWA's sturdy, Gore-Tex winter boot.

Gear Guide 2009: Kamik Northfield Boot Review

For extreme waterproofing at a good price, you can't beat these insulated, high cut boots.

Gear Guide 2009: REI Halo 25 Sleeping Bag Review

Great bag all around that also costs less than most competitors.

Gear Guide 2009: Cocoon by Design Salt MummyLiner Silk Review

Add this sleeve for added comfort.

Gear Guide 2009: Big Agnes Pitchpine SL 40 Sleeping Bag Review

This lightweight summer bag is great for big guys or active sleepers.

Gear Guide 2009: Big Agnes Cyclone SL Ultralight Chair Kit Review

Turn your sleeping pad into a comfy camp chair.

Gear Guide 2009: REI Lite Core 1.5 Sleeping Pad Review

You won't roll off of this foam, self-inflating pad.

Gear Guide 2009: NEMO Tuo Standard Sleeping Pad Review

This two-layered pad weighs a few more ounces, but it's worth it to get the sleeping-at-home feeling.

Gear Guide 2009: Eastern Mountain Sports Trail Pad Review

A simple pad with that's easier to pack than you might think.

Gear Guide 2009: Western Mountaineering Antelope GWS Sleeping Bag Review

We like almost everything about this winter bag.

Gear Guide 2009: The North Face Nova Sleeping Bag Review

A high-performance winter bag for the thrifty shopper.

Gear Guide 2009: Mountain Hardwear Banshee SL 0 Sleeping Bag Review

This storm-proof bag will keep you warm, dry and cozy.

Gear Guide 2009: MontBell Super Stretch Burrow #0 Sleeping Bag Review

This synthetic bag is a killer deal and offers a "tucked in" fit.

Gear Guide 2009: Marmot Lithium Sleeping Bag Review

Last year's Editors' Choice Gold Award winner stands out again with its minimalist design and excellent fit.

Gear Guide 2009: Western Mountaineering Ultralite Sleeping Bag Review

This fitted bag packs small and weighs just over a pound.

Gear Guide 2009: Wenger Rhone Sleeping Bag Review

Attention cold sleepers: This bag is so warm we almost put it in the winter section.

Gear Guide 2009: The North Face Chrysalis Sleeping Bag Review

Want a great bag at a great price? Look no further than the Chrysalis.

Gear Guide 2009: Sierra Designs Trade Wind 15 Sleeping Bag Review

Staying warm well below its rating, this bag is perfect for when the clouds roll in.

Gear Guide 2009: Sierra Designs Cochise 15 Sleeping Bag Review

A warm bag at a great price, simple as that.

Gear Guide 2009: Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 Sleeping Bag Review

This ultralight bag will stuff-to-fit anywhere you've got room.

Gear Guide 2009: Marmot Pinnacle Sleeping Bag Review

Grabbing our best fit award, this three-season bag is perfect for any cold sleeper.

Gear Guide 2009: Mammut Shield 3-Season Sleeping Bag Review

This pricey three-season bag has a waterproof shell and can function as a wet bivy.

Gear Guide 2009: GoLite Adrenaline 20 Sleeping Bag Review

Last year's Editors' Choice bag features the same functional zipper design and low weight.

Gear Guide 2009: Feathered Friends Lark Sleeping Bag Review

This 10°F bag is ruthlessly pared down for low weight and high performance–and it works.

Gear Guide 2009: Eastern Mountain Sports Boreal 20 Sleeping Bag Review

A super-light, three-season bag that stuffs smaller than you'd think.

Gear Guide 2009: Big Agnes Mystic SL 15 Sleeping Bag Review

A three-season bag that is roomy and light, but not for side sleepers.

Gear Guide 2009: Valandre Mirage 3/4 Sleeping Bag Review

This high-end fitted bag may just be worth the extra bucks.

Gear Guide 2009: The North Face Elephant's Foot Review

This retro-inspired bag is tough and simple.

Gear Guide 2009: Sierra Designs Nitro 30 Sleeping Bag Review

This full-featured bag is light, warm and comfy. It gets our best all-around summer bag tag.

Gear Guide 2009: Marmot EcoPro 30 Sleeping Bag Review

Warm below its rating, and made of eco-products, this bag should have even the biggest green-thumbs sticking straight up.

Gear Guide 2009: Kelty Coromell Sleeping Bag Review

This summer bag had one tester wondering if it really was a summer bag– it was just that warm.

Gear Guide 2009: GoLite Ultra 20 Sleeping Bag Review

This down bag is super warm and great for saving weight.

Gear Guide 2009: Lafuma Warm 'n Light 1000g DN Sleeping Bag Review

This full-featured bag has it all, except a high price tag.

Gear Guide 2009: Exped Swift 250g Sleeping Bag Review

This easy-packing summer bag is lightweight and perfect for the budget-shopper.

Gear Guide 2009: L.L. Bean Mountain Guide Review

Bring along your winter toys— L.L. Bean's Mountain Guide pack can carry anything from ice climbing gear to skis.

Gear Guide 2009: Black Diamond Predator 50 Review

Take Black Diamond's practical Predator 50 with you on any trail, anytime.

Gear Guide 2009: Marmot Alpha 25 Review

Pack up the weekend toys for your outdoor activity of choice in Marmot's ultralight–and ultra cheap–Alpha 25 backpack.

Editors' Choice 2009 Gold Award: The North Face Base Camp Duffel

There might be a journey too daunting for this load hauler. But it's not on this planet.

Editors' Choice 2009 Gold Award: MSR MugMate Coffee Maker

The ultimate solution for backcountry coffee–fast, ultralight, and fuss-free.

Editors' Choice 2009 Green Award: Big Agnes Salt Creek Recycled Tent

"Habitat for humanity" gets a new meaning with this eco-friendly tent.

Editors' Choice 2009: New Balance 1500 Rainier Boot

Bring us your narrow feet, your wide feet, or the freakishly long–these boots are the answer.

Editors' Choice 2009: Kayland Zephyr Boot Review

Can't decide which boots are right for the trip? Stop wondering and start hiking with this all-purpose midweight.

Editors' Choice 2009: Osprey Sprint Series Backpacks

Tell the kids–finally, real packs for them, too

Editors' Choice 2009: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

Carry less, sleep more with this light-and-luxe mattress.

Editors' Choice 2009: Sierra Designs Lightning XT 4 Tent

Four is not a crowd in this family-size featherweight.

Editors' Choice 2009: MontBell UL Spiral Down Hugger #1 Sleeping Bag

Ultralight meets ultra-comfortable in this roomy sleeping bag.

How To: Build a Snow Shelter

Tents are better, but if the time comes, building a snow shelter isn't that hard.

Start Smart: Trip Planning

Here are some simple tips to make trip planning that much easier.

Survive This: Caught in a Blizzard

Use these simple tips to survive the storm.

The 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.

Review: Icebreaker Superfine 140 Henley Lite

Perfect baselayer: the Icebreaker Superfine 140 Henley Lite stays odor-free with style.

Wilderness Wonders: Biggest Bear

The white, fluffy, subzero-temperature-loving polar bear takes this title.

International Mulitsport Meccas: Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Float, backpack, and mountain bike Canada's wild west coast.

Retro on the Ridge: Hiking the Grayson Highlands

For one soul-searching hiker, Grayson Highlands stirs powerful memories.

How to Avoid Avalanches

Hike safely in avalanche terrain

How to Pitch a Tent in Foul Weather

There's nothing cozier than a warm, dry tent on a cold night. But strong winds and rain can turn setup into a sopping, frustrating fiasco.

Survive This: Frostbitten Feet

Frostbite is bad news. Learn how to safely treat frozen feet.

Weatherproof Your Electronics

Rain, snow, cold, hard knocks–the backcountry can be tough on trail gadgets. You can either upgrade your devices, or learn how to protect them.

How to Navigate in the Snow

Solve winter routefinding challenges with these expert tips.

Phenomenon: Crevasses

These gaping glacier cracks are dramatic–and deadly. Here's how they form, plus three safe places to see a crevasse up close.

Danger Signs - Winter Sun

UV rays are still harmful even when the temperature drops. We'll show you how to protect yourself against the sun, even when it's cold.

The Works: Snowshoe the Sierra

Pick your own path to an empty 14er.

How to Do Everything - First Aid & Health

Close a wound, remove a tick, prevent poison ivy rash, and more essential tips.

6 Sweet Sleeping Bags

From ultra-warm to ultralight, here are the year's best-performing bags in every category.

Cold War: A Winter Traverse of New Hampshire's Presidential Range

Got guts? Good. Now learn what skills you'll need to bag America's Little Everest—a traverse of New Hampshire's Presidential Range in Winter.

Freshen Up with Fresh Fruits and Veggies

Upgrade your trail menu–and lower your carbon footprint–with farmers' market fare.

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.

Where Can I Find The Highest Designated Campsite?

Head to the RMNP for the highest designated camp–find out where below.

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.

Don't Pay at the Pump: Photos and Mass-Transit Hikes

After reading Dan Koeppel's latest urban hiking adventure "Don't Pay at the Pump" (September 2008), we guarantee you'll want to crank "Magic Bus" and ditch the car on your next trip to the trailhead. We can help. Our map team has assembled more than 25 hikes you can access via public transportation. Plus, check out more of Michael Darter's photos and read Koeppel's 2004 feature, "I Climbed Los Angeles," to learn about his slightly insane 19-mile L.A. staircase route.

Weekend Packs: Other Top Packs

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.

3 Ways To See Yellowstone

Want to hike visit Yellowstone in winter? Follow our guide to get all the winter highlights.

Time 2 Go: National Parks In Winter

With the cold driving away crowds, National Parks are a delight to visit in winter. Here's our top picks.

March 2008 Essentials Review: Hydration

March 2008 Essentials Review: Trekking Poles

March 2008 Essentials Review: Blades & Tools

From an ultralight knife to a full-service multitool, prepare for your Survivorman moment. Or lunch.

Headlamp Reviews

March 2008 Essentials Review: First-Aid Kits

March 2008 Essentials Review: Sunglasses

Save yourself from squinting, and get the most of the view you've worked for with these essential specs.

March 2008 Essentials Review: Binoculars

March 2008 Essentials Review: Navigation

March 2008 Essentials Review: Shell Jackets

March 2008 Essentials Review: High Tech

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.

March 2008 Sleeping Bag Review: Start Smart Sleeping Bag Tips

March 2008 Sleeping Bag Review: Winter Sleeping Bags

2008 Three-Season Sleeping Bag Reviews

2008 Sleeping Bag Review: Summer Sleeping Bags

March 2008 Boots Review: Start Smart Boot Tips

March 2008 Boots Review: Heavy Duty Boots

March 2008 Boots Review: Mid-Duty Boots

March 2008 Boots Review: Light Duty Boots

March 2008 Tents Review: Mountaineering Tents

March 2008 Tents Review: Three-Person Tents

March 2008 Tents Review: Two-Person Tents

Backpacker Gear Guide: One-Person Tents

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.

Backpacker Gear Guide: Boots

You won't go far with sore feet. So our testers went the distance–5,000 miles, to be exact–to bring you the best shoes for every foot and hike.

Backpacker Gear Guide: Sleeping Bags

The secret to a great day outdoors? Start with a great night. Sleep well in all conditions with one of these snooze-tested bags.

Backpacker Gear Guide: Tents

You can test-drive a car, but not a tent. So our crew did the shakedown for you, logging 600-plus nights under stars and storms. Here's what we liked.

March 2008 Backpacks Review: Start Smart

Weeklong Packs: The Best

Weeklong Packs: Other Top Packs

Backpacker Gear Guide: Weeklong Packs

The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack.

Weekend Packs: Ladies' Luxe

Weekend Packs: Bargain!

Weekend Packs: The Best

Backpacker Gear Guide: Weekend Packs

The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack.

Daypacks: Bargain!

Daypacks: The Best

Backpacker Gear Guide: Daypacks

The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack.

Backpacker 2008 Gear Guide: Backpacks

The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack. The Solution: One of these 30 field-tested vanishing acts.

Survive This: Caught in an Avalanche

When you're trekking into a backcountry bowl, avalanches are almost always a threat. Learn how to protect yourself when the worst happens.

Trail Food: 3 Edible Nuts

You're lost, hungry, and starting to shiver: Time to play squirrel.

Puffy Jackets

Made with down or synthetic fibers and paper-thin shells, these puffy jackets weigh less, loft higher, and pack much smaller than fleece.

Stay Warm On the Trail and In Camp

On the trail and in camp, beat the cold with these tips.

Hypothermia 101

Don't be fooled: Hypothermia can happen in the summer or the winter. Learn how to prevent and treat a dropping core body temp.

Calculate Trouble

Time is of the essence in the backcountry. Learn how long it will take an impending thunderstorm or avalanche to find you.

Make Your Sleeping Bag Warmer

8 easy ways to fortify your sleeping bag

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 dip

Breakfast 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.

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.

Cut Winter Weight: 4 Ways to Pack Light and Stay Warm

Don't overload your pack. Learn how to leave the non-essentials behind and still stay warm.

How to Survive Winter Storms

New Hampshire's Mt. Washington is know for its evil weather. Learn how to survive a winter storm from one of the peak's experts.

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Oregon's Crater Lake

Circumnavigate Oregon's Crater Lake on snowshoes

How to Clean and Store Your Gear

By keeping your gear (relatively) free of dirt and grime and storing it properly you can make your gear last forever.

Make Your Sleeping Bag Warmer

8 easy ways to fortify your sleeping bag

Where Can I Find the Warmest Winter Campsite?

Florida's Everglades National Park has a December high of almost 78°.

How to See More Snowshoe Hares

These hares love the snow and cold and they're designed to use the elements to their advantage

How to Choose a Campsite

A NOLS veteran offers tips on balancing comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace principles.

Learn How to Use an Ice Axe

Master these skills to make your axe a tool—not a toy.

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.

How to See In the Dark

Expert tips for improving your night vision

Winter Camping: Building a Snow Shelter

Expert tips for a safe, sound night's sleep

Summer Sleeping Bags Review

How the warm-weather down mummy bags Marmot Atom, Montbell Super Stretch Down Hugger #3, Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32, and Feathered Friends Osprey stack up.

Chair Review: Therm-a-Rest Trekker Lounge 20

Enjoy this instant chair on your next trip

Toy Review: Granite Gear Camp Toys

Keep your kids entertained in camp and on the road with a football, stuffball, and flyer set

5-Minute Meals: Cups Of Cold-Weather Comfort

Four new recipes for belly-warming campfire drinks

Winter Boots Review: Snowshoeing and Camping

Keep your feet warm and dry while snowshoeing, camping, and shoveling the driveway with the Columbia Ice Dragon, North Face Ice Storm GTX, and Kamik Patriot.

Winter Skills: Warm Toes Forever

Keep your feet toasty with these 6 tricks

Cold-Weather Gear Review: 5 Winter Fixes

How to make your cold months warmer: boots, bags, jackets, backpacks, and booties for frosty weather

Dogsledding in Minnesota: Born to Run

Head out with six hard-charging huskies, and winter will never feel more alive.

From the Grand Canyon to Canyonlands: Hiking At The Speed Of Sound

Seven national parks in 7 days--starring a ragtop, Red Bull, and one scary rabbit.

The Works: Trans-Yosemite Ski Tour

Start packing now for a once-in-a-lifetime ski tour through silent, snow-draped Yosemite.

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.

Start Smart: Build The Perfect Campfire

Four steps to a lights-every-time blaze

Camping Sleep Tips: Rest Assured

Get more and better Z's with these tricks from a sleep expert.

The Works: Paddling The Maine Island Trail

Kayak island-to-island on the Maine coast

Backpack, Paddle, and Mountain Bike along California's North Coast

See all (or any) of northern California's three faces.

Backpack, Paddle, and Hike in the Deep South

Discover the beauty of our most southern states by paddling down Carolina rivers, camping out beside Alabama waterfalls, and climbing a 3,792-foot summit in Georgia.

Snowshoeing 201

3 tips for conquering snowy hills and steep climbs

The Works: Mt. Washington In Winter

Hurricane-force winds and a snowfall average of 246 inches per year? Cake, compared to the challenge the mountain poses in summer.

Tent Review: Hilleberg Jannu

Testers give the Jannu two thumbs up, despite wanting more space

Winter Gear Lightens Up: Tent and Clothing Review

Carry less, enjoy the cold months more with the latest four-season tents, gloves, hats, and gaiters.

Backpack, Paddle, and Camp the Great Lakes

Backpack Lake Huron's shores, kayak the St. Lawrence Islands, and camp along Lake Superior

Camping Toys: Summer Games

Hike, pitch your tent, then play like a pro with these new Frisbee and hacky sack diversions

Expedition Tips: Canadian Rockies

Helpful tips for scrambling Canada's Rocky Mountain parks

Family Camping Tips

Ideas to help make the backcountry family friendly

Camping at the Grand Canyon

Spend New Year's in the Big Ditch, where fishing, camping, and hiking await

Winter Camping in Michigan's Porcupine Mountains

Lake effect snow and a vast virgin forest make this a spectacular winter getaway for skiing and snowshoeing

Backpack the Florida Trail's Alaqua Section

Clear-running creeks, longleaf pines and wildlife in Florida's outback

Winter Camping at Mount Rainier National Park

Snowshoe to a scenic high balcony

Being Caribou Returns Home

We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 6.

Secrets of Yosemite National Park

Sneak in the side door for a private viewing of the finest in California's High Sierra real estate.

Burn, Baby, Burn

3 surefire ways to light a reluctant fire

Being Caribou: Arctic Summer

We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 5.

Cold Sleepers vs. Hot Sleepers

One camper sweats and another shivers. What's the deal?

Go Fish

If you can't hook a monster in one of these fishing holes, you better hang up your rod.

New Hampshire: The Great Gulf Wilderness

Here is your chance to tag six summits in only 3 days.

Trail Stale?

Freshen up stinky clothes with this homemade, portable washing machine.

Survival Starts With A Kiss

Learn the latest survival smarts with this military acronym

How Pete Stays Dry

3 waterproof secrets from veteran mountaineer Pete Takeda

Get A Spine

No frame, no pain--if you try these simple backpack solutions.

Go Light, Not Hungry

The One-Pan Gourmet shows how to eat like a king.

Blueberry Magic

Berries Prove Balance Can Be Sweet

Utah: Choprock Canyon, Escalante River

Enjoy a slickrock playground of your very own

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.

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.

Getting Navy SEAL Gear

How to acquire your very own Navy SEAL Protective Combat Uniform.

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.

One Good Thing About Golfing

Who would have thought a piece of golf equipment could be really useful to backpackers?

Expedition Planner: Glacier National Park, MT

Get more Glacier hiking ideas in our online exclusive

Sticky Pads

How to avoid slipping and sliding in your sleeping bag.

California; Death Valley National Park

Camping in Death Valley might give you the hottest day of your life.

Utah, Glen Canyon

Receding water levels mean more miles of choice desert hiking and kayaking.

Stinky Bag No More

Make your sleeping bag smell laundry fresh.

Find Gear Fast At Night

This trick will help you find just what you're looking for in the dark.

Sock Toss

Put some rocks in your socks.

Eye Dropper Storage

Carrying around those little extras just got easier with this trick.

Winter Fuel Saver

Keep water flowing with this simple technique.

Fetch Me Water

No need to bring along a big, bulky container for your water in camp when you have this great compact suggestion.

Jiffypop Pan

This classic snack offers more then just a tasty treat for backpackers.

Being Caribou: Spring Migration

We follow a giant, endangered caribou herd from the Yukon to Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Part 1.

Hike Idaho's Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

River rats wait years to ride the wild Selway River. Hikers can taste its raw beauty right now.

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: Protecting the Porcupine Caribou Herd

Protection one of Alaska and Canada's largest caribou herds is so close, yet so far away.

Being Caribou: ANWR Or Bust

Will he keep up? Karsten Heuer embarks on an audacious 1,200-mile expedition-cum-caribou chase.

North Carolina's Hungry Forests

Visit Croatan National Forest, a place so wild it has more flesh-eating plants than people.

Being Caribou: Caribou Facts

18 facts you didn't know about Alaska and Canada's Porcupine Caribou herd.

Being Caribou: The Route

How do you plan a route following 123,000 migrating caribou across Canada and Alaska? Try to keep up.

Ultralighter's Pad

Here's the best way to make a lightweight and inexpensive camping mattress.

Three Quiet Grand Canyon Hikes

You'd never guess it: Three quiet trails in such a busy, beautiful place.

Hike Missouri's Bruford Mountain Trail

This wild Ozark gem is close to St. Louis, but still waiting to be discovered.

Secrets Hikes Of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Can a place that sees 9 million visitors a year really have any surprises? You bet. We found three hikes full of unexpected history, scenery, and solitude.

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.

This Winter, Book A Yurt

Stay cozy this winter by bedding down in a heated cabin or yurt.

Powder Hungry? Hike These Snowshoe Trails

Bust out of winter doldrums on one of these stellar snowshoe routes.

Stay Warm In Winter

Winter warmth is easy with these tips from arctic explorers, cold-weather experts, and army docs.

Hike The Hidden Trails of Rocky Mountain National Park

Here's a detailed hiking planner that will take you to the hidden corners of Colorado's most scenic park.

Broken Crackers? Keep The Crumbs

Three ways to salvage broken crackers and pulverized bread.

Finding Food For The Long Trail

We tortured 51 trail snacks and staples to pick the longest lasting foods for backpacking.

Winterize Your Camp

Tips to take with you when the snow flies.

The Hiking Gourmet

The hungry hiker's foolproof plan for eating like a king in the backcountry.

Climbing Alaska's 'Great One': Denali National Park

Do you have what it takes to climb Alaska's Denali? Find out with our mountaineer's guide.

Climbing Yosemite: Mount Conness

Tuolomne Meadows monarch Mount Conness has been a classic Yosemite climb for years -- and for good reason.

Hiking Montana's Lonely Mountains

Hidden deep in Montana's high country lies the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, a seldom-visited range of cool forests and skyscraping peaks.

Calling The Shots: Be A Better Backcountry Photographer

Camera hints for bringing home hard-to-get photos in the backcountry

Hike Through Washington's Blue Mountains

City life got you down? Head for the quiet hills of southeastern Washington, where the air is clean, the water clear, and bighorn sheep outnumber hikers.

Wolves And Water: Arizona's Blue Range

With an abundance of wolves and water--two rarities in the desert--Arizona's remote Blue Range may be the Southwest's best kept secret.

Hike Nevada's Sagebrush Oasis

Hiding in the arid plains of Nevada you'll find a cool refuge from the desert heat and room to let your imagination soar.

Know Your Backcountry Bugs

Guide to common bugs in the backcountry.

Cheap Camping Tools For Eating

How to complete your backcountry kitchen for $5 or less.

Hiking China's Wonder Wall

Rather than simply stare at the Great Wall, a determined hiker decided to get a different perspective.

Fire And Rain On Costa Rica's Volcanoes

Deep in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, you'll learn to dodge fireballs and poisonous frogs while tracing a circuit around a living volcano.

A Hermit's Heaven: Arizona's Wabayuma Peak Wilderness

If you've never heard of Arizona's 40,000-acre Wabayuma Peak Wilderness, take heart--most people haven't. That's why the silence is deafening.

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.

Hike Through The Grand Canyon's Geologic History

A trek from rim to river reveals the Grand Canyon's ancient, storied history.

McKinley: Backpack Around "The Big One"

Let rivers and ridgelines be your compass as you hike in the shadow of Alaska's Mt. McKinley.

Ply A Backwoods Water Trail In The Boundary Waters

In Minnesota's Boundary Waters, thousands of blue routes await those willing to dip a paddle.

Explore Utah's Paria River Slot Canyon

In the Paria River canyon, adventure and breathtaking views await around every narrow bend.

Fast Food: A Backpacker's Guide To Grocery

A soup-to-nuts guide that'll get you through the supermarket and on the trail faster than you can say "express lane."

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.

On Thin Ice: Safe Hiking On Frozen Lakes

How to hike safely across frozen lakes and ponds

Best Backpacking In Pennsylvania

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Pennsylvania.

Best Backpacking In Massachussetts

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Massachusetts.

Best Backpacking In Mississippi

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Mississippi.

Best Backpacking In North Carolina

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in North Carolina.

Best Backpacking In Missouri

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Missouri.

Best Backpacking In Ohio

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Ohio.

Best Backpacking In Illinois

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Illinois.

Best Backpacking In Alaska

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Alaska.

Best Backpacking In Arizona

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Arizona.

Best Backpacking In Montana

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Montana.

Best Backpacking In South Carolina

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in South Carolina.

Best Backpacking In Hawaii

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Hawaii.

Best Backpacking In Maine

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Maine.

Best Backpacking In New York

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New York.

Best Backpacking In Maryland

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Maryland.

Best Backpacking In Rhode Island

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Rhode Island.

Best Backpacking In Indiana

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Indiana.

Best Backpacking In Georgia

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Georgia.

Best Backpacking In Florida

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Florida.

Best Backpacking In Oklahoma

Best Backpacking In New Mexico

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Mexico.

Best Backpacking In South Dakota

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in South Dakota.

Best Backpacking In Nevada

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Nevada.

Best Backpacking In North Dakota

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in North Dakota.

Best Backpacking In California

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in California.

Best Backpacking In Oregon

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Oregon.

Best Backpacking In Connecticut

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Connecticut.

Best Backpacking In Delaware

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Delaware.

Best Backpacking In Kansas

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Kansas.

Packable Salads

These crunchy, easy-to-prepare side dishes will make your hiking buddies green with envy.

Best Backpacking In New Hampshire

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Hampshire.

Best Backpacking In Alabama

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Alabama.

The Best Backpacking In America

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in America.

Best Backpacking In Idaho

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Idaho.

Best Backpacking In Arkansas

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Arkansas.

Best Backpacking In New Jersey

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in New Jersey.

Best Backpacking In Michigan

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Michigan.

Best Backpacking In Nebraska

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Nebraska.

Best Backpacking In Louisiana

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Louisiana.

Best Backpacking In Kentucky

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Kentucky.

Best Backpacking In Colorado

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Colorado.

Best Backpacking In Minnesota

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Minnesota.

Best Backpacking In Iowa

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Iowa.

Hiking North Dakota's Badlands

You won't have a lot of company in North Dakota's badlands, which is why hiking the Maah Daah Hey Trail is so good.

Wild Island Hiking

Hear wild horses thunder through camp. Look for wolf tracks in the mud or eagles' nests in the cliffs high above. Cast off the workaday world and go hike an island paradise.

Healing The Badlands

How can we conserve South Dakota's Badlands?

Hiking Idaho's White Cloud Mountains

Head to the White Cloud Mountains for a crowd-free taste of Idaho high country.

Take Your Family Outdoors

Camping with kids can plant a wild seed in them that will grow as they do-but only if you get them Out There.

Tips For Camping With Kids

Nuggets of knowledge from those who have brought their youngsters into the backcountry.

Camp Cuisine: No Cooking Required

Camping without stove or fire gains you freedom, flexibility, simplicity, and compactness, and sometimes a lighter load.

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.

Backpacking On Maine's Wild Cutler Coast

Thanks to the Cutler Coast Public Reserve, Maine's rocky, wild coastline is now open to backpackers who like solitude as much as scenery.

Guide To Sound Sleeping

On your next outing, be sure to heed these 10 tips for sleeping like a log.

Loomis State Forest: Hike Washington's Cascade Secret

Hike to the edge of the Cascade Range in this forgotten corner of the Washington wilderness.

Features We Like And Don't Like In Trail Shorts

The short list of what works and what doesn't.

Dry Camping Secrets

If water's in short supply where you're headed, know the secrets of dry camping.

Utah's Best Wildflower Blooms

Follow the hummingbirds in the Mt. Naomi Wilderness to the best high-country wildflower show in all of Utah.

Hiking North Carolina's Valley River Mountains

Sniff the rhododendrons and enjoy hiking the Valley Rim Trail in North Carolina's Valley River Mountains.

Scouts' Honor: Teaching Leave No Trace Ethics

Boy Scouts are at the forefront of teaching Leave No Trace ethics.

Ultralight vs. Ultranormal

How light can you go? Six friends face off to determine whether carrying less gear makes you half as macho, or twice as smart.

Saddle Sore? Tips To Heal Your Rear

Experiencing a sore butt on the trail? Try these healing tips.

Winter Camping Tips: The Perfect Tent Pitch

How and where you should set up your winter tent for maximum comfort and shelter longevity.

Scrub Pans Without A Sponge

Forgot a sponge? No worries -- clean your camp with these everyday wilderness substitutes.

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?

Hiking Oregon's Bull Of The Woods Wilderness

If overpowering stillness is your thing, try the old-growth forests in Oregon's Bull of the Woods Wilderness.

Hot Hikes After A Wildfire

Seven places where you can walk through a whole new landscape, plus opportunities to help rebuild charred trails.

Belly Ache Or Poison?

What to do if the berries you munched weren't safe after all.

Leave No Trace: Mind Your Footprint

Take a look at what your sole is doing to the ground.

Prairie Hiking: Wide-Open Spaces

It's the easiest hiking on Earth, and you get to sleep with buffalo, listen to coyotes sing, and bask in quiet so deep you can hear the grasslands growing. Welcome to the prairie.

Splendor Hiking The High Sierra

Take the finest mountains in the world, add high-country meadows, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, pine-and-hemlock forests, and what do you have? A recipe for backcountry bliss.

Canada's Great Divide Trail

For 30 years, some wide-eyed dreamers have been chiseling a 745-mile route through the Canadian Rockies. The result is a labor of love set to become one of North America's most magnificent long trails.

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.

Leave No Trace Trash Tips

Help keep trails clean by picking up your own and other people's trash.

Hiking Minnesota's Jay Cooke State Park

Can't wait for the snow to melt? Get warmed up at Minnesota's Jay Cooke State Park.

Discover California's Point Reyes National Seashore

In Point Reyes National Seashore, you'll find peace and quiet in the heart of California's earthquake zone.

Buying A Better Tent

Not all shelters are created equal, as anyone with a cheap tent will tell you after a bad storm. Follow these 10 essentials when buying your next tent.

Snow Smarts

How to travel safely across four seasons of white.

Two Shades of White Mountains

Lines at backcountry outhouses. Hikers competing for tent sites. Is there any solitude left in New Hampshire's White Mountains? Lots of it, if you know where to go.

Organize Your Backpacking Trip

Meet Jamie and Joe, who need help with everything from planning to packing to eating well. Enter our team of experts, with a few simple tricks designed to turn them-and you!-into well-oiled backpacking machines.

Sleeping Bag Care: A Lofty Goal

Keep your sleeping bag up to fluff with proper care and handling.

Sonoran Desert: The Big Empty

Ed Abbey said the Sonoran Desert "leaves a golden glow on the mind," which is one of many good reasons why this cactus-spiked paradise should be the next national park.

Hiking Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail

A whale of a Minnesota trail beside a Great Lake.

Before You Snowshoe

Follow these tips when you embark on your next snowshoeing journey.

Washington's Olympic Coast

It's the longest stretch of virgin coastline left in the Lower 48. But that's just one of many reasons to hike it.

Before You Go Snowshoeing

Follow these tips before you embark on your next winter snowshoeing journey.

Snowy Destinations

Need someplace to go shoe with your snowshoes? Whet your whistle with one of these great places.

Skis or Snowshoes?

Take BACKPACKER's quiz to quickly determine where your natural ability directs you.

Anatomy Of A Snowshoe

Get up close and personal with all those snowshoe parts.

Hypothermia: Just The Facts

Quick Tips to Prevent, Recognize, and Treat Hypothermia.

Alaska Lands Act: 20 Years Later

In the 20 years since the passage of the Alaska Lands Act, nothing has changed in many of the state's wild places. And that's reason to celebrate.

Hiking While Pregnant

With a few precautions, expecting hikers can hit the trail.

Horsepacking: A New Breed?

Some well-meaning, leave-no-trace horsepackers are trying to rein in their environmentally uncouth brethren. The question is: can they change practices and attitudes that date back to the wild west days?

Hiking Montana's Cabinet Mountains

The French-Canadian trappers are long gone, but the grizzlies and waterfalls remain in this alpine nirvana.

A Hiker In Mt. Rainier's Wonderland

Sure, you can summit Mt. Rainier, but the real treasure isn't on top. It's the Wonderland Trail down below.

Indiana's Shades State Park

Rare stands of virgin hardwood and creekside camping beckon sunburned hikers.

New York's Tongue Range

Are you antsy? Need to get away? Try New York's Tongue Range.

Wyoming's Medicine Bow: A Cure For Hikers

Wyoming's Medicine Bow National Forest is just what the hiker ordered.

Maryland's Big Savage Mountain

Heavy forests and the roar of whitewater wait in this section of the Appalachian Mountains.

Cache River State Natural Area

Not your laid-back summer holiday -- canoeing and hiking galore.

North Carolina's Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area

Wind through what remains of a lost Carolina world.

Michigan's Nordhouse Dunes

Sunny beaches, cool forests, and a birder's paradise along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve

In Big Cypress' land of exotic plants and lurking alligators, swamps aren't such bad places after all.

Utah: The White Rim, Canyonlands

A bit of nerve opens up the stunning canyonlands made famous by Wile E. Coyote.

Boulder River Wilderness, Washington

Majestic peaks rise in all directions in Washington's Boulder River Wilderness -- elegant, jagged, draped in snow.

Indian Cave State Park, Nebraska

Where you can look down on soaring eagles and feel the power of the Missouri River.

Skiing Utah's Tushar Mountains

Strap on the skis and glide across wind-sculpted snow into alpine solitude.

Massachusetts' Monroe State Forest

Tucked away in a New England corner is an old-growth paradise.

Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park

Hike up and down oak- and hickory-covered ridgetops, or explore underground.

Bonus Backcountry Bug-Off Tips

Other tips to beat the most annoying backcountry biters.

Tennessee: Ice As Art

In winter, the glasslike menagerie of icicles in the Cumberland Plateau will send a chill down your spine.

Owls In Merchants Millpond State Park

The bawling in the black night is the spring chorus of hooting barred owls.

In Camp, Hit The Sauce

By themselves, noodles are just plain bland. Add the proper topping, though, and dinner takes on a whole new flavor.

Ohio's Shawnee Backpack Trail

When the footpath is named the Backpack Trail, you know what to do.

Camping With A Fridge

That's essentially what the outdoors is, so use those cold temps to carry tasty foods that wouldn't stand a chance in summer.

Tools For Snowhounds

Use these tools if you're hankering to learn the secret of snow.

Winter Calorie Count

Winter activities demand more of your body's energy.

Backcountry Bathroom: How To Go In The Snow

When the ground is frozen or 3 feet under snow, use these backcountry bathroom techniques.

Once Upon The Alps

In the European high-country Alps you can wander through the most stunning mountains in the world. Vive la difference!

Breaking Trail: Snow Going

When the white stuff piles up, work together to break a trail.

Snowshoeing New York's Five Ponds

When the rest of the East is bare, snowshoers can find plenty of powder in New York's Five Ponds Wilderness.

Winter Harm: Cold Dangers

Cold can harm in subtle and quick ways, so it pays to be prepared.

Tarps: High And Tight

Setting up a tarp? Follow these techniques depending on the situation.

Washington's Supreme William O. Douglas Wilderness

The William O. Douglas Wilderness is a monument worthy of a great man.

Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness

A hidden spot in Washington's popular Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

A New Utah Adventure

Never heard of Utah's George Washington Hayduke Route, have you? That's because it's brand new.

Washington's North Cascade's Copper Ridge Loop

Hike this crown of North Cascades National Park, Washington.

Pennsylvania's Hickory Creek Wilderness

Hickory Creek Wilderness in the Allegheny National Forest remains a great hiking destination all year -- even in winter.

Winter Hiking For Beginners

Extend the hiking season at these three destinations, all perfect for winter newbies.

Minnesota's Wild River State Park

Stomp and glide at Wild River State Park, where no snow monsters are allowed.

Snowshoes Terrain Techniques

Techniques for winter trekking. Find out the advantages snowshoes provide for getting over hill and dale.

Winterize Your Camping Habits

Tips to take with you when the winter snow flies in camp.

Michigan's Manistee River Trail

Two trails, same river, two different worlds.

Snowshoe Camping, Northwest-Style

When temps warm but the going's still snowy, strap on snowshoes to reach Washington's hidden camping gems.

Sizing A Sleeping Pad

Thickness, length, width, and weight options make choosing the right pad more involved than you might think.

Rainy-Day Camping Games

Beat the rainy-day blues by playing sleeping-pad chess or checkers.

Layering For Winter

How to dress smart and stay warm when Old Man Winter blows in.

Homemade Bear Bag

A homemade bear bag will make sure your provisions stay safe from hungry critters.

No Excuse For Winter Hiking

It may be winter, but that's no reason to stop hiking.

Resurrection Pass Trail, Alaska

In a land with few trails, Alaska's Resurrection Pass stands above them all.

Bear Bagging Your Food

Keep your food away from hungry bears.