When You Can’t Breathe the “Fresh Air”
Wildfire season is getting longer and more intense. What does that mean for backpackers who have to breathe the smoke it generates?
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Human Foot Found Floating in Yellowstone Hot Spring
National Park Service investigating discovery in Abyss Pool.
The Inflation Reduction Act Is a Huge Investment in Backpacking
From funding for conservation projects to mitigating wildfires, public lands win big.
Six Ultralight Ways To Get Your Coffee Fix
Yes, Starbucks Via will do the trick. But is it the best way for gram-counters to get caffeinated?
Hate Hiking in a Group? Here’s Why You Should Do it More Often.
Some backpackers are just dedicated soloists. But as our writer discovered on her first big group trip, sometimes there's magic to hitting the trail with some new friends.
Bryce Canyon Hikes: 12 Trails for Your Next Trip
Forget Zion and Canyonlands; this desert gem has something for every hiker among the hoodoos and bristlecone pines
Canadian Hiker Facing Charges After Shooting Black Bear in Jasper National Park
Hiker claimed self-defense; bear was roughly 100 feet away.
5 Easy Swaps You Can Make to Be More Eco-Friendly On The Trail
Next time you have to resupply your gear, make one of these swaps to reduce your waste and impact on the planet.
Cal “Starburst“ Dobbs Becomes the First Reported Publicly Trans Triple Crowner
On Thursday, they finished the last leg of the triple crown, but they’re not done yet
The 10 Most Convincing Bigfoot Sightings
Bigfoot sightings continue to capture the imagination of monster-lovers everywhere. Despite being particularly unphotogenic, we've gathered ten of the best-known photos of the elusive simian.
How to Watch This Year’s Biggest Meteor Shower
Catch the Perseids with these smart skywatching tips.
Member Exclusives
Stories, gear reviews, hiking guides, and more just for Outside+ members.
Join Outside+ See All2022 Summer Gear Guide
The 13 Products That Won Awards in the 2022 Summer Gear Guide
We reviewed 341 pieces of gear. But these ones stood above.
Fitness
The Best Hiking Workouts for Every Fitness Level
Reality check: Hitting the gym is the quickest way to hike farther, easier, faster, and pain-free. Get into a routine—or take yours to the next level—with these smart workouts for three different levels.
The Best Hikes
The Best Hikes in Colorado
Lace up your boots for a hiking destination that includes Rocky Mountain vistas, alpine lakes, wind-swept sand dunes, and memorable urban parks.
Backpacking Skills
Learn How to Use a Compass and Never Get Lost Again
Make sure you never get lost again by mastering the underappreciated art of navigating with a compass and map.
Gear Round-Ups
The Best Backpacking Kitchen Gear of 2022
Feast-making cookware that won’t slow you down
Trail Guides
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows
The Narrows at Zion National Park offers an incredible adventure in America's most amazing slot canyons. Here's how to safely explore them.
Survival Skills
How to Remove and Treat Thorns, Splinters, and Other Prick Wounds
Nature can be brutal. Learn how to to deal with wounds from all kinds of thorns, spines, splinters, shards, quills, needles, and anything else that might get under your skin when you’re on the trail.
Classic Destinations
Experience Deep Backcountry on the Appalachian Trail’s 100-Mile Wilderness
Hike some of the East Coast's wildest wilderness on the AT.
Backpacking Gear
Best Backpacking Tents of 2022
Find shelter from the storm with these excellent backpacking tents.
Long Trails
100 Years Ago, the Appalachian Trail Was One Man’s Dream. Now, It’s Everyone’s.
Benton MacKaye's original proposal for the Appalachian Trail came out 100 years ago. While the trail may have changed, the appeal hasn't.
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Out Alive
Real people who survived the unsurvivable
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Impossible Odds
Two friends, 8,000 trail miles, one year
Featured Story
A.T. Phone Home: Backpacker Wants Your Appalachian Trail Stories
Have a tale from the AT? We want you to give us a call—literally.
From Grandma Gatewood‘s walk to Bill Bryson‘s misadventures to the Instagram hiking heroes of today, some of backpacking’s most compelling stories have originated on the Appalachian Trail. Whether it’s for 3 months or a weekend, everyone who sets foot on this path has their own tale: a bear encounter, a spectacular sunrise, or an unforgettable night with a shelter full of new friends. Now, Backpacker wants to help you tell yours. All you need to do is leave us a message.
This season, we’re highlighting ordinary AT hikers’ extraordinary stories. Here’s how it works: give us a call at 303-253-6424 and leave us a message with your name and a story from your section hike or thru-hike. Anything is fair game: we’re looking for your best moments, your worst moments, a story about your tramily, your favorite summit, an experience that got your pulse pounding, a tale about the friendly space alien you met along the way, or just how the trail has changed your perspective. We’ll pick our favorites and feature them on our Instagram and Facebook accounts for everyone to enjoy. Our only requirement: that it’s out of this world.
Tell us your Appalachian Trail story at 303-253-6424
FAQ
Where will you share these stories?
We’ll share our favorite stories from A.T. Phone Home on Instagram and Facebook, and may also feature them on our site, podcasts, and other social media platforms.
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