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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.

The threat to this 1.2 million acre wilderness? Oil Drilling. Hike to the top of 6,660-foot Alamo Mountain to see what's at stake.

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.

Boulder's Matt Moniz, the youngest Aconcagua summiteer, hopes to bag 14 14,000-foot mountains in 14 days to help out his ailing best friend

Trek to the New Jersey border along PA's finest section of the AT.

Climb riverside bluffs in the South's oldest national forest.

Australia considers closing Uluru, or Ayer's Rock, to climbers

Dupe the daytrippers on this rugged trail to brilliantly colored backcountry cliffs and hoodoos.

Keep your salt, pepper, and sugar in this rugged, ultralight case.

Get these light knives, forks, and spoons without breaking the bank.

This pack-friendly mug keeps drinks hot and hands cool.

This cook kit provides a light solution for two-person dinners in the backcountry.

This better bottle survives freezing temps, doesn't absorb food smells, and can take a beating.

Camp cooking and cleanup goes much faster with Evernew's ceramic-coated pots.

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

This stove comes tailor-made for winter campers and high-altitude mountaineers.

Few stoves are tougher or more stable than the Brunton Raptor.

This tiny, fast stove performs great in poor weather.

The Optimus Crux Lite is meant for backcountry foodies who need precise cooking control.

If you need speed, this boil-test champ is your stove of choice.

Extremely lightweight and versatile, this stove can handle just about anything.

Could a trail-savvy terrorist hike a nuke into America through wilderness areas on the Canadian border? An anonymous hiker-patriot alerts the White House.

Don't leave it in the car–mobile phones are the latest essential rescue gear.

Explore South Dakota's 7,242-foot high point in a weekend or a day.

Regarding Giardia and crypto: Can one develop a tolerance or immunity to them? I remember drinking from streams as a child while fishing and hiking in the backcountry. Surely I couldn't have been lucky than many times.

Win a trip, camera, and more with the National Parks Foundation "Your Parks" Video Challenge

I know I'm supposed to use a bear canister all the time in bear country but they're really bulky. If I'm going on an overnight trip, do I really need one? And if I do, is there a sealable bag option that might work

Rangers in Maine's Acadia National Park tackle thieves who plunder rocks as souvenirs

Check out the world's hottest hydrothermal fumarole, Glacier's grizzlies, and a venus flytryp in North Carolina.

Trek through a trio of wilderness playgrounds on shape-shifting mountains of sand.

Climate change could push Bigfoot to the Rockies

With these top day, weekend, and week-long hikes, you'll see more than your fair share of Yosemite's wonders.

Yosemite Valley may be popular–rightfully so–but it still holds secrets. Hike this long-forgotten trail on the North Rim, and you'll have the granite icons to yourself.

A week aboard the Maine Schooner Mary Day can be pretty close to a carbon-neutral vacation

Craving a slice? Get your fix in the backcountry with these easy stovetop recipes.

Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.

Three generations of American mountaineering royalty discuss their sport, their fears, and their new mission: design great gear.

I'm having my first child this summer, and I plan to hike and camp with her in the mountains as soon as she can hold her head up. How will I know if she's acclimatized to the altitude?

Treat dental problems–from minor to major–with these tips.

Wow your friends with this campfire cooking trick.

Improve the basic pie with cornmeal crust and fresh basil sauce.

Climbers set two records—most blind climbers and youngest blind climber at the top

Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel hike in LA, while the NFL's commissioner attempts Rainier with the Seattle Seahawks' coach

Close encounters of the electrical kind highlight this Fourth of July - and lightning safety

Rocky Mountain State remains least obese in a rapidly swelling country

If Schwarzenegger shuts down California State Parks, the National Park Service might take past gifts back

See Honey, we were all hiking

Does your kid want to be an ice climber? How about a thru-hiker, or paddler? These cities have just what you need.

Which towns offer the ideal mix of accessible trails, inspiring teachers, and great recreational resources? We worked with The Outdoor Foundation to identify America's top 25 places to beat nature deficit disorder.

Do's and Don't for a busy park season

Associate Editor/Bear Fighter Shannon Davis tests some of the latest and greatest schwag on his successful Mt. Rainier climb

Nepal could drop climbing fees for Everest, making them more competitive with Tibet

From Boulder to Juneau to Bozeman, see which cities made the cut for the best place to raise an outdoor kid, and why.

First question: How did over 100 hikers ever get lost?

How long does it take to start feeling the effects of poison oak exposure?

Salazar urges U.N. to place Florida's Everglades on list of threatened sites

Actor and musician Kevin Bacon joins hundreds atop Pikes Peak for a cancer-fighting concert

A bum economy and a dearth of jobs drives more hikers to tackle the Appalachian Trail

BACKPACKER's head hiker Jonathan Dorn sheds light on success in the magazine and on the trail

Video of cimbing equipment failure points is fascinating—and a bit terrifying

Auden Schendler shares the trials and tribulations of trying to do the right thing

This is your brain. This is your brain on heat stroke. Any questions?

Could Florida's invasive Burmese pythons spread north? A team of scientists hope to find out.

From supereasy to camp gourmet, we share some favorite pasta dishes.

Time to cool down. Hike to these refreshing swimming holes and settle right into summer.

South Carolina governor covered up extramarital affair with Appalachian Trail trip

Can you get some of the waterborne parasites, such as Giardia, through open wounds or cuts and scrapes?

Gear Tester Steve Roy returns fresh from a Denali summit to weigh in on climbing season and crucial gear on The Great One

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford wasn't on the Appalachian Trail—he was in Argentina. Ooooookaaaay.

Ponderings on concept gadgetry and deeply conflicted gear lust

Supreme Court overrules Clean Water Act to allow mining company to dump waste into lakes, rivers, and streams

South Carolina's governor scares staff, wife after disappearing on the Appalachian Trail for four days without contact.

Michael Brown weighs the risks, rewards, and lessons he's learned shooting, literally, on the edge.

Park rangers say 30 percent of visitors are wide-eyed Twilight fans.

Wherein we learn how to tell if your house leaks energy--and how to fix it