Ted Alvarez

Should you climb a tree to get away from a bruin? Do bear bells really attract bears? We tackle these questions and more.

Humans have been starting fires without matches longer than with them. Can our modern man measure up?

Grizzlies vanished from North Cascades National Park five decades ago. Or did they?

Deep in the wilds of Northern British Columbia's Spatsizi Wilderness Provincial Park, our scout proves there’s no joy like misery.

This 11-mile out-and-back climbs to two high-altitude lakes in New Mexico's Carson National Forest.

This easy loop hops islands and sand dunes beside Lake Michigan.

No one knows the ins and outs of the trail like professional guides. Learn a few of their secrets to take your trips to the next level.

On Canada's west coast, countless animals—and the occasional kayaker—thrive.

The best way to ensure survival in the wild? Learn how to live like a hunter-gatherer.

Some months, Ted Alvarez spends more night in a tent than beneath a roof, but his mom had never backpacked. A mother-and-son road trip through all five of Utah’s national parks in one week would be the perfect way to make up for lost time—or court disaster.

Hiking in the Instagram era gives your followers great memories, but can rob you of your own. Our scout takes a break from the social hamster wheel—and likes it.

Forget higher—go deeper. The greatest adventure in Asia is a real-life Lost World hidden inside Son Doong, the planet’s largest cave.

A holiday in the Grand Canyon requires planning, sweat, and maybe some food sacrifices. But one Arizona family discovers the memories are worth all the turkey in the world.

Learn how to stay safe in bear country from myth-busting scientist Tom Smith.

14 incredible trails every hiker needs to try.

Popo Agie Wilderness, Wyoming

Long Trail State Forest, Vermont

On this 6-mile loop in Point Mugu State Park, you can climb to the tallest point in the Santa Monica Mountains and relax by the shores of Zuma Beach.

White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

Red River Gorge, Kentucky