June 2016 Table of Contents

Experience and appreciate a century of parks in our National Park Service special Centennial issue

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FEATURES

Best Campsites in the National Parks
Pitch your tent at one of these 15 spots, and you’ll never want to leave. By Graham Averill

The Fastest Man on the Appalachian Trail
Scott Jurek’s breakneck pace proves there’s no right way to take on a thru-hike. And no right reason. By Steve Friedman

High Emotions
There’s never been a more important time to take that dream trip to Nepal. By Stephanie Pearson

THE PLAY LIST

Gothic Mountain, CO
Make your grand return to the mountains on this wildflower-lined trail near Crested Butte.

Life List: Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Natural Park, Italy
Wander through the Alps on a thousand-year-old path.

Ptarmigan Pass, WA
Find perfect light in the Cascades.

Mt. Tamalpais, CA
The Bay Area’s beloved peak is ready for its close-up.

Done In a Day: Packrafting Adventures
Get the best of both worlds on these summer-perfect, float-and-hike adventures.

The Experience: The Buddy Hike
Everything slows down when you camp with friends.

Mosquito Beach, MI
Find gold at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. 

Geopinion: Work In Progress
When the National Park Service abandoned plans to complete the Ozark Highlands Trail, it left a path in pieces. 

Insider’s Guide: Daniel Boone National Forest, KY

Deep hardwoods, a maze of creeks, and limestone bluffs make this corner of the South a hiker’s paradise.

Weekends
Explore a moonscape on a choose-your-own-adventure trip in Idaho, walk with elk on a quiet ridge in the Smokies, and nab the best campsite in the Midwest on a quick overnight in Indiana.

SKILLS

Camp In Wind
Pitch your tent when a gale pushes back. 

Cheat Sheet: Read a compass
Stay on track with this invaluable tool.

Pass/Fail: Hike the JMT
Can a pair of newbies go 211 miles?

Trail Chef: Energy bars
Save money with DIY trail snacks.

Photo School: Lightpainting
Jazz up your night shots.

SURVIVAL

Out Alive: Out of control
A hiker careens 1,000 vertical feet down a frozen mountain.

Saved By: A camp stove
No gas? No problem.

Den Mother: Wildfires
Outsmart summer blazes.

GEAR

Apparel Guide
The year’s softest, toughest, lightest three-season layers

editor’s note

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