October 2015 Table of Contents

Features

Rangers We Love
Meet 10 rangers who make the national parks great—and who share their favorite spots to hike.

Words to Live By
A veteran search-and-rescue ranger shares his best survival advice.
By Annette McGivney

Special Report: Curves Ahead
Women make up half the population but only a third of backpackers. That’s a gender gap we want to do something about.
Edited by Rachel Zurer

A.T. in a Day
One hiker’s dispatch from our record-setting attempt
By Jay Heinrichs

200 Miles of Awesome
Fall is prime time in the eastern Sierras. Learn why on America’s best road trip for hikers.
By Will Rochfort

The Play List

Zion National Park, UT
Don’t overlook canyon country in fall.

Life List: Why Drive When You Can Walk?
Our scout takes the long and winding way through Big Sur’s Santa Lucia Mountains to reach a remote zen monastery.

Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park, ME
Early bird gets the view in this coastal paradise.

Done In a Day: Foliage Hikes
Don’t go far from home to see primo color on these treks in Illinois, New Hampshire, and Washington.

Insider’s Guide: Shenandoah National Park, VA
Overnight, dayhike, cast a line, and check out foliage in one of fall’s best national parks.

Santa Fe River, FL
Paddle past cypress trees in this wildlife hot spot in northern Florida.

The Experience: Climb for a Cause
Charity hikes are the surest way to ensure a successful ascent.

Weekends
Work for fall colors in the Adirondacks on the Seven Carries Route, get Oregon’s Wallowas to yourself, and go lake-hopping in central Michigan.

Skills

Boost Balance
Cross tricky terrain with confidence.

Cheat Sheet: Prevent Foot Pain
Prep and treat your feet with tips from an ultramarathoner.

Pass/Fail: Make a Fire Without Matches
Can rubbing two sticks together really be that hard? 

Trail Chef: Campfire Cooking
Go beyond ’dogs.

Photo School: Perfect Sunset
Get a great shot of nature’s daily show.

Survival

Out Alive: Volcanic Eruption
Ash obscures the trail—and the sun.

Saved By: Eye Glasses
Turn your specs into survival gear.

Den Mother: Elk Whisperer
Read wildlife to detect danger.

Gear

Versatile Bags
Light-and-warm sleeping bags

Summit Gear
A wispy shell, bargain puffy, and more

Field Notes
Tester picks and tips