Skills

Power your thru-hike with the right food, snacks, and resupplies for the long haul.

Hike with efficiency, speed, and intention, and you’re sure to accomplish your thru-hiking goals. Here’s how to plan your pace and fight lollygagging tendencies to reach the terminus before winter does.

Go from couch potato to trail monster with these simple tips from a personal trainer.

Gear up for the United States' toughest long path with these expert picks.

Headed out on the Pacific Crest Trail? Expert thru-hiker Liz “Snorkel” Thomas breaks down the gear you’ll need, with help from BACKPACKER Gear Editor Eli Bernstein.

Get ready for your AT thru-hike with this gear checklist from expert thru-hiker Liz "Snorkel" Thomas and BACKPACKER Gear Editor Eli Bernstein.

Who says you need water in your food? Dehydrate your vittles and you'll carry less weight, save money, and eat better.

An early-season snow sends a hiker into delicate territory.

Just because you're packing in dinner shouldn't mean you have to skip the best course. These sweet treats are well worth the extra ounces.

A strong body helps you get out into nature, but a well-trained mind makes the time count. Use these three exercises to derive more rejuvenation from your next hike.

Going slow on the snow can help you relish the smallest details.

Can our writer get in the best hiking shape of his life—without doing a single hike over 10 miles?

Start reconnecting with Mother Earth by learning to forage your dinner in the wild.

Creaky knees? Strengthen your joints with supine leg lifts to prevent pain and buckling during long descents with heavy loads. Bonus: Your ankles and hips will benefit, too.

Get toasty from the inside out with these hot beverages.

A forgotten WAG bag leads to a smelly situation on Mt. Whitney.

Prepare delicious backpacking foods by dehydrating at home

You train your legs for the trail, right? Now do the same for your upper body and make your days on the water easier. Bonus: These exercises work the same muscles that help you carry a heavy pack.

With little preparation, any fit canine can handle the alpine. Here's what you need to know.

Less oxygen? No problem. Crush your alpine goals—whether ski-touring in winter or hiking in summer—with these tips from Peter Hackett, MD, founder of the Institute for Altitude Medicine.

We explored the Austrian hills with Komperdell’s famed mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner to get the inside scoop.

Doing a number two outside can be a fraught topic for kids. But it doesn't have to be.

Keep your gear going season after season with these tips.

Chow down on these edible plants, all found across the U.S.