Skills

Your imagination is required to think about the future of our wilderness.

Animals are on the move in fall. Here's how to spot them on our next outing.

Let the sunlight stream in so your campmates look the way they feel: alive, refreshed, and free.

What to think about when shopping for winter sleeping gear.

In an excerpt from the new book The Art of Adventure, BACKPACKER's photo editor reflects on the magic of outdoor images—and the best ones that can never be printed.

How do you get good at hiking? Hike a lot. And we haven't met anyone who's logged more miles than Cam Honan.

Cool, clean, and treat with advice from Buck Tilton, Backpacker’s Medicine Man.

Bold flavors for the backcountry.

Jerky as an inspired way to treat meat and a great conduit for flavors.

Light and easy to carry, but with gourmet flavors.

Quick-prep, three-ingredient dinners.

No oven? No problem. Make cookies, muffins, bread, and more with these backcountry techniques.

Upgrade traditional no-bake cheesecake with a cascade of Oreos.

It only tastes fancy.

This doughy dessert could also be great for breakfast.

Chocolate bars are easily packable and versatile.

Can a food-hanging skeptic quickly secure her smellables from marauding bears—without going crazy in the process? Our scout set out into the night with a rope and stopwatch to find out.

From trail mix to trout, upgrade every meal with this guide to recipes, cooking skills, and nutrition.

Check out Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.

Check out Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.

Mix up your oatmeal for a savory and delicious twist.

How to stay organizied and prepared for your backcountry cooking.

Almonds are a super backpacking snack and this cocoa-dusted recipe makes for a satisfying desert.

This dish is packed with protein and vitamins A & C.

Fast and easy food for your hike.

Paleo snacks pack a nutritional punch.

Bars are an easy way to fuel your body.

Cooking trout over a campfire is amazing with this great recipe.

How many day's before you food becomes a bio hazard while hiking?

This dish is salty and crunchy and full of anti inflammatory properties.

Tuna can be served in so many ways, check out these three amazing meals.

This super-easy, pudding-based treat just might ease your day-three ice cream craving.

This fun treat is no-bake, dead easy, and oh-so addictive.

The scariest trails, spookiest tales, and tastiest recipes for October backpacking.

The only thing you'll regret about taking the brood backpacking is not doing it sooner - and more often.

You know that feeling: the hush and sway of a forest towering stories above you. Now bring it home.

Great food doesn’t have to mean slaving away over the camp stove. Here are four delectable dishes that slash cleanup from the to-do list.

Attention ultra-lazy cooks: This no-mess meal raises the bar on instant mashed potatoes.

Upgrade this no-mess pasta dish by roasting the olives and sausage ahead of time. Or don't--it'll still be delicious.

Backpacking with your best friend? Keep him—and others—safe with these tips.

Consider this list merely a starting point for this fun take on Spanish small plates. Raid your pantry for other ideas, and don’t forget to bring some sherry to sip on the side.

Even without a stove, there's no need to skip your coffee; mint tea adds depth to this cold brew.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

This simple, no-mess meal is hearty, tasty, and oh-so-easy.

Skip the camp clean-up by letting plastic bags do all the work.

Hiking's best season is here, and we've got everything you need to make the most of it.

Here's the gear we used to make the next-level camp food in our story Hike Hard, Eat Well.

Summer's blooms can last forever - if you know how to capture them.

Whip up this easy trail meal for luxurious fine dining under the stars.

Good old raisins and peanuts feeling…well…old? Mix it up with one of these innovative combos. Jealous friends guaranteed.

Take your camp food to the next level with these essential items.

What’s better than a perfect alpine sunset? Seeing it doubled. Here’s how to nab the shot.

How to fix zippers, wash a sleeping bag correctly, waterproofing and make boots last.

Add a bit of fresh flair to your camp meals with this healthy side.

This decadent, creamy dessert will make you feel like you're at a fancy bakery, but requires no cooking and is super-easy to make.

These juicy, saucy, super-simple mini sandwiches bring hearty home cooking to camp.

Yes, we’re recommending a bacon-marshmallow combo. Trust us. Bonus: They make a great quick breakfast when paired with a trail shake.

What's more American than apple pie? Baking apple pie over a campfire of course.

Enhance your next hiking trip with these local craft brews that (handily) come in cans.

Close encounters of the serpentine kind from BACKPACKER Forum users

<p class="sub_header">You sent us your best flower shots from Switzerland to California. Here are the ones that really blew us away.</p>

Nice job. You’ve forgotten your sunglasses and your hat. Lucky you thought ahead and brought duct tape and beer. Here’s how to put them to use keeping the sun out of your eyes.

Up your game with this gourmet, one-pan breakfast.

Hiking with others can be a blast—as long as your partner isn't making one of these egregious gaffes, that is. Here's a taxonomy of the worst backcountry offenders.

Go beyond granola bars and make these energy-rich essentials part of your trail diet.

Open up a new door to adventure–by leaving the well-trod route behind.

Learn how to orient yourself for when it really counts.

Want to do ultralight right? Check out these tips.

Treat yourself to kid-style cereal in this blend that'll actually get you through a grownup day.

Bread pudding is the ultimate way to end your day. Bonus: This decadent treat requires almost no cleanup.

The land changes come winter, and so should your route finding techniques.

Two skills to take with you to the backcountry

Construct a solid emergency kit with these medical must-haves.

The best way to avoid getting lost? Always know your location. Study up on these key techniques for identifying terrain features,translating GPS data to a map, and triangulating your position.

From hypothermia to heatstroke, the elements kill in myriad ways. Protect yourself with 34 tips on wind, rain, snow, and more.

From Rialto Beach to the Roan Highlands of North Carolina, our readers captured these stunning sunrises and sunsets.

Four recipes for camp cocktails on different occasions.

A great ending to a good day on the trail? A tasty cocktail in camp. We consulted trail-savvy bartenders for their top recipes and tested more than 100 varieties of beer, wine, and liquor to find the most pack-friendly picks.

Use canyoneering techniques to hike, scramble, and swim through a red-rock wonderland.

Protein-packed and calorie-dense, nuts are a classic backpackers' superfood. We taste-tested 96 spreads, mixes, and bars to bring you the healthiest (and tastiest) options for the trail.