Skills

Box wine is back in a big--and quaffable-- way. Here are our favorites for the trail.

Learn to make the classic cold weather cocktail and get a primer on a new version that's sure to impress your tent-mates

Gear, gizmos, and doodads you never should buy

Toasting to the day of your birth in the backcountry isn't complete without a proper dessert. Or three.

Don't forget these essentials when you're headed into the cold.

Use these tips to plan perfect winter camping meals.

There are two basic ways of melting water: passive and active.

Site your stove a few steps from your tent, so you can conveniently melt snow or brew drinks. If you're camping in the same spot for several days (and in deep snow), dig out a snow kitchen.

A fun and functional four-piece kitchen set that includes everything you need to dine in ultralight style.

Why you don't need to worry about snakes, spiders, and bears...and what you should worry about instead

Head high with an axe, crampons, and more.

Quick tips for your transportation of choice.

Meet our four cold-weather experts.

Pack this essential kit to handle your unpredictable gear mishaps.

Don't leave home without these winter camping essentials.

Our pros tell you how to set up a deluxe–yet weatherproof–winter basecamp.

Life's too short to be a three-season hiker. Follow these expert tips on staying warm, picking your route, and cooking savory meals--and add winter's deep solitude and frozen dreamscapes to your adventure calendar.

The gear, techniques, and recipes you need to whip up five-star meals in cold climes

Carry in comfort, from dayhikes to hut trips.

Warm up with these tasty backcountry winter cocktails!

Try these 6 kitchen tips, excerpted from BACKPACKER'S new book, Campsite Cooking: Cookware, Cuisine, and Cleaning Up. Plus, cold-weather tips from the pros.

Fast, filling, and yummy macaroni and cheese is comfort food wherever you pitch your tent.

If you chase big fish, you need a 9-weight fly rod to carry along on your adventures. BACKPACKER reviewed five rods that fit the bill.

And if prepared properly, it'll be quite tasty and good for you, too.

Plus: Pesto Pasta with a Kick recipe

Dig quickly and easily with this all-aluminum shovel.

A great lightweight axe for mountaineering.

Keep your pack light with this twin rope.

These lightweight crampons will keep you safe without the added weight.

It tastes delish. (Yes, really.)

Take our etiquette quiz to find out if you're genteel or a heel.

Everything you need to stay sated in the backcountry.

When a lifelong backpacker decides to shoot a deer, will he lose touch with the wilderness he loves--or get closer to it?

Bring a taste of New Orleans with you on your next camping trip with this packaged Gumbo.

This thermos converts into an insulated mug whenever you're ready for a warm drink.

Boil water in minutes with this cookware.

Part rum, part minty-goodness. This one will help you hold on to the last warm days of the year in style.

Our readers send so many lovely pictures it's hard to pick a winner. These are the ones we loved but didn't pick for publication in the October 2010 issue.

I've made the mistakes so you don't have to.

Cut camp boredom with these playing cards.

Fight rough effects on your skin with this moisturizing climbing salve.

Get out more this winter with the right pair of 'shoes.

Add rich, cheesy flair to your backcountry fare.

Wow your campmates with this restaurant-worthy appetizer.

Cheese and beer make this a camp favorite.

Enhance a photo's color without Photoshop by employing tinted filters.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Can crickets tell you the temperature and a cup of coffee forecast storms? Here's how to become a backcountry meteorologist.

You took the quiz - now see how you fared.

Our resident imbibing expert takes on the Spanish staple...and adds a twist.

Are you overspending on gear? Here's how to get the right stuff at the right price.

Read this classic story from the December/January 1981 issue of BACKPACKER.

In this inaugural expert section, the Backcountry Bartender drops some knowledge on crafting the perfect trail cocktail. First up, a timeless classic: the Manhattan.

In a tip of the hat to this universal noodle, here are two sweet breakfast and dessert ramen recipes.

10 more great photos from Backpacker's September 2010 Reader Photo Contest

Helmets are like any good protection; you'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Plus: 10 time-saving tips from the pros

Want to test the waters before attempting a Primitive Management Area? Get some experience on these traditional Boundary Waters trips first.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Last call for submissions for the 2011 Readers' Choice Contest! Plus: Three easy recipes for flat trail bread, tortilla sunrise, and a fruit smoothie

A simple tuna salad gets a nutritional punch with the addition of bean sprouts.

If your backpacking menu excludes anything fresh, read on for a few helpful tips.

Bring some spice to backcountry cooking with this easy, flavorful curry recipe.

Backcountry cooking doesn't have to mean bland.

Fast food leads to fast crashes trailside.

A decadent pasta dish built for the backcountry.

Cook for a group...with style.

Breakfast for two, any time of the day.

Prevent fresh food spoilage on the trail with these tips.

An easy, year-round homemade snack.