Skills

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.

Staying warm does require extra calories when hiking in the winter.

If you have a sweet tooth, you'll love this on-trail Cherry Cobbler.

A gourmet meal designed for the backcountry.

Packing the kitchen for a weekend away? We'll help you pare down.

Punch up boring noodles with ginger and garlic.

Break out of the boring one-pot routine.

Boost your on-trail protein intake with this tasty dish.

Easy ways to take protein on the trail without involving meat or overly fortified energy bars.

From the power cinch to the clove hitch, here are four knots every hiker should know.

A fast, simple way to make silky fondue that's easy to clean

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

This LNT-inspired Dry Sack helps you keep it clean in large groups.

It's skis! It's a snowboard! It's a splitboard!

First-aid tips, survival gear, what to do if..., plus dangerous hikes (and a few scary stories).

A handy knot that's instantly undone for tie-and-go uses. It's also a key component of the trucker's hitch.

The normal hitch for tightening tent guylines without using hardware.

The best knot out there for tightening and releasing cords that will be heavily loaded. It's perfect for cinching down gear, tensioning horizontal spans of rope, or getting a large tarp tightly pitched.

A readily adjustable rope-end knot for trees and large objects, but tougher to visualize than its mid-rope version.

If you don't want a rope to slip, or you want to create tension, tie a quick clove hitch and attach it to something like a tree branch or carabiner.

A fast-to-tie knot for tying off to tent stakes, dock posts, broken tree branches, and carabiners. It's easily adjustable for tension on either end.

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 August 2010 issue.

Tying a figure 8 mid-rope allows you to securely attach to a particular spot in the line. You can make hand or footholds this way, that can be easily untied after bearing weight. Learn to tie a figure 8 by watching our slide show series on knot tying.

How 10 grassroots innovators are helping kids get active outdoors

Learn how to properly tie one of the simplest and most versatile knots known to man.

This version of the overhand knot is stronger with lower-creep, yet easily-untied. This knot is perfect for securing everything from guylines to climbing harnesses.

After a long day on the trail, I am in no mood for gourmet slicing and dicing. Here's a delicious, sweet, and savory dish that lets you leave your cutting boards at home.

Learn how to tie the potentially life-saving bowline knot and more with these step-by-step photo tutorials.

A half hitch is an overhand knot tied around departing cord. It's the simplest way to secure a bowline waist loop for critical uses like climbing.

Fill up on these protein-rich meals.

Turned around in the backcountry? Here are 33 essential tips to remember if you or your partner goes missing.

This gourmet dish combines dehydrated ground beef, fresh cherry tomatoes, and arepa flour for a protein-filled meal.

Chicken, cheese, and avocado–what more do you need?