Skills

Set Goals Just Beyond Your Comfort Level

Don't want to get lost? Heed this advice on four trail situations that routinely cause problems.

Clear out your car before heading into the woods.

You can do a lot in 50 seconds

GoLite founder finds out that it's really hard.

New features and web-based tools enable Backpacker's passionate online community to share trips, post pictures, and get the latest in gear reviews and adventure news and content.

Why spend time on a treadmill. Live instead.

A salad a day is one man's dietary salvation

No gyms, no weights–and, with our easy-to-follow plan–no bonking on the trail.

Research shows that the Golden Years are Truly Gold

The perfect workout maybe your backyard

Which is best for trail readiness?

New studies slam water’s perceived health benefits

Advice on kids and herbs at altitude.

Learn the mountaineer's secret for hiking up steep, high-altitude terrain.

Camp like a pro with 83 field-tested tips and techniques from experts who earn their paychecks in the backcountry.

How can I comparison-shop for a guided trek in Alaska?

He'd toss the titanium stove and build a big fire. Our man enrolls in a traditional guide school and learns how to survive - and think - like an American original.

To acquire stamina, you gotta sufer

Here's how Aron Ralston, Ed Viesturs, Les Stroud, and others get out and back again–and how you can, too.

GoLite founder's 40-day wonder workout

Take care of these gatekeepers to your active future

The Emotional Side to Injury Recovery

Is the end of muscle fatigue upon us?

A Quick Change in Climate Does a Mountain Guy In

These dozen creatures are threatened by global warming.

Scientists say Nebraska's wild prairies could become the Western Hemisphere's largest sandbox in as few as 30 years.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

A for and against look at heli-hiking

You're lost, hungry, and starting to shiver: Time to play squirrel.

Recover from high-mileage days with these before-and-after stretches.

Last fall, we showed you the many ways that climate change is altering the wild places we love. Now, a look at what BACKPACKER is doing to reduce the magazine's impact.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

With more features, a new look, and the most informative content this side of the trail, the new Backpacker.com is amped up with the best in adventure, gear, travel, skills, and survival on the web.

Mosquitoe bites can be simply annoying or dangerous depending on where you are. Learn how to fend off their attacks.

Not sure how to eat right on the trail? You're in luck. We've taken the liberty of coming up with the perfect plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—for just about every situation. So break out your inner chef and get cooking. You'll be eating like royalty in no time.

When cooking in the backcountry, don't leave home without...

Learn how you can help combat climate change by researching everything from Alaska's Bering Glacier to tracking pumas in Argentina through citizen scientist programs

Learn your black bears from your brown bears then figure out how to keep them away from your camp.

On the trail and at the campsite, there's plenty you can do to leave nature...natural.

GORP is great...for a snack. Backpacker offers some pointers on keeping your energy up while on the trail.

If you don't know what triangulation is, read this article.

Take these 21 trail tips to heart, and you're virtually guaranteed a good hike.

Get ready for hiking season indoors with this training plan.

Protein helps hikers regulate their metabolism, repair tired muscle, and boost their immune system.

Want legs that can tackle any climb, any heavy pack, any mileage? Well, don't work harder–work smarter. We grilled fitness experts and scoured the medical literature to uncover the latest, greatest strategies for building strength, endurance, speed, and flexibility.

Unwind after a long hike chilé fondue, French bread bruchetta, or an Asian peanut dip

Avoid the Pop-Tart rut with Backpacker's seven-day, two-person shopping and menu list.

Eat for energy minus the meat with this three-day, two-person meal plan.

From cashew-ginger chicken to fruited scones, tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for the trail and the campsite.

What to eat when you're one person spending one day on the trail and looking to travel light

Trip-planning tips, gear lists, safety advice, and other essential wisdom every hiker ought to know.

There are plenty of pre-packaged first aid kits out there but, here are some good ingredients that should go in most kits for most types of hikes. Keep in mind that the longer the hike, or the larger the group, the more safety gear you should bring.

The first industry-wide survey about which gear manufacturers are positively impacting the environment

Get trail-ready for Spring, Summer, and Fall with our comprehensive three-season gear checklist.

Ready to get wet and wild? This packing list will prepare you for any swamp trek.

Get ready for winter with this comprehensive packing list.

Be prepared for the snowshoe trails with this packing list.

Gear up for potentially sweltering heat and downpours with this gear selection.

Mount Everest? Rainier? Before you go, tick off each of these items for your expedition.

From New Mexico to the Sahara, this gear checklist will have to prepped for any desert adventure.

Changing your altitude? From crampons to ice axes, gear up here.

Getting ready for whitewater or maybe just a relaxing paddle down a remote river? We've got you covered.

Ready your gear quiver for a for a full day outing.

Strip off the pounds with our ultralight checklist and hit the trail light as a feather.

Give your camp dinner a tropical flair

This sweet-tasting dish is more fragrant than hot.

Chili peppers give this meal a pungent kick.

Go Italian—with a Pacific Northwest twist—by serving this seafood pasta.

Lemongrass and peanuts accent this creamy Thai dish.

Add garlicky zing to classic southern Appalachian grits.

Maine's celebrated wild blueberries demand real New England maple syrup.

Limed corn is the secret to this classic New Mexican comfort food. Flour tortillas and lime wedges are traditional accompaniments.

Sweaty feet, thick socks, and sturdy boots are a blister cauldron. Learn four easy ways to keep your feel clean, dry, and blister free.

Don't forge ahead when faced with whiteout conditions.