How an Ultrarunner Saved a Lost Hiker’s Life
In June of 2020, Jeremy Humphrey used his intimate knowledge of his local mountain range to rescue a missing hiker.
Survival
Master essential wilderness survival skills with tips and advice from the experts at Backpacker Magazine. Our experts teach you how to build fires, forage for food, find shelter, survive animal attacks, and get the most out of every piece of gear you bring into the wilderness.
Bear Attack Fatalities Are Up This Year. Is it a Trend, or Just a Coincidence?
Grizzly and black bears have killed five people in North America over the last five months. Is this cause for concern?
After Losing Their Eyes and Leg in Iraq, Rainier Was Just One More Mountain to Climb.
You think climbing Rainier is tough? Try it carrying wounds from a war, then see who you pity.
How Hot Is Too Hot to Run?
Running in the heat is tough—but sometimes, it's flat-out dangerous. Here's what the science says about keeping yourself safe while you train.
Two of My Friends Suffered Separate Accidents on the Same Peak. Only One Survived.
In a wilderness emergency, the tiniest details can be a matter of life and death. After a pair of accidents leave one one young adventurer injured and another deceased, Hayden Seder ponders the difference a stroke of luck can make.
A Slip, and Then Disaster
Courtney Henderson, 19, and Gavin Caruso, 23, fell 50 feet during a storm in June of 2020. Only one survived.
A Friendly Reminder: Wild Animals Will Still Mess You Up
Despite warnings, rules, and common sense, tourists in Yellowstone keep approaching bears and bison.
Why 21 People Died in a Trail Ultramarathon
What went wrong, and what we can all learn from the tragedy at the Yellow River Stone Forest 100K.
Broken and Alone in a Canyon Bottom
After Jacob Velarde fell 50 feet while on a solo hike, he could hardly move, let alone hike out.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Mountain Lions
These silent stalkers are the stuff of solo hikers' nightmares—but you need not worry.
From Desert Paradise to Death Trap
When a flash flood raged through Havasupai in 2008, it would change the canyon forever—and their lives.
Why Lightning is More Dangerous Than You Thought
You might not know this about lightning—don't put yourself at risk.
We Fell Down the Mountain
In June of 2020, Courtney Henderson and Gavin Caruso fell more than 50 feet down a mountainside. They were trapped, bleeding, and a storm was raging overhead. But help was on the way.
Pro Tip: Bear Spray Goes on the Bear, Not on You
Bear spray is a weapon, created to fend off one of the planet’s biggest predators. So you’d be surprised how many people think that they're supposed to spray it on themselves.
The Night I Was Mauled by a Polar Bear
Matt Dyer thought he would be lucky to see a polar bear on his trip to Canada's Torngat Mountains National Park. As it turned out, he did see one—from closer than he ever expected.
Facial Recognition Tech for Bears Might Just Be the Future of Conservation
The surveillance state meets animal research.
Bearpacker
Bears: They're big, they're out there, and for hikers, they're equal parts terrifying and fascinating. Get to know the North American wilderness's undisputed royalty with Bearpacker, our annual guide to bear science, safety, and sightseeing.
Here’s the Bear Protection You Need in the National Parks
Bag, can, or locker? Here's what you'll need to use to keep your food safe from bears.
Should You Be Afraid of Bears? Just Bearly.
Strange noises outside your tent keeping you up at night? Learn to cope with your fear of bears.
Ask a Bear: What’s the Deadliest Kind of Bear?
Bear attacks on humans are exceedingly rare—but they do happen.