Gear Review: Katabatic Alsek 22 Quilt (250+ Nights)

Note: Katabatic’s Holiday Sale is running until December 2. All quilts are 15% off, while Jackets and Bivys are 20% off.  I picked up the Katabatic Alsek 22°F quilt in 2018. Over the last six and a half years, I’ve Read More …

Wanderlust USA: The Great American Hike

The end of 2019 saw the release of Wanderlust USA, my third book with gestalten publications. In a nutshell, it’s a 320-page coffee table book that features 30 terrific hikes from around the United States. Among the eclectic collection are Read More …

A Quick & Dirty Guide to the Sierra High Route

The Sierra High Route is one of the most spectacular and challenging treks in North America. Stretching approximately 195 miles (314 km) north to south through the Sierra Nevada, it is a largely off-trail affair that stays between 9,000 ft Read More …

Backpacks for Thru-Hiking

When choosing a backpack for a long-distance hike, you want something that is functional, lightweight, comfortable, durable, and preferably with a proven track record. No one wants to splash out $200 to $300, only to find their purchase coming apart Read More …

Websites for Hikers and Backpackers

These days the internet is full of backpacking blogs and websites. When coupled with a multitude of online hiking forums, advice is never more than a click or two away. However, not all advice is created equal, and the fact Read More …

2015 – The Year in Pictures

It’s been a great year on the hiking front. Extended trips in southwest Tasmania, the Colombian Andes, New York’s Adirondacks and the Colorado Rockies. Throw in some shorter hikes in my beloved Mexico and my ‘ancestral’ home of Queensland, Australia. All Read More …

How to Keep your Hands Warm while Hiking in Cold Weather

Your hands, head, and feet constitute your body’s initial warning system when temperatures start dropping. Due to their high surface area to mass ratio, these are the places that you are likely to feel the cold first. You may be decked Read More …

The Hiking Life 2.0

The Hiking Life website has undergone a complete overhaul. After two months of rewriting, resizing and refreshing, the new and improved version is now up and running! The Hiking Life 2.0 contains many new “how to” articles, a backpacking resources guide, loads Read More …

Appalachian Trail | USA, 2012

At a Glance Distance: 2181 miles (3510 km) Avg. Time: 5 – 6 months Start / Finish: Northern Terminus: Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park, ME Southern Terminus: Springer Mountain, GA Season: Regular hiking season for northbounders runs from March through Read More …

Continental Divide Trail | USA, 2012

At a Glance Distance:  2,500 miles – 3,00 miles | Depending on route choices. Avg. Time:  5 months Start / Finish: Southern Terminus: Crazy Cook Monument, NM (official), Antelope Wells and Columbus, NM (alternates). Northern Terminus: Waterton Lake, MT or Read More …

Quick & Dirty Guides to the Triple Crown

With the popularity of the Triple Crown increasing, the amount of information on the internet regarding the three long distance trails is staggering. Some of it is good; some of it not so much. That being the case, how does one separate Read More …

A Quick & Dirty Guide to the Tour du Mont Blanc

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is a spectacular multi-day trek around Western Europe’s highest peak (4807 m / 15,771 ft). Passing through France, Italy and Switzerland, it takes the hiker on an alpine tour de force of snow-capped peaks, Read More …