I have one particular backpacking item that accompanies me on every outdoor pursuit: my Tyvek Footprint by Six Moon Designs. I cherish this uncomplicated, lightweight, budget-friendly essential for numerous reasons, but I’ll highlight six of them for you.
My backpacking gear has seen well over 3,000 miles of trail, and my Tyvek footprint is absolutely my dirtiest piece of equipment, which is how I like it. It provides a clean, dry surface for sitting, napping, picnicking, or organizing gear any time of day.
I actually started my PCT thru-hike with an additional sit pad, but I quickly discovered it was an unnecessary item. I reached for my footprint instead.
I use my Tyvek a minimum of twice daily: for a midday break and when setting up camp. I am mindful to put the same side surface towards the Earth. And when it’s time to pack up, my dirty footprint returns to the easily-accessible exterior of my pack, away from my other gear. Better yet, I’ve also easily cleaned the dirty side when having to travel to New Zealand, where any potential incoming biohazards are taken very seriously.
This photo captures my daily PCT routine of lunching and relaxing on my ground cloth, complete with the ritual of removing my socks and shoes. Despite the appearance of my soiled feet, the tarp is serving as protection against the ash of Lassen National Park.
Utilizing my Tyvek footprint in snowy conditions of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Designed as a weatherproof exterior house wrap, Tyvek is renowned in the construction industry because it protects from outside elements, without trapping moisture, and enhances insulation performance. In wet or snowy backpacking conditions, maintaining warmth and dryness is crucial. Utilizing Tyvek as a water-resistant ground cloth strengthens your sleep system in several ways. It is designed to prevent moisture ingress and repel external elements, including excess moisture from the warmed earth or melted snow under you, maintaining dryness and comfort across varied conditions.
My Six Moon Designs Tyvek Footprint has saved me in countless wet and cold situations proving its ability to shed rain, snow, and pooled water. I’ve used it to cowboy camp directly on snow, cowboy camp on frozen ground or in extremely cold temperatures, tent camp on snow, and tent camp in heavy storms which produce significantly wet ground conditions. Each and every time, I’ve remained comfortable, warm, and dry.
A Tyvek footprint can also serve as *basically* a magic carpet. With a blank canvas (for your adventures and your creativity alike), you can go almost anywhere. By penning a sign on a whim you can help yourself get to or from trail, as long as you can also catch a hitch, but a clever sign overrules a dinky thumb any day.
The Tyvek material is very paper-like, but is much stronger, so a sharpie works flawlessly on it. I’ve seen some incredible masterpieces drawn on a ground cloth. The surface is much more visible than writing on cardboard (which you also don’t always have on hand). It’s the perfect canvas for a game of tic-tac-toe, doodling, or documenting milestones along your journey.
Joe Pagoc’s (Big Spoon) photo is just one example of a hiker’s creativity on a Tyvek footprint. Illustrating the tarot card he drew before leaving for trail, it’s meaning served as a daily reminder: "Seek out ways to explore your consciousness, seek out paths that lead to your connections with Spirit" and "Allow the power of your emotions to guide you in a new direction.”
In a pinch, my ground cloth has served as a simple makeshift shelter. Whether providing brief relief as a sunshade or as a protection against rain, it has offered crucial assistance when needed. My fondest memory (in hindsight) of this usage was in the desert of the PCT. The day was a slog - cold, windy, and relentlessly raining without a tree or other form of shelter along the trail. To take a rest for lunch, my hiking partner and I huddled together, draping my ground cloth over our heads and backpacks as we squatted eating our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Was it glorious? No. But it did allow us to catch our breath and eat out of the rain.
A picture of the view I was enjoying one evening along the PCT. Captured at a moment when I was blissfully unaware that soon, stubs of Manzanita bushes would tear through my Tyvek footprint.
Ultralight gear is often made with delicate materials. Sticks, roots, or sharp rocks can easily rip holes in your dearly loved expensive trail-home. On the other end of the spectrum, Tyvek is literally designed to perform in harsh, rugged, and extreme conditions while being cost effective. Typically, one would comb a tent site for rocks, sticks, or protruding objects for increased comfort and protection towards your tent floor. However, when you’re hiking double digit miles every day for months at a time, the need for immediate rest sometimes overtakes careful tent site inspection.
One evening in a burn area, I hastily prepared my sleeping quarters for the night. Confidently, I slapped my tarp down and pitched my tent. When I climbed in and sat on my pad I heard a "pop." I knew this wasn't a good sign but dozed off nonetheless. Upon inspection when packing up in the morning, I realized native Manzanita bushes were beginning to resurface in the burn area. Their thick, sharp branches had punctured two holes in my Tyvek tarp…but not my tent. I was relieved, and simply patched the holes with tenacious tape to prevent further tearing.
When cowboy camping, my Tyvek footprint is sometimes the only protection between the ground and my inflatable sleeping pad.
I like to think of my Tyvek as my "front porch," a welcome mat to my home away from home. Where I take off my shoes and place my gear. Where I slow down for a meal or catch a brief nap. Every time I unfold it, I smile and feel a sense of gratitude for all the places I’ve been. It has been through my highs and my lows, accompanying me every mile, outserving any other single piece of gear I own. Unwinding in the evening, preparing to indulge in rest is one of my favorite parts of the day when thru-hiking. When I lay down at the end of a long day on my footprint, I am filled with a sense of peace. I’m confident and comfortable on my small, dry haven, quick to shut my eyes.
With being under $20, the return on investment for this versatile singular piece of gear is remarkable. It’s pre-cut, lightweight design, and multi-purpose functionality make it easy to justify for every trip, providing me with peace of mind, comfort, and enhanced happiness on the trail.
Alli is a freelance writer based in British Columbia, Canada. She humbly aspires to be a strong voice in the outdoor industry centered on inclusiveness for all bodies. Alli encourages all to be silly and simply take small steps towards their goals. Her wish is to spread awareness that you don't have to be an extreme athlete to have an extreme amount of fun. Aside from writing, she enjoys backpacking, hiking, snowboarding, trail running, and snuggling with her dog. Find Alli on Instagram, @bucketsofmoonbeams.
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We polled some GGG employees about their most favorite shelter they use on their outdoor adventures. The result is a variety of styles and types of tents, from single-walled to double-walled and free-standing. Check out why each person loves their shelter of choice!
-- Rachel, Operations
My tent is a Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. It served us well for 5 months on the PCT for me and my partner – we used it literally every night on trail! It’s super durable, super spacious for two people, and super easy to set up. It’s also quite lightweight for being a semi-freestanding double-walled tent. What I love most is how bright it is: most tents have a dark vibe, but I love the lighter and brighter vibe the pale fabric makes. The rain fly and inner tent are separate, so you can look up at the stars at night if you’d like without the rain fly. Inner pockets on the top towards your feet are wonderful for airing your clothing out at night, and the side pockets by your head are nice for electronics or anything else. The zippers started to not work after 5 months, but we’re getting it fixed up so it’s good as new again!
-- Cam, Warehouse
My tent needs are two ends of the backpacking spectrum— I either need a bigger freestanding tent or a one person trekking pole tent:
I use the Durston Gear X-Mid 1 when I’m going out on my own. The large vestibules, offset poles, and tall headroom make it the right tent for me. I’m 5’ 6” and can sit comfortably in my backpacking chair when I get stuck inside my tent. I like that it can be pitched with the fly and inner connected so that it stays dry if you need to set up camp in the rain. I’ve spent nights in this tent in the Boundary Waters and along trails in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and it has been happy in the small forest clearings I like to camp in. When I take this tent on canoe trips I like to bring smaller tent poles (with variable height) instead of trekking poles.
When I’m camping with my wife, we bring our Big Agnes Copper Spur 3. Ours is an older model but has never let us down. We have only ever needed to replace the shock cord in our tent poles, despite traveling along many trails and at many music festivals. We like that both sides have big doors with plenty of vestibule room. When going on canoe trips, we like to use low cots and we still have a bit of room for storage inside the tent.
Both of my tents have customized inner storage: I like to add a gear loft or mesh pouches where I like to keep my essential items. It adds a little weight and a lot of usability to my tents, since I like to know exactly where my headlamp is in the middle of the night and have a place to put my glasses where I definitely won’t squish them. My wife prefers a dedicated place to stash her book.
-- Yessica, Warehouse
I love cowboy camping whenever I can, but when that's not possible, I reach for my Gossamer Gear The One. This has been my go-to shelter for the past three years and has served me well through some very temperate weather and some rather sketchy weather situations. I love the versatility of adjustable features, ease of set up, small footprint, deep bathtub floor, tall ceiling and most of all the small packed size. For anyone looking for an introductory single wall, trekking pole tent, you can’t go wrong with The One!
-- Maggie, Marketing
I've been using the Six Moon Designs Haven Ultralight Tent for the past year, and I love it! My friends who had hiked the PCT with it let me borrow it while I hiked the Arizona Trail, and it's now a permanent part of my dryer climate gear kit. I love how easy it is to set up, and how I can sleep under the stars by setting up just the inner net without the outer tarp. I call it my "palace" since, as a solo hiker in a two person shelter, I really get to live a life of spacious luxury in it (without much added weight). It can actually fit into some pretty tight spaces: the outer tarp can easily be spread out over plants since the inner net has even smaller dimensions. It recently got new replacement door zippers so it can continue to be my home away from home!
-- Adam, Buying
When I'm not using a DIY tarp and bivy combo on a solo hike, I'm usually using a Slingfin 2lite tent. It cuts weight by only using two poles and by being low profile at the foot of the tent, while maintaining plenty of headroom to sit up in. While it's not free standing, the living space is quite excellent, especially considering the surprisingly generous vestibules! I've mostly used it in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area so far: it’s a fantastic paddling tent if you're looking to minimize your paddling set up.
-- Ned, Operations
My shelter of choice for solo trips is the NEMO Hornet OSMO™ 1P tent. I love how it’s semi free-standing which makes it a breeze to set up, especially in wet conditions. It has a very light trail weight under two pounds, but it’s also super roomy for a one person tent. The internal guy-outs connect the inner shelter to the rainfly which boosts the living space inside. It also has minimal pole structure which makes it super compactable. It's great for bikepacking too!
-- Ben, Customer Service
My favorite tent breaks all the ultralight rules with impunity: it's large, bulky, and heavy. The Hilleberg Anjan 3 tent is a palatial heavy-duty tunnel style shelter that serves as my home away from home. I typically walk fewer miles per day and spend more time in camp than many other hikers, which makes this tent a lot more practical. I appreciate how the front vestibule can be rolled back in sections to provide a wide open view with excellent ventilation, and the fact that it can easily accommodate three six-foot long hikers with ample headroom. Additionally, the fly and inner mesh can be connected, which makes setup and takedown a breeze. Weighing in at 3.5 pounds, this tent isn't for everybody, but the weight is more manageable if you split the weight between hikers. Hilleberg is well-known for offering quick and high quality repairs, giving this tent a long lifespan. The fact you can choose between three colors is a fun twist: just don't look at the price tag.
]]>It's common to experience a bit of a low once a long expedition comes to a close, which I refer to as the "post-trip blues." After months on a thru-hike, cycle tour, or road trip, a new lifestyle gets established, which can be hard to give up once it comes to an end.
Often times an epic adventure changes us in profound ways, and going back to our old life can be challenging. After my first cross Canada cycling trip back in 2015, I returned to my adopted hometown to realize my old life no longer fit.
I had outgrown my old apartment, my old job, my old friends and even my old belongings. When I opened my storage unit, everything felt foreign, like I was staring into a stranger's past. I had experienced a major shift in my life and, although it was a good thing, I still felt lost in the desert of unknowns. The change was overwhelming and destabilizing, and I wasn't sure what to do, where to go, or how to get support.
It took me months of trial and error to move through my first case of the "Post Trip Blues," and it certainly wasn't graceful. Thankfully, the approaches that I established during that time have been easy to apply to all the other adventure endings I've had since then.
Here are a few of the many things I explored to help navigate the hardships and overcome the hurdles that precede the end of my trips:
I think one of the biggest aspects of the post trip blues is that we go from moving our bodies outdoors everyday for many hours in a row to far less activity once it all ends. Our bodies were designed to move, our ancestors did a ton of it, and I think it's part of the primordial draw to these long-distance endurance feats.
For me, it's helpful after finishing an epic odyssey, to etch out as much time as I can on the daily to moving my body, breathing fresh air, and keeping those feel-good endorphins flowing. Of course, carving out 8-12 hours a day like on a hiking or cycling trip is tough once your adventure is over, so just do the best you can.
A great way to get more movement in a shorter amount of time is to up the intensity. Throw in some trail running instead of always walking or do some high intensity interval training a few times a week. The most important thing is finding a form of movement that you enjoy that's easy to commit to so you can just keep doing it.
A common technique for avoiding tough emotions in our culture is to drink alcohol in an attempt try to drown out the pain. As effective as this may be in the short term, it's actually super detrimental in the long run because alcohol is a depressant. Not only that, but research shows that even if you only have one or two alcoholic drinks per week, your baseline anxiety becomes higher when you aren't drinking alcohol. This leads many people to continue reaching for alcohol to quench their anxiety, when in reality, it only feeds the beast. Secondly, hangovers aren't very helpful for creative problem solving, emotional processing, or getting good rest, which are all things that can help navigate the post trip blues with far more ease.
After my bike trip, I committed to a one month break from booze. After 30 days, I felt so good, I extended it to a year, which turned into four and a half years. Nowadays, alcohol isn't a part of my life, and I find that being sober has increased my well-being and overall enjoyment of life both during and after adventures.
Accomplishing something meaningful that you've spent months working towards is rewarding, but can also leave you feeling a bit aimless and wondering "Now what?" For me, it's helpful to put some time aside to create new, less grandiose goals, like getting my nutrition back on track, committing to a daily meditation practice, or prioritizing the movement practices mentioned earlier.
If it's valuable for you to set a bigger goal for another epic adventure, like using your new baseline fitness to complete a marathon, or train for another thru-hike, that's great. I've learned over time that giving myself a chapter of time to process my previous grand feat before jumping into another one is necessary for my nervous system to rest and reset.
There's that old adage, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" which I think is valuable advice. Being grateful for the opportunity to go on a grand adventure, even though it's over, replaces the feeling of being a victim of your circumstances with being empowered that you got to have the experience.
For me, part of gratitude is making space to consider how the adventure made me stronger, braver, and more resilient as well as considering where I could have handled situations better. Mining for these insights helps lead to better expedition behavior in the future, as well the opportunity for personal growth and self-awareness.
Breaking down big undertakings takes time and patience, so don't be discouraged if insights don't show up for you right away. Trust the process and know that things will come up as they need to, and when you're ready to see them.
This is the hardest one for me to do, and yet, the most important. I've had to learn that it's okay to be sad that something is over. It's okay to wish it didn't come to an end. It's okay to mourn aspects of your past. It's okay to feel unsure about your future. It's okay not to feel okay.
Learning to notice our pain and discomfort and sit with it is paramount in allowing the feelings and emotions to move through us, instead of getting stuck. Unfortunately, many of us have been trained over our lifetime to distract, numb, avoid, and ignore. We pick up our phones, go out to party, make a snack, bury ourselves in our work, or even use any of the aforementioned tools compulsively in an effort to dodge the heaviness. Remember, we are allowed to put aside as much time and space as we need to honor ourselves, what we've been through and what we are going through.
There is no time frame for healing.
However, if you are feeling constantly or increasingly depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, and distraught, and feeling like you can't navigate the hard times with your current support system, it's important that you reach out for some extra help -- either simply talking to a trusted friend or family member or to a professional to get the help you need.
Something I like to remind myself of when something wonderful comes to a close, is a little piece of advice from singer/songwriter Mike Posner after he walked across America : "Beginnings always hide themselves in ends."
Do you have some valuable tools you use to navigate the post trip blues?
Please share them with us in the comments below!
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education, and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on Instagram at @thisisalibecker.
]]>When I first got into hiking, I was terrified to go alone. It seemed like all my friends and just about every stranger I met believed I would instantly be eaten by a bear or kidnapped if I took one step into the woods by myself. However, when I started flirting with the idea of a 2,198.4 mile long thru-hike, I realized there was no one else I could find that was crazy enough to drop their current stable life and start it with me.
So one day, when I was 21 and couldn’t find anyone else to come on a day hike with me — I went on my own. It changed the way I looked at hiking. Soon afterwards, I went on my first solo overnight backpacking trip. A year after that, I found myself at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Going solo allowed me to discover the freedom of self-reliance and so much more.
When I hike or backpack alone, I don’t have to worry about slowing someone down or struggling to keep up. When I go on a backpacking trip with friends, I find myself frequently getting frustrated at their pace. Sometimes I’ll want to stop to observe a salamander crossing the trail for a while, stretch my feet out with my cork rollerball or have an early lunch. Even if my friends don’t voice any annoyance, I sometimes still get worried that they’ll want to push on or are getting impatient. It can make me feel rushed. I’m not able to wonder at the tiny anatomy of a salamander as much because I’m worried that my friend wants to crush the next five miles.
Just because you set off on a backpacking trip with a friend or start hiking with a trail family does not mean you have to stay with them 24/7. Hiking solo can allow you to appreciate the time you do spend with one another even more when you can talk about different experiences that happened throughout your day.
On a thru-hike or a backpacking trip, trying to keep the same pace as a friend that is faster than you can lead to injuries. It can mean the end of a thru-hike. It’s important to maintain a spirit of independence when hiking a long trail in order to preserve your physical well-being. Just because a member of your trail family is doing the four state challenge (hiking from the VA/WV border, hiking through West Virginia and Maryland, and ending in Pennsylvania — 43.4 miles) does not mean you have to do it too. This could mean that you’re no longer a member of a trail family. However, in my experience, there are always other fun hikers just behind or ahead of you, depending upon if your pace is slower or faster. The right people will always find you, or you will find more comfort in solitude — something just as worthwhile.
There’s going to be very few times in your life you’ll find someone else willing to walk 2,000+ miles with you. Or even go for a short backpacking trip over the weekend with you. When I started to go out on my own, I realized I could go out every weekend when I had free time. I solo section hiked all of Southern Virginia in backpacking trips and day hikes over the weekends before my Appalachian Trail thru-hike.
Before my first solo day hike, I had wanted to go hike at Grayson Highlands in Virginia for months to see the wild ponies. I’d never been able to find someone who wanted to clear their schedule for for the three hour car ride all the way out to Grayson Highlands. When I finally did go, it was the most beautiful hike I’d ever been on. A baby pony followed me for a mile, I got lost, and a thru-hiker helped me find my way back to the parking lot, and then to top it off, I ate lunch with a herd of long-horned cattle. If I had stayed home and waited until someone was able to go with me, I would’ve missed out on all the experiences I had out on my own.
There are few things that rattle my nerves more than darkness settling in on trail and realizing there’s no other hikers around to camp near. However, out of the three times I camped alone on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, I found each one to be a transformative learning experience.
The first time I found myself in the middle of a violent 40 degree rainstorm, trying to throw a bear line up into a tree to hang my food, only to have my tent collapse on me moments later when I crawled inside. Despite all these frustrations, I still got some sleep and was just fine the next morning. Another time, my headlamp wouldn’t switch off of the red setting in my last mile to camp, and I had to hike in near-complete darkness to the shelter where I spent the night. I was too scared to eat dinner and went to sleep hungry — only to wake up the next morning, cook a ramen bomb for breakfast and laugh at how silly the evening was.
Each time, I grew more confident in myself. Even though it scared me to go to sleep alone in the middle of the woods, I woke up the next morning perfectly fine and reassured in my outdoor abilities.
It’s typically easier to make friends when you’re hiking alone. When you’re already hiking with a set group, you won’t get the same experience of a trail family organically forming around you. I started my thru-hike and had three to four different trail families throughout the hike and met countless friends along the way. I found that the environment of the trail made it easy to strike up a conversation with strangers. We could talk about our tiny toothbrushes, what food we’re craving, or how pooping in the woods is going. When you’re hiking alone and run into new friends, you can devote as much time as you want to getting to know them. And if they’re not worth more than your solitude is to you, then you can leave.
On trail, I’ve had a war veteran paint my fingernails and have been duped out of five dollars by a tic-tac-toe game with a five year old — all in the same day. The outdoors unites backpackers. Out there, we’re all in similar grimy trail runners, have permanent dirt smudges on the insides of our calves and are all slightly sunburned. It makes it easy to talk to each other — so why not make some new friends along the way?
I never needed to convince anyone but myself to go see sunrises and sunsets when I was on my own. Sometimes I would cut a 20 mile day short and set up camp at a meadow overlooking the mountains simply because I thought it was a beautiful place to watch the sunset.
Hiking alone allowed me to have time to myself to think. It’s serene to walk in the early mornings and observe the way sunlight filters through the trees and gets caught in spiderwebs. It made me realize that happiness isn’t something that was going to just happen someday — nor was it something I had to wait until I was older to feel. I could feel it every day of my life with a simple walk outside where I appreciated the world around me and my small role in it, or with a 2,000 mile long thru-hike. Solitude allowed me to become more comfortable in my own body. I realized it was the only permanent home I would ever have — so it was in my best interest to care for it as best I could.
These moments would have been pleasant with friends, but I wouldn’t have been able to connect as deeply with myself. I believe it’s important to achieve a balance when hiking. If you hike with people all the time, you’ll never realize how beautiful it is to hike alone. If you hike alone all the time, you’ll never be able to share the beauty around you with a friend.
Anytime you go hiking alone, make sure to plan your trip properly, make wise decisions, and be prepared. The outdoors can be unpredictable and wild, and not every stranger you encounter will be a friend. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, trust your gut and leave it. Bear spray isn’t just for defending against bears. Make sure you tell a friend you’re leaving and potentially bring a personal locator beacon. Most importantly — get out there. Even if you’re nervous, the potential self-discoveries are worth it. The only way to find out what adventure lies ahead is to take the first step — even (and especially) if it’s on your own.
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail, and they're looking forward to hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this year!
]]>Getting a good night's sleep while out on an overnight hike can be a big challenge. From finding your sweet spot on a sleeping pad, to setting up your shelter in a new location with varying terrain, to considering weather and wildlife, to making sure you have the proper sleep attire for the changing conditions: it’s no wonder getting the best rest can be elusive.
Yet, we all know that proper sleep is essential for optimal health and well-being. A good night's sleep aids in physical, mental, and emotional performance on trail, while boosting the body's ability to heal and recover after a big day’s effort. Good sleep not only increases our enjoyment of the adventure by supporting cognitive function, mental resilience, and increasing healthy hormone production that bolsters good moods, but it also allows for healthy movement patterns and clear decision making, which mitigates the risk for injury while out and about.
With advancements in modern science and technology, there are many fancy gizmos and gadgets that promise to improve your sleep quality, but this list explores a few options that don’t require spending a bunch of extra money on fancy gear or attaching electrodes to your brain on the summit of a mountain.
Let’s get into it...
Believe it or not, getting a good night's sleep starts first thing in the morning and is supported by every decision you make throughout the day. Setting our circadian rhythm by exposing ourselves to natural light upon waking is one way to set our "sleep clock" so our body knows when to start producing or suppressing melatonin, the chemical responsible for regulating our sleep-wake cycles.
Exposure to natural light in the AM not only increases alertness and boosts energy levels, it also suppresses the production of melatonin in the morning, which will then increase it later in the day, making it easier to fall asleep. This may sound easy to do when sleeping outdoors when we can roll out of our sleeping bag and into the morning light, but what most of us do first is reach for our phones.
However, getting screen time before sunshine actually increases our exposure to concentrated blue light which can interfere with melatonin production, and even though it’s early in the day, can make it harder to fall asleep at night. Beyond blue light, the stimulation and arousal we get from our morning scrolling can also increase stress and anxiety which we carry with us through the day.
Becoming more mindful of our screen time and phone usage in the mornings and evenings, (both on and off the trail) can help us set up healthy boundaries that will support our well-being, balance our circadian rhythms, and promote healthy hormone production which will give us a better chance of getting a good night's sleep.
We tend to burn more calories when we are out adventuring than when we are living our regular everyday lives, which means we need to make up for the extra energy expenditure by consuming more food than we would on a usual day. How much more you need to eat varies from person to person and depends on the terrain, intensity and duration of your hike, the weight of your gear, and your body’s individual needs based on your metabolic rate.
Rough estimates suggest that adding 200 - 300 more calories per hour of hiking could be the sweet spot, but some will need far more, and others, much less. Tuning in to your hunger signals is often a good way to judge if you need an extra snack or two, so it’s always a good idea to pack more food than you think you will need (which is also a good idea in case of an emergency).
Not consuming enough calories throughout the day can not only make you cranky, but can negatively impact your body's ability to regulate the hormones that play a role in sleep, like melatonin and cortisol. Ever find yourself lying in your tent exhausted, but somehow wide awake, worrying about the seemingly silliest things? That’s high cortisol at work. Or do you wake up in the middle of the night and find it hard to fall back asleep? That can be a result of low blood sugar. You might also find yourself unable to fall asleep because you are unusually chilled, especially on brisk nights, because the body doesn’t have enough calories to recover and repair and also focus on keeping you warm.
Complex carbohydrates (like starchy vegetables and tubers), whole grains (like quinoa, oats, or rice), and legumes (like beans and lentils) can help regulate the stress hormone cortisol. Thus it can be beneficial for most people to ensure they have a serving of complex carbohydrates in the evening with their last meal. It can also be helpful to give yourself two to three hours of space, if possible, between your final feeding and bedtime to mitigate sleep disturbances and improve digestion.
A final word on consumption habits before bed: generally speaking, caffeine has a 12 hour half-life, meaning that 12 hours after you've ingested it, there is still half the amount of caffeine swirling around in your bloodstream. For those of us with caffeine sensitivity, this lasts even longer and has deleterious effects on your sleep, as does consuming alcohol (full stop), and especially so close to bedtime. If you can dial these in with more mindfulness, you'll be better off for it.
Making space to wind down at the end of the day can be extremely beneficial for getting a good night's sleep. Adventures are exciting and stimulating and can be a lot to process mentally, not to mention physically. Working a wind down routine into your daily schedule might mean you have to cut your day a bit shorter, but you’ll make up for it by feeling stronger and being able to go further faster the next day when you’re rested and recovered.
Journaling, meditating, stretching, practicing some slow breathing techniques, or simply sitting in silence while watching the campfire flicker are some free easy ways to wind down after a long day that don't add extra weight to your pack.
Creating this space for reflection and rest signals to your brain that you are getting ready for bed and encourages the mind to calm down, the body to relax, and causes the production of melatonin to increase and cortisol to downregulate. If you can schedule your wind down routine to happen at relatively the same time every evening, your body will begin to naturally know when to start mellowing out and letting the melatonin flow.
Feeling safe, comfortable, and calm in your sleep shelter can make falling and staying asleep much easier to achieve. Selecting a tent or bivy and sleeping bag or quilt that are designed for the seasonal conditions will help with temperature regulation in your sleep HQ. Choosing an inflatable sleeping pad with an appropriate width, length, and R value, or a mattress designed for you side sleepers can really improve comfort on the ground.
From there, you can personalize your set up with additional accessories. For me, upgrading to the Pillow Strap made a huge difference in my sleep comfort and quality, a worthy investment for a menial weight penalty. Many side sleepers swear by adding extra padding between their legs, a second pillow under their neck, or getting mattresses with larger side baffles to help keep their spine positioned properly throughout the night. You might have to try a few different pads and positions before you know what works best for you, and ask around to see if your side/stomach sleeping friends have any tips and tricks to offer.
Finding a dark, quiet, and cool place to set up your shelter is ideal, but not always possible when you’re roaming around in the great outdoors. It can be helpful to have a set of ear plugs for loud spaces and an eye mask (or article of clothing like a toque or headband) that you can pull over your eyes when camping in bright places.
Having clothing to sleep in that's well matched for the weather conditions is optimal, with merino wool being a good choice for its temperature regulating properties. If it's going to be chilly, it never hurts to have some Goosefeet Down booties or an Enlightened Equipment Torrid Hood nearby to throw on in the night to keep the heat in where you shed it most.
Being able to easily layer up or down while sleeping is useful, as is having a zipperless sleeping quilt like the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt that you can easily throw open in the night if you start to sweat.
Sinking into deep sleep while out on adventures is what dreams are made of. By implementing healthy routines around sunlight, screen time, nutrition, mindfulness, and bedtime routines, as well as dialing in your sleep system and auxiliary accessories, you can be off to slumberland in no time flat and be ready for another day of adventure and excitement on the trail.
Do you have any sleep tips and tricks to share with others? Drop them in the comments below.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education, and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on Instagram at @thisisalibecker.
]]>As I prepare for my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, I’m wary of the first section: the desert. I’ve never hiked through a desert before, but I have experienced some miserable days of unbearable heat and humidity on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. During alpine zones, the sun was inescapable. Exposure to sunlight can increase the heat index by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why I’m taking careful precautions to prepare myself with the best gear to mitigate my exposure to the sun on the Southern California section of the Pacific Crest Trail.
There are few things more frustrating than runny, greasy sunscreen. When I used to apply sunscreen while backpacking, I would usually just sweat it off within the next hour, and my whole body would feel oily and disgusting. With Aloe Up Sunscreen, you can still have the same 30 or 50 SPF protection — without any of the greasy feelings! In a small one or three ounce container, you can slip it into your fanny pack or a side pocket of your hip belt. Even if you’re wearing a hat while hiking, it’s still best practice to wear sunscreen as well, especially in high exposure areas such as Southern California’s desert. It’s better to take preventative measures to save your skin from the sun rather than spend time after your thru-hike at the doctor’s office.
The Long Haul Cap from Territory Run is my go-to hat for hiking. At 2.1 ounces, this hat stuffs easily into your pack and is made of lightweight, breathable material. When I’m hiking, I barely notice it’s there. It also has a longer brim than some other trail running hats. The longer brim can help to shield more of your face from the sun, and in sections with a lot of bugs, keep a bug net further away from your face. Trail running hats can also help keep your hair out of your face, similar to a neck gaiter, but they have the added bonus of shielding your eyes and face from harmful UV rays at the same time.
Ombraz sunglasses are a simple solution to keeping your eyes safe from continued exposure to sunlight. Wearing sunglasses on a thru-hike can save you from squinting for twelve hours a day, can allow you to pleasantly watch sunrises and sunsets, and might also save you some headaches. I constantly get headaches while hiking in exposed areas due to light sensitivity. Ombraz sunglasses are armless sunglasses that won’t slip down your face when you hike. They’re scratch-resistant, smudge resistant, and made to withstand impact. Ombraz are a pair of sunglasses you can shove anywhere in your pack and be confident that you can still count on them to protect your eyes the next time you pull them out.
My favorite thing about sun hoodies is that they allow you to stay protected from the sun while wearing something light and breathable. It's such an easy way to protect the back of your neck from the sun's line of fire. The best thing about a sun hoodie from Town Shirt is that you can wear a pattern that represents native flora and fauna from your favorite long trail — possibly even while you’re hiking it! Their sun hoodies protect you from the sun for up to 50+ UPF, and the hood is large enough to cover the sides of your face to protect them even more from the sun. Thumb holes can keep your sleeves in place while hiking, and a kangaroo style pocket allows a small place to keep hair ties, your phone, Sawyer filter O-rings or a Clif Bar while you hike.
I was on the fence for a while about whether or not I thought an umbrella was worth the extra weight and then realized it would only be around six or seven extra ounces. If I don’t think it’s worth it, I can always just send it home. An ultralight umbrella can provide shade while you’re walking or while you’re taking a lunch break. Without it, a 90 degree day on an uphill could feel more like a 105 degree day. I would rather take my chances with the 90 degrees! Additionally, when I overheat, I find that I don’t want to eat at all. An umbrella gives me the opportunity to take a break wherever I want and create my own shade patch to eat in. And — you don’t even need to carry it with a Hands Free Kit (two tiny bungee cords) that simply straps the umbrella to your shoulder strap!
Anytime you set out on a hike, make sure you’re mindful of how much of your hike will be spent in exposed terrain. Exposure to the sun is an easy dilemma to mitigate ahead of time, but if not prevented, can lead to heat exhaustion or sun poisoning. In the past, I’ve experienced both and know how quickly it can make a fun backpacking trip into a dangerous ordeal. Finding a balance of the right gear to suit your capabilities and the environmental conditions is the perfect way to enjoy backpacking in sunny conditions — without having to worry about suffering through extreme temperatures (as much).
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail, and they're looking forward to hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this year!
]]>It's no secret that buying a shelter made from Dyneema® Composite Fabric (DCF) can be a costly, albeit worthwhile, outdoor gear investment.
The lightness of weight, packability, durability, strength, and incredible water resistance of DCF makes it a powerful performance fabric, fit for any camping excursion.
In an effort to make the most of your investment, maximize enjoyment, and increase the lifespan of your home away from home, the team at Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) helped us put together a few pointers to keep your DCF tent or tarp happy and healthy for years to come.
Proper tent or tarp placement is a key factor in extending the life of your DCF shelter. When it comes to spot selection, look up and around you to make sure there aren't any loose limbs or dangling branches that might get dislodged in wind or heavy rain.
Secondly, check the ground around where you plan to pitch and remove any sharp rocks, branches, or debris that might cause holes, pricks, or unnecessary abrasion on the bottom of your tent. While it generally isn't necessary to use a groundsheet with your Dyneema® tent, it could increase its lifespan if you're constantly camping in rough, rocky terrain.
Another consideration when it comes to where to stake up, is your shelter's exposure to the sun. "As with all tents, UV degradation affects the life of your shelter," explains HMG, "so we recommend minimizing the amount of direct sunlight your tent sees."
If you are basecamping out of your tent, HMG suggests pitching under tree cover or other coverage that provides shade to help protect your shelter.
As for actually setting up your tent, the team at HMG suggests that you "make sure external tie-outs are taut and evenly tensioned, but do not over-tension mid panel tie-outs." Over time, over-tensioning can lead to excess stress and strain on your shelter, creating weak spots that can lead to holes or tears which compromise the integrity of your shelter.
The pack up process is pretty straightforward, but again, taking the time to dial in your technique will aid in a longer lasting shelter.
The HMG teams recommends the following steps when packing up your DCF shelter:
Resist the urge to try to cram your shelter into the world's smallest ball for bragging rights, and your lightweight shelter will live on longer.
Another great way to keep your shelter living a long and prosperous life is to keep the surface fabric clean and your zippers free of debris. "Dirt and sand are a zipper's enemy," says the HMG team. "We recommend washing the zipper with water and using an old toothbrush to remove unwanted debris to help prolong the zipper's lifespan."
As far as fabric is concerned, the team suggests "taking the time on a dry, sunny day to spot-clean any areas that need it." HMG recommends using a soft damp cloth and a mild soap (non-detergent and non-oil based soaps work well. Do not bleach).
"Air dry your tent by leaving it out to hang-dry," says HMG, "Do not put Dyneema® Composite Fabric in the dryer, and make sure your tent is completely dry before storing.
There comes a time in most of our lives when our beloved gear has to go back on the shelf until the next adventure beckons. Pro tips from HMG for taking care of your DCF shelter before putting it away for a while is to first make sure your tent is completely dry, then store it uncompressed in a dry place with minimal fluctuation in temperature if possible.
As with any piece of gear, it's always beneficial to do a once over of your DCF tarp or tent before heading out in the woods. The HMG team recommends that you "periodically check the tent fabric, zippers, stake-out points, and trekking pole contact area for signs of stress or tears and repair any damage before continued use."
Even the most mindful among us get rips or holes in our ultralight gear, and DCF shelters are no exception. When it comes to repairs, HMG suggests cleaning your shelter beforehand with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol for best adhesion with DCF tape or patches.
"Dirt and grime will inhibit bonding," says HMG Marketing Manager Christina Cozzens. "I like to snag an alcohol wipe out of my FAK and wipe down any area in need of repair before applying a patch. I then lay the area in need of repair as flat as possible to minimize wrinkles and creases. Next, I apply the patch, then roll it out with a bit of pressure from a water bottle."
While any "outdoor" repair tape/patches will work in a pinch, using DCF specific patches on DCF fabric is how the HMG team would perform a long lasting, permanent repair. If you happen to be using DCF equipment, it's not a bad idea to keep some DCF specific patches or tape in your repair kit.
It may seem tedious or overwhelming to take such good care and consideration of your gear, but I'm a firm believer that if you look after the gear you love, the gear you love will look after you.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education, and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on Instagram at @thisisalibecker.
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Butterfly pose is a familiar shape for most people. Whether you did extracurricular sports as a teenager, or even just had PE class in school, you’ve probably seen this shape before. This pose is an excellent hip opener, and it works wonders for your knees and thighs as well.
Starting Position:
Leg Position:
Gomukhasana actually refers to the yoga pose commonly known as “Cow Face,” but I’m calling this one “Cow Legs” because it features just the lower half of Gomukhasana. I like to focus just on the legs of Gomukhasana so as not to exclude anyone with shoulder mobility issues (such as myself). Cow legs provides an incredibly deep stretch in the IT bands and glutes, so approach this one slowly and with caution.
Starting Position:
Here is another half yoga pose, if you will. Garudasana typically refers to a full body standing pose involving wrapping the legs but, since we are in a tent, we’re going to focus on the upper body portion of this posture. The term “Eagle Arms” is often used to describe the arm position, wrapped like an eagle's wings in various seated or standing poses. Eagle Arms provides an excellent stretch through the shoulders, upper back muscles, and lower back muscles, easing the tension built from carrying a heavy pack.
Starting Position:
Thunderbolt Pose is going to provide a nice juicy stretch in the knees and tops of the thighs. We’re also going to add a modification to stretch out the facia of the feet, a much needed addition after walking over sharp rocks all day.
Ahhh, finally the pose we’ve all been waiting for - corpse pose. I mean who isn’t looking forward to crawling into their tent to play dead after a long day of strenuous hiking? Corpse pose is going to offer you the full body release that our muscles so long for, but we rarely allow them to have. Shavasana is a pose of deep relaxation, providing an opportunity for the body and mind to integrate the benefits of your yoga practice. It helps reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and promote a sense of overall well-being…kind of like backpacking!
Starting Position:I sincerely hope these yoga poses offer your body and mind some relief from the abuse it takes out there on the trail. Now you have a simple and nourishing yoga routine that will hopefully make thru-hiking significantly more enjoyable and less painful.
Continue Hiking with 'Grandpa': @bert.kertzer
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On October 5, 2023, seasoned long distance thru-hiker Lil’ Buddha completed the first leg of a three year, 18,000 mile, triple continent odyssey across the geographically separated spine of the Central Pangea Mountains on a route he has aptly dubbed the Pangea Traverse.
The Pangea Traverse, which crosses 18 countries and passes through 21 different regional and distinct Indigenous languages, has its western terminus in Key West, Florida, goes 200 miles above the Arctic Circle, over the Atlantic Ocean to Northern Africa, and has its eastern terminus 4,167m atop Mount Toubkal in the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
The route links together a series of existing long distance thru-hiking trails and established hiking routes with networks of cycling and walking paths, and includes a hefty dose of navigational route finding, something Lil’ Buddha loves to do.
North America as we know it today was once contiguous with South America, Africa, and Europe in a single continent known as Pangea, which formed over 340 million years ago. This supercontinent contained a massive northeast-southwest mountain range called the Central Pangean Mountains, similar in height and mass to the present day Himalayas.
About 200-250 million years ago, the tectonic plates that held Pangea together began breaking apart, eventually shifting and separating into the continental structure that exists today. Remnants of the Central Pangea Mountains ended up in eastern North America, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, the British Isles, Western Europe, and North Africa, and now Lil’ Buddha plans to "link them back together" on one long walk.
Inspired by an enthusiastic third grade teacher who introduced him to the world of Pangea, mixed with his love for long walks and the support of mentors he's met along the way, Lil’ Buddha (L.B.) decided to launch into the Pangea Traverse in December of 2022, after logging many miles on various long distance thru-hikes over the years.
“The plan for 2023 was always to re-hike the Eastern Continental Trail (ECT) for a third time,” said Lil’ Buddha. “I’ve been working on completing a Triple-triple since 1998, when I first hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. I hiked the ECT in 2010, 2019/2020, and then again, this year.”
The ECT, which was conceptualized and routed by one of L.B's friends and mentors, Nimblewill Nomad, shares a common terminus with the Pangea Traverse at the southernmost point of the continental USA at Key West, Florida's famous striped buoy, before connecting the Florida Trail, with the Appalachian Trail, and finally, the International Appalachian Trail which ends at the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula on Canada's Island of Newfoundland.
“Since I first started researching, and ultimately corresponding with Nimblewill Nomad, I discovered the International Appalachian Trail (IAT),” explained L.B. “In that planning, I learned about the proposed IAT route across the Atlantic to Morocco, following the ridge of the ancient Central Pangea Mountain Range.”
“While today the IAT does have more co-branded trails along the Pangea Traverse route, nearly all of them are unlinked, and don’t follow the geological spine of the Pangea Mountains,” said Buddha. “My plan is to use the IAT as an outline and connect the trail(s) as a continuous route or thru-hike."
Below is a mileage breakdown of the walk Lil’ Buddha completed this year and the mileage of the next two legs to come.
Year 2023: United States and Canada, Eastern Continental Trail (6,077 miles)
Year 2024: Greenland, Iceland, UK (5,800 miles)
Year 2025: Western Europe and Morocco (5,932 miles)
Total Pangea Traverse mileage: 17,809 (miles)
Some notable established long trails that make up the Pangea Traverse include: Eastern Continental Trail (Florida Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail, Appalachian Trail, International Appalachian Trail); Arctic Circle Trail; Laugavegur Trail; Fimmvörðuháls Trail; The Ireland Way; West Highland Way; United Kingdom National Trails Network; The European Paths (E-Paths: E1 and E9); and the Camino Frances to Finisterre.
Lil’ Buddha successfully completed the ECT this summer after braving one of the wettest seasons on record for New England and the Maritime regions of Eastern Canada.
“The trail was wet, slippery, boggy, and extremely muddy, and it rained everyday essentially from Massachusetts up through Maine,” reminisced Buddha. "Some of the river fords and crossings were reminiscent of waterways out west, and were especially dangerous. Unfortunately, there were even a couple of deaths due to flooding.”
Prior commitments also kept Buddha off Trail for a total of 1.5 months this season, meaning he had to maintain an aggressive, 33 mile a day average distance from Florida up to the Shenandoah’s to finish on Newfoundland, Canada by October.
But, as always, Lil’ Buddha was rewarded for his efforts. “The last time I hiked on Newfoundland, I was not able to hike the Long-Range Traverse in Gros Morne National Park, an alternate off the official International Appalachian Trail, because of bad weather,” said Buddha. “On this thru-hike we had a three-day weather window, so we chose to hike Gros Morne first, and then hiked north to L'Anse aux Meadows at the northern tip of Newfoundland, before flipping back and hiking south to finish Newfoundland. Gros Morne NP on Newfoundland is not to be missed!”
It's no doubt that the Pangea Traverse is a giant feat to undertake, but Lil’ Buddha keeps a humble outlook on his grand adventure. “I’m really just going for a walk,” he said. “In all my thru-hikes and ultra-thru-hikes (like the ECT), I’ve always just wanted to “go for a walk.”
“I’m not really interested in recognition or accolades” he continued, “and while I understand the significance of Pangea Traverse, both in terms of BIPOC and Asian-American representation and as an outdoor 'first,' it’s not the most important thing to me. I’m much more interested in connecting with the people that I will ultimately meet.”
Lil’ Buddha has already made an imprint and impact on others who are interested in embarking on this heroic feat. “I know of two other hikers, one of which I’ve hiked several hundreds of miles with, that plan to start on Key West, FL in 2024 and start the ECT as part of the PT,” said Buddha. “I hope Pangea Traverse inspires people to take a chance on a goal, adventure or something that ultimately inspires them to be their authentic self.”
Deeply impacted by the words and work of Jack Kerouac throughout his life, Lil’ Buddha decided to raise money along his 2023 walk for the Jack Kerouac Foundation in support of the effort to develop the Jack Kerouac Museum and Performance Center, both located in Lowell, Massachusetts. His efforts garnered over $3,500 so far, and will remain open to donations until 2025 when he will begin to raise funds for the Allen Ginsberg Foundation.
Jack Kerouac has been and continues to be a major source of momentum for Lil Buddha's endeavors and his deep love for being in motion.
“I’ll quote one of my favorite literary inspirations: 'Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.' -- Jack Kerouac. The essence of the quote is about not living a life of regrets, and more importantly, to live in the now,” explained L.B. “My intent is to keep living a life of authenticity, which means staying true to myself and to the trail.”
You can follow Lil’ Buddha and his adventures on the Pangea Traverse on Instagram @lilbuddhahikes.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education, and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on Instagram at @thisisalibecker.
The 1st through 3rd images and the 5th image were taken by Out & About.
While a 2,000+ mile backpacking trip is certainly an adventure — it’s not fun all the time. Most of the time your body is full of sore muscles, the trail can become monotonous, and anyone can get tired of walking with a 25 pound (more or less) pack every day. I became creative with keeping myself entertained on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike and wanted to share my different methods with you all through the five senses.
The most obvious method of entertainment is music, audiobooks, and podcasts. I pre-downloaded all methods of auditory entertainment before I began thru-hiking — countless episodes of Backpacker Radio, spoken word poetry from Mary Oliver, as well as some Ologies episodes about amphibians and plants. Most of these podcasts enhanced my experience of thru-hiking instead of completely taking me out of it. I could compare the gear strategies of other hikers to my own while I listened to Backpacker Radio. I could admire the way sunlight fell through leaves on a misty morning while I listened to poetry about mushrooms. I could learn more about the red efts I knelt beside on the sides of the trail. My partner listened to several audio books on trail, including Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss, both educational books on being thankful to nature, understanding the science behind different ecosystems, and appreciating it.
The same went for my music. I curated different playlists for moods I would be in on trail — a happy/neutral playlist (for day to day), a pump up playlist (for when I needed to crank through the miles), an ethereal playlist (for when I was in a mood to really appreciate the nature around me) and a sad playlist (for when the trail family would break up.) Music motivated me to get through the miles, distracted me from the pain I was in, and comforted me when I felt lost (literally and metaphorically.)
My favorite thing to listen to on trail was a good friend. Company makes the miles go by faster. I loved getting to know people’s life story, what brought them to the trail, and what some of their favorite sections were. Hiking with others on trail allowed me to practice my skills as an active listener and get to know each hiker I walked with personally. It made the people I met on trail seem more like a family — I knew most people ahead of me and behind me, and it was that much more special when we ran into each other again.
It was also fulfilling to take in the sounds of nature. You can hike to birdsongs early in the morning, appreciate the sound of water droplets on the tree leaves, listen to the summer breeze in the branches. These are sounds you won’t get to hear every day when you return to a life outside the woods, so it’s best to open your ears to them while you can.
I love to take in the mountains, rivers, and scenery along the trail, but my favorite sections are in between the trees. If you’re into botany or zoology, you can look up the native flora and fauna to identify while you’re hiking along. It’s incredible to distinguish all the different forms of life around you — from the lichen bunching up on tree trunks to the moss lining the trail — there’s always something small and beautiful to appreciate during a walk in the woods.
Even on rainy days, I’ve found plenty of toads and salamanders underfoot. When it was pouring, to make the miles pass by, I would pretend I was on a herping expedition and my only task for the day was to find as many salamanders as possible. In Maine, it was fun to search for the elusive moose. They can be so quiet that I almost ran into one during my thru-hike.
On any day, you can camp near an awesome overlook to catch a sunrise or sunset. I’d usually start hiking early to catch the sunrise in the woods. It enabled me to cover more miles throughout the day, and the forest was beautiful in the golden light. This allowed me to appreciate my surroundings in a different light — literally.
Photography can be another way to immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It’s fun to think creatively about how to view nature through a camera lens. It allows you to share the beauty that you saw on your hike with whoever sees your photos later, or it allows you to remember the small details of your hike.
Micro-hiking is a smaller scale way to visually appreciate your surroundings. You imagine yourself to be as small as a caterpillar or ant, and imagine what it would be like to scale up the sides of some pebbles or crawl across a forest of lichen. It allows you to appreciate the little things — which is important on a 2,000 mile thru-hike.
I carried a fanny pack for the duration of the Appalachian trail, and it was full of snacks. Sometimes my boredom would result from being hungry. I usually tried to eat whenever I got bored. Most times it helped. You can’t be bored when you’re downing five packs of fruit snacks. You can even make your water more fun by throwing some flavored electrolyte mixes into it.
It’s also helpful to take notes of your cravings when in between towns. This simplifies the resupply process, and allows you to find food that you’ll actually eat on trail in the future. For example, I couldn’t stop thinking about beans for a stretch of twenty miles. So, in the next town, I packed out some bean burritos and was thrilled while I munched on them through the next few days.
There’s other things to feel on a thru-hike besides your wet socks. During my thru-hike, I found immense joy in occasionally petting moss or hugging a tree. There’s something grounding about touching nature. I also picked up many salamanders and toads as I was walking along. On some rainy days, I would convince myself that I was on a salamander and toad hunt instead of a thru-hike. It helped to get through the feeling of everything being perpetually wet.
If there was a water source around, I would usually take a swim — or at least dunk my head in if it was hot outside. A dip in freezing cold water can snap you out of a spell of boredom quickly.
This one can be fun. I entertained myself by trying to tell if there was a day hiker around the corner of the trail by the perfumed smells in the air. About halfway through a long trail, you usually can’t even smell other thru-hikers anymore.
It can be fun to see how your body adjusts to being out in nature for so long. For example, there can be a certain smell to the mud when a water source is coming up. Or a road. I swear, I could smell a hamburger from a mile away. It can also be refreshing to rub your fingers on different parts of plants, such as pine needles or flower petals to enhance your natural experience. Just avoid smelling yourself at the end of the day.
No matter what, a thru-hike will stimulate your senses. Even overstimulate them at times. However, there are very few other points in your life where you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature for as long — so you might as well embrace it with all of your five senses.
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail, and they're looking forward to hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this year!
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Trail running hats seem like they would be beneficial to wear for one purpose — when you’re running down a trail. However, they can be just as beneficial on a thru-hike. Thru-hiking or backpacking isn’t so much different from trail running in terms of weather. You’re still going to be facing the same elements: wind, rain, sun, and even snow (if you’re brave.) Neck gaiters can be helpful to keep hair out of your face or to keep sweat from dripping into your eyes, but they won’t help you very much in a rainstorm.
On the Appalachian Trail, I was faced with rain for three or four days in a row. I wear glasses, and when they get rain on the lenses, it’s impossible to see where I’m going. There have been a few times where I just took my glasses off and stomped blindly forwards — only to slip and fall face first into a mud puddle. It wasn’t a good strategy.
For the AT, I chose to wear a Seattle Rain Cap from Outdoor Research to keep the rain out of my eyes. During a rainstorm, I would wear a rain jacket, put the hood up, and wear the rain cap underneath. This combination allowed me to shield my face entirely from the rain.
While my hat was completely waterproof, I also sweated significantly more while I wore it. My rain jacket and hat combination became the perfect sweat chamber. Even though I was shielded from the rain, I was just as wet with sweat by the time I got to camp. That hat also gave me a headache because the brim squeezed my temples. Anytime it rained, I had the choice between being able to see clearly out of my glasses or having a headache. Usually I picked a headache.
I decided to switch up my hat for the PCT, which I’ll be hiking this upcoming year. This time, I’ll be wearing the Long Haul Cap from Territory Run. For the ultralighters out there, the Seattle Rain Cap is 33.6 ounces compared to the 2.1 ounces of the Long Haul Cap. Even though I’ll be wearing it most of the time, less weight on my head is less weight on my feet!
The Long Haul Cap is pliable and easy to shove anywhere in my pack for easy access as I’m hiking. The adjustable strap in the back tucks into the hat itself so it won’t tickle your neck while you’re walking. This happened to me on the AT frequently and I was always slapping at my neck, worried there was a giant bug crawling out of my shirt.
I shaved my head before I started the AT, and throughout the trek, there were several awkward stages of hair growth. Trail running caps, similar to a neck gaiter, can help to keep hair out of your face. There is nothing that annoys me faster on trail than my hair whipping my face when it gets windy or sticking to me when it’s hot and sweaty. The Long Haul Cap keeps my hair back in any stage of growth.
It also stays securely on my head while I’m walking so I don’t have to worry about catching it in a wayward gust. Although the Long Haul Cap is not waterproof, it’s significantly more breathable. I barely notice I’m wearing it when I’m hiking. The fabric dries quickly and wicks sweat away from my head. The back half of the hat is made from soft mesh fabric that is lightweight on your head. My main complaint with the Seattle Rain Cap was that it trapped sweat. With the Long Haul Cap, I don’t have to worry about sweat running into my eyes anymore.
For the PCT, I am most concerned about exposure to the sun. On the AT, I was hiking through mostly tree cover, so I was in the shade a lot. However, on the PCT, there is significantly less tree cover, so I’ll need to wear a hat more often to protect my face and eyes from UV rays.
Compared to other trail running hats, the Long Haul Cap has a significantly longer brim. This function will allow my face to have full protection from the sun. There were several times on the AT when I chose to squint rather than wear my sweat-inducing hat. This meant my face became incredibly sunburned on numerous occasions. One night, I even came down with sun poisoning. If this happened to me on the AT, which has significantly more shade than the PCT, then I need a hat I will actually want to wear on my next thru-hike.
Trail running hats also come in handy during sections when you have to wear a bug net. Without a cap on, bug nets tend to plaster themselves to my sweaty face — creating the added pleasure of still feeling mosquitoes buzz around my ears, and constantly needing to pull the bug net away from my skin.
With the Long Haul Cap, the extended brim will keep the bug net off of my face and allow some distance between me and the bugs. When you’re surrounded by mosquitos every day, having some reprise from the buzzing in your ears, face and nose is welcome.
I’m excited to wear the Territory Run Long Haul Cap on my PCT thru-hike. The tiny pine tree on the front of it even reminds me of the PCT logo. Caps off to anyone attempting a long trail — may your face be shielded from the sun, rain, bugs and anything else the world throws your way.
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail and they're looking forward to the Pacific Crest Trail next summer!
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Now, I'm no relationship expert, but every year for the past nine years, my partner Mathieu and I have embarked on a multi-month bike tour together — and every year, we finish with a relationship that is stronger than the one we started with.
We spend every day together, eat meals together, live in a tent together, ride bikes together and sometimes even sync our bowel movements up together. Okay, maybe that was too much information, but you get the picture, we spend a lot of time together.
Luckily, we love each other dearly and over the years, we've figured out a few ways to weather the storms, and in some ways, how to avoid creating any in the first place.
I thought I'd share some tips with my fellow adventure couples and those dynamic duos who are curious to take the leap into longer expeditions together.
This one takes the top spot, because I truly feel communication is the most important tool for success in everything we do.
Being able to honestly and effectively communicate our wants, needs, feelings, fears, foibles and boundaries to ourselves and our loved ones makes things clear.
When things are clear, there is much less room for assumptions, misconceptions and guessing games, and much more room for feeling seen, heard, understood and respected.
But communication isn't meant to be one-sided, so beyond sharing how you feel, it's also about listening deeply to how your partner feels, too.
And I don't mean listening as in hearing them but then trying to persuade change. I mean, true listening, which has the aim of acceptance and understanding.
These seemingly simple but often overlooked steps make adventure together that much more enjoyable and straightforward because you're both aware of your own and each other's needs.
Once you have that information, take it to heart and work together to figure out the best way for both of you to support yourselves as well as one another.
These important conversations are what I like to call 'Big Talk' and they almost always lead to more love, growth and consensual compromise on both sides.
Honest communication eliminates so many unnecessary dramas, arguments, frustrations and resentments, and allows you instead to put that time and energy into navigating the unfolding challenges of life and adventure that you will no doubt face.
Having some solo time during a long distance adventure can be a really helpful way to check in with yourself, reset and recharge, and stay healthy and happy.
That said, making space when you're out on an adventure with your significant other involves some creativity and of course, solid communication.
One place we make space is first thing in the morning, when we both set aside time for a silent, seated meditation.
Even if it's just five or ten minutes, I find it's a great way to start the day, clear my mind, check in with my body, and explore any thoughts, feelings or desires I have for the adventure ahead.
Then, I can communicate those so we can work together to actualize them, and he can do the same.
Another way I like to make space is to literally walk or ride my bike at a distance from Mat.
Sometimes this happens naturally, but since we often have a similar pace, I'll sometimes say, "Hey, I'm needing a little alone time right now. I'm going to walk ahead for a little while and if you need me, just let me know."
Solid communication, good boundaries, no hard feelings, everyone wins.
Other ways we make space are going for separate walks at the end of some days (maybe around the campground or a few blocks in town) — or making an agreement to eat a meal together, but do so in silence.
Some people think this is morbid, but the truth is that we are all going to die someday, and when we meditate on our and our loved ones' mortality, it can actually help us be kinder, more loving, forgiving and present in the here and now.
I recently met a man on a cycling trip who told me his high school sweetheart and wife of 40 years recently passed away from ovarian cancer. He told me that he often reflects on their time together and said if he could change one thing it's that he would not have entertained the arguments they sometimes had.
"When I look back now, I realize it was always a waste of time. It was just one of us trying to be right about something that didn't matter," he said, "I wish I would have used that time to love her more, hug her or just sit with her and smile."
I guarantee that when you look at the person you love and imagine that in 100 years you'll likely both be gone, those little things that are getting your goat will seem trivial and you'll just want to love them, hug them and enjoy your grand adventure together.
Do you have the tendency to let yourself complain, be negative or act frustrated when you're in a challenging environment with your partner, more so than when you're with strangers, family, or friends?
Perhaps we've gotten comfortable with our loved one, at times even taking them for granted and thinking that because they love us, we can act poorly around them and get away with it.
If we expand this out over time, we might develop patterns of behavior that aren't serving us or the ones we say we love.
If we want healthy relationships with ourselves and others, then it's up to us to take responsibility for our actions and work to improve our expedition behavior.
Sometimes when I find myself sulking on a hard climb or acting like a victim in some challenging situation, and taking it out on my lover, I remind myself: You are who you practice to be.
If I don't want to be a victim, or be treated like a victim, then I ought to stop living like one.
And if that doesn't work, I'll ask myself:
"How would I behave right now if Mat and I had just met?" or better yet, "If I was the hero in a book I was reading, how would I want me to act right now?"
Oftentimes, we just need to stop and breathe deeply — maybe even sit for a second and as my grandma used to say 'have a little talk with ourselves'.
Communication with ourselves can help us realign with our higher self and move us toward becoming the person we wish to be.
Last but never least, gratitude is always the best attitude.
Count yourself lucky that you have a fun-loving, adventurous, courageous, kick ass partner who enjoys spending their time going on the same outdoor expeditions that you do.
Let your partner know how much you appreciate sharing these amazing outings with them and tell them how much they mean to you. (There's that communication thing, again).
Then live in accordance with that gratitude by showing up and sharing yourself honestly and openly, and allowing them the space to do the same. Help support and fulfill each other's needs by acting with the knowledge that life is temporary. Work toward being the best you for yourself and everyone else you hold dear.
What other tips do you have for a happy, healthy and successful adventure-filled relationship? Leave a comment below.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker.
Fastest Known Times aka FKTs are hot press in the thru-hiking community, gaining more and more momentum every season. Achieving accomplishments like Calendar Triple Crowns, which is thru-hiking the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails in a single calendar year are incredible feats of mental and physical strength, one that I personally admire.
For your pure curiosity, that means 7,000 miles in twelve months. To accomplish this, speed, high mileage and little to no zeros (days not spent hiking) are undoubtedly critical, not to mention the willingness to hike through all seasons and weather conditions.
However, my style of thru-hiking is on the other end of the spectrum, what I like to call the SKT, or Slowest Known Time. It took me eight months to complete the Appalachian Trail and two years to hike the Continental Divide Trail. Nearly 5,000 miles of trails have led me to become a huge advocate for the SKT. Here’s why.
What got me into this type of hiking one may ask? On February 22, 2021, I woke up to the rising sun at Gooch Mountain Shelter, mile 15 on the Appalachian Trail. Surrounding me the night before were dozens of tents and nervous chuckles of first-time thru-hikers eager to start their adventures.
But now, at 9:30 am, none remained. Was I late for something? As I packed up and set off down the trail, I pondered about the other hikers and why they had taken off so early.
Weeks passed before I understood that thru-hiking had become this game of how many miles one could do in a day. In fact, many of the conversations I had were centered around miles, to the point where I came up with my own set of responses. I’d say, “It doesn’t matter. It’s wherever my body and feet take me today. When they tell me to stop, I stop.” Some would be impressed by my commitment to my body while others belonged to the “You’ll never make it in time” crew.
Now, I’ll admit early in my thru-hike, I frequently compared myself to other hikers. Why can’t I climb fast enough? When will I be able to do twenty mile days? Will I ever get a tramily because I can’t keep up? These thoughts swirled in my head like a tornado until finally my body decided that it was enough.
By the time I got to Franklin, North Carolina, my right ankle was swollen and painful, forcing me to take six days off trail. Inside my hotel room, I felt my mindset shift as I worried about the possibility of my ankle ending my hike. Was the risk of pushing my body worth keeping up with others? And more importantly, was it worth my happiness?
With rest, time and a fresh pair of boots, my ankle improved and my outlook changed. Thru-hiking was about independence, setting up camp in beautiful places, chasing the sun and doing it at my pace. The only one that could hike the trail was me. I embraced these newfound revelations and took my time.
One of the benefits of slowing down is being able to fully immerse in nature. To simply exist is enough for me. There’s nothing to prove and no one to answer to. The moon rises, the sun sets, while the earth takes a deep exhale that makes the golden fields of hay dance in rhythm.
This, I have all seen, as I have existed with nature as it exists around me. The simplicity of the trails allowed me to be more present and in-tune with nature and myself. Hiking mostly solo, I lived by my own rules, such as: never pass up a good campsite or a good overlook. Instead of being amped up on miles, I became amped up on incredible scenery.
Seeing the forest emerge from a blanket of powdery snow then becoming lush meadows dancing in a sea of wildflowers was a humbling experience. To hike through four seasons on both trails, opened my eyes to the true personalities of nature.
I allowed myself to be distracted by a cluster of butterflies drinking from a spring, or the sweet bursts of berries in my mouth. Beauty is not something that can be rushed, it is meant to immerse in. It freed me from society’s narrative that says we must be doing something productive to be worthy.
Taking zeros (a day off) on trail is a great way to meet other hikers, especially in a hostel. Slowing down has an added perk of socializing and engaging in trail culture. Thru-hikers are generally nice, outgoing and welcoming folks, given that we share a similar goal. Everyone has a story to tell and slowing down allows you to hear their stories, cook dinner together and maybe spend a day together in town.
On the CDT, I went weeks without seeing other thru-hikers, which intensified my need to socialize. Once in town, I’d book a bunk, always a double zero, arrive at the hostel and be greeted by a plethora of hikers who eagerly wanted to hand me a beer and pizza.
There was also tons of trail magic on the Appalachian Trail. Breakfast or burgers were cooked by kind people in the hiking community called Trail Angels. Often, there would be chairs set up in a circle for hikers to rest, socialize and enjoy a break. It was an open invitation to slow down, and so I did.
There’s a saying, The last one to Katahdin wins. Why rush back into the confines of civilization? Yet, when I thru-hiked the AT I experienced what I call, The Panic.
Panic can creep up on a hiker like a vine, convincing them that they will not make it through their thru-hike before weather closes Katahdin. The result is pushing through big miles and fretting about those miles constantly.
I’m fully aware that it’s important to ‘make miles’ when snow or park closures are imminent, but there are other options too. As someone who hikes slowly, I have faced this fear on both trails, requiring me to be flexible.
October on the Appalachian Trail brought imminent threats of snowstorms, which would force Baxter State Park to close at any moment. With hopes of summiting on my birthday, I tried to push my way through the rocks and roots, without progress.
I ended up flipping up to Katahdin on October 7th 2021, meaning I caught a ride to the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. From there, I then hiked south, back to the border of New Hampshire.
As I descended Katahdin, it felt like a huge boulder was being ripped off my back, allowing me to hike without worry. My thru-hike is about completing it, not about the terminus, I told myself.
Being slow doesn’t equate to not completing a thru-hike. Instead, it encourages personal growth in being able to adapt. Things can and will go wrong. Making adjustments, such as flip-flopping, section-hiking or taking two seasons does not equate to failure or not being a real thru-hiker as others may judge. Giving yourself ample time sets you up for success.
Injury is one of the biggest reasons thru-hikes fail — 20% of thru-hikers who had to call it quits on the PCT in 2023 reported that it was because of injury.
Starting a thru-hike like a galloping horse before the body has had time to adjust, can spell disaster. Slow and steady, gives the body time to build up “trail legs” and physically adjust to the changes of its new adventure. I’ve learned that if my calves are burning and I’m panting like a dog while I am climbing that I am pushing too hard.
In 2022, I completed nearly half of the Continental Divide Trail before being injured ended my hike. After six months of physical therapy and nine months not hiking, I found myself on a paved road in Grants, New Mexico, where in 2023 I began the second section of my CDT thru-hike.
With a stronger yet still painful right ankle, I vowed to be kind to my body by stretching, taking breaks and most importantly, not doing twenties. Did I listen? Partially.
New Mexico, a vast wilderness of scorching heat, long water carries, enchanting canyons and what seemed like eternal daylight, was also predominantly flat. Flat meant that miles came easier, so I ramped them up, starting with sixteen mile days. Two months later, my ankle swelled up and my achilles was a deep purple bruise. Fearing the end of my hike, I sobbed and rested.
Time was in my favor, thanks to section hiking the CDT over two years, so I hiked on like a tortoise. As part of my routine, I took breaks every hour, allowing my feet to breathe and my ankle to rest. By being kind to my body, I was able to cover hundreds of more miles and finish my CDT thru-hike.
Void of recognition or any registers, SKTs don’t get the credit they deserve and that’s okay. Happiness does not depend on being added to a list. Memories of my thru-hikes are logged in my GoPro, my journal and most importantly, my heart. Looking back on them, I have no regrets.
I got to sit down at every view, camp in every beautiful spot, and do exactly what I wanted at my own slow pace.
Going slow can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, such as preventing injury, fostering self growth and being present with nature. Miles will come and go, but when it all ends, what will you remember? Will it be the miles or will it be the serrated peaks piercing the sapphire blue sky?
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As I stand on the precipice of the vast Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the air is a mosaic of scents — pine, cedar, and the earthy aroma of damp soil after a rainfall. The distant murmur of the Sacramento River accompanies the rustle of leaves. The crunch of underbrush beneath my boots serves as a constant reminder of the untamed beauty that sprawls before me.
It's amid this vivid collection of sights, sounds, and smells that reality sets in: in such splendor, it's all too easy for someone to lose their way.
Shasta County is located in far Northern California. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides. We are within 60 miles in any direction of some of the most stunning wilderness, including the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest, the Marble Mountain Wilderness, Modoc National Forest, and Lassen National Forest. There are also innumerable lakes and creeks, and of course, the lovely Sacramento River.
The Pacific Crest Trail meanders right through our county when it leaves Burney Falls and heads north toward the Oregon border. So it’s safe to say on any given day there are tons of people recreating nearby.
Many people are often intrigued by the concept of missing persons. Upon learning about someone who has disappeared, common thoughts may arise: pondering their fate, questioning if they're still alive, and contemplating whether they'll be discovered or remain among the countless others who vanish without leaving any clues behind.
Naturally, when I get wind of a missing person, whether it’s someone local, or someone at some faraway national park, my immediate gut reaction is to offer assistance in some way. I have always wished there was something I could do for the friends and family — some way I could help or ease their pain. The only real way to help is to give them answers. This train of thought led me to wonder about my own county’s Search and Rescue volunteers.
If you’ve ever read the posts or articles about missing hikers, you know that Search and Rescue teams often get called out to help locate the person. They come out in organized droves, working hand-in-hand with local law enforcement to aid in the search. These are hardworking, busy, everyday people who take time out of their life to put hours of work and tons of energy into offering assistance.
There’s a Mister Rogers quote that is frequently cited in times of crisis or tragedy as a reminder of the inherent goodness in many people and the positive actions they take during difficult times. It goes: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
I think that humanity struggles to find meaningful connections on a day-to-day basis. We often feel lonely and disconnected from each other. A lot of people fear our sense of community is dwindling as our political landscape furthers the divide between neighbors.
But if you look hard enough, you’ll see that there are always people willing to lend a hand in someone’s time of need.
A few months ago, one of our local community members went missing. His name was Marv Ellis. Marv was a beloved character in our downtown scene, known to “shine” wherever he went. He always offered a smile and a kind, encouraging word. He saved up his own money to help feed our local homeless population. One evening, Marv went on a walk down a local paved river trail, and never came home. Since there wasn’t a lot to go on, law enforcement never called Search and Rescue to aid in the search. However, the community pulled together, and we had hundreds of people sharing information and showing up to search near his last known location. For two weeks people were connecting on Facebook in the hopes of finding Marv.
The end of Marv's story is as heartbreaking as his life was bright; his body was eventually discovered not too far from where we had been searching. The closure this brought to his family was small solace against the backdrop of a community in mourning.
The collective effort to find Marv reminded me of our interconnectedness, a real-life echo of the helpers that Mister Rogers spoke of. While Search and Rescue was not deployed in this instance, the outpouring of concern and proactive engagement was a testament to the values that drive SAR volunteers. It is in these moments of unity and shared purpose that we see the profound impact of coming together for a common cause.
The community effort to find Marv was the spark that sent me to the Sheriff's Department to join in on the SAR Ground Team’s monthly meetings.
While I think it's the less tangible lessons that will resonate most deeply, joining the ranks of Shasta County Search and Rescue will be a literal education too. The training is thorough, ensuring that each volunteer is not only physically capable of traversing rugged terrains, but also mentally equipped to handle the emotional weight of searches that may not always have a happy ending.
Over the next year, I will attend trainings on: Grid Searching vs Hasty Searching, Winter SAR Practices, Night Searches, Tracking, Ropes and Low Angle Rescues, GPS/ Topo Maps/ Compass, Radio Communications, Interview Skills, Probability of Detection, Forensic Bone ID, Helicopter Rescue, Hike and Crime Scene Protection, Survival Skills, and General Hike Fitness.
There's also an immeasurable gain in the camaraderie among volunteers. Each operation is a collective endeavor among diverse individuals who are harmonizing their unique strengths toward a shared mission. This is born from mutual respect and a common dedication to service — a bond that is fortified in the field and carries over into our daily lives.
It's this sense of belonging, of being part of something larger than oneself, that is the true reward of joining SAR. In our united efforts, in searching for the lost, we may end up finding ourselves, forging indelible connections that redefine our sense of community.
If you are looking to join your own local volunteer Search and Rescue team, check with your local Sheriff’s Office. There are many different types of teams to join, including:
Teams generally meet at least once per month. My team specifically requires a new member to attend three consecutive meetings before we’re allowed to turn in an application. The application process requires a Sheriff’s Office Live Scan and Background Check. Once an application is approved, the member can be sworn in and start attending trainings.
The call to join SAR is a call to be a shining light in the darkest of times, to provide some peace of mind amid uncertainty, and to bring closure where it's sought. It is a pledge to maintain the web of community that is often unseen but always present.
Ace Curtis is a plus-sized outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys hiking in Northern California and taking photos of many tree-covered hillsides. She was born and raised in Mt Shasta, CA at the base of a 14,163’ mountain. She is currently working with her husband on creating an off-grid lifestyle on 2.5 acres just a few miles from where she started life, 36 years ago.
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If you've never owned a Fozzils foldable bowl, you are missing out. These ultralight camp kitchen essentials make eating on the trail easy.
They pack flat, barely take up any space, are super easy to clean, turn into a bowl with four snaps — and in 10 years of using the same set, they have never let me down.
Besides being an awesome, durable, lightweight, slim packing, and foldable bowl for eating scrumptious backpacking meals, the Fozzils flatware sets have many other great uses too.
When laid out flat, these square pieces of BPA-free plastic makes for a superb cutting surface.
The Fozzils are the perfect cutting board for slicing up cured meats, hard cheeses, apples, pickles, and any other snack food you can think of.
In all my years of reckless chopping, I've never once cut all the way through the material, and even the sharpest of blades have only left a handful of little knife marks.
Not just an amazing invention for human food consumption, Fozzils foldable bowls can function as a food or water dish for your four legged adventure friends.
Being so lightweight, flat packing and malleable in shape, they are easy to throw in any backpack or bend into a hip bag for your furry friend to use on trail.
The bowl's non-porous surface makes them a dream to clean, and they won't absorb any of Rufus' weird dog food smells.
Say goodbye to single-use containers from your favorite food truck when you bring your Fozzils foldable bowl along.
Not only a cool move for the environment, bringing a reusable to-go food container makes for a far more enjoyable eating experience.
Sure, you can't put a lid on your leftovers (like you'll have any!) but you can pop open the snaps on your bowl at the end of your meal and quite literally lick your plate clean.
Thanks to the little lines along the outside of the bowl listing ounces, you can easily use your Fozzils foldable bowl as a measuring cup both on the trail and at home!
This comes in super handy for knowing how much water to add to dehydrated meals and instant coffee mixes — or for splitting up equal food portions between you and a friend.
Since your Fozzils bowl can handle hot water, you can use it to measure liquids either before or after you've boiled them!
If you’re a hiker or backpacker that dons a frameless pack sans stays, it can be tremendously helpful to pack your gear in a way that adds structure to your pack. The Fozzils bowl, when flattened, can be a key tool in the endeavor.
Also, because Fozzils slide right into the back of a pack, there’s no need to search through everything stuffed into a bag at meal time — when hiker hunger is in charge.
Last, but in my experience, certainly not least — when laid out flat — your Fozzils plate will act as a seemingly life-saving device for fanning away pesky, blood sucking insects from your exposed butt cheeks while you go poop in the woods.
This may seem like a zany use of your kitchenware, but believe me, it makes all the difference when you're stuck near a swamp and the tummy rumbles.
Since it's a bit of a balancing act to squat and fan at the same time, you might have to call in a big favor from a really amazing adventure partner to make it all happen.
Just remind them that if they fan your back, someday you'll fan theirs.
Do you have any unique uses for your lightweight, portable, easy to use, and super reliable Fozzils foldable bowl? Leave a comment below!
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker.
]]>On November 15 in 2022, Apple rolled out its ambitious Emergency SOS service via satellite. All iPhone 14 models, as well as the current iPhone 15, get the feature for free for the first two years after the rollout. With an ultralight mindset in mind, in theory, this is a wonderful development!
“I can use my phone as a Personal Locator Beacon in an emergency; have one device that can ‘do-it-all’; and I shave 4 ounces off my pack weight!”
More on that later, but first, let's discuss the ins and outs of Apple’s Emergency SOS service; the present and future of cell phone safety features; popular Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs); and if it's worth making the switch away from traditional PLBs.
You can set up your Medical ID from the comfort of your home. Go to Settings > Health > Medical ID. Make sure you have “Show When Locked” enabled, if it isn’t already.
The Emergency SOS service is relatively easy to use. Before even leaving your home, Apple suggests setting up your Medical ID Card and Emergency Contacts. You can also demo the Emergency SOS feature from home, so that you are familiar with how it works. When the emergency occurs, these are the steps Apple instructs its iPhone users to follow to initiate the Emergency SOS.
Try calling emergency services first. Once the phone recognizes you can’t access a cell tower, it will give you the green “Emergency Text" option on the bottom right.
A few news stories have surfaced in the last year that show the future of SOS safety functions on cell phones is promising. In May, a group of 10 teenagers from Ventura, California got lost while on a day hike. When the sun set, they knew they needed to reach out for help. But, hiking along a canyon, there was no cell service. One of the teens had an iPhone 14, and was able to use the Emergency SOS service to make contact with a local Search and Rescue crew. The teens were able to share their location, group size, and condition. Within an hour and a half, the searchers were able to locate the hikers, and lead them to safety.
In July, in the Los Angeles National Forest, a hiker lost their footing and fell down a steep incline, breaking one of their legs in the process. Without cell service and out of sight of passersby, the hiker used the SOS Emergency service on their iPhone 14 to call for help. A rescue helicopter was able to find and recover the hiker from their fall.
Move your phone into a position that has a clear line of sight to the sky. Your phone may prompt you to move your phone into a particular direction in order to connect to a satellite.
All new technology comes with growing pains, and the Apple Emergency SOS service is no exception. Here are just some of feature’s limitations:
Connecting to a satellite can take as little as just a few seconds, in prime conditions.
Apple uses the Globalstar satellite constellation to run its SOS Emergency service. In order to connect to a Globalstar satellite, you must have a clear line of sight to the sky. The SOS Emergency feature could be hindered by obstructions like trees and dense clouds. Apple even goes as far as saying that you must also be able to view the horizon. Once you do get within range of a satellite, the phone might ask you to move to a more adequate position to optimize the satellite connection. However, this may be an issue if you are not able to move due to an injury or for fear of your safety.
Searching for the satellite signal for an extended period of time may also quickly drain the battery on your phone. It’s not uncommon for a backpacker to use their phone for multiple purposes. One device can be a camera, a map, a mp3 player, and a Personal Locator Beacon. Although having one device that covers several functions can lighten pack weight, battery life may be an issue if you don’t bring a power bank to supplement the increased usage of your phone. Not to mention that if you lose or break your phone, you lose access to some of the most critical functions you need out in the wilderness.
Your phone will send your Medical ID, your answers to the incident questionnaire, the battery life left on your phone, and your GPS location to emergency services. Those emergency services may send additional questions about your location and status.
There are some key differences between the iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature and traditional Personal Locator Beacons, which should be considered.
For one, the Iridium constellation of satellites, which Garmin and Zoleo use, is made up of 76 active satellites with 6 spares available in orbit. In contrast, the Globalstar constellation is made of 48 active satellites and 4 spares. The end result is that Iridium offers coverage throughout the world, including the oceans and poles. Globalstar coverage extends to North America, South America, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The PLBs most backpackers are familiar with allow you to send non-emergency messages to anyone who has a phone number or email. Meaning you can coordinate transportation and resupplies if needed, as well as keep in touch with loved ones. You can even receive local weather forecasts and provide tracking information (places visited, pace, distance, etc) for your records and loved ones.
In contrast, the Emergency SOS function from Apple works just like the name implies, a call for help in urgent situations, and nothing else.
The Garmin In-Reach 2 has several useful features. Garmin PLBs can send custom messages using the physical buttons on the side. The process can be cumbersome, but is useful if your phone is disabled in any way and you can’t use the messenger app.
Of note, the PLBs listed in the table below are incredibly durable and have a battery life that will last you at least a week without a charge. If you’re interested in the differences between the most popular PLBs, the following table is provided.
Name |
Weight |
Reported Max Battery Life** |
Subscription* |
Unique Features |
3.5oz |
14 Days w/10 min. tracking on |
$11.95 per month with annual subscription. One time $19.95 activation fee. |
- USB-C. - Send location w/messages. - Smartphone & smartwatch integration. - Can upload GPS tracks and waypoints. - Physical buttons. - TracBack leaves a breadcrumb trail back to the starting point. |
|
4.0oz |
28 Days w/10 min. tracking on |
$11.95 per month with annual subscription.One time $19.95 activation fee. |
- USB-C. - Group messaging. - Reverse charging available. - Send location w/messages. - Weather access. - Physical buttons. - Longest battery life. - TracBack leaves a breadcrumb trail back to the starting point. |
|
5.3oz |
8.33 Days w/12 min. tracking on |
$20 activation fee. $20 per month. |
- Dedicated SMS number and email. - Separate LEDs for messages, SOS, check-in, and power. - Lowest initial cost. - Weather access. - Medical Assist connects you with a healthcare professional regarding non-life threatening situations. |
*Subscriptions listed are the lowest cost options, according to the manufacturer’s website.
** For battery life, the manufacturer’s stated specs on their website were used. A variety of factors affect battery life. Sending preset messages that also send your location can drastically increase the battery life of all devices, up to several weeks.
The Messenger doesn’t offer many physical attributes, making it less complicated than the In-Reach. The Messenger also has a longer battery life. Custom messages are taken care of via the Messenger App.
In September 2023, Apple launched the iPhone 15, which continues to feature the Emergency SOS service the 14th edition debuted.
However, the plans Android made to create a similar feature have fallen through. Qualcomm, which Android had partnered with for the venture, had planned to use the Iridium network of satellites to create a SOS feature that worked more like text messaging. The backpacking community has been asking for such a feature for years. But, unfortunately, Qualcomm could not get the individual smartphone companies to adopt the feature. At the time of writing, there are no plans for an equivalent Android SOS service.
When Apple debuted their Emergency SOS service, they indicated that it would come standard with the iPhone 14. At the time, they also stated that the feature would be free for two years after activation of an iPhone 14 or newer, insinuating that the service could come at a cost in future. Apple did not disclose what the cost of the SOS function would be at the end of the trial. However, they have extended the trial time for an additional year, through November of 2025.
Cell phones keep improving year after year. My family got their first cell phone a quarter century ago, and its best feature was that you could play “Snake” on it. The fact that you could potentially use a cell phone in a wilderness emergency is quite incredible, really. To a limited extent, it’s already saved at least eleven lives, showing the potential of Apple’s Emergency SOS service.
However, for this backpacker, there is still room for growth with this technology. And as much as I like to count grams, I am not willing to place several safety features on a single device that could run out of battery or break easily, such as my phone. There is still a place for my inReach on my lighterpack.
Personal Locator Beacons are designed to be durable and withstand the elements. Cell phones, not as much. Thanks for reading and engaging in this compelling conversation. Have a thought on this? Leave a comment below!
Rafael is a freelance writer and adventurer based in the Mountain West. You can find him trail running, backpacking, or sampling the best tacos during his free time. Follow all his adventures over on Instagram, or read more of his work over on his website.
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Ultralight down-filled garments and gear boast a plethora of amazing technical features that make them a perfect choice for backpacking, hiking and other outdoor adventures. Down offers incredible insulation at a great warmth-to-weight ratio. It’s also packable and breathable. That’s why down is used in everything from quilts and sleeping bags to lightweight jackets, booties and hoods.
One of the drawbacks, however, is that these feather-filled finds tend to come with a hefty price tag, albeit one that many of us feel is worth it. Extending the lifespan of our beloved down items and keeping them performing at their best requires routine care and cleaning.
Note: Both duck and goose down feathers are biodegradable and renewable. While not exactly vegan, the down used in ultralight outdoor gear is a co-product, meaning it’s sourced from birds that are raised for meat. Additionally, there are now certifications for ethically sourced down, which requires traceability and no live-plucking or force-feeding.
How often your down gear needs to be washed depends on how often you use it and how dirty or oily it gets when you do.
If you're just looking to remove last night's spaghetti sauce spill, you can simply spot clean by dampening a cloth with mild detergent and gently blotting the stained area and then letting it dry.
But when the loft starts to decrease, the breathability of your gear is suffering, and things are getting smelly, stained or soiled, you can bet it's time to give it some larger laundering love.
The world of washing down gear tends to get divided into two camps — die hard hand washers and technology touting machine users.
In my experience, either option is better than not washing your down at all, and they both have their pros and cons. Let's explore both washing options.
Note: It's important to check with the manufacturer of your garments and gear to get their advice on laundering. Some companies will void the warranty of an item if laundered 'improperly'.
Handwashing ultralight down gear is often the preferred method of cleaning due to how gentle this approach is and how delicate down can be once it's saturated in water.
- a bathtub or large water basin (smaller items can be washed in a sink)
- down specific detergent (popular options include Nikwax Down Wash Direct, Granger's Down Wash or my personal fav Gear-Aid Revivex Down Wash)
- a dryer that can be set to no heat
- three clean tennis balls to break up the down clumps in the dryer
- gentle on delicate down items
- you can target soiled or stained areas
- time consuming
- can be hard to remove excess moisture after washing leading to longer drying times
- need bathtub or large basin
- uses lots of water
Machine washing your ultralight down items can be an effective and efficient way to give your gear a fresh start — as long as you have access to the right type of washing machine for the job.
Front loading machines or new age top end loaders that DO NOT HAVE A CENTRAL AGITATOR are required. Agitators can — and most likely will — ruin your precious down gear and most UL cottage companies will not warranty the damages.
- a front loading OR newer top loading washing machine that does NOT have a central agitator
- down specific detergent (popular options include Nikwax Down Wash Direct, Granger's Down Wash or my personal fav Gear-Aid Revivex Down Wash)
- a dryer that can be set to no heat
- three clean tennis balls to break up the down clumps in the dryer
- saves tons of time
- often gets more soap out versus hand washing
- spin cycle gets out more moisture making drying time shorter
- less water consumption
- can void the warranty of your gear depending on the manufacturer
- not as gentle as hand washing, can be hard on delicate down items
- need the proper washing machine
Whichever way you slice it, washing your ultralight down backpacking gear is an important part of keeping your items performing their best and lasting their longest.
Choosing to hand wash or machine launder will largely depend on how many down items you have to wash, how dirty they are, the size of the item(s), how much time you have, manufacturer’s recommendations, and whether or not you have access to the proper washing machine.
Whatever you choose, take solace in knowing that when you look after your gear, your gear will look after you.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker.
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Hiking, backpacking, and especially thru-hiking are stressful activities for our bodies. To hike 8 to 12 hours a day over uneven terrain with thousands of feet of elevation gain while carrying a heavy pack is a lot to ask of our bodies. For thru-hikers who repeat this day after day for months on end, it can wreak havoc.
There’s a wide variety of yoga poses that can be done right in your 1-person backpacking tent. I like having a yoga routine that I can do in my tent for privacy, to escape the elements, or if I just get into camp late and want the comfort and security of my shelter. You can do these yoga poses right on the floor of your tent, or better yet on your foam pad if you carry one.
Here are 5 poses that you can add into your nightly or morning routine to help relieve the stress put on your body from thru-hiking … so you can go the distance!
Begin on all fours with your knees spread as wide as your mat and your two big toes touching. Hands shoulder width apart. Slowly sink your bum back and down until it touches (or comes close to touching) your heels. Reach your hands out in front and let your forehead come to the earth. Firmly grip the ground with your fingertips and don’t forget to breathe. Extend with your inhale, reaching out a little further with your hands, and sink a little deeper with each exhale.
This pose is a hip opener and a shoulder opener. It can also help stretch out the muscles along the entire length of the back. This pose gives our shoulders the love they need after carrying a heavy pack all day long.
Position yourself on all fours with your hands directly beneath your shoulders and your knees directly beneath your hips. Toes can be tucked or untucked. Actively push away from your mat with your hands and create a straight line from the crown of your head to your tailbone.
On an inhale, drop your belly down and shine your heart forward. Continue pushing away with your hands and send your gaze forward but be careful not to crunch your neck. You should feel a nice stretch in your abdomen and chest. This is cow pose.
From here transition to cat pose on an exhale. Start by tucking your tailbone underneath you. Continue up the back, one vertebrae at a time, arching your spine up toward the sky. When you finally reach your neck, let the weight of your head relax. Continue to actively push away from your mat with your hands. Your shoulder blade area should be in a dome shape and you should feel a nice stretch in the upper back.
From here, you can transition back to cow pose on an inhale. Always start the transition in your tailbone and work your way up.
Cat cow is going to offer you some much needed spinal flexion to keep your back healthy after the pounding it takes from long descents.
Begin this pose by laying flat on your back with the soles of your feet touching the ground. Try to draw your navel downward and get your lower back as flat against the ground as possible. Bring your right foot up and place the outside of your right ankle on your left thigh. Keep your right toes flexed the whole time. Then, reach through and grab your left hamstring with both hands. Pull your left thigh toward you until your left shin is parallel to the earth. Your right elbow can rest against the inside of your right thigh.
You should begin to feel a stretch in the outside of your right thigh. The more you pull your leg with your hands, the deeper of a stretch you’ll feel. Stay here for a few full breaths, and then release everything on an exhale with control. Repeat on the opposite side.
As someone who suffers from IT band pain, this is one of my must-do stretches every single morning and night (and often multiple times throughout the day). Reclined pigeon will help keep your knees healthy and your IT band feeling nice and loose.
Sit on the ground with your back straight and your feet out in front. Create as much bend in your knees as you need because we’re aiming for a stretch in the lower back. Inhale and reach up toward the sky with your hands while creating length through your spine, all the way up to the crown of your head. On an exhale, lead with your chest as you keep your back straight and bend at the waist. Your hands can grab the soles of your feet, the calves, or even the backs of your thighs. Relax the weight of your head down and stay here for a few breathes. You should feel a deep stretch in your lower back. If you want to feel it more in your hamstrings, straighten out your legs a bit.
We really can’t take care of our backs enough, and this one targets the lower back just above the hips. It also can provide a nice bonus stretch in the hamstrings!
This is a big one, probably the most active stretch we’ll talk about here. I like to start downward dog on all fours. Place your hands underneath your shoulders and put your knees under your hips with toes tucked. Now sink your butt back into space, firmly plant your hands, and then raise your hips up high and sink your heart down and back. You should have a slight bend in your knees, and direct your focus on extending your hips upward. Continue to grip and push away with your hands, and drive your heels toward the earth. They don’t have to touch.
This is a full body stretch that you’ll feel all the way through your calves, hamstrings, back and shoulders. Remember to breathe. When you’re ready to release, slowly bring your knees back to the ground and return to all fours.
I sincerely hope these yoga poses offer your body and mind some relief from the constant beating it takes out there on the trail. I find that I’m much more likely to take care of myself if it’s something that can be done from the privacy of my own tent. In fact, I used to be a hammock camper and then switched to a tent specifically so I could do my stretches no matter the weather or how crowded the camping area. I love sleeping in my hammock, but I found that I would usually just plop into bed for the comfort and privacy of my shelter. Now that I have a simple and nourishing yoga routine, thru-hiking is significantly more enjoyable and less painful. I hope this brings more enjoyment to your hiking life as well. Namaste.
As a child, I loved to hear my parents re-tell their love story. My wily grandmother had taken her extended family and friends on an epic trip to the Swiss mountains. After a strenuous and beautiful day hike, soon enough, my parents were whispering sweet nothings to one another.
I’ve heard that story so often that – to my ears – the mountains are nearly synonymous with love. So, when we hit the seven-year marriage mark this year, my husband and I decided it was our turn to head to the European mountains, though we chose the Italian Dolomites.
We’re enthusiastic but inexperienced mountain hikers, and this would be our first multi-day hut-to-hut trip. The Alta Via is extremely popular, so huts were fully booked months in advance. We needed to hike two stages in a single day to make it to a bookable dorm bed – but nothing would deter us!
Despite rain and mist and the steepest climbs of my life, it was stunning. Extraordinary vistas from every peak, delicious piles of homemade polenta at every hut, and a growing sense of inner peace with every step. Even though I was physically exhausted, mentally and spiritually I felt alive.
And that is why I’m writing this article. It is when we’re outdoors that we feel truly ourselves — connected to our inner selves, connected to the people we love, and connected to something greater than ourselves. That is the gift of being in nature.
You may already be familiar with some of the science here. Researchers have concluded that spending time in nature is connected to all sorts of health benefits. The gentle burbling of a brook or the sound of the wind in the trees shifts our nervous systems into a relaxed state, according to a 2017 Scientific Reports paper.
Data also reveals that people who have regular access to nature are less likely to be on antidepressants. Expectant mothers who spend time in nature have healthier babies, and even when we’re indoors, being around plants can strengthen our immune system and prevent illness.
But as more than half of the world’s population now lives in an urban area, we can’t rely on a big annual trip to the mountains to sustain our connection to nature. Already, the average American spends only 7 percent of their time outdoors, according to the results of an Environmental Protection Agency–sponsored survey.
As we’ve moved more and more of our lives indoors, especially to work and to be entertained in front of screens, scientists are warning that we’re entering an age of “nature deficit disorder.” Coined by Richard Louv, nature deficit disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses.
The long and the short: we need to find ways of getting outdoors regularly and to allow those experiences in nature to shape who we are – even when we’re indoors.
That’s why, from February 12 to April 15, my team at Nearness will host a 10-week course on deepening our connection to nature.
It’ll be a journey into the sacred realm of sunset landscapes and beloved animals, interconnected ecologies and climate change. We’ll ask, how can we feel more in tune with the natural world, even when we’re indoors or far from much natural life? How can we unlock our inner wildness, the freedom and physicality we can experience in the outdoors? What can we learn from indigenous and non-Western spiritualities? And how does all of this connect to our day-to-day challenges and longings?
Our Nearness program takes place as a series of Zoom calls, during which we’ll walk through conversation starters, readings, and exercises that have been developed by experts in connection, psychology, and spirituality.
One of the practices we’ll engage in this course is something I found myself doing naturally while hiking in the Dolomites: taking time to notice nature, even in the smallest places.
Being a fan of musical theater, of all the wildflowers I wanted to spot along our hike, I kept searching for edelweiss. Sure, we were on the Italian side of the mountains and not in Austria, and sure, the Rodgers & Hammerstein song was written for a Broadway musical and isn’t a folk song at all, but I’ve hummed that tune for as long as I can remember.
So, every day when we crossed a meadow, I kept looking for that small white flower. And every day I found another small white flower…that wasn’t edelweiss. Until, on our final afternoon, descending down into a valley, with cowbells ringing on either side, I found a few remaining blossoms. Edelweiss!
Fifty years ago, my parents fell in love in the mountains. This year, the mountains reminded me of the things worth loving.
I hope you’ll join us for our Connecting With Nature journey to fall back in love with what matters most to you.
Casper ter Kuile is the CEO of Nearness and the author of The Power of Ritual.
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I used to think that bringing a small travel towel on an outdoor adventure was absolutely ludicrous … that was until I got one.
Now, I use my super absorbent, quick drying, lightweight PackTowl for so much more than drying off after a rinse. It's become a multi-faceted, much loved member of my adventure arsenal, and I bring it with me (almost) everywhere I go.
Here are 9 ways I find myself using my Personal Towel by PackTowl …
I love being able to pat down my tootsies, dry the crevices between my toes and clear out any sand and grit that's gathered after a good wade in the water from one shoreline to the next.
Dewy nights in a single-wall Dyneema shelter can often turn into mornings in a wet-roofed tent. I love using the ultra absorbent PackTowl to wipe up the water droplets and help the tent dry quicker.
Pro Tip: take everything out of the tent first so it doesn't get dripped on ; )
Few things make me happier than swimming in crystal clear waterways and then standing in the sun while I drip off. I love dabbing my face, wiping down my arms and giving my legs a quick once over with the PackTowl’s soft, supple surface.
The towel gives me the perfect full body wrap with a secure little front tuck, so I can keep my bits and bobs private on a busy beach while I swap over into my swimsuit or gear back up into my clothes.
After giving up coffee, I needed an effective way to perk up for the day, so I started splashing my cheeks with some nice cold water as soon as I got up. Then, I bury my face in the comfort of the PackTowl, give myself a good pat down and smile at the fact that a new day is upon me.
Dirty lenses get my goat, so I make sure to fog them up with my breath and wipe them down with a clean corner of the PackTowl that I reserve for just such occasions. It also works equally well at cleaning dirt and debris off my bike mirror, so I can stay safe and sound when I'm out riding on the road.
When the witching hour hits at camp, I'll sometimes throw my PackTowl around my head to keep those pesky blood suckers from getting to my sensitive skin.
Other times, I like to wet the towel down and wrap it around my hot head to cool me down and block out the sun's rays.
I used to think trekking sand in the tent was an unavoidable fact of life, until I started leaving the PackTowl by the tent door so I could clean off my filthy paws before climbing into my sleeping bag. I much prefer having a tent that stays cleaner for longer. Not having to shake leaves, sand and bugs from my UL quilt is definitely an added bonus.
Rainy nights or dew filled dawns leave my handlebars, bike bags, saddle cover and mirror cloaked in moisture when I get up.The PackTowl is an easy and effective way to dry down my gear and give myself a fresh start.
Even when I've already washed my face, cleaned my glasses and dried the tent, the PackTowl somehow still has absorbency left to give!
Then I strap it to my front bike bag, keeping it close by, because I know it won't be long before my PackTowl comes to the rescue yet again.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker.
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Whether you’re out in the woods for a day hike or for a six month thru-hike, your gear can make your experience pleasurable or absolutely miserable. For my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, there were a few pieces of gear I was surprised to find were pivotal to the success of my journey … and no they weren’t the Big 3 (pack, shelter and sleep system) like you might think, but rather smaller items that more than carried their weight.
The most important piece of gear you have on any hike is your body. It’s best to take care of it fastidiously — if you don’t, you might have to get off trail due to an injury. I carried a cork roller ball and a stretch band with me the entire hike in order to stay on top of a physical therapy routine I maintained before I had started hiking.
I was in intensive physical therapy for weeks due to a hip injury from an ultramarathon, and had to lay in bed for three months. I was paranoid when I started my thru-hike that my hip injury would prevent me from continuing, so I continued the same physical therapy exercises throughout.
Before a thru-hike, if you have a recurring injury, it could be helpful to ask a physical therapist about exercises to help it. Starting my routine of exercises before I started hiking made it easier for me to continue them during the hike.
I also rolled out my feet with my cork roller ball every morning and evening to alleviate plantar fasciitis. I strongly believe that if I did not continue to do my hip stretches and roll out my feet with the cork roller ball that I would not have been able to complete this thru-hike.
My fanny pack was an absolute monster. It was able to fit my phone, headphones, charging brick, cork roller ball, resistance band, a Clif bar and two candy bars. I wore this fanny pack every day when hiking.
It made it significantly more convenient to eat while walking. I didn’t have to stop and pull my food bag out of my pack every time I got hungry; I could just reach into my fanny pack and fish around for a Clif bar.
It also kept my cork roller ball/resistance band accessible so that I would be more willing to roll out and do PT exercises when I was tired. Sometimes, the added effort of searching around for them in my pack was too much for me to be motivated — so just having them accessible in the fanny pack was very helpful.
My Town Shirt made a big difference on my thru-hike. Sometimes my pack straps would chafe in the heat, but I still wouldn’t want to wear a shirt because it was too hot. Instead, I would slip on my Town Shirt and leave it unbuttoned for better airflow. It was the perfect intermediate layer. When I was too cold for a tank top, I would throw on my Town Shirt and a hat and I’d be warm while I hiked — even in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (not to mention the wind chill.)
Wearing a Town Shirt also helped with being recognized as a thru-hiker. This can be beneficial for hitching into town and connecting with other hikers. As soon as I saw another person in Jolly Gear or a Town Shirt, I knew they were a hiker and most likely someone I could befriend.
My Culo Clean Bidet changed the way I look at toilet paper. As long as there’s enough water around (which was almost the entire AT) there was no need to bring toilet paper. My butt felt cleaner when I hiked and I didn’t have to worry about packing out used TP or my toilet paper getting wet.
The CuloClean Bidet is a lightweight piece of gear that resembles a water bottle cork. It fits in the hip belt pocket of my pack. Using a bidet adheres better to Leave No Trace guidelines; you can rest assured your butt isn’t contributing to the hordes of toilet paper blooming alongside the trail.
Different feet need different kinds of socks. Some people love Darn Tough Socks, whereas others swear by toe socks to keep blisters at bay. I wore Darn Toughs during my thru-hike. They were the only brand of socks I used. I hiked more than half the trail in a singular pair of Darn Toughs until they developed a hole. Ironically, they developed a hole in Vermont — the state they are created in.
Darn Tough has an amazing exchange policy. Not all outfitters participate in it — but the ones that do are very helpful. If you go to an outfitter along trail, bring your sock that has a hole in it and show it to the salesperson, they will exchange your holey Darn Tough with another pair of socks — for free! In my opinion, that’s worth $26 for a pair of socks.
I also never developed blisters from these socks. They kept my feet warm, cozy and cushioned throughout my hike. I sometimes even used the pair I slept in as mittens for my hands (or sad sock puppets if I got lonely.)
I would advise testing out your socks for a long day hike, about ten miles or more, or even better multiple long day hikes and camping trips, before a long distance backpacking trip. You’ll figure out which ones give you blisters in no time!
Sometimes the gear that helps you the most isn’t what you expect. Usually in hindsight, it seems obvious. Oh, duh, of course I should pick really awesome socks to hike 2,000 miles in. My feet are important for doing that.
The gear that helped me the most is gear that helped me feel the least discomfort. As long as you find ways to take care of your body on a long distance hike, it will continue to take care of you and allow you to see and do some really amazing things.
I wore a fanny pack every single day during my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. I wore it so much that the logo wore off, the lining on the inside deteriorated and the zipper broke — but it still made it the whole trail. Below are 5 reasons you might want to add a fanny pack to your gear kit for thru-hiking and/or backpacking.
When I was hiking, my fanny pack was the never ending pocket for all the things I needed to be able to access quickly and didn’t want to store in my backpack. On a day-to-day basis, the contents were: my phone, headphones, a tick remover tool, a lighter, a knife, Deet, sunscreen, a cork roller ball and my resistance band for stretching.
Whenever I saw a cool bird or another sweet view, I could easily unzip my fanny pack, take a quick picture and keep hiking.
The tick remover tool came in handy more than once, funnily enough, always for other hikers. There would be an exclamation in a shelter as someone found a tick on their leg, and I’d come over to give them my handy tick remover tool.
Headphones were essential for me to find motivation as I hiked. I usually liked walking to the sounds of the forest in the morning, but would transition into listening to music as the day went on, so I liked to have them somewhere I could easily snag them.
I lived in Deet and sunscreen on certain sections of the trail in the dead of summer. Having quick access to them was the difference between sun poisoning and thirty mosquito bites or having a pleasant afternoon at camp. If I can’t reach it easily, I’m not as motivated to apply it when I’m hiking.
The same goes for my stretching equipment: the cork roller ball and the stretch band. If I can’t get to them easily, then there’s no way I’ll do my stretches. Stretching saves me a lot of pain in the morning and prevents overuse injuries later on down the line. It’s a lot easier to do as long as you make the tools to do it easy and accessible — such as storing them in a fanny pack.
I struggled with eating on my thru-hike. I lost twenty pounds and was extremely fatigued throughout the day due to a calorie deficit. It was concerning. To fix this issue, every morning I would fill my fanny pack with snacks and make a goal to finish them by the end of the day. Usually, I would stuff two Clif Bars, a honeybun, and five packs of gummies inside of it.
In between stopping for lunch and dinner, I would make a point to eat as many of the snacks as I could. Whatever I didn’t finish, I would make myself eat after dinner to keep my weight and energy stable. My fanny pack single-handedly helped me to maintain my weight and energy as I hiked, simply because it made my food more accessible.
There were many times when I dropped my backpack to go explore a side trail or see a cool view. I wouldn’t want to carry my whole pack down a mystery trail — I had no idea if there was going to be an incline that would tire me out significantly more with twenty pounds on my back. So, instead, I would grab my fanny pack and head off for a short little jaunt to explore a side trail. Sometimes, if it was to grab water, I would put my Sawyer filter in my fanny pack as well and just carry a Smart Water Bottle in my hands.
It was a lot more fun to scramble over rocks wearing just a fanny pack sans backpack. Bringing my phone with me saved me from getting lost on a side trail on numerous occasions. Whenever I was unsure about the path, I pulled it out of my fanny pack and checked FarOut.
A fanny pack is awesome for town runs. I used to write down notes of food I was craving while I was hiking and then check those hiker-hunger fueled cravings while perusing the aisles of the local Dollar General. I also would make lists of exactly how much food I needed until the next resupply point so I could avoid over resupplying. In those situations, my fanny pack acted as my wallet — and a stylish addition to any set of loaner clothes, even a onesie.
I still use my fanny packs on day hikes and walks around the neighborhood with my dog. On day hikes I like to use it to carry snacks and a water bottle so I can walk around hands-free to enjoy the trail. On dog walks, you can stuff it full of treats and poop bags. I also will still take it to the grocery store or to run other errands, as easy access to money and my phone remains as valuable as ever in these situations.
A fanny pack was one of my most essential pieces of gear on my thru-hike. It helped remind me to eat and do my exercises, and allowed my setup to be more organized and accessible as I was hiking. My fanny pack even held twenty mayonnaise packets once. The only question is: what will yours hold?
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail and they're looking forward to the Pacific Crest Trail next summer!
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In just seven days, my partner Mathieu and I will be riding our bikes across the invisible finish line of a 6,000 mile bikepacking trip from the Gaspé Peninsula in Québec, Canada to the southernmost point of Key West, Florida in the USA.
This odyssey was inspired by last year's launch of the Eastern Divide Trail (EDT) on Bikepacking.com, a route which is being touted as the bikepacking version of the Appalachian Trail (AT), and claims to be the longest, contiguous off-road cycling route in the world.
After a particularly rainy spring on the East Coast, we opted to avoid the official start in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and choose an alternate along La TransGaspésie in Quebec — keeping in theme with the EDT by sharing space with the International Appalachian Trail (IAT/SIA). We picked up the official EDT route at the border town of Houlton, Maine.
Since then, we've passed through 13 unique and stunning states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virgina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and now, four months into the trip, we are wrapping up the final chapter in Florida.
We've traversed hundreds of National Forests and State Parks, witnessed incredible wildlife and experienced breathtaking landscapes. We’ve met kind, curious, and generous people from all walks of life. As two wandering Canadians that stick out like a sore thumb, we've felt a warm welcome everywhere we've been.
Like any grand adventure, this trip has turned into a lifestyle, a way of being, punctuated by high-highs and low-lows, with steady undulations of everything in between.
And now, as the final miles lay before us, I find myself blessed with the opportunity to slow down a minute and savor what's left ahead; to rest a bit and give myself the chance to consider how I want to show up for the end of this ride.
In the past, my tendency has been to finish grand adventures feeling caught up in planning for what will come after them. In doing so, I lose touch with the majesty that remains right in front of me. I end up sacrificing the present moment, the precious, dwindling time that I've alloted to the current adventure for the illusion of control over the chapter ahead.
Flight plans. Finances. Family obligations. Freelance projects. The list goes on and on, if I let it.
So this time, I told myself, I'd do it differently.
I'd take a few days rest before the end of the journey and slow everything down. I’d get off my bike and out of my head and just let myself be still.
Make space to breathe, to stretch, to be — reset my nervous system so that I can round out this trip feeling supple and strong, ready to reintegrate and process.
And what has come up for me in this space of rest — replacing the fear of the future — is an immense feeling of gratitude for the privilege and ability to be on this adventure.
I’m reflecting on all the people who have impacted this trip in some way, shape or form. The ideas, insights, kindness and generosity that others have bestowed on us have inspired me to want to do the same for others.
I feel gratitude for …
The unfathomable amount of beautiful places and wild spaces people have had the foresight to fight to preserve — and the continual work that goes into maintaining and expanding them.
The privilege to live in a part of the world where we can safely wander through the woods, ride in city streets, explore new neighborhoods, camp in the abundance of public land, swim in (and drink) clean water and breathe fresh air, all without a feeling of imminent danger.
The physical privilege of having a body able to ride a bike, push up hills, brave the high heats and the frigid frosts, see, feel and hear what's happening in our surroundings.
The financial freedom we were able to create to embark on this journey, and the systems that are in place to make it easy to exchange and transfer currency, book hostels and accommodations, order food and purchase groceries.
We live in truly incredible times.
And yet, that can easily be lost on us in the daily struggles and humdrum of life; in the anger of injustice, or the sadness of suffering. It can even be lost on us in the middle of our most epic adventures, if we don't nurture its existence.
So this is my pact to myself as I peer over the horizon to the finish line in Key West:
Instead of living on autopilot while the world passes me by, I will do my best to relish in the miracle of being alive here and now, and experience the present moment for the blessing that it is.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker.
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Shopping for a backpacker, thru-hiker or the all around adventurous dirtbag in your life? Want to give something that they’ll actually use but won’t break the bank? Here are 20 gift ideas ranked from lowest price to highest — all under $50.
A tick remover is an inexpensive stocking stuffer that can remind a friend you’re thinking of the — and their safety! It’s a lightweight tool that allows hikers to properly remove ticks, which can be plentiful on long trails, especially the Appalachian Trail.
Nothing says I love you and want you to clean your butt and save the earth quite like gifting someone a CuloClean Bidet for the holidays. This backpacking bidet is about the size of a wine bottle cork and fits into the top of a water bottle. A bidet is an efficient way to stop worrying about packing out toilet paper while maintaining proper hygiene on trail.
Do you notice your loved one leaving on backpacking trips with all their money, credit cards and driver’s license jammed into a sad little plastic Ziploc bag? If so, an ultralight wallet might be just right for them! It keeps all their valuables in one place and is more durable and cute too. For bonus points, stuff a gift card to Garage Grown Gear inside ; )
On trail, you rarely see a hiker without a neck gaiter or Buff. This versatile gift can be used as a headband, scarf, sweat rag, towel, hat and so much more. I used one every day of my AT thru-hike to hold my hair back. It’s an essential and versatile piece of any hiker's wardrobe.
This will save your hiker’s sanity. In some sections of a long trail, bugs can be so relentless that it’s led me to run screaming through the woods. A bug net will give your hiker relief from the onslaught. They’ll think such kind and warm thoughts about you when they’re safe from a torrent of mosquitos!
Injury prevention: the gift that keeps on giving! Fewer things tell a thru-hiker that you care about them and believe they can make it the full way on a long trail than a Rawlogy cork massage ball. This tiny lightweight ball will provide your hiker relief at the end of every day when they roll out their feet, calves, quads or other muscles — a wonderful self-care practice that keeps hikers on trail.
Stuff sacks are a common part of any backpacker’s gear list. They’ll keep your hiker’s gear dry and organized. Hikers are always getting new gear and switching up their set ups — but the need for stuff sacks stays the same no matter what you’re carrying. When your hiker’s sleeping clothes and sleeping bag are still dry after a long day of hiking in the rain, they’ll thank you deep in their heart and soul.
Everybody needs a poop shovel. When your hiker is in a dire situation with number two in the backcountry and they are scrambling for their trowel to dig a cat hole — wouldn’t you want them to have a loving memory of you at the same time? It’s a great way to help your friend when the going gets rough — literally.
There are few things more annoying than a tiny rock in your shoe when you’re hiking. You might be walking for miles that day, but the only thing you can focus on is a rock about the size of the fingernail on your pinkie toe. Sometimes, I would be lazy and not take off my shoe, and then I’d wind up with blisters from the silly rock I refused to stop and take out. Ankle gaiters prevent this from happening in the first place and allow your hiker to carry on without stopping for any pesky pebbles along the way.
Who doesn't want a fun piece of art that doubles as a pee cloth?! Kula Cloth is an awesome company that features signature work from a variety of different artists on their antimicrobial, lightweight pee rags. Find one that’s perfect for your favorite person to hike and pee outside with.
Darn Tough are the pair of technical wool hiking socks that keep on giving. Not only do they wick moisture and create a soft landing, they’ll also last a lifetime! Whenever Darn Tough socks develop a hole, they can be exchanged for a brand new pair of socks for free. This means you’re essentially giving your loved one endless socks with one pair of socks, which is pretty cool.
A shoulder strap pocket is incredibly useful for easy access items. It’s the perfect size for a phone, wallet or hiker snacks. It’s a simple way to ensure important items stay safe and ready for action.
Frogg Toggs might not be the sexiest rain jacket and pants in the book — but you know what is super sexy? When you show up to a tentsite after a day of hiking in the rain and you’re dry. The ability to be dry after days of torrential downpour can mean the difference between crying when you get to camp and enjoying pitter-patter on your tent.
This nifty pack accessory reminds your hiker to keep drinking water — which is easy to forget when you’re walking all day. It can also keep your hiker from dislocating their shoulder when attempting to reach around their pack to grab a water bottle out of the side pocket.
This tiny device can save your hiker a bunch of money on fuel cans. Oftentimes, fuel cans are left in hiker boxes along trail. Hiker boxes are where hikers can deposit gear they no longer need for other hikers to take and use. The Flip Fuel Transfer Device allows hikers to fill up an entire fuel canister for their stove with fuel from half-empty fuel canisters. Cool, eh?
A trail running hat comes in handy on many different occasions. It will help keep the sun out of your hiker’s eyes and prevent the rain from falling in their face. It can hold hair back, or just make your hiker look super cool. These hats are lightweight and breathable, designed to wick sweat. On hot days, soak them in streams for a quick cool down. It’s a fun and simple stocking stuffer that’s sure to bring a smile to your favorite backpacker’s face — especially when they’re not being blinded by the sun.
A beanie can be the difference between being chilly on the trail or being cozy and warm. It’s an easy layer to pull on and off when needed. It’s also perfect for the winter season — they don’t even have to be on a backpacking trip to start using it. Alpine Fit’s merino wool beanie is lightweight and made in Alaska.
The Sawyer Squeeze is one of the most popular, lightweight and efficient water filters on trail. There’s no waiting thirty minutes for an iodine tablet to dissolve; water can be drunk straight out of the filter. And it can last through 100,000 gallons, as long as they continue to backflush and care for their filter properly.
Give the gift of sound sleep to your loved one this holiday season with an inflatable backpacking pillow. The Aeros Premium Pillow is a lightweight addition to a sleep system that provides more comfort than using a stuff sack. When your hiker is skipping down the trail because they’re well rested, they’ll think such kind thoughts about you.
A fanny pack was one of the most useful pieces of gear on my AT thru-hike. I stored my phone, cork roller ball and stretch band, candy bars, Clif Bars, sometimes a battery pack, and once … thirty packets of mayonnaise. A fanny pack is a helpful way to keep food easily accessible throughout the day. It also allows hikers to drop their packs to go to a scenic overlook, and still carry some snacks and their phone with them. Fanny packs can be super useful for town errands too, such as going to the grocery store or grabbing a bite at an eatery.
Before giving any gifts to your favorite hiker, you may want to investigate what trails they might be attempting in the future, or what trails they might be frequenting the most. For example, if they’re into desert hiking, Frogg Toggs are not going to be very useful. It might be helpful to casually ask what gear they wish they had or check on their gear list if they have it posted online. In any case, nobody minds an extra pair of socks or a GGG gift card. Maybe stuff a gift card into a pair of socks? Happy trails!
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail and they're looking forward to the Pacific Crest Trail next summer!
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When I first started looking around for a puffy jacket to add to my adventure gear arsenal, I searched high and low for an insulated jacket that would tick all my boxes: super warm, highly water and wind resistant, ultralight, packable, durable, comfortable and cost effective.
The longer I looked, the less hopeful I became. I found a few great options from UL brands like Cumulus and Katabatic Gear, but they were overkill for what I needed.
While cruising through the pages of Garage Grown Gear, I came across the Enlightened Equipment Women's Torrid Jacket and decided to look into synthetic insulation, as an alternative to down.
While down has an amazing warmth-to-weight ratio and is highly compressible, synthetic insulation boasts excellent performance in rainy, humid or otherwise wet conditions. The Enlightened Equipment Torrid Jacket is made with Climashield APEX insulation, which is particularly well suited for exposure to high amounts of sweat and body oils.
The benefits of a synthetic insulation sounded inviting, so I decided to order a Enlightened Equipment Torrid Jacket and see for myself. My partner also picked up the men's version of the EE Torrid.
That was two years ago and hundreds of sweaty outdoor adventures later. And I have to say, I’ve grown to absolutely love my Torrid Jacket, synthetic insulation and all.
There are many, many reasons why this piece of clothing has earned its place in my UL kit. Here are 5 of them:
This is probably the most important feature of any insulated jacket. If it keeps you warm, it's doing its job.
When it's below freezing, I toss a mid layer between my puffy and my base layer. Otherwise, I can get away with just my Torrid on top of a long sleeve merino base layer because . . .
I have worn my Torrid jacket in some serious downpours that called for Gore Tex instead of an ultralight nylon fabric with a DWR coating. But guess what? It kept me dry and warm.
And anytime I get to the top of a windy mountain summit, the first thing I reach for is my EE Torrid jacket because the cold breeze can't seem to cut through the layers of Climashield™ Apex insulation.
Synthetic insulation might not be as compressible as down, but it still packs into a pretty dang small package for the warmth and comfort it provides.
I place my Torrid jacket into a 1L stuff sack which has the ability to compress down even smaller, but I choose not to, because it wrinkles the fabric more and it's not necessary for me to save any more space.
When it's bedtime at camp, it's easy to take my Torrid out of that stuff sack and place it in my Pillow Strap because . . .
In the event that it's warm enough to not need to wear my Torrid jacket to bed (which is like wearing a second sleeping bag, it's so comfortable!), it makes for a superb sleeping pillow.
I fold it like a piece of origami, creating a soft, square-shaped place to rest my head. I then place it inside my Pillow Strap so it doesn't slide around, and experience a luxurious night's sleep.
Part of the bonus of the DWR coating is that it's super easy to clean. I opted for a dark color outer fabric because I tend to be a spilly eater. All the soy sauce and dirt blends right into the purple background.
When something really sticks to it, I just spot clean it with warm water and a washcloth. After two years, I decided to hand wash my Torrid for the first time for the fun of it.
The sink water had a light tinge of brown, but for what this jacket has been through, I was blown away by how clean it has remained.
From a 6,000-mile bikepacking adventure on the Eastern Divide Trail to thru-hiking the 93-mile Sentier Nepisiguit Mi'gmaq Trail in Northern New Brunswick — not to mention touring around Europe and backpacking along the coast in British Columbia — my Enlightened Equipment Torrid Jacket has had more than its fair share of adventure thrown its way.
Bottom line: this lightweight, synthetic jacket has kept me warm and toasty through each and every sweaty mile, rainy downpour and chilly night. I simply can’t recommend it enough.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker.
]]>Wearing the Cutaway from Nashville Packs on the South Rim of Big Bend National Park, scouting where I was gonna propose to my now wife. No you can’t tell, but yes I was nervous.
Your backpack can make or break a trip. If you grab a bag too small, you're going to be constantly playing tetris with your gear and food. If it's too big, you’ll be tempted to take more than you would like. A pack that’s not sized correctly to your torso risks being uncomfortable or even causing injury.
Understandably, the backpack is one of the top pieces of gear that backpackers fret about. It’s the core tool of the hobby!
There are more ultralight backpacks than ever on the market — made by more established brands, such as Gossamer Gear, Pa'lante and Hyperlite, as well as one-person cottage opeartions crafting UL Packs behind a sewing machine.
Choice means opportunity but can also cause confusion. How do you know which is the right ultralight pack for you and your thru-hiking, backpacking or fastpacking adventures?
As a general rule, I live by some guidelines. Anything between 15 to 30 Liters can be used for day hikes. Anything above that threshold can be used for overnight and multi-day trips.
These numbers can be fluid, as some hikers have their gear more dialed than others, and certain trip conditions determine what kind of gear you’ll need (microspikes and ice axes in snowy alpine environments, bear cans in high high density bear populations, large water carries in the desert, etc.). A person’s physical condition can also play a factor.
Like most gear nerds, I have a pack for nearly every occasion. Here’s a breakdown of all my packs, with detailed explanations around why and when I take each one.
Me, sitting next to a creek, thinking about the next pack I’m gonna buy.
The Vagabond comes with a myriad of features that makes it incredibly useful as an EDC bag, bug out bag (if that’s your flavor), or as a day hike pack. Its best feature is that it can be worn like a traditional backpack, or used as a tote bag when you need to squeeze yourself into a crowded bus after loading it with groceries.
I love that it comes with shoulder pouch pockets, so you can keep small important items within easy reach. The shoulder straps themselves are very plush, and the sternum strap has a wide range of adjustability and has some elasticity to it, giving a comfortable ride. Additionally, the top load design makes it hard for a curious thief to access the most valuable belongings inside the pack.
Trust me, it's a very well designed bag, with its only drawback being that its top zipper is not waterproof. However, I have a much older version of this pack, and Gossamer Gear has since added water resistant zippers to the Vagabond.
Having owned a Cutaway in the past, I know that the guys at Nashville Packs are stellar human beings who happen to also make stellar gear. Where the Vagabond is a day pack tailored more to travel, the Tiempo is intentionally designed for adventure — think day hikes, trail running and peak bagging.
Buyer beware, when you order this pack, you must also buy the shoulder straps separately. That is, unless you already own another pack from Nashville Packs. Making a two part purchase for a single piece of gear can be arduous. I have read several accounts and personally know of customers who have unwittingly bought just the pack, and become unpleasantly surprised when their package arrives in the mail.
However, if you can manage this INSURMOUNTABLE hurdle (insert largest eye roll emoji imaginable) by reading the full description for the Tiempo or Cutaway, you gain the opportunity to finely tune the fit of your pack to your unique torso, shoulder and chest size.
The Tiempo in real life. Human hand for scale.
Where the Tiempo is adventurous, and the Vagabond excels at daily commuting, travel and day hikes, the MILE is the pack that fits the center of this Venn diagram. Its relatively small capacity of 28L and extendable collar make it perfect for day hikes, as well as ultralight overnighters in the summer.
It also sports a few features the other two packs don’t. One such feature is pretty ordinary in most packs, daisy chains. Daisy chains let you add to and customize your shoulder straps — or just go without any accessories and save weight.
If you’re looking for less of a pack for daily use, and want just ONE pack that can fit that day hike to overnighter realm of needs, then the MILE is the way to go.
The MILE in an infinite white void.
Alternative Packs |
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16oz / 453.59g |
26L / 1586.62cu.in |
|
5.9 oz / 167.26g* |
17L / 1037.40cu.in. |
|
11.65oz / 330.27g |
18L /1098.43cu.in |
|
16oz / 453.59 |
28L / 1708.66cu.in. |
|
14oz / 396.89g |
25L / 1525.59cu.in |
- In alphabetical order.
- All packs are frameless.
*Weight of accessories and shoulder straps not included.
The MILE out in the wild
The longer I have backpacked (and in reality the older I get…), the less fussy I am about achieving high mileage days with a sub five pound baseweight.
Backpacking was an athletic sport for me. Nowadays, I do it for the vibes. Which is to say, more and more, I find myself reaching for my Meadowlark 30.
I went into great detail about my experience with the Meadowlark 30 in my gear review. It’s a feature rich, utilitarian, ultralight pack that gets the job done. The Meadowlark 30 is so versatile, it can work for a day hike or an ultralight thru-hike. For me though, it’s the perfect pack for a casual trip. I know exactly where my headphones and Milk Duds are, when I need them the most.
My maiden voyage with the Meadowlark in Northern Arizona.
I have put the Ultralight 40 through a smorgasbord of conditions and trips. Desert thru-hike. No problem. Slot canyon backpacking. Again, no problem. The Volpi 40 is a no frills pack that is extremely versatile and hardy. Everything about it is simple, yet it performs reliably time and time again. It is extremely comfortable, and when you add the detachable padded hipbelt, it carries all your creature comforts well. It’s the green ‘93 Corolla with 500,000 miles that you see on your daily commute. If you have wide shoulders or are into fastpacking, check out the Volpi Fastpack.
The Kumo has been a staple of the ultralight community for well over a decade, proving over and over it's still a relevant and reliable pack. It has some unique features that help it stand out. An over-the-top flap adds an extra layer of weather protection to the inside of the pack. The flap also sports a zipper for small yet important items. A slanted front pocket makes it easy to access the contents inside the mesh; a precursor to the bottom pocket so many ultralight packs have today.
The Kumo is made of Robic Nylon, which means it’s less water resistant than many of the other packs in this article, yet the Robic also makes it one of the most affordable packs on the market. If you have wide shoulders or are into fastpacking, check out the Fast Kumo 36, where the regular shoulder straps are replaced with running vest straps that can hold a plethora of stuff.
The Kumo, existing in a different white void.
Alternative Packs |
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20.40oz / 578.33g |
42L / 2563cu.in. |
|
18.5oz / 524.46g* |
36L / 2196.85cu.in. |
|
12.90oz / 365.70g |
34L / 2074.81cu.in |
|
13.4oz / 379.88g** |
45L / 2746.07cu.in. |
|
14.20oz / 402.56g |
35L / 2135.83cu.in |
- In alphabetical order.
- All packs are frameless.
*Weight of removables included.
**Weight of removables not included.
The Kumo out in nature.
I have worked with Dan from Dandee Packs on several occasions. I helped pilot his running vest straps, and I've put in way too many orders for Dan’s gear (I have a problem, obviously). The man is talented and driven by detail. Dandee Packs' customer service is superb. I could go on and on, so I will.
Dandee Pack’s level of craftsmanship is exceptional, and stands above many other cottage makers. I have yet to have a Dandee Pack start to feel uncomfortable or deteriorate from heavy use. They are some of the best performing packs I have used.
From my experience, Dandee Packs is willing to experiment with different configurations and materials, as well as customize most aspects of their packs. Dan is the man, and I eagerly await his return to Garage Grown Gear.
My Dandee Pack, out in Slot Canyon Country.
Do you remember April 2019? Avengers: Endgame was dominating movie theaters, the remix to “Old Town Road” was living rent free in your head, and the long awaited Joey from Palante had finally hit the market after years of anticipation.
The Joey was the first running vest backpack with an ultralight twist. It’s meant for backpackers who want to move all day. (Slaps pack). There are SO MANY pockets on this bad boy! Fastpacking is when it really shines; but if you're dialed in, you could even thru-hike with a Joey.
My favorite aspect of the Joey is that it has kept that ultralight state of mind throughout the last four years. It has not experienced the weight creep that many manufactures have placed on their packs, in order to offer more features and comfort to a wider audience. It is bare bones, but the Joey gives you the features you absolutely need.
The Joey in all black Ultra. Tree limb for scale.
I wrote a detailed gear review for the Cutaway, as I was one of the early adopters of the pack back in 2019, and wanted to share my thoughts with the backpacking community. I LOVED this pack; it was nearly perfect in every way. I loved it so much in fact, that I wore it down until the shoulder straps were paper thin.
It’s perfect for long water carries, as the shoulder strap pockets can fit 1L water bottles each. In the large continuous front pocket, you can fit TWO 1.5L water bottles with sports caps AND a 3L Cnoc Vecto.
The front pocket is my favorite feature, as you can fit everything you would want throughout the day, and easily reach for it when you want it. Those small items you need, like chapstick or hand sanitizer, can go in the SIX shoulder pockets on your chest. Don’t forget though, you have to buy the shoulder straps separately.
Alternative Packs |
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12.02oz / 340.76g |
38L / 2318.9cu.in. |
|
10.3oz / 292.00g* |
43L / 2624.02cu.in. |
|
19.20oz / 544.31g |
37L / 2257.88cu.in.** |
|
13.90oz / 394.05g |
24L / 1464.57cu.in** |
|
14.08oz / 399.16g |
38L / 2318.9cu.in. |
- In alphabetical order.
- All packs are frameless.
*Weight of pack only. Strap weight not included.
**Internal volume only.
The Joey, on the left, out in nature.
At the end of the day, if my gear closet was on fire and I could only save one pack, it would be the Atom+. There are several caveats to this statement that are important for context, though. The first and most important is that I got my Atom+ back in 2018, when Atom Packs was just starting out as a company; and by company, I mean just Tom Gale and a sewing machine. You can read about just how custom made my pack was here, but the short version is that it shares the best features of the Atom+ and the Mo, and Tom was able to customize every aspect of the pack.
With success came more orders and emails, which allowed for less customization. There is still tons you can customize on your Atom Pack, more than many other cottage brands, in fact, but not the way you could back in ‘the before times.’ I'm super happy for Tom and his success.
I have put this pack through so much abuse. Through all kinds of weather, flora, elevations, and temperatures. I have put more than 35 pounds into it, and it carried fantastically. After five years, it still carries comfortably. It's so nice that I've been thinking about picking up a Roo for everyday carry.
Gossamer Gear has made this list three times; not only because they've been around since the late 20th century (1998), making them one of the oldest ultralight cottage brands, but also because they've gotten pretty good at making packs. It's no wonder why the Mariposa 60 consistently makes it onto nearly all of the Halfway Anywhere thru-hiker surveys.
At 60L, and a carrying capacity of 30 pounds, the Mariposa is the definition of ultralight hauler. Its internal frame does the magic, while the external sit pad sheath adds carrying comfort — the fact that it can also be used as a sit pad or sleeping pad is a solid bonus.
Like the Kumo, it has an over-the-top flap that helps keep the inside of your pack dry, with a zippered compartment that allows quick access to the items you need most.
The Mariposa also offers features that will seem familiar to traditional backpackers. The padded hip belt comes with easily accessible pockets. Hikers will find it simple to internally hang a bladder and run a hose to the front of the body.
Unlike most packs on the market, cottage or not, it also sports one tall pocket on the left side, and two normal sized pockets on the right — allowing you to store an umbrella, tent poles, or trekking poles on one side, and a water bottle and smaller items on the other. It’s a hauler, y’all.
The Mariposa in Fall colors.
The Framus has been on my radar for about two years now. The Atom+ has gone on my hardest trips, has seen many miles, varying conditions, and does not have an infinite amount of time left. It will eventually give out, as most packs do. When that happens, the Framus will be my next hauler. For good reason too.
The Framus is one of the lightest internally framed packs on the market. At 25oz (708g), with a padded hip belt, thiccc shoulder straps, and load lifters, it’s rated for a carry capacity of up to 40 pounds.
That amount of comfort and carrying capacity is perfect for winter trips, large water carries, longer off-trail trips, thru-hikes, or someone transitioning from a traditional backpacking style to something a bit more weight conscious.
Everything about the Bonfus design is well thought out. The aluminum stays are removable and adjustable. The pack uses Ultra 200 and 400, along with Ultragrid and taped seams, making it highly durable and water resistant. Did I mention the v-style over-the-top strap is perfect for a bear canister, or a large bag of Cheetos?
The Framus is ideal for adventures that require some extra gear.
Alternative Packs |
|||
25.40oz / 720.07g |
48L / 2929.14cu.in. |
2 removable aluminum stays |
|
30.50oz / 864.66g |
60L / 3661.42cu.in. |
1 U-Shaped internal stay |
|
40oz / 1133.98g |
60L / 3661.42cu.in. |
Framesheet |
|
30.80oz / 873.16g |
40L / 2440.95cu.in. |
2 removable aluminum stays |
|
31oz / 878.83g |
55L / 3356.31cu.in. |
2 removable aluminum stays |
|
22oz / 623.69g |
44L / 2685.04cu.in. |
1 Aluminum frame stay |
- In alphabetical order.
From this angle, you can see how the frame, shoulder straps, and hip belt of the Framus make one cohesive unit that yields a high carrying capacity.
Your pack is the foundation of your backpacking system. You’re not making it through your 100 mile itinerary, if your pack doesn’t physically fit you or your needs. It’s always good to make your pack your own. Here are some ways to do just that.
I did an exhaustive review of the four lightest hiking umbrellas on the market, so head over there for the number crunching. However, I would like to introduce you to a new ultralight umbrella option: the Lightweight Umbrella by no/W. At 5.10oz (144g), it’s lighter by over half an ounce than the umbrellas that I previously reviewed.
What’s unique about the Lightweight Umbrella is that it does not have a reflective coating on the outer canopy. However, it still sports a UPF50+ rating, making it fantastic at keeping the sun off of you. I used a similar umbrella on the PCT, and didn’t find myself wanting for the reflective material, and thus saved weight.
If you want to go hands-free while hiking with your brand new umbrella, don’t forget to pick up one of these kits.
Going hands-free with the SMD Silver Shadow. Pictured are the WEBO Shoulder Pouch and the Town Shirt Sun Hoodie.
There are all kinds of pockets you can add to your pack to make it fit your style of backpacking. There are shoulder pockets that let you store important small items that you need at a moment’s notice, as well as pockets that extend your total water capacity. There are even traditional hip belt pockets that can double as sternum packs. How about a fanny pack? There is literally no reason to stop hiking while the sun is out, unless you want to smell the wildflowers.
I typically use Nylofume liners to keep my most important yet least weather resistant gear protected. It ensures that my down jacket and quilt stay dry. If you want to beef up your pack liner, you can always get something a bit sturdier. Lastly, whenever I’m one-bagging and traveling minimally, I like to keep my clothes and gear in cubes to keep everything organized and protected.
Backpacking can be an expensive endeavor. That’s why it's important to get the right ultralight pack for your specific backpacking and thru-hiking objectives — so you only have to buy once, or at least are deeply self-aware when placing another order for a custom cottage-made pack ; )
It's also a mightly good idea to jump on sales when they come around, like the big Black Friday Cyber Monday Sale coming up on November 21st through the 27th on GGG! Hard plug, I know ; )
Now get out there and hike! Thanks for reading: )
Rafael is a freelance writer and adventurer based in the Mountain West. You can find him trail running, backpacking, or sampling the best tacos during his free time. Follow all his adventures over on Instagram, or read more of his work over on his website.
A map and compass, iodine, and alcohol stoves. This OG ultralight gear was once a staple of my hiking kit. But, now FarOut Guides shows me the way through mountains, and the Sawyer Squeeze will provide me with clean water as long as I live (and backflush).
However, recently, I rediscovered alcohol stoves, and the nostalgia that hit me when I did was enough to earn them a place back in my pack. I’m now using a…
Titanium Siphon Alcohol Stove by Toaks
Here are 7 reasons why I think alcohol stoves are awesome, and why they might earn a place in your ultralight kit too.
I’d be lying if I said I reach for the alcohol stove every time I hit the trail, but it may surprise you there are circumstances when it will serve you more reliably than your canister. Specifically, alcohol stoves will continue to work in extremely cold temperatures, including sub-zero.
Have you ever arrived at a campground to hear the steady rumble of a generator, distracting from the sounds of birds, rustling leaves, or rushing water around you? That’s kind of how cooking on a canister stove can feel. Thankfully, an alcohol stove is the solar system of camp cooking, at least when it comes to keeping quiet.
If you’ve ever gone on an international trek or had to coordinate a resupply here in the US, you know finding canister fuel can sometimes be tricky. I remember several of my tramily members from the Appalachian Trail calling outfitters ahead of hitching into town to put a hold on current stock; and leap-frogging boxes between post offices, which was not only a logistical nightmare, but an expensive one. If this is an anxiety of yours, there is a fuel option for alcohol stoves at pretty much every gas station.
If you’re looking to dip your toe into the wild world of crafting your own gear, an alcohol stove is a fantastic first project. There are videos and articles across the internet on how to assemble your own at varying levels of effort and expense.
Whether you pick up a pre-assembled alcohol stove, or go the DIY route, the cost of the stove itself is often cheaper than other backpacking stove options. Add to that the reduced cost of fuel, and you’ll find yourself saving a few dollars with an alcohol stove.
The Toaks Siphon Alcohol Stove is a simple, two-walled design, while most collapsible canister stoves are made up of hinges and screws. The durability of alcohol stoves can be very high for materials such as titanium, and less so for softer, more malleable metals such as aluminum. The thickness of the material and unique features of each design also contribute to overall durability.
I was taught backcountry cooking on an alcohol stove (and a rather heavy one at that), so that means I’m going to subject you to the rules I learned for keeping safe while managing this particularly finicky flame.
Most folks using alcohol stoves these days are choosing to for a good reason. That reason may span from widespread availability of fuel to bringing back childhood memories, or even the simplicity of a DIY project. At the end of the night, you’ll be happiest if you hike your own hike and make the decisions that best suit your hiking style and the adventure ahead.
Drop how long you’ve been using alcohol stoves for backcountry cooking in the comments below!
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As an ardent lover of the great outdoors, I have come to appreciate the importance of treading lightly upon the earth. My Kula Cloth has become one of my most cherished pieces of gear, enabling me to embark on a journey where both my mind and the environment find peace together.
For those who don’t know what a Kula Cloth is, let me explain: It is a reusable and antimicrobial wiping cloth for those who squat when they pee. It promotes hygiene, cleanliness and ecological responsibility.
There’s a black, absorbent, antimicrobial wiping side, and a waterproof side that features art, cute patterns, or even funny reminders like 'don’t eat the yellow snow.'
A Kula Cloth is easily folded up so the wiping side is hidden. It also clips to my pack, allowing easy access whenever I need it. There’s also reflective thread on it, so that if nature calls at night, I can easily find my Kula with my headlamp.
As for where it can be used? It comes in handy anywhere.
In addition to backpacking and day hiking, I’ve used my Kula Cloth on the side of the highway, trying to hide my bare backside from oncoming traffic. I’ve used it near a paved trail, as I was taking part in a search for a missing person. And remember when the whole country ran out of toilet paper? It came in pretty handy then, too.
The Kula Cloth not only serves as a practical tool but also acts as a symbol that unites like-minded individuals. There is the briefest moment when two Kula Cloth carriers recognize each other on trail — sometimes it's a simple nod or first-bump, sometimes there's a giggle and a high five.
The word Kula is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘Community’. It denotes a sense of inclusion and belonging. It is through our shared appreciation for sustainable practices and a love for the outdoors that our vibrant community emerges. The Kula Cloth community fosters a sense of connection that transcends physical boundaries.
With each adventure, my Kula Cloth has become a steadfast reminder of the delicate dance between nature and humanity, and the vibrant community that arises when we collectively strive to Leave No Trace (LNT).
Kula Cloth gracefully intertwines the beauty of sustainability into my wilderness excursions. I am no longer forced to rely on disposable products that contribute to the mounting waste, destined to be buried in landfills or — worse, when LNT isn’t respected and practiced — scattered across our natural landscapes.
The magnitude of waste that plagues our planet is staggering, with landfills growing larger each day. It is a sobering realization that the convenience we once sought in single-use products has come at the cost of our environment's health.
By embracing alternatives like the Kula Cloth, which is reusable and thoughtfully designed for minimal environmental impact, I actively participate in reducing the waste that burdens our planet. With each use, I strive to break the cycle of disposability and urge my peers to honor our planet’s delicate balance.
Beyond their sustainable nature, Kula Cloths support real-life artists, like Zoë Rayor, the creator behind Cool Cool Nice Nice, an outdoor art company, and Holly Murray, an artist from West Texas whose work is often inspired by nature. The GGG exclusive Kula pictured below was designed by Alina 'Abstract' Drufovka.
My personal pee-cloths showcase the types of adventures I dream of, featuring gorgeous mountain sunsets and colorful representations of the star-strewn cosmos.
Kula Cloth and the people who use them possess a unique strength, embodying the resilience and tenacity reminiscent of nature itself. With this small, stylish piece of fabric in hand, we forge a deep connection with the wilderness, and each other.
Ace Curtis is a plus-sized outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys hiking in Northern California and taking photos of many tree-covered hillsides. She was born and raised in Mt Shasta, CA at the base of a 14,163’ mountain. She is currently working with her husband on creating an off-grid lifestyle on 2.5 acres just a few miles from where she started life, 36 years ago.
When I was passing through Tennessee on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, I heard a hiker joke, “Guess what the Tennessee state flower is?... The toilet paper bloom!” This was funny and gross, but also sadly true.
Toilet paper takes 1-3 years to decompose in areas with wet soil — and even longer in desert or alpine environments. In Tennessee, many hikers dig shallow catholes and leave toilet paper strewn along trails because of the lack of privies. The issue is largely the same in Georgia due to the massive bubble of people passing through. Often, hikers are new to trail and don’t yet know proper Leave No Trace etiquette for burying their business.
So, I decided to do away with toilet paper entirely on my thru-hike and use only the Culo Clean Bidet. The bidet looks like a tiny water bottle cork. You screw it into the top of a water bottle and then simply squeeze the bottle to get a stream of water. Think of it as a splashy way to wake up.
It fits the majority of water bottles, including Smartwater bottles. I used my bidet with the Smartwater bottle designated for unfiltered water (before I filtered it with a Sawyer into my clean water bottle.) Yes, it’s a little gross to use a water bottle to clean your butt — but I did this the entire hike and did not get or give anyone else norovirus.
My routine was to dig a cathole (at least 200 feet from any water source) and then spray my butt with water, before wiping with moss, leaves or rocks. Finally, I’d apply vaseline. I got awful butt chafe in the summer as a result of the humidity and sweat, so when you’re already cleaning your butt — so might as well take care of that too!
Another benefit of a backpacking bidet is that it’s economical. Paying $9.99 for one bidet that you use over and over is eventually cheaper than continually buying new toilet paper.
The Culo Clean is more environmentally friendly, too, in that you’re not using paper — so less trees are chopped down! I think it’s a beautiful thing to use something naturally provided by nature to clean yourself, rather than relying on something man made that leads to deforestation.
Globally, 27,000 trees are cut down each day to make toilet paper. And, according to the World Wildlife Fund, the United States currently dominates in toilet paper consumption.
There’s something really depressing about using toilet paper at the foot of living trees. With a bidet, as you’re walking through nature on your hike, you can poop assured that your butt is not contributing to deforestation. Nor, do you have to pack out used toilet paper!
One of the only cons of the Culo Clean is that it can be tricky when hikers find themselves in a low water situation. I’ve had a few times where I had to choose between pooping or drinking the rest of my water, which is a little undesirable. It led to a few clenched butt walks to the next water source.
When using a bidet, make sure you are mindful of where you are taking water from. Taking water from a flowing perennial stream — wonderful! Taking water from a water cache put there for all hikers to use — not so great!
Even if you don’t have enough water to fully clean your butt — you can use moss, leaves, smooth rocks. Rocks sound painful, but I swear, it’s just as good as toilet paper. Just find the smooth ones. There is always an option that uses LNT principles and keeps our trails clean and beautiful — just like your butt after converting to a bidet.
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail and they're looking forward to the Pacific Crest Trail next summer!
Sometimes, I think about what would happen if the world was ending and I ran out of contacts. I would squint for days on end. I thought about experiencing the same inconvenience on my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and decided to switch from contacts to glasses. Here are three reasons why I have no regrets.
I find it difficult to keep my hands clean on backpacking trips. In the past, on weekend backpacking trips that only lasted two days, I would wear contacts. I would wake up in the early morning and poke my eye repeatedly in the dark, trying to place my contacts.
If I washed my hands with hand sanitizer, then my eyes would sting from the hand sanitizer residue. If I washed my hands in a stream, then I would worry about some pathogen in the water getting into my eye. If I didn’t wash my hands, then I’d worry about pink eye or some other nasty infection. One of the worst things to wake up to in the morning on a backpacking trip is your eye crusted shut and your depth perception shot. Try going down a rocky descent without knowing how far away the rocks are — not pleasant.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable carrying only contacts on a thru-hike. If I had decided to wear contacts, then I would have brought my glasses as well anyways. I would worry about my contacts splitting or an eye infection, and would want backup — and if I’m going to be carrying my glasses, I might as well just use them.
Additionally, I did not want to carry the trash created by using contact lenses. You’d have to pack out the container they come in, the contact lenses themselves, and an additional container to store them in — not to mention saline solution! With glasses, I didn’t have to worry about any of these additional things.
On my AT thru-hike, I rolled off my Nemo Sleeping Pad every morning, popped my glasses on my face, did some stretches, drank a protein shake — and I was ready to go.
Glasses are also helpful for when you need to get up out of bed in the middle of the night. I can just throw them on when I need to pee and not have to worry about twisting my ankle in a ditch because I’m blind.
Additionally, I’m usually a forgetful person on a thru-hike, and I would most likely forget that I’m wearing contacts and sleep with them in — which is not the healthiest for your eyes and could lead to an infection.
Lastly, I never had to worry about receiving new shipments of contacts, and the associated coordination that goes along with that on a thru-hike.
About six months before my thru-hike, I invested in a pair of Roka glasses, which are designed for running and outdoor activities. This got me used to wearing glasses in day-to-day life. The Roka glasses are lightweight and have grips on them to keep them from sliding down your face. However, I wouldn’t entirely recommend them, since they gave me headaches until I put silicone covers over the arms. That said, they’re a hardy pair of glasses, which is what I was looking for.
The downsides to glasses on a thru-hike are the same as in regular life. When it rains, to prevent my glasses from getting wet (and obscuring my vision), I wear a baseball-style cap. I also typically put the hood up on my rain jacket.
However, this method still has its flaws. A chain of events would occur: I run into a rain-soaked branch, curse a lot, get a bunch of wet leaves on my face, and then I can’t see anything because my glasses are wet. I try to clean them off with my bandana, but my bandana is soaked. I look for other options — my shirt (sweat soaked), my rain jacket (just does not work), my shorts (also soaked.) Nothing works.
On sunny, hot days where I’m sweating a lot, I wear a buff to keep my glasses from sliding down my face. I also find that routinely wiping the sweat off my nose with a bandana keeps them from sliding so much.
During my thru-hike, I was careful with where I put my glasses when I slept, so they wouldn’t get broken.
Finally, make sure to book an eye doctor’s appointment before your hike so you can enjoy the trail in all its unblurry beauty!
I wore my glasses for my entire AT thru-hike and enjoyed experiencing the beauty of the trail in perfect clarity without having to poke my eyes.
Abby Evans, or S.W. Fireball Queen of the Salamanders, enjoys thru-hiking, jumping in mud puddles and catching salamanders. When they're not doing these three things, they love to write about their on-foot adventures. They recently finished the Appalachian Trail and they're looking forward to the Pacific Crest Trail next summer!
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