In my quest to reach an ultralight base weight, one of the first hurdles I came to was replacing my old synthetic sleeping bag with a down bag. I knew I would easily spend over $400 on this endeavor, so this was not a decision I took lightly. I needed something that I could use…
This past May I hopped on a plane to Lima, Peru with one goal in mind, to hike the Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit. I got the idea in my head after returning from Nepal and spending too much time Googling “most beautiful hikes in the world.” I have always wanted to visit South America, and trekking…
I bought my Granite Gear Crown VC 60 last year because I wanted to lighten my base weight. This pack seemed to be a good option for easing into the world of ultra-light backpacking. I used it for four months last summer while working along the Appalachian Trail as a ridge runner, then again for…
A few weeks ago, my nephews and mom came to join me on the trail for a week of hiking. My mom already had a hundred or so miles of hiking experience, but this was the first time for the boys (ages 8 and 12). There were times where I could have never imagined a…
Leave No Trace is a huge part of life in the backcountry. Following Leave No Trace (or LNT) principles is how we ensure that the wilderness stays wild, not only so the next hikers can enjoy it, but so we don’t negatively impact the flora and fauna of the region. It’s vital that every hiker…
Most beginner backpackers are grossed out by the idea of packing out their toilet paper, and that’s OK. But it’s an important thing to do in order to preserve our wilderness. Occasionally, you might see bits of toilet paper off to the side of the trail. How gross would it be if every hiker was…
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is one of my favorite places in Colorado. I spent two months living there and working on a conservation corp to maintain the trails. While Rocky Mountain National Park or the Colorado Trail might seem like the more obvious options for backpacking, the Sand Dunes shouldn’t be…
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Wild for months now. I read the book two years ago after I finished hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I was absolutely thrilled when I found out there would be a movie. I had to wait for the movie to be released in my city, and this…
I’m a bit of a social media addict, so I was constantly taking photos and uploading them to Facebook during my thru-hike. Also, my mom liked to regularly receive reassuring text messages from me letting her know I was still alive. While it’s definitely nice to disconnect from the internet and telephone world for an…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrnqfE-agqI?rel=0] Hello, readers. I’ve been wanting to expand to video blogging for a while now, and this is my first attempt. Hopefully, this is the first of more DIY gear videos. If you’re trying to spend the least amount of money as possible on gear, you may want to consider making some of it…