By the rules of the outdoor industry, I shouldn’t have been having fun. I was picking my way over boulders in Missouri’s Cathedral Canyon, and I didn’t have a lick of fancy gear. Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, down coat—all of it was back home in Washington. I left it there when I came to St. […]
The Cost of Playing Outdoors Read More »
By Tyler McFarland Hayden, Idaho— For many of us, a pack on our backs and a rugged pair of shoes on our feet is the way to experience the natural world around us. The traveling American Long-Distance Hiking Association West (ALDHA-West) “Ruck” returns to Hayden, Idaho, for its 6th annual conference April 4. The event brings
Long-Distance Hiking Conference is Back Read More »
Sandpoint, Idaho— Downtown Sandpoint’s Outdoor Experience, or OE as it’s known to many of the outdoor gear store’s customers, has been a fixture of the community for decades. And thanks to new ownership the shop should be around for years to come. 32-year-old Jenny Curto of Sandpoint stepped up and bought Outdoor Experience from one
Long-time Gear Shop Changes Hands Read More »
I remember the first purchases that really defined me—those I bought with my own “hard earned cash” such as my first CDs, first car, first snowboard, and probably most importantly—my first backpacking pack. In 1995 I was 15 and in awe of a green Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) 55-liter internal frame. Before that monumental purchase,
That First Green Backpack Read More »
For most people, this 24-mile hike is a multi-day backpacking trip. A few hearty souls can hike the Enchantments in a day. But it’s well known for its physical challenges and roughly 5,000 feet of vert that include boulder hobbling, scree bounding, and a lot of nasty roots that make it quite an adventure. At
Anja Petterson Blazes through the Enchantments Read More »
The day before Mother’s Day in 2016, I decided to go for a 16-mile overnight backpacking trip with my friends Chris and Alex (plus my dog, Remi) to celebrate the beginning of the season and to make sure all our gear was in order for future trips. We decided on a thru-hike from Cashmere to
Acid Mountain Rescue Team Read More »
It was late fall in North Cascades National Park, and snow was already coating the high peaks. But on this particular day, the sun was shining. Temperatures were climbing into the 50s. Best of all, the hordes of summer backpackers who flock to the alpine glory of Copper Ridge were gone. The weather forecast called
Epic in a Day: Crushing the Copper Ridge Loop Read More »
I spent what seemed like an hour one night trying to get a rock tied to a length of cord lobbed over a branch from which to hang a sack of jerky, peanut butter, and other treats a bear would have loved to devour. After endless attempts and nearly beaning a buddy with a rock
Gear Review: Rock Sok Food Hanging System Read More »
While my go-to camp mattress has long been of the super-light, puncture-proof closed foam variety, many camping enthusiasts rightfully complain about limited comfort such pads provide. And for backcountry journeys where packing space is limited, like extended backpacking trips, fastpacking adventures, or bikepacking excursions, bulky foam pads can create packing challenges. Therm-a-Rest’s NeoAir UberLite Mattress,
Gear Review: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir UberLite Mattress Read More »
The two things that sold me on this single-person bikepacking tent vs carrying my standard ultra-light backpacking tent were two innovative features: shorter pole segments (12”) that make packing in panniers or lashing on handlebars easier, and a stuff sack with integrated daisy chain that means you can secure the tent in various ways without
Gear Review: Fly Creek Bikepacking Tent by Big Agnes Read More »
