If you drive into Gardiner, Montana, after the hustle and bustle of the short three months of summer, you’ll notice a tranquility settle upon the town. The locals relax, the wildlife wanders in from the park, and the crowds disappear. Glancing at the passing license plates, the traffic is distinctly…
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5 Backpacking Skills to Master in the New Year
If you’re new to backpacking and you’ve done a short trip or two, you might be eager to try a more challenging hike. Maybe you want to do a longer trip and backpack for a week or longer. Or, perhaps you’d like to explore a place that’s more remote and…
11 Tips for Winter Camping
If you typically put away your camping gear during the winter and leave it stowed until spring, you’re missing out on some great days in the outdoors. During the winter, the bare trees reveal mountain views you just can’t get in the warmer months, and the cold conditions drive off…
Trekking Through One of the Least-Visited Regions of Mexico
It’s closing in on noon, and the day couldn’t be more perfect. The morning started out in a cool, mist-covered shroud, but now the sun is shining bright, trickling down as the pine-needled carpeted trail gently meanders uphill, past peeling madronas draped with Spanish moss. The thin air up at…
14 Awesome Places to Camp in Tennessee
There’s nothing quite like sleeping out in the great outdoors with a campfire crackling nearby and the stars twinkling in the sky. From the quiet beauty of the Tellico River to the incredible hiking opportunities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Volunteer State is full of waterfalls, mountains, and…
6 Top Spots for Winter Camping in and Around Charlotte
Here in the Carolinas, we may feel a twinge of envy when the flakes fly up north, but it passes quickly when crisp, clear weather and a surprising number of mountain and lakeside campsites close to Charlotte make it so easy to enjoy winter camping. In fact, with warm-weather crowds…
Backpacking the Westernmost Section of the Florida Trail: A 32-Mile Trip Along a National Seashore
By the time cool October winds begin to blow across mountainous landscapes, hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest Trail are scrambling to wrap up their seasons. But across the country, another long-distance trail is marking the start of its season: the Florida Trail. Spanning…
Tips on Preventing and Treating Blisters
What’s a hiker’s worst and most common enemy? Bears? Weather? No! It’s the common, but painful, blister. Even a short day hike can seem like a death march when you have blisters, but there are ways to prevent this suffering, or at least reduce the pain. The key is to…
The Ten Essentials: What They Are and Why You Need Them for Every Hike
The 2,140-acre Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville has long enchanted hikers, campers, and cyclists with its vibrant fall foliage, scenic trails, and resplendent views. Yet a relaxing day at the park can quickly turn sour. A 24-year-old hiker experienced this firsthand in February 2017, when she went missing after…
7 Tips for Camping with Kids
Did you switch out the car seats into the SUV? Did you pack sunscreen? What about bug spray? Oh shoot, we need to bring Lil’ Bear or else Ella will be in full-on riot mode at bedtime. All parents know how difficult it can be to just get out the…