Author: Matt Heid
Thousands of people have climbed all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers. Very few have tagged them all in one single continuous hike. In a recent post on SectionHiker.com, Philip Werner muses on the “White Mountain Direttissima.” The premise is simple: Summit all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks in one continuous hike without outside support. […]
There’s no doubt that boiling water makes it safe to drink—the high temperature kills all the aquatic baddies that might otherwise make you sick in the backcountry. But how long do you really need to boil water before its safe? Over the years I’ve heard any number of recommendations, from 5 minutes, to 1 minute, […]
Greenheads are a type of large biting fly that live in saltwater marshes from early July until early August. When they’re out in force, they can be a blood-sucking bane for beachgoers from North Carolina to Maine. Here’s what you can do to keep them at bay. Greenheads are big, roughly an inch long, and […]
Interested in a stove that weighs less than 3 ounces, burns in blissful silence, features no complicated moving parts, and uses a low-cost and widely available fuel? Plus is inexpensive, durable, and ultra-simple to use? Meet the alcohol stove, a featherweight cooker that can instantly shave a pound or more off your packweight. Its unique […]
When you’re shopping for an overnight backpack, the single-most important feature to look for is a good fit. And when it comes to fit, the most important element to get right is the waistbelt. If, however, you’ve got no hips, no outward curvature around your waist, then you may have a problem. I certainly do. […]
Neoprene wetsuits are an amazing invention, allowing wearers to stay warm in chilly waters that they would otherwise never be able to withstand for any length of time. But there’s a common myth about how they work, one I’ve heard repeated over and over again. The myth is this: Wetsuits keep you warm by trapping […]
My first climbing shoes squished my feet and crunched my toes in throbbing misery. I quickly learned that crushing toe pain isn’t exactly compatible with fun or motivation—and climbed a lot less as a result. My mistake? I went shopping with the misguided belief that climbing shoes should fit as tightly as possible for maximum […]
When it comes to packing food for the backcountry, protecting essential gear from moisture, or entombing a biohazard pair of smelly socks, there’s one item that does it all: Ziploc Freezer Bags. Ziploc is the brand name product line from SC Johnson. Zip-lock bags are from any of its myriad competitors. In my experience, they […]
There’s no question that a good pair of poles is a boon for staying on your feet and balanced while out snowshoeing, especially if you’re tromping around in uneven terrain or snow conditions. But what exactly is the difference between a pair of trekking poles and those marketed as “snowshoe” poles? Not much. They are […]
As an avid skate skier, I have been closely following the imminent arrival of winter, snow, and miles of beautifully groomed cross-country ski trails. Here are a few of the online resources I use to keep tabs on cross-country, or Nordic, ski centers across the region. Cross Country Ski Areas Association National organization that provides […]
I had the biggest wildlife encounter of my life last winter on the cross-country ski trails of Anchorage, Alaska. I skied by a moose calmly browsing in the willows near the trail. As I passed behind, it suddenly whirled without warning. Within a ski stride, the moose advanced almost close enough to stomp me with […]
Are you a bicyclist or runner? Do you want to reduce your chances of being hit by a car? Consider this: The brightest, most visible color you can wear during daylight hours is fluorescent yellow-green. Why? Human eyes are built to be most sensitive to that particular wavelength of light (~550 nanometers), at least during […]
These two hikes represent New England’s epic best—multi-day trips that offer spectacular scenery, outrageous trails, and eye-popping views. Text excerpted from my book, AMC’s Best Backpacking Trips in New England. Learn more this Thursday, May 27 at 7 p.m.—I’ll be giving a slide show and presentation at REI in Reading, Mass., to highlight favorite trips […]
Itching to start backpacking in the mountains at higher elevations? May trips are perfectly doable—you just need to have realistic expectations about the potential conditions. Learn more in the following post…or learn even more on Thursday, May 27 at 7 p.m. I’ll be giving a slide show and presentation at REI in Reading, Mass., to […]
On Thursday, May 27 at 7 p.m., I’ll be giving a slide show and presentation at REI in Reading, Mass., to highlight favorite trips and photos from my guidebook AMC’s Best Backpacking Trips in New England. (Here’s the REI listing for the show.) In the meantime, I wanted to share some of my favorite early-season […]
Your feet are your most important piece of hiking equipment. Keep them happy and you will be even more so. Displease them and you will suffer their bruised and blistered malice. Their fate rests in your hands—and it all starts with a proper fit for your hiking footwear. Boot Basics When shopping for hiking boots, […]
Blisters are almost always caused by friction on your feet, which usually occurs when your foot slips around inside your footwear. This is particularly common in the heel. Do you know how to prevent this? Here are some tips. If the back of your foot slides up and down every time you take a step, […]
Starting an emergency fire in the snow-covered winter backcountry can be a challenge. You can’t build a fire directly on top of the snow, which means you need to find or create alternative support for your nascent flame. Look for dry tree wells. The area immediately next to the trunk is usually the most sheltered […]
When I’m out on a long backcountry adventure, I aim to consume around 3,000 calories per day. This means that if my food averages 100 calories per ounce, I’m toting roughly 2 pounds (30 ounces) of food per day. If I’m out on a two-week backpacking trip with no options for resupply, that quickly adds […]
To be bear-proof, food must be suspended at least 10 feet off the ground and 8 feet from the trunk. To accomplish this: Carry 50-100 feet of thin cord. Look for a load-bearing branch 20-25 feet overhead that extends far enough from the trunk. Tie a rock or other heavy object to one end of […]