Category: Gear
All of us aspire to travel through the mountains unencumbered, but experienced backcountry travelers and outdoor professionals understand that you need to pack essential items to manage risks, be comfortable, and have fun while on the trails. To help you prepare for your next hiking or backpacking adventure, here’s a checklist of all the gear […]
This article was originally published in the Winter/Spring 2022 issue of Appalachia. Note: Please keep in mind that hikers should never rely on apps as their main form of navigation—bringing a paper map and compass is ideal. In her 2019 Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World (St. Martin’s Press), […]
This article was originally published in the 2017 edition of AMC’s Mountain Skills Manual. Whether you’re heading out for one night, a week, or an entire thru-hike, choosing the right backpack is essential to a good experience in the outdoors. All backpacks are basically a combination of a big fabric bag and a harness […]
Cross-country skiing is a passport to winter adventure. Whether it’s gliding through snow-spangled woods or a cardio-pumping cruise on groomed trails, every winter enthusiast should have a set of cross-country skis in their gear locker. Some specialized equipment is required but getting started is pretty straightforward. So before you head to your local ski shop—and […]
I’m looking around the circle of Girl Scouts and my eyes come to rest on my daughter who sits head in hands. She knows what’s coming. I did a dress rehearsal of my “how to pack for our backpacking trip” performance in our living room, and this part is not her favorite part. I […]
Nature is unpredictable, and any outing into the backcountry can present challenges and dangers. Preparation is key to preventing and treating injuries or navigating out of a tricky situation while hiking, paddling, or climbing. Packing the 10 essentials will set you up to address most unexpected challenges you may face outdoors. The key is to […]
A multitude of messages tell us we need the newest, nicest, and most expensive gear if we want to be comfortable (and look good!) in the rugged outdoors. We see this in advertisements from outdoor gear companies, on social media, and in person when we witness people being belittled because they don’t have the […]
Viewing animals in their wild, natural habitat is one of the most thrilling aspects of hiking and outdoor adventure travel. Coming away with photos that expertly capture these moments, whether using a smartphone or expensive digital camera, can be difficult, and it’s frustrating to giddily flip through freshly taken wildlife photos only to discover […]
Hiking in the winter demands more. More preparedness and more planning. More outdoor experience and ability, and—perhaps most easily overlooked—more time. The cold months require better decision-making and a more cautious mindset. The same trail you hiked in summer six months ago is a different world now. Just as a wind chill intensifies the cold, […]
When venturing out on a hike in the colder months, staying warm and safe with traction and proper layers are key differences from summertime adventures, but don’t underestimate the importance of eating the right foods and staying hydrated to keep your body warm and fueled. To help cut through the fads and bad advice, […]
Colder weather and shorter winter days draw mixed reactions from those who love the outdoors. For some, the snow and ice are a welcome change, kickstarting the winter sports season, while for others, it means time spent cozied up indoors by the fire. Whether you fall into one category or the other, or are […]
The COVID-19 pandemic, for all the turmoil it has caused, has also sparked a burst of interest in outdoor recreation for many people who had not taken to it before. Restrictions on activities such as eating at restaurants, working out at gyms, visiting museums, and shopping in malls have pushed many to step outdoors […]
With Americans leery of taking public transit and in need of a way to stay active with gyms closed, many have turned to bicycles as a mode of transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Google searches for “new bike” nearly doubled between May 2019 and May 2020, and bike shops and online retailers all over […]
Think about hiking footwear as a spectrum. On one end are low-cut and lightweight trail running shoes, which feature stiffer soles, grippier tread, and a tighter fit than their road-running shoe cousins. On the other end are heavy-duty, trail stomping hiking boots that feature a high ankle collar, tough and durable materials, and a […]
Protecting your skin from the sun is a no-brainer when it comes to the outdoors. The easiest method, sunscreen, is a top health tip for any activity, but new research connecting coral reef deterioration and water pollution to elevated levels of chemicals commonly found in sunscreens is presenting a challenge for consumers. But what exactly […]
The following is an excerpt from AMC’s Mountain Skills Manual. To reduce shoulder and hip discomfort, as well as to better organize and care for your equipment, it is best to load your pack by following some basic packing principles. We call these principles the ABCDs of packing. In this mnemonic, “A” stands for accessibility, […]
A properly pitched tent can protect you from adverse weather conditions and give you a comfortable night of sleep before or after an outdoor adventure. Before heading to your next campsite, it is important to familiarize yourself with your tent and practice setting it up at home. Here are the steps to get you started: […]
During a vigorous day hike, an adult may burn as many as 6,600 calories—but not all calories are created equal. Our bodies require a scientific combination of hard-working nutrients to sustain normal function. What’s the secret recipe? We asked Nicole Cormier, a registered dietitian whose clients include backpackers and athletes (and adviser on AMC’s Real […]
They’re out there in the Northeast: black bears. Lots of them, including in popular outdoor destinations like the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where an uptick of bear activity has led to multiple campground closures and posted trail warnings over the past few years. Thing is, it’s not the bears that are the problem—it’s the […]
The Northeast abounds with ponds, rivers, and streams that beckon both aspiring and veteran fly-fishers alike. To get started, it’s important to know the four core components of a fly-fishing rig—rod, reel, line, and flies—and how they work together to match the conditions, and the fish, you expect to encounter. Rods Fly-fishing poles come in […]