Category: Outdoor Resources
Winter can be a challenging season, even in ordinary times. Cold weather forces many people inside, making staying active more difficult. Inactivity and prolonged periods indoors comes with a whole host of issues, including higher levels of depression and more frequent illness. Concerns about COVID-19 spikes and continued separation from friends and family make […]
The need to get outside and break free from our homebound life is acute this winter. If you’re living in a snow-bound world or plan to drive to one, a pair of snowshoes can open up new doors of exercise, adventure, and escape. It’s a booming pastime—early numbers are showing a dramatic increase in […]
Winter is here, and with it, a certain stillness. Birds’ spring and summer songs are on hiatus and many have migrated beyond Appalachian Mountain Club’s region. Yet plenty remain; flying, foraging, flocking, and communicating with distinct calls. While not as mellifluous as their songs, the birds’ winter language is yours for the hearing—and recording. […]
Leave No Trace is more than just not throwing your granola bar wrapper on the ground. It also means leaving the landscape in its most natural state by not moving, removing, or damaging in any way rocks, plants, trees, and other items native to an area. In other words, no matter the season, leave areas […]
Spending time outdoors is great for both your mental and physical health, and it’s a lot of fun. But even with all that nature offers us, it’s important to recognize our own impact on the environment and spaces we enjoy when heading outdoors—and do our best to minimize it. For nearly 150 years, AMC […]
We all remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Put simply, treat others the way you would like to be treated. This proverb extends to our relationships with fellow hikers, climbers, campers, and paddlers and sums up the seventh and final Leave No Trace principle. “Each […]
When humans leave cities and towns and venture into the backcountry, we are, in a very real way, visitors in someone else’s home. Countless animals, birds, fish, and insects inhabit the natural spaces we love, and our very presence can throw off delicately balanced ecosystems built over millennia. Protect your food Over time, […]
Historically, the campfire was a necessity for warmth and cooking, while today it’s become culturally synonymous with the outdoor experience. But the proliferation of lightweight and high-quality camp stoves, combined with deeper knowledge about the ecological impacts fires have on natural spaces and the environment, mean that fires are no longer a necessity in […]
Health and safety go hand in hand with humans’ environmental impact. By planning a trip ahead of time, you consider all the factors that go into its success and identify ways to lessen your impact on the areas you plan to visit. “The impacts of poor planning can be significant,” says Alex Delucia, Leave […]
When spending time outdoors, it’s important to minimize your impacts on the fragile ecosystem you are visiting. Take the Alpine Garden just below Mount Washington’s summit: among the boulders grow Alpine azaleas and Lapland rosebay, small but essential plants that may withstand the mountain’s famously strong winds, but not the tread of hiking boots. […]
According to Leave No Trace principles, anything that does not belong in nature in the first place should be carried out. This “pack in, pack out” philosophy applies to trash and food waste, human and domesticated animal waste, soaps, lotions, and other products. “Human waste is a hazard to public health and also attracts […]
The following is an excerpt from AMC’s Real Trail Meals by Ethan and Sarah Hipple. Double Chocolate Granola Bars Makes: 12 bars Weight: 1.85 lbs. vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, make at home Ingredients 1½ cups rolled oats 1 cup slivered almonds 2 cups pitted dates ¾ cup cocoa powder ¼ cup maple syrup ¼ cup […]
With the summer air warm and the water cool, it’s always tempting to jump in for a swim in a river. Swimming in rivers can be great fun, but before you take the plunge, pause to consider the nature of flowing water.
The following is an excerpt from AMC’s Mountain Skills Manual. Once you have found the perfect site for your camp, you have the task of putting together your tent or sleeping shelter. Before you set up, it is essential to know a few knot-tying skills that will help you when you’re getting your camp ready. […]
Adhering to physical distancing and stay-at-home advisories means we’ve hopefully all postponed the weekend day hikes along a popular route or even the afternoon escapes to crowded local parks, farms, and nature preserves. While we know we’re doing the right thing and that this quarantine won’t last forever, we still sometimes feel cooped up and […]
Dr. Tom: How do I recognize and treat waterborne illness in the backcountry? Safe drinking water is a vital component of any successful outdoor trip for proper hydration. While it may be necessary at times, anyone who drinks surface water in the backcountry is at risk to develop a waterborne illness, regardless of how […]
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 […]
Properly layering your clothing is essential to staying warm and comfortable in the cold. A simple mnemonic device can help you remember the basics of dressing for winter activities outdoors. W is for Wicking. First you’ll want a (non-cotton!) next-to-skin base layer that is both warm and effective at moving body-chilling moisture (a.k.a. your sweat) […]
Winter transforms a trail. The hiking is beautiful, and snow can cover and even out rocky, rooty paths, sometimes making them easier than in the other seasons. At the same time, deep drifts make some areas impassible without snowshoes, and steep slopes can become icy slides. Hikers should venture out with the season’s beauty, and its […]
Obtaining an accurate measurement of a mountain’s elevation has become something of an obsession among hikers. Whether you’re tagging New Hampshire’s 48 peaks above 4,000 feet, the 46 4,000-footers in New York’s Adirondacks, or each state’s high point, your list is ultimately determined by elevation. But how, exactly, do geodesists—scientists who measure and monitor Earth […]