Our Second Bikepacking Trip
Backpacking the Rae Lakes Loop
Sometimes, things don’t work out according to plan, and you have to adjust. Then things don’t go to the new plan, so you adjust again. This is how we ended up hiking the Rae Lakes Loop. We had much grander …
Our First Bikepacking Trip
Before I was ever a thru-hiker, I was a bike commuter. This was mostly out of necessity, as I didn’t own a car for nearly a decade. The more time went on, the more I grew to love traveling by …
7 Things No One Tells You about Returning to Real Life after a Thru-Hike
1. You’ll be really hungry for awhile Even though you’ve stopped burning more than double your “normal” amount of calories every day, your body takes some time to catch up to that reality. Most hikers find themselves gaining back all …
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Grand Canyon: Rim to River on the Tanner Trail
Wanting to explore more routes to the river in the Grand Canyon after our trip down the Hermit Trail in 2020, Paul and I returned in October 2021 along with our friends Randy and Bill to hike down the Tanner …
Long-Term Review: Platypus QuickDraw vs Sawyer Squeeze Water Filters
Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links at Backcountry or REI, I earn a small commission at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my website. …
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20 Tips for Spending Less Money on a Thru-Hike
Don’t run out of money on your thru-hike! Even if you are on a very tight budget, you can still complete a thru-hike on a shoestring. Below are some strategies I have used for spending less money while on the …
How Much do I Need to Save for a Thru-Hike?
A common question with an uncommon and variable answer. How much do you need? Follow these steps to calculate your number.
Bryce Canyon: Hiking Every Trail in the Front Country
Bryce Canyon is special. Despite a fascinating landscape, this National Park is nestled between some decidedly more famous destinations. The Grand Canyon, Zion, and Arches National Parks practically surround Bryce Canyon. Within each of those parks is a veritable city, …
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Grand Canyon: Rim to River on the Hermit Trail
This would be our first time venturing off the main corridor trails of the Grand Canyon.
The Cochise Stronghold of the Dragoons
Spring 2023 – our third time to the Dragoons. We’ve camped at the Eastern Stronghold and hiked up to the divide, and now we’re returning to the Western Stronghold to approach the divide from the other side. This section of …
More Sky Islands: Traversing the Rincons
After our bushwhacking trip through the Chiricahuas, Paul and I were in the mood for some manicured trail for awhile. The Arizona Trail and the Sky Islands Traverse share a route over several of the mountain ranges closest to Tucson. …
MYOG Comparison: The Ray-Way Pack vs. The Mountain Flyer
I’ve probably sewed more backpacks than any other piece of gear, and all of them were Ray-Way, Mountain Flyer, or some slightly modified version of either one. Both make suitable backpacks for a hiker traveling light, and both can be …
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Blown Away on Old Baldy
We’ve been to the Santa Ritas many times, frequently day hiking but also on a couple backpacking trips. Also known as Mount Wrightson and sometimes Old Baldy, the name(s) of its highest peak, the Santa Rita range lies to the …
CDT Sample Gear List
If I were to thru-hike the CDT again, this is the gear list I would start with.