The largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe is one of three pristine lakes in the US. The Tahoe Rim Trail meanders in a wide loop around Lake Tahoe for about 165 miles. While it circles the lake, …
Mount Jefferson Wilderness on the PCT
Last week, Paul and I flew up to Redmond, Oregon, to hike through the Mount Jefferson Wilderness on the Pacific Crest Trail. When we hiked in 2017, a fire closed a 35-mile segment of trail, and we’ve been thinking about …
Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon
Six years ago, Paul and I went to the Grand Canyon. It was our honeymoon, and only our second time backpacking together. We had many lessons to learn. Our packs were too heavy, Paul got heat exhaustion, and it took …
Recipe: Trail Coconut Peanut Noodles
Ramen is a thru-hiker staple, and people get pretty creative trying to dress up their noodles. One common trick is to add peanut butter. It’s tasty and really beefs up the calories. Piñata and I also add powdered coconut milk …
In the News and On the Books
It’s been a busy month around here! Piñata and I were written up in the local newspaper. You can check the article out here. I also continue to write for The Trek, and I recently wrote a comprehensive financial …
Recipes: Caloric Coffee Drinks
I love my coffee in the morning, but I don’t like heating water in the morning when I’m on the trail (unless it’s very cold out). I also don’t always like eating very first thing, but I know I need …
Gear Review: Olympus Tough Gear TG-4 Camera
I don't remember meeting anyone else who carried a point and shoot style camera on the trail. But, using the phone only has a lot of drawbacks, particularly in bad weather. So, without further ado, here are our thoughts on …
Gear Review: Gossamer Gear Kumo 36
Most ultralight backpacks are very minimal: main compartment, 3 external pockets, maybe a hip belt. The Gossamer Gear Kumo 36, on the other hand, packs in many features of a traditional pack, while still keeping total pack weight under 2 …
Recipe: Backcountry Spaghetti
I do not have a dehydrator, and we mostly resupply on-trail, so I’m not a treasure trove of backcountry recipes like some hikers are. However, we do usually send ourselves some resupply boxes and in our boxes we always try …
My CDT Mail Drop Recommendations
Contrary to what you may have heard, resupply on the CDT isn’t that different to or much more difficult than the PCT. Many of the alternates (and virtually all of New Mexico) even allow for on-trail resupply.
Gear Review: Enlightened Equipment Accomplice 2-Person Quilt
After trying one on the PCT last year, Paul and I determined we really enjoyed our 2 person quilt. We knew we would use another quilt for the CDT, but we wanted one that was warmer and more packable than …
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Gear Review: Why the Nitecore NU25 is my Favorite Headlamp
The Nitecore NU25 headlamp compared against the Petzl e+lite and Black Diamond ReVolt
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Long Term Gear Review: Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles (Costco Poles)
Trekking poles can be pretty expensive, especially if they are made from carbon fiber. After hiking the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, Paul and I were both in need of new trekking poles for the Continental Divide Trail, and neither …
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Gear Review – A Tale of Two Stoves: MSR Pocket Rocket 2 vs. Snow Peak LiteMax Titanium Stove
When it comes to backpacking stoves, there are a ridiculous amount of options out there, from super light to super heavy.
Gear Review: My Trail Company Storm UL Rain Jacket
The right rain gear for a thru-hike is important, but it can be difficult to strike the right balance between weight, function, and cost.
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Hiking Hammonds 