St. Lucia & The Pitons

February 15, 2026 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia is a breathtaking sovereign island nation in the Eastern Caribbean that is famous for its twin volcanic peaks known as the Pitons. The terrain is lush, mountainous, and it has spectacular and often dramatic sunsets to the west from the town of Soufriere.   I landed in St. Lucia after reading up on the plane about the island history and the hiking trails on the island. St. Lucia is a former British and French territory that gained independence in 1979 after changing hands … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking Articles, Carribbean Hikes, Hiking News, International Hikes, Panoramic Views, Summit Views Tagged With: ,

Backpacker Magazine – End Of An Era

December 19, 2022 By Leave a Comment

I’ve been reading Backpacker Magazine since 1992. Just heard this week that they will discontinue the print version. What a bummer. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backcountry Writing, Backpacking Adventures, Backpacking Articles

The Jolly Roger

September 12, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Birdshooter-Country Club-The Camel

Two of my backpacking friends had milestone birthdays in 2021, and we had grand plans to celebrate on distant mountains in the western U.S.  But after numerous attempts to synchronize schedules, we settled on a road trip to The Camel's mountain house near Hays, N.C. to celebrate his 60th.  Here we are pulling into his driveway after a long drive from Atlanta. The Camel had neighbors over when we arrived.  So we had a few beverages with them and enjoyed the sunset from the back … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Backpacking Adventures, Backpacking Articles, Cows, Grayson Highlands State Park, Hiking Articles, Jefferson National Forest, National Forest, Panoramic Views, State Parks, Uncategorized, Wild Horses, Wildlife

The Appalachian Trail @ 25 Years

July 24, 2020 By Leave a Comment

It's been 25 years since I set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.  Time has moved exponentially since then, and I now appreciate that there are a few pivotal years in your life. 1994 was the year for me. In the winter of 1994 I lived in Chicago.  I moved to Illinois from North Carolina and as a 20 something enjoyed the conveniences of this large city - walking to restaurants, bars, friend's houses, and taking the short train rides to Cubs and Bears games.    … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backcountry Writing, Backpacking, Backpacking Articles, Backpacking Trails, Backpacking Videos, Long Distance Backpacking, Long Distance Hiking, Photo Journals, Photos

Tough Times & Sassafras Mountain

April 19, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Russell Bridge Trailhead 9-15-01

There was a period nearly 20 years ago when times were tough.  Airlines stopped flying, people stopped working, and the media spouted doom and gloom on cable TV for 24 hours a day.  It was 9/11/01 and my first impulse was to get to the wilderness.  So when the weekend came - that is exactly what we did.  Here we are at the Chattooga River trailhead in 2001. Tough times are here again – albeit in a very different scenario.  Stay at home orders are in place, schools are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backcountry Writing, Backpacking Articles, Backpacking With Kids, Backpacking With Your Dog, Camping With Kids, Camping With Your Dog, Hiking Articles, Hiking With Kids, National Forest, Photo Journals, Photos, Thru-Hiker, Trip Reports, With Dogs, With Kids

Episode 62B: Backpacker Feud

March 27, 2019 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 62, we discuss a dozen ways to die in the backcountry - based on an article published in Backpacker magazine and recently updated on their online website. In the show, Beer Run and Therm Rider join me for a "Backpacker Feud" (patterned after the TV game show) to name the top ten killers in the backcountry. Not to make light of the top dangers in the wilderness ... but they are worth knowing and you'll most certainly be surprised by what is NOT on the list. This podcast was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking, Backpacking Articles, Backpacking Discussions, Hiking Safety, Humor, Mishaps, Podcasts

The Best Packs For Backpacking

February 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment

We spend a lot of time recommending to each other the best hikes to head out on. When we do it, we give a lot of advice about things to see and do on the walk. We talk about the difficulty of the terrain, and the scenery to look out for on the way. We point out all the landmarks that will help us stay on track, and all the great places to eat or drink when we’re stopping for refreshments. We might even impart a little wisdom on the best gear to take along for the journey; what kind of clothing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking Articles, Gear, Hiking Articles, Hiking Gear, Long Distance Backpacking
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