Top Rucksacks for Backpacking

You may be planning your first backpacking adventure or perhaps you just love travelling and discovering new exotic places but either way you want a rucksack or backpack that is going to last throughout your entire trip and hopefully many more to come, plus one that sits comfortably on your shoulders too as you’ll be wearing it for a long time and no doubt acquire souvenirs along the way making the overall weight much heavier.  One manufacturer that stands above the rest when it comes to … [Read more...]

Backpacking Travel Essentials

As any backpacking trip can last for a few weeks to months, or even a couple of years if you are able to truly get lost in the discovery of new places then it’s no surprise you’re going to want gear that will last you through your journey as there’s no telling what wear and tear will happen.  The main item anyone needs when backpacking is obviously a backpack or a rucksack as it will hold everything you need throughout your trip but one issue is finding a durable bag that has the … [Read more...]

Some of the Best Hiking Destinations in North America

Hiking is one of the most enjoyable activities that we can ever hope to experience. Every year, millions of enthusiasts find themselves enchanted with the unbridled feel of the open trail, the wind through their hair and the sun on their face. We all have a deep, instinctual connection to the land and the wildlife around. Hiking through the wilderness is an excellent way to remember that we are all part of the same planet. However, let us not forget that many of us enjoy hiking due to the sheer … [Read more...]

There’s Rattlesnakes Among Us: Backpacking To Wolf Laurel Top

Brett (aka Therm Rider) and I start the hike at the Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead which gives us a bonus 1.7 mile hike this afternoon. We reach the Appalachian Trail after a gradual climb of 0.7 miles. After a mile descent, we meet up with Ken (aka Beer Run) at Neel's Gap. He's been watching our packs and the 20 bikers that rolled in to the parking area this afternoon. Bears are active and aggressive in this area. Parts of the Blood Mountain Wilderness have mandatory bear canister rules in … [Read more...]

Hard Labor Creek State Park – Campsite #2

Schools out in a week, so we decided to squeeze in one last camping trip with the kids before summer.  We had a total of 12 people (5 adults and 7 kids) - so a group site was a necessity.  A friend (and fellow Scout leader) recommended Hard Labor Creek State Park and we lucked out with an upgrade to Pioneer Campsite #2 - which was right on the water. Campsite #2 And to make things even easier, we were able to drive in to the site and unload right next to the picnic shelter. Scattered … [Read more...]

A Spring Hike To Coosa Bald (Via The Duncan Ridge Trail)

Sixteen years ago, The Ox and I did a winter ascent of Coosa Bald (4,271 feet) via a spur off the Coosa Backcountry Trail.  I remembered a few campsites scattered near the summit and decided to return via a much shorter route this time. Coosa Bald is located near (and approachable from) Vogel State Park, and we stopped at Neel's Gap a few miles South of the park.  The store was busy on this cool and clear weekend, and The Weasel snapped this photo of hiking boots hanging in the trees … [Read more...]

Bear Grylls – What do you get out of backpacking?

Backpacker Magazine recently ran a survival issue where they featured Bear Grylls throughout the October 2012 issue.  I admit to watching many of Bear's Man v's Wild series and to finding it entertaining.  But something that he said in the interview struck me, and really rings true in the wilderness.  The backcountry really does have a way of breaking you down and revealing the "real you".  Here's the exact quote...."Question: What do you get out of … [Read more...]