BirdShooter's Backpacking Blog & Podcast Series
You can follow or subscribe to this podcast by clicking here... Subscribe on Amazon Subscribe on Android Subscribe at Google Podcasts Subscribe at iHeart Radio Subscribe at iTunes Subscribe at Spotify Subscribe at Stitcher Subscribe at Blubrry (links for Android, iTunes, Email) Subscribe via RSS Follow via Facebook, Feedly, Google+, RSS, Yahoo, Twitter … [Read more...]
Just heard about this documentary that was shot on the John Muir Trail. It's #1 on my list of long trails to do and traverses some spectacular scenery in Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. The DVD was released in April 2012 and follows a group of students from the Southeast as they walk the 220 mile Trail in the High Sierra of California. But you can watch it here for free ... thanks to PBS and UNC-TV: Watch High Sierra - A Journey on the John Muir Trail on PBS. See … [Read more...]
Avoid hiking alone If you’re familiar with the Aron Ralston story, you’ll understand why you should never hike alone. Ralston, an avid outdoorsman and adventurist, became trapped in a slot canyon while hiking through Utah’s Blue John Canyon in April of 2003. While descending the slot canyon, a massive 800-pound boulder became dislodged, crushed his right hand and trapped him against the canyon wall. Not only was Ralston alone, but nobody was searching for him because he hadn’t … [Read more...]
In Episode 13, KC (aka 30-Pack) details his 2012 thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail that began at Springer Mountain in March and ended nearly 2,200 miles later at Mount Katahdin in September. In the podcast, KC talks about the birth of his trail-name, some of his favorite (and not so favorite) moments on the trail, the Wolf Pack and the social aspects of a thru-hike, and why the experience was so inspiring that he plans to set out once again this spring to hike the Pacific Crest Trail on the … [Read more...]
This is basically an advertisement for Andrew Skurka's new book "The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide," but it's well done - enough to share it. I gotta interview this guy for a podcast some day. He has to have some great stories to tell. … [Read more...]
I have used both stand-alone GPS units and Smartphone apps on the trail and have yet to resolve which is better. For short day hikes - the Smartphone apps win hands down for convenience and their instant access to trail databases from companies like the North Face. But in the backcountry? I tend to agree with this assessment by Backpacker Magazine gear editor, Kristin Hostetter: In a nutshell, here are the pros of using a smartphone with a navigation app: great for local hikes, daily activity … [Read more...]
In Scouts we were taught to start a fire with two matches, with batteries, steel wool, cotton/vaseline, and by rubbing two sticks together. But this is one thing that didn't make the Scout Handbook: … [Read more...]
