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...]
How To Start A Fire With A Bag Of Doritos….
January 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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...]
You want the A.T. experience? Then get distracted.
January 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
National Parks Traveler recently published an article titled Hiking The Appalachian National Scenic Trail: It Takes More Heart than Heel". and it was stated that ... the key to success for young people is to keep the distractions down. The more you stay on the trail, the better. If you go into town too much, you're spending money, maybe on alcohol, and you're not hiking. Well - you definitely spend money in town, and some thru-hikers definitely throw back a beer or two while there (this one … [Read more...]
Episode 5: The Chattooga River Trail
December 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In Episode 5, Ken (aka The Weasel) discusses his experiences on the Chattooga River Trail which is a nearly forty mile route that borders the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and follows the banks of the Chattooga National Wild And Scenic River from Burrell's Ford to US 76. In the podcast, we discuss four separate sections of the trail, some historical points (including Ellicott Rock and Commissioner Rock), some scenic waterfalls (including Spoonauger Falls and Kings … [Read more...]
Episode 4: The Chilkoot Trail
October 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In Episode 4, Roger (aka The Camel) speaks about The Chilkoot Trail which is a 33 mile route that starts in Dyea, Alaska (near Skagway) and ends at Lake Bennett, British Columbia. The Chilkoot Trail is a walk back in time. It follows the trail that the stampeders used to reach the Yukon River and float their provisions to the gold fields of the Klondike over a hundred years ago. Many artifacts from the 1890’s still litter the trail and there is great diversity along the way including … [Read more...]
Episode 2: The Foothills Trail (Gorges Section)
June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In Episode 2, John (aka The Kidd) talks about the Gorges Section of the Foothills Trail in western North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina. In this phone interview, The Kidd talks about our 2001 Foothills Trail hike (and the 10th anniversary of the trip) which took us through a 45 mile section of the 76 mile trail over the course of three days in the Spring of 2001. The Foothills Trail traverses the the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of … [Read more...]
Episode 1: The John Muir Trail
April 10, 2011 By 4 Comments
In Episode 1 (the inaugural episode) of the N2Backpacking podcast series, I speak with Glenn and Susan about their adventures on the John Muir Trail (JMT) in 2006. The Helmet and Doughgirl talk about their preparations, planning, logistics, gear and favorite stops on the John Muir Trail which traverses a portion of the High Sierra in Northern California. The John Muir Trail follows the Sierra Nevada mountain range for 210 miles … [Read more...]
