7+ hour, 15+ min ago  (734+ words) Backpacker Magazine Mosquitoes Are a Hiker's Nemesis. Here's What to Do When Bug Spray Isn't Enough. If you've never been bitten by a mosquito through your clothes, I assume you've never been to Maine. My dad, a born Mainer, used…...

1+ day, 3+ hour ago  (1598+ words) If you'd just retired and discovered an extra $72, 000 burning a hole in your pocket, you'd probably buy a boat or sports car. Curtis Jones decided to spend the entire sum on hats. To date, Jones has given away more than…...

1+ day, 2+ hour ago  (386+ words) In this choose-your-own-adventure-style one-way route in Olympic National Park, you'll wend your way through emerald coastal forest, across beaches, and up and over cliffs for ocean views that just don't quit. But most importantly, in March through May, you can…...

1+ day, 4+ hour ago  (362+ words) When he founded Backpacker in 1973, Bill Kemsley wanted to give hikers a few new heroes. He couldn't have imagined that he would become one of them. One morning in 1963, Kemsley was finishing breakfast on the Appalachian Trail when he discovered…...

1+ day, 5+ hour ago  (1068+ words) Every year, backpacking tents get lighter, stronger, and more sustainable. This season's batch of three-season shelters was no exception, with ultralight trekking pole-assisted designs, bombproof fortresses that can handle a freak snowstorm, and airy, spacious basecamps that pull double-duty in…...

3+ day, 6+ hour ago  (864+ words) Weight: 15. 7 oz (L) Sizes: S-XXL Pros and Cons + Versatile + Durable + Waterproof + Ski-friendly features " Warm above 50 degrees " Middling breathability Helly Hansen may have slashed weight, but it didn't skimp on features. Boyle loved the high collar, velcro cuff closures, and easily adjustable…...

3+ day, 1+ hour ago  (215+ words) On June 11, rescue crews discovered the body of a local Colorado man on 14, 158-foot Mount Sneffels. According to information released by the Ouray County Coroner this week, authorities believe that the hiker, identified as Brett Brockman-Goldstein, 32, of Montrose, passed away…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago  (449+ words) Backpacker Magazine It's Not Too Late to Get in Shape for Summer Hiking. These 5 Workouts Can Help. Did summer sneak up on anyone else, or just me? After a snowier-than-average May here in Denver, it's like a switch has flipped....

4+ day, 3+ hour ago  (608+ words) Backpacker Magazine These Pieces of Hiking Gear Survived Over 10, 000 Miles Backpacking gear is built to withstand hard use, but that doesn't mean it's indestructible. Spend enough time on the trail, and you'll experience gear failure in one form or another,…...

4+ day, 1+ hour ago  (590+ words) Before landing on a specific international thru-hike, adventurers should look at factors like shelter options, hiking season, terrain and overall logistics. Darrell "Encourager" Barrett and his wife, Linda "Miss Gamut" Barrett hike between 2, 000 and 3, 000 miles every year. Linda first got…...