You’ve hiked seven miles in the blazing hot sun on a humid day. Every last drop of your water is gone. In a desperate attempt to hydrate, you cup your hands beneath creek water and lift it to your mouth. It is in this moment when you regretted not...
Articles
The Outdoor Essential You Might be Missing: Gripper Spikes for Shoes and Boots
When was the last time you lost your footing while exploring the greater outdoors? For most, it happens at least once every hike. Loose gravel, dew-covered grass, mud, ice and even undulating surfaces have the potential to cause a nasty slip and fall. The...
Why Every Hiker Needs a Backpack Water Filter
Imagine hiking deep into the wilderness only to realize you’ve lost your water bottle. You frantically search the area yet there’s no sign of your precious H2O. What do you do? If you prepared accordingly, you would reach into your backpack and find your trusty water...
Why I Have My Kids Camp in the Backyard at Least Once a Year
If the thought of telling your kids to sleep in the backyard seems absurd, ruminate on the idea for a couple minutes. Take a moment to consider the extent of modern parents’ handholding. If you are like most parents, aunts and uncles, you are a bit of a...
Every Hiker Needs a Headlamp
Unexpected surprises are the “magic” of hiking. Venture out for a hike and you are nearly guaranteed to see something new and interesting. As every veteran hiker knows, wayward adventurers expect the unexpected. In some cases, those surprises take the form...
A Reflection on My Time in the Woods: 4 Decades of Hiking and Camping
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” – Henry David Thoreau In Dream Catcher, a tell-all book by Margaret Salinger, the author shared a tidbit of wisdom served up by...
9 Boat Maintenance Tips That Have the Potential to Save Your Boat and Your Life
Boating is likely the most dangerous thing you do next to driving your car. It’s easy to forget about the threats that lurk below when you are basking in the sun on your boat. Take the proper precautions and you’ll remain safe and secure on the water. Here’s how to...
Why I’m Sticking With My Trad Bike Instead of an E-Bike
Surf the web and you’ll find a fissure emerging among bike owners: half enjoy traditional bicycling while the other half are leaning toward high-tech e-bikes. Some have fully pivoted to e-bikes, trading in their non-motorized bicycles for speedy electronic...
Bear Spray 101: Why Carry It and What to Look For
Think quick! A bear is staring you down from less than 20 feet away. What do you do? If you are like most people, your first thought is to run away as fast as you can. That’s the worst thing you can do when a bear is eyeing you down. Instead of...