Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
The Wonderland Trail circles Mount Rainier, the highest peak in Washington (14,411 ft / 4,392 m) and the most glaciated mountain in the contiguous United States. During its 93 mile (150 km) course, it passes through a diverse collection of Read More …
Ticks are about as popular as Auntie Mabel’s fruitcake at Christmas time. These sneaky bloodsuckers can carry viruses, bacteria, and parasites, and alongside mosquitos are at the top of the vector class when it comes to disease transmission. Unfortunately, they Read More …
The Cascadia is Brooks’ signature trail running shoe. A well-cushioned, neutral support shoe with reliable traction, I’ve hiked in every version of the Cascadia since the 3rd edition was released in 2008. Over the years Brooks has made a lot Read More …
As many of my US readers will be aware, the REI Anniversary Sale is now underway. This is a great opportunity to save on any wishlist backpacking gear you may have been thinking about while stuck indoors during the lockdown. Read More …
Hiking downhill is often taken for granted. In the minds of some, it represents the equivalent of “backcountry gravy”; the reward that follows the exertion of a challenging ascent. Yet hiking downhill takes its toll. Twists, slips and tumbles are Read More …
Since the early 2000s, I’ve applied ultralight principles to all of my backpacking trips around the globe. From deserts to jungles and from alpine regions to arctic tundra, lightening and simplifying my load has made a significant difference to the Read More …
Mount Kailash (6,638 m / 21,778 ft) is Asia’s holiest mountain. Located in the far reaches of western Tibet, for centuries it has been an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists, and members of the Bon and Jain faiths. Many pilgrims Read More …
Cabin fever is beginning to set in. On your 4.30 am walks around the neighbourhood streets, you’ve started carrying a potty trowel. Upon returning home, you’re eating your morning cereal out of a reconstituted Talenti Ice Cream jar, and during Read More …
Dear Readers, As some of you may have noticed, in recent weeks we’ve been doing some upgrades for “The Hiking Life” website. Unfortunately, earlier today some legacy posts (four in total) from the early 2010s were inadvertently resent as new Read More …
Sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest country in the world. Famous for its private banks and castles, this tiny Alpine principality is also home to a classic hiking trail by the name of the Liechtenstein Panoramaweg Read More …
Are you tired of compromising on campsites, trail diet, and the pace at which you hike? Here are fourteen reasons you might consider giving friends and significant others the flick, and instead team up with a donkey on your next Read More …
The end of 2019 saw the release of Wanderlust USA, my third book with gestalten publications. In a nutshell, it’s a 320-page coffee table book that features 30 terrific hikes from around the United States. Among the eclectic collection are Read More …
Overall I was happy with my gear selections for the Long Crossing. During the seven day trip we encountered inclement weather over the last day or two, but for the most part conditions were excellent. Nighttime temps at some of Read More …
Just off the coast of northern Norway in the Arctic Circle lies a legendary archipelago by the name of Lofoten. A combination of deep fjords, windswept beaches, jagged peaks and picture-postcard villages, its staggering beauty has long been celebrated in Read More …
“Nine out of ten people who visit the outdoors are uninformed about Leave No Trace and minimizing their impacts.” ~ Ben Lawhon, Education Director LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics Leave No Trace (LNT) principles are like the golden rules of Read More …
Six years ago I put together a whimsical list of 10 songs about walking; or more specifically tunes that included “walk“, “walkin‘” or “walking” in their respective titles. On my recent trip to the Alps, I jotted down a bunch Read More …
In August, 2017, I hiked an approximately 600 km (373 mi) route across Bolivia’s Altiplano region. An otherworldly landscape of salt flats, volcanoes, fantastical rock formations and coloured lakes, to the best of my knowledge it was the first time Read More …
Located in northeastern Italy, the Dolomites are one of Europe’s most dramatic mountain ranges. A combination of serrated limestone peaks, sheer cliffs, shimmering alpine lakes and deep, narrow valleys, they have long been a magnet for geologists, travellers and outdoor Read More …
As another decade draws to a close, I look back with an appreciative smile. Over the past ten years my journeys taken me from the snow-capped peaks of Peru to the Aurora Borealis of Arctic Norway, and from the pristine Read More …
This year’s book list has been revised and significantly expanded, and to make things easier on the sorting front, I’ve divided the works into eight different categories: Educational, Guidebooks, Humour, Inspirational, Literature, Memoirs, Philosophy and Ultralight. All of the more Read More …