I have been espousing how much camping adds to the outdoor experience. However, there is one aspect of camping that is never fun, which is waking up in the middle of the night with the need to relieve oneself. There is no way to candy coat having to climb out of a comfy sleeping bag, […]
On a Hike or Climb: Dog or No Dog?
A powerful answer from an incredible rescue story The concerns a dog owner should consider before deciding whether to bring their dog on a hike are best illustrated with a true story: Missy the Wonderdog from August 2012. Missy was a German shepherd/Rottweiler mix weighing in at 112 pounds. Here’s what happened. Missy’s owner and […]
How to Build a Campfire
In backpacking, campfires are the answer, who cares what the question is? Camping with a campfire is magical. The warmth of the radiating coals, the glow reflecting off friends’ faces, and the hypnotic effects of the flickering flames encourages peacefulness, deeper conversations, and a meditative mood. There are some techniques to make campfires easy and […]
String and Duct Tape Belong in Every Hiking Pack
Whenever a hike will be longer and more remote than a walk, I take a pack with basic items like water, a small first aid kit, an extra layer of clothing and rain jacket … and string and duct tape. That holds true on overnight backpacking as well. Why? What follows isn’t theory, I have […]