“Dream It. Do It.” Well, I couldn’t say it much better than that. My mom has always said that I needed “exertion.” I got cabin fever really easily when I was young (hell, I still do. . .), and if I didn’t get my daily exercise in I’d be bouncing off the walls. As I…
Trail Kitchen: Episode 1
What do you think of when I say “trail food?” For many people, the immediate thought is granola and Mountain House. But does it have to be this way? || The Realization: Food CAN be tasty on the trail || At the beginning of my backpacking adventures, I followed the conventional approach to “hiker food.”…
A Yummy Surprise: Hunter’s Reserve Summer Sausages
I’m a foodie. Plain and simple. The most social space in our entire house is our kitchen, not the TV room or the living room. My family spends countless hours together cooking from scratch, mixing together real, whole ingredients. So in planning for my John Muir Trail hike, it was very difficult for me to…
How a Pair of Crocs Legitimately Saved My Life
We made our way through an empty Tuolumne Meadows, putting in some miles on our way towards Donohue Pass. Following the banks of the overflowing Tuolumne River, we came across the first creek crossing on the trail for which we had to take off our boots if we wished to keep them dry. In no…
Gear Explained: Sleeping Pads
I’ve seen people underestimate the importance of a sleeping pad. They never repeated that mistake. . . || So. . . what is a sleeping PAD? || The rarely mentioned sidekick of a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad is a crucial part of every backpacker’s gear list. Without it you will certainly have a cold…
Gear Explained: Sleeping Bags
With so many sleeping bags on the market, picking the “right one” can seem a daunting task. || Sleeping Bag: So What Really Is It. . .? || I like to describe a sleeping bag like a human thermos. It does not generate heat, but rather, traps heat that your body radiates to the surrounding…
Trail Review: Art Loeb Trail
With its panoramic bald knobs, the Art Loeb Trail is a great destination in the Southeast for a weekend trip. Located in Pisgah National Forest, the trailhead from Black Balsam Knob Road is just over an hour from Asheville and around 3.5 hours from Atlanta. || Location || The Art Loeb Trailhead on Black Balsam…
Gear Review: Dragon Alliance MountaineerX Sunglasses
For my John Muir Trail expedition in the summer of 2017, a primary concern in my gear preparations was eye protection. The vicious glare of the sun reflected off the snow can cause severe snow blindness, if you are not careful. The trouble I faced, however, is that there are SO MANY options out on…
Trail Review: Grays Peak
For mountain enthusiasts, Colorado’s “14ers” are a must-do. Colorado has 58 peaks with summits above 14,000′, which are referred to as “14ers.” Many of these peaks are accessible as day hikes. || Grays Peak || Standing at 14,278′, Grays Peak is a great option for those looking for a non-technical 14er near the Denver /…
Trail Diaries: Our Snowy Adventure
|| The True “Beginning” || It all started with ice cream. In the fall of 2016, a friend and I were chatting about our hiking dreams. I mentioned to him that I had hopes of hiking the PCT after college. He mentioned that I should look into the John Muir Trail, a smaller section of…
