Justin "Trauma" Lichter has learned countless thru-hiking tips, techniques, and gear know-how in more than 35,000 miles traveled across North America, New Zealand, Iceland, Africa, and the Himalaya. The two-time Triple Crown thru-hiker shares those insights in Trail Tested, his first hiking and backpacking skills book, which came out this spring. Above: Lichter wrote Trail Tested for novices and experienced ultralight gram-counters … Continue reading Justin Lichter Publishes “Trail-Tested” Hiking Tips

Many of us would jump at the chance to hike alongside professional adventurer and super-long-distance hiker Andrew Skurka. Perhaps pick his brain about backcountry gear, supplies, skills. After all, the 30-year-old has traveled more than 30,000 miles via foot, ski, and packraft. And his solo long-distance trips — like the 4,700-mile Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile … Continue reading Andrew Skurka’s “Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide”

Outdoor kids books can be doubly rewarding: You share time reading, learn about the natural world, and help inspire kids to get outdoors and connect with nature. In honor of Read Across America Day on March 2, here are some of my favorite outdoorsy children's books. Share your own below. We'll start with a few personal favorites: … Continue reading Good Outdoor Books for Children

Whether you're looking for a friend or yourself, there are a host of new, award-winning, outdoor books for backcountry bibliophiles. Choose from history, guidebooks, narratives, photography, or other genres. And, share your personal favorites below. "Freedom of the Hills" Turns 50 First up, there's the classic and essential Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, which turned 50 years old … Continue reading Books for Backcountry Bibliophiles

Today's kids: often they're stereotyped en masse as lazy, video game players, suffering from overprotective parents and a lack of natural sunlight and risk; or we hear about extreme examples of uber-outdoor kids who scale the highest peaks in what some see as a form of pushy, parental child abuse. Sometimes we need to stop … Continue reading Book Recommendation: “Peak” by Roland Smith