Author
Ian Campbell
Ian Campbell is the founder of Love the Backcountry and a long time lover of adventure travel. When not writing about the backcountry, he can typically be found hiking, backpacking and camping in the mountains and looking to lay his head beneath as many trees as he can find.
55 articles
Fitness
How to Prevent Ankle Injury While Hiking
A long hike can put a lot of stress on your ankles. Simply walking for a long period of time puts a lot of pressure on your ankles and feet; add to that the uneven terrain, keeping your ankles strong becomes incredibly important to prevent ankle injury while hiking for any period of time. The […]
1 min read · Jul 29, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
Don’t Get Lost! How to Prepare for It and What to Do If it Happens
Whether you are an experienced hiker or a just getting started, at some point you’ll end up in a position where you’re not quite sure exactly where you are. Trust me, there’s nothing fun about being lost in the backcountry (unless that’s the adventure you’re looking for), but every now and then it happens. Trail […]
1 min read · Jul 27, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
5 Common Mistakes Hikers Make On the Trail
Hiking is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature, get some exercise and enjoy the company of friends and family. As spring, summer and fall come around, new people are taking to the trail every weekend. Plenty of hikers, both experienced and novices, tend to over think their hike and pack too much, […]
1 min read · Jul 23, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Gear
Gear Review: Osprey Atmos AG
Our Noble Canyon trip a couple weeks ago marked the first time I had the opportunity to use my Osprey Atmos 65 AG backpack out on the trail. This is the newest innovation from Osprey and, coming from a guy that’s been backpacking with other brands for 20 years, I’m a convert. Pros of the […]
1 min read · Jul 23, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Reviews
Trail Review: Noble Canyon Trail
Over the 4th of July weekend, I decided to take my wife and our dog on their very first backpacking trip. We started out with the intention of backpacking the Barker Valley Trail in Palomar Mountain. Unfortunately, we didn’t realize that the trail head for Barker Valley wasn’t accessible by car so we started looking […]
1 min read · Jul 22, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
Beginners Guide to Camping
Camping is an incredible experience letting you get in touch with nature in ways few other experiences can. In order to discover the wonders of the great outdoors, it’s important to adopt appropriate camping etiquette to ensure a peaceful experience for you and anyone else who may be camping nearby. Be Considerate As you arrive […]
1 min read · Jul 16, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
How to Prepare for a Camping Trip
Camping is a great way to get in touch with the great outdoors. Nothing can beat the feeling of waking up to the sound of a river, stream or a waterfall. The best part of camping is that it is an activity enjoyed with family and friends, so it makes for a great outing. However, as […]
1 min read · Jul 14, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
The Basics: Building a Campfire
Building a campfire is one of the great treats of camping. There’s almost nothing more relaxing than the smell of burning embers, the orange glow of the flame and the sound of crackling firewood. Besides, do s’mores ever taste better than when they’re cooked on an open flame? Learning the proper technique of building a […]
1 min read · Jun 21, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backpacking
How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
When you’re on the trail a good tent can be one of the most important items in (or sometimes on) your pack. Your tent provides you shelter from in-climate weather, privacy from other hikers and protection from bugs and (some) other critters out on the trail. Knowing how to choose a backpacking tent is a […]
1 min read · Jun 21, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
How to Choose a Backpacking Stove
Knowing how to choose a backpacking stove can be an incredibly important consideration. Imagine, you’re out on the trail, packed with some of the best dehydrated food your local outfitter has to offer and the stove that you’re carrying has stops working on you. To paraphrase the movie Wild “great – cold mush.” Make sure […]
1 min read · Jun 15, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Hiking
Hiking in Cleveland National Forest
Ever have one of those days where you start off with a destination in mind and end up somewhere completely different? As an explorer, those days really charge me up. How can I resist the lure of a new challenge, new terrain and new views? This past weekend, my wife Lindsey and I went hiking […]
1 min read · Jun 10, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
Training For Backpacking
As I’ve mentioned in past blog posts I’ve recently decided to train for backpacking into the Grand Canyon. In learning how aggressive of a hike that actually is, I knew that training was going to be incredibly important so I started to craft my training plan. After starting with my attempt at hiking Mount Woodson […]
1 min read · Jun 10, 2015 · Ian Campbell