Category
Backcountry Skills
132 articles
Backcountry Skills
8 Hiking Hacks You Need to Try Now
Anyone who backpacks often knows that sometimes life along the trail can be a challenge. While the ups of being in the backcountry certainly outweigh the downs, anything that can make hiking just a little bit easier shouldn’t be overlooked. These hiking hacks will make your hike more enjoyable and more convenient by saving time, […]
1 min read · Sep 16, 2015 · hanalarock
Backcountry Skills
Hiking in Bear Country: Tips to Stay Safe
Hiking in bear country is something that most hikers will end up doing at some point in their travels. As exciting as it is to spot a bear, it can be a bit of a nerve-racking experience. The backcountry is filled with animals – some dangerous, some harmless – and one of the more common […]
1 min read · Sep 15, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
5 Delicious Hacks on the Most Basic Hiking Foods
If you’re going out for a long backpacking excursion, then you’ll need to cook along the way. While there are plenty of staple foods that every hiker brings, often convenience is sacrificed for taste when it comes to cooking something fast and easy. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case. These recipes take […]
1 min read · Sep 9, 2015 · hanalarock
Backcountry Skills
Love the Backcountry’s Guide to Lightweight Backpacking
When going backpacking many take the concept of being prepared a little too far and end up throwing everything that they think they might possibly need in their pack. Being prepared is vital but a big part of preparation is knowing exactly what you need to take with you versus what’s just nice to have. […]
1 min read · Sep 9, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
8 Lesser Known Health Benefits of the Backcountry
Besides being totally awesome, adventurous, and down-right fun, hiking in the backcountry is actually very healthy and has actually been proven to make you live longer. Hiking will not only make you into a more active person, but will actually contribute to positive changes in your health long-term. We all know that backpacking is good […]
1 min read · Sep 8, 2015 · hanalarock
Backcountry Skills
How to Backpack Pain Free with Back Problems
Even if you might be in fairly good physical condition, some of us have one problem we can’t avoid, which can cause serious limitations at the most inconvenient times; back problems. Whether the problem is a life-long medical condition or only something you get once in a while, it can seriously be damper when traveling […]
1 min read · Sep 2, 2015 · hanalarock
Backcountry Skills
10 Rules for Cooking in the Backcountry
Cooking great meals in the backcountry is never an easy task. Most commercially available trail food isn’t exactly stellar. To make your backcountry bites more enjoyable, there are certain guidelines that most trail cooks follow. Here are our top 10 rules to make cooking in the backcountry simple, healthy…and delicious. Be Prepared Be sure to […]
1 min read · Sep 2, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
How to Prepare for a Thru-Hike
Thru-hikes aren’t for beginners. These typically longer hikes need preparation both physically and mentally. Before jumping on the trail head, it’s important to start training yourself. Here’s how to start. Get in Shape Physical training is essential in order to get yourself fit. Develop a program with a good mix of cardio and weight lifting. […]
1 min read · Aug 29, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
How to Improvise a Splint
Knowing how to improvise a splint can be an incredibly useful backcountry skill to know when hiking on your own or with a group. Accidents happen just as much, if not more, when you’re hiking with a group of your friends as they do when you’re walking around town so being prepared for one of […]
1 min read · Aug 17, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
How to Pack a Backpack
It’s exciting to get out on a backpacking trip but don’t let your haste keep you from properly packing your backpack. Knowing how to properly pack your backpack will mean the difference between a pleasant hike and a back injury. Too many people toss their gear and clothes into their backpacks and hit the trail. […]
1 min read · Aug 12, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
How to Orient a Map
Knowing how to orient a map is important to all hikers and backpackers. It can be pretty easy to get yourself lost in the woods but, with the right skills, you can decrease the likelihood of getting yourself lost. Orienting a map is one of the simpler steps you can take to prevent yourself from […]
1 min read · Aug 8, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
How to Treat a Burn in the Backcountry
Being out in the wild can be overwhelming at times. Carelessness around a fire, a hot stove or pot is an easy way to get yourself burned. As a fairly common backcountry injury, knowing how to treat a burn is important to prevent them from becoming a trip halting problem. In order to properly treat […]
1 min read · Aug 7, 2015 · Ian Campbell