Category
Backcountry Skills
132 articles
Backcountry Skills
How to Prevent and Treat Blisters While Hiking
A long hike out in the wild can take its toll on your feet. Blisters are a common problem for hikers caused by friction on your feet as they get sweaty and rub against your socks and boots. As a result, you end up developing hot spots and ultimately develops that all too familiar bubble […]
1 min read · Aug 3, 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
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
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
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
Backcountry Skills
Fishing Checklist
There’s something about fishing that can captivate you. Regardless of whether the fish are biting (although it’s always a bit more exciting when they are), the relaxation that one can enjoy while sitting on a lake or a river really can’t be matched. We’ve compiled a fishing checklist to make sure that you have everything […]
1 min read · May 23, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
Rock Climbing Checklist
There are few things that the backcountry offers that are more satisfying than a good climb. There are few things more dangerous, too. Rock climbing is one of the ultimate risk/reward scenarios and to make sure that the reward is clearly outweighing the risk, preparation (as with all other backcountry activities is key. That said, […]
1 min read · May 22, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
First Aid Checklist
In the backcountry, regardless of how careful you are, there’s going to be a point at which you’re going to need a first aid. Whether it’s you or someone else, when you’re spending that much time in the outdoors, someone’s going to get hurt. It’s just the way it goes. We’ve scoured our books, checklists […]
1 min read · May 22, 2015 · Ian Campbell
Backcountry Skills
Backpacking and Camping Checklist
In the backcountry, preparation is everything. Most of us have found ourselves in situations where the camping gear that we thought we had in our backpack turns up missing at the worst possible moment only to leave you relying on wet leaves as toilet paper. Don’t let that happen to you. Make sure to run […]
1 min read · May 22, 2015 · Ian Campbell