Over the past year, I’ve worked hard to get my body into shape, both physically and medically. I progressively increased my workload at the gym and out on the trail. I increased my endurance, my strength, and my enjoyment at … Continued
I bought the Marmot Kompressor Plus on a whim. I parked behind Mast General in downtown Asheville one day and decided to cut through the store. They were offering up to 25% off on 4 items, so I grabbed a … Continued
I’m a big believer in the layering system when it comes to clothing on the trail. I typically wear the same base layers every time I hike. I’ve tried several different pieces of clothing, but I’ve settled on the shirt … Continued
People who don’t backpack often ask me if I take any tech into the field. We live in a world where our reliance on tech is only going to increase. A lot of people look at hiking as a way … Continued
The Patagonia Men’s Houdini Wind Jacket is not something I would normally purchase. In my mind, my raincoat is the windbreaking layer that I wear over merino wool t-shirts or other thermal layers. I dropped by an REI Garage Sale … Continued
The challenge with long-distance hiking is that you have to carry everything you think you’ll need for your trip on your back. Typically, the heavier the pack, the harder the hiking. You soon discover that—with the exception of a few … Continued
I’m planning a few shakedown hikes over the fall to test my backpacking gear list. The first is a 12-mile loop consisting of sections of the Foothills Trail, Mountain Fork Trail, and Chattooga River Trail (SC). The second is a … Continued
I used to love running and leaping down hillsides when I was young. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to see downhill walking as the laborious part of a hike. I’ve also come to realize that my upper body strength … Continued
Lots of people are passionate about their water filtration systems. It seems like an odd thing to hang your hat on, but whatever floats your boat. This is what I care about in order of importance when it comes to … Continued
I’ve talked about making the transition to trail runners. Now let me talk about the accessory that has made my shoes even better—gaiters. Most people think of gaiters as a tool for mountaineering or bushwhacking, but they are useful for … Continued