Oscar Hikes

Are army boots good for hiking? That’s one of those questions that sounds simple but actually depends on what kind of hiking you’re doing and what you’re…

I remember the exact moment I realized that being “sort of fit” and being “trail fit” are two completely different things. It was a muggy September morning in the Appalachians. I was about four miles in on what looked like a manageable out-and-back. My legs were done. Not tired — done. I sat on a … Read more

I remember the exact moment I knew this was different. It was day three on a long trail. My feet hurt in ways I hadn’t felt before. My pack — way too heavy — was digging into my shoulders. I stopped on a ridge, looked back at how little ground I’d covered on the map, … Read more

I still remember the first time I stood at a trailhead with no idea what I was doing. My shoes were wrong, my bag was too heavy, and I wasn’t even sure if what I was about to do counted as “real” hiking. I just knew I wanted to get outside and walk somewhere that … Read more