Hiking Guide

It was a Tuesday in January. I was two miles into a snowshoe trail in the Catskills, and I was already soaked. Not from rain. From sweat. I’d worn a thick fleece over a cotton long-sleeve and figured that was enough. By mile two, the cotton was plastered to my skin and I was getting … Read more

For summer hiking, wear a lightweight moisture-wicking shirt, a UPF-rated sun hoodie or hat, breathable hiking shorts or pants, and merino wool hiking socks. Avoid cotton. Every layer should manage sweat and block UV rays. A few summers ago, I drove two hours to a trailhead in Shenandoah National Park and stepped out in a … Read more

I was four miles into a cold October morning on the Appalachian Trail when I realized I’d made a serious mistake. I’d pulled on a cotton long sleeve, loaded my pack, and headed out before dawn. By the time the sun hit the ridge, I was soaked through with sweat. Then the temperature dropped. I … Read more

I used to pack like I was moving in. Extra clothes I never touched. Snacks that melted by mile two. A first aid kit that weighed more than my water. The night before a trail I’d done a dozen times, I emptied my whole pack onto the bedroom floor and just stared at it. Half … Read more

My first real day hike, I packed like I was moving in. Camp stove. Full-size cutting board. A glass jar of peanut butter. I was doing a 6-mile loop in the Smoky Mountains, not crossing Patagonia. By mile two, my shoulders were screaming and I’d eaten half my food out of desperation just to lighten … Read more

My first real hike nearly broke me — and my clothes were half the problem. I showed up in a cotton t-shirt, a pair of old jeans, and the confidence of someone who had no idea what was ahead. By mile two, my shirt was soaked through and clinging to my back like a wet … Read more

A few years back, I stepped onto a trail in Colorado and made it about four miles before a thunderstorm rolled in faster than any forecast had suggested. I was above treeline, exposed, with nowhere to go. That afternoon changed how I think about every hike I take. I’ve been hiking across the Rockies, the … Read more

I still remember the morning I stood at the trailhead with my old pack and a printout from some hiking forum. The trail was listed at 6 miles. I was fresh out of college, fit enough, and completely clueless about what those 6 miles actually meant. I made it back — barely — with shaking … Read more

I pulled into the Zion National Park trailhead at 6 a.m., coffee in hand, pack on my back — and got turned away at the gate. No permit. I had completely forgotten that the Zion Narrows required a bottom-up permit during peak season. I drove two hours for nothing. That morning changed how I prepare … Read more