If you spend any amount of time in the backcountry at all, it will rain on you.  Remember this – rain is a good thing; without it there wouldn’t be much backcountry to enjoy.  How you prepare for rain and how you handle yourself and gear in the rain, makes the difference between a great […]

There is no need to get 4 season tents for gentle summer camping. Even if there is a heavy downpour, the use of sleeping pads combined with adequate planning should keep everything fairly dry. The important thing is to not camp at the bottom of a hill, to make sure the rain fly is secure, […]

Does the thought of buying a gift for a friend or relative make you smile or does it stress you out?  Is there a hiker or camper on your gift giving list?  What can you give to the someone who already has everything?  The secret of gift giving is not always the “what.”  Many times […]

Can you name the number one spectator sport in North America?  It’s not baseball, figure skating or racing.  It’s bird watching.  That’s right, more people are watching birds than football and hockey combined.  With so many people hoping to see a bird they’ve never seen before, it’s not surprising to see a clamoring for the […]

Time out of doors is a precious commodity to the outdoor enthusiast – but are we getting the most out of this time.  One way to ensure maximum backcountry enjoyment is to get the most possible value from the gear you acquire and use.  Here are 5 ways to get the most out of your […]

As outdoor enthusiasts spend more and more time in our backcountry, a handful of skills become more and more essential.  All of these skills are easy to learn and add considerably to the overall enjoyment of spending time out-of-doors.  The key word here is enjoyment.  In order to enjoy ourselves, we must be comfortable with […]

If you’re tired of hiking the same trail or picnicking at the same park, then Geocaching may be exactly what you’re looking for.  Geocaching, pronounced gee-o-cashing, is the high tech version of a treasure hunt.  Armed with nothing but a handheld GPS unit and a thirst for excitement, you’re off for new adventures and the […]

Many nights in the backcountry are far from dark.  A bright moon and a sky full of stars can throw off enough light to allow for reading a book, but add cloud cover, mountains or trees and it gets dark awfully fast.   When you need to see in the dark, you have two choices – […]

Having a good time is pretty high on everyone’s to do list, especially when surrounded by awesome views and super-awesome friends.  We hike, bike, climb, camp, raft, fish, hunt, four-wheel, sleep and eat – among other things – in the backcountry.  If not done properly, that’s a lot of wear and tear on our natural […]

As an outdoor enthusiast you will at some point make a decision to learn how to navigate in the backcountry.  Whether you use a map, compass, GPS receiver or all three, there are several things you should know about successful navigation.  Your safety and the safety of your companions depend upon it. Backcountry activities such […]