This epic adventure along California’s rugged shoreline is worth it! At a Glance 25 miles • 4 days • Mattole Beach to Shelter Cove • August Permit required through recreation.gov. Bear canister mandatory. Three sections impassable at high tide. Full trip details and logistics at the end of this post. Is the Lost Coast Right for You? I spent the better part of four days backpacking the Lost Coast Trail with my daughter. It was full of surprises. It is definitely more challengi

My skin is very light and I dread the prospect of slathering on sunscreen and the amount I'd have to carry into the backcountry would weigh more than all my other toiletries combined. So the search for the perfect sun hoodie was an important quest for my backpacking and hiking kit. You won't believe how many sun hoodies I've tried this spring to get just the right one for hiking the JMT/Nüümü Poyo this summer! My initial requirements for the perfect sun hoodie included the fo

Outside my Big 3, which are the basics of a tent, backpack, sleeping system (bag & pad), my next heaviest collection of gear is my medical stuff—fridge, solar panel, and back-up battery. When I told my hiking buddies last summer that I was bringing my fridge for medication they all say they assumed it would look like a fridge and couldn't imagine how I would carry it, lugging a big box up the hills in the backcountry. See the fridge? It looks like a metal water bottle bottle

I've just received my instructor certification from Leave No Trace! And I'm excited to share the 7 Principles and why they matter to me. As I learned about these during the training and as I consider how I try to live them in my wilderness (and not so wilderness) experiences, I find that they are far less about following a rule and much more about being respectful and participating in outdoor activities with an ethic of care. I also find that they often translate nicely as me

Before you set out on your longer backpacking adventure, find a place to try out all your gear before you are too far out in the backcountry to change anything!

What every hiker needs on the trail! Basics vs. Essentials—what’s the difference? When you think of what’s essential for a hike you might think good shoes and a daypack. Those are some of the basics for being comfortable on the trail along with clothing and socks that wick moisture. In addition to the basics for a good experience, the essentials are meant to keep you safe in the outdoors. What in the past was a list of 10 specific items to bring along, the list of the 10 Es