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Latest
Walking the Great Rift Valley
Heat, army ants, and stupendous views await Jeff de Graffenried as he treks through South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
Cutting it Short in the Lost River Range
Mark Wetherington confronts the novelty of bailing on a trip after things don't go as planned in Idaho's Lost River Range.
The Blue Lights of the San Rafael Swell
Sometimes we backpack to get a taste of the unknowable: blue lights and pictographs in the San Rafael Swell.
Finding Meaning on the Green River
Ben Kilbourne hikes and packrafts along the Green River in Wyoming.
A Walk in the Park: 100 Miles Across the Wilds of Kafue National Park
An off-trail trek through a Zambian wildlife preserve.
Searching for the Light
After the year of darkness that was 2020, I needed to walk in the light of the Mojave desert.
Blood Moon on the Border
An off-trail borderlands odyssey during a lunar eclipse in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Off-Season on the Oregon Coast Trail
Tides, blowdowns, and sunsets abound as Maggie Slepian and two friends tackle the quirky and challenging Oregon Coast Trail.
Salamander Song
Rediscovering the Great Smoky Mountains by lens and brush.
Escape from COVID-19 at Corona Ridge
Longtime Backpacking Light author Emylene VanderVeldon takes on a suspiciously-named untraversed route, one of the most difficult she’s ever attempted.
Land of Fur and Fire: the Yellowstone Caldera Loop
With Covid-19 necessitating an unsupported hike, we undertook an ambitious loop through the geysers and lakes of the Yellowstone Caldera.
Wind River Backpacking: Sawmills, Tenkara, and Trout in the Popo Agie Wilderness
Wind River backpacking and tenkara fly fishing in the Sawmill Creek drainage and Upper Silas Canyon in Wyoming's Popo Agie Wilderness.
Reaching the Summit of Misti: The Challenges of High Altitude Hiking
Misti is one of the three volcanoes you can see from Arequipa, Peru, which is the second-largest city in the country. Part of the Andes mountain range, Misti is located between Chachani and Pichu Pichu. In this article, I’ll tell the story of my Misti summit attempt and share some lessons I learned along the way.
Traversing the Elusive Nahanni River by Canoe – Part 2: River of Dreams
A detailed account of our expedition down the Nahanni River by canoe.
Traversing the Elusive Nahanni River by Canoe – Part 1: Before the Trip
Part 1 of a detailed account of our expedition down the Nahanni River by canoe, including our pre-trek preparation and training.
Out of the Mojave and Into the Twilight Zone: Hiking the Desert Trail
A narrative of my spring hike on the Desert Trail, and what it was like to re-enter American society at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Packing Light with 95 lbs: 40 Days Without Resupply in Far-Eastern Russia
This is a story about a 40-day backpacking trip in the Far East (Russia) where I started with a pack that weighed 95 lb (43 kg).
Great Smoky Mountains Backpacking Loop (Sinks-Little Tennessee River Trip Report)
Trip report: A 6-day, 76-mile backpacking loop in Great Smoky Mountains NP from the Sinks to the Little Tennessee River and back.
Field Notes: The Fryatt Valley Hike
My Fryatt Valley Hike trip report - photos, gear notes, planning and prep.
Walking in Circles: A Tahoe Rim Trail Thru-Hike
A narrative about Andrew Marshall's thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail during a big snow year.
