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Ryan Jordan

Visit Ryan's Personal Website: RyanJordan.com

Carol Crooker

Carol Crooker, Backpacking Light Editor at Large

Alan Dixon

Alan Dixon, Backpacking Light Editor at Large

Jay Ham
Jay Ham started backpacking in 1990 and went lightweight in 1995. Wanting his children to experience and share in his love of the outdoors, he became obsessed with reducing the...
Don Wilson
Don Wilson joined the Backpacking Light staff as Clothing Systems Section Editor in April 2004. While hiking the John Muir Trail in 1978 he got his initial taste of long...
Andrew Skurka

7,800 miles of walking found Skurka in Bozeman, MT as part of the Backpacking Light team.

Doug Johnson
Doug Johnson joined BackpackingLight.com in October 2003 and is both a reviewer and the Trekking Systems editor. He lives in Redmond, Washington, with his also-adventurous wife Amy. Doug is an...
Steve Nelson
Steve Nelson, Winter Systems Editor, has been backpacking and playing in the snow since he was a kid growing up in upstate New York. Now living in California, he backpacks...
Mike Martin
Longtime BPL Forum contributor Mike Martin joined the Backpacking Light staff in 2006 as Sleeping Systems Section Editor. Mike holds a Bachelors Degree in Engineering and currently teaches Engineering and...
Rick Dreher
Rick Dreher is interviewed by Bruno the Dalmatian. B. So, now that I’ve had my kibble (AGAIN with the kibble!) we can get down to business. Why backpacking? R. At...
Blake Morstad
Blake Morstad was killed in an avalanche on January 1, 2005, while backcountry skiing in Montana’s Centennial Mountains. Please visit the Blake Morstad Memorial at BackpackingLight.com. Blake Morstad recently graduated...
Catenary Curvature as an Element of Ultralight Tarp Design
This content is for members only
New Lightweight Backpacking Gear – (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2003) – Public Version
If you are a member and would like to view a version that includes full product specifications and high resolution photos, click here Gear Availability Many of these products will...
New Lightweight Backpacking Gear – (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2003) – Member’s Version
Gear Availability Many of these products will be available in Spring ’04. Some are being released in Fall ’03 (as early as September) and a few are available now or...
Summer Alpine Ice Climbing in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains
This trip report describes a four day backpacking and alpine climbing trip to Whitetail Peak in Montana’s Beartooth Range, July 9-11, 2002. See end of document for gear notes &...
Not Your Ordinary Lightweight Backpacker: An Interview with Bill Merchant

Not Your Ordinary Lightweight Backpacker: An Interview with Bill Merchant

2001 Raingear Roundup Review Summary
Introduction Long awaited, read the results of a months-long review of raingear that includes extensive laboratory and field testing of fabrics and garments by the BackpackingLight.COM Product Review Staff. Introduction...
On the Trail With Lynne Whelden (Interview)
Lynne Whelden is known in the backpacking world for his documentary films and instruction videos on the various aspects of hiking. His “How to…” videos are considered a valuable resource...
Wind Shirt Wars Review Summary

Wind Shirt Wars Review Summary

The Arc Bag Concept: Saving Weight with Variable Girth Sleeping Bags Having an “Arc” Shaped Cross Section

As we prepare to announce the launch of the Backpacking Light website, it is probably appropriate to introduce a teaser about what we intend to spend a great deal of time with this year: clothing and sleep systems for ultralight hiking, with a focus on quilts.

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