You may have noticed that there are a lot of people enjoying the wild spaces in Utah. A heck of a lot more than just a few years ago. Trails are more crowded, parking areas overflow onto the road, and garbage is stacked up in campsites. It seems that many of the folks recreating outside…
Category: Backpacking
Video: Hiking Kings Peak with prosthetic legs
Have you ever hiked King’s Peak before? Now imagine hiking all 30 miles and 4-thousand feet of elevation gain to Utah’s highest point on prosthetic legs. It’s a damn impressive feat and Sid Smith accomplished it. The trip is documented in a new film titled, “3 Sons & a King.” When Sid was a child,…
Explore Amethyst Basin in the High Uintas Wilderness
High peaks, lush basins, oodles of wildlife and breathtaking views are just a few of the joys awaiting hikers in the High Uintas Wilderness of Utah. It’s hard to pick a bad spot, in fact, it’s more of a game of which basin is the most beautiful. I’m not going to take a stab at…
Hiking the Uinta Mountains: What You Need to Know
With thousands of lakes, hundreds of miles of streams, the highest peaks and some of the prettiest scenery in Utah, it’s no wonder that the Uinta Mountains are a summertime favorite. If you are new to the Beehive State, or are just beginning your Uinta adventures, here are some facts and tips that will help…
PackPillow review
A pillow is a luxury for hardcore backpackers, right? Well it doesn’t have to be. Gone are the days of resting your head on a bunched up, down jacket. With inventions like the PackPillow, you can save weight, be efficient about pack space, and still get a good night’s rest. The PackPillow is essentially four…
Explore Grandaddy Basin in the High Uintas
Purple areas on maps are often a non-starter for me. The purple indicates “high use” zones; places where you are sure to find loads of other hikers and campers. Personally, I go backpacking in part to escape from crowds, get lost in the surroundings, and enjoy some peace and quiet. It was with some trepidation…
Backpacking Buckskin Gulch from Wire Pass to White House
Buckskin Gulch is easily among my top 3 favorite hikes in all of Utah. Located in the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument near the Utah/Arizona border, Buckskin Gulch is widely considered to be the “longest slot canyon in the world.” After hiking through almost 15 miles of continuous, long and deep narrows in Buckskin, I’d say…
Klymit updates and innovates at Outdoor Retailer 2017 Winter Market
Klymit, ever the innovator of cool camping and backpacking gear, had several products at Outdoor retailer 2017 Winter Market that will be available this spring, including insulated versions of the Hammock V and Double V sleepoing pads, 0-degree versiosn of the award-winning KSB sleeping bags, and a new lineof quilted sheets that fit over your…
Klymit Luxe Pillow review
Pillows are the most uncomfortable bit of camping gear, in my opinion. Backpacking camp pillows generally are too small, and the inflatable types make your head slide off. Others just don’t have enough support and give me a kink in my neck come morning. But my opinion may have changed after testing the new Klymit…
No more backpacking in Arches National Park
If you’ve ever dreamed of backpacking in Arches National Park, then you better just wake up and let that dream fade away, because Arches National Park no longer allows backpacking indefinitely. According to a brief statement on the NPS website for Arches, a backpacking moratorium is in effect until further notice. Why? According to the…