Backpacking is awesome. There might be no finer way to truly experience the great outdoors: exploring remote areas, observing wildlife, and the unmatched solitude of a far away campsite are just some of the rewards awaiting you in the backcountry. There is also something to be said for the feeling of self reliance that comes…
Tag: Hiking
Hiking Desolation Trail to the Salt Lake Overlook
Sometimes, you just need a quick hike to get away from the city. Lucky for those of us living in Salt Lake, we have many options, like the Desolation Trail to the overlook with a view of the entire metropolitan valley below. This short, 5-mile round trip hike over 1,310 feet is ideal for a…
AKU La Stria Lite GTX hiking boots review
The outdoor recreation market is flush with hiking boot brands, all claiming to have something the others don’t. But with AKU, an Italian company that is just now becoming available in the United States, they really do have something I’ve not seen before in their new La Stria Lite GTX hiking boots. AKU calls it…
Kelty Rally 45 Backpack review
I had a chance to visit the Kelty booth at last summer’s Outdoor Retailer convention here in Salt Lake City. They were showcasing a wide array of products, but the ones that excited me the most were the brand-new “Agile Series” backpacks. Needless to say I was very happy when the Kelty Rally 45 arrived…
Hike to Red Castle in the High Uintas Wilderness
The North Slope of the High Uintas Wilderness is a region of exquisite alpine splendor. The highest peaks in Utah rise up jaggedly against a wide open sky. Miles of well maintained trails allow hikers to wind their way through meadows, spruce and pine forests, and hundreds of scenic lakes filled with fresh water and…
Baffin Amazon trail shoe review
Baffin, a Canadian company that is well known for their arctic winter boots, has been expanding their horizons into the summer footwear market. But instead of making your typical sandals or hiking shoes, they’ve designed a unique idea with their Trail to Rapids series. The new Amazon shoe is a light hiker that also doubles…
Hiking Nevada’s Wheeler Peak
Climbing the highest peak in a state – it’s a magnetic cause for us hikers who desire peak-bagging in all its forms, so Wheeler Peak, located in Nevada near the Utah border, was on my tick list for a long time. *cue record scratch* Well, turns out it’s, ahem, not the highest peak in Nevada,…
Camping at Red Canyon Campground
Red Canyon, located between the town of Panguitch and Bryce Canyon National Park, is a fantastic area for outdoor recreation set among stunning scenery. Unfortunately, most people simply drive through on their way to the more famous national park next door. Little do they know that there is so much to do in Red Canyon,…
Backpacking to Duck Lake in the Uinta Mountains
One of the the great natural treasures of Utah is the Uinta Mountains. Hundreds of miles of trails deliver unmatched high alpine scenery; towering peaks, picturesque lakes and thriving forests are just a few examples of what awaits hikers in the Uintas. Backpacking is a very popular activity in these mountains, and if you’re looking…
ViewRanger smartphone GPS app review
GPS devices are expensive, but smartphone apps are really cheap. Combine the two, and you’ve got ViewRanger, a smartphone GPS app that has all the features of a GPS unit right on your phone. But the obvious question is: does a smartphone GPS app really work as good as the real thing? I downloaded the…