stg-sectionhikercom-buttons.kinsta.cloud Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs

If you do a lot of hiking, climbing, snowshoeing or skiing in winter in the mountains and you haven’t had any avalanche training, I suggest you get some. In addition, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper. This is an excellent book, full of diagrams and illustrations that is …

Mount Moosilauke is the westernmost 4000 footer in New Hampshire with a bald summit that is greatly exposed to the weather and the wind. My friend Bob and I led a winter hike up to Moosilauke and its southern sub-peak recently, climbing the mountain via the Carriage Road Trail from its base on Breezy Point Road. This trailhead was once …

When you go backpacking or climbing in winter, it is important to bring along an avalanche shovel for prepping tent sites or digging a snow shelter in an emergency. If you’re in a group, a shovel can often be shared unless you are in an avalanche zone where multiple shovels might be needed to effect a serious rescue. Avalanche Shovel …

Have you ever noticed that the distances computed by digital mapping tools are substantially different from paper maps and guidebooks of the same area? I’ve been planning a 200 mile backpacking trip and the digital mapping tools I’ve been using, Caltopo and TOPO!, underestimate the mileage by 15% or nearly 30 miles over the course of my journey. That’s a …