Selected clips
Badges of Honor
Backpacker August 2018 For more than 100 years, our parks have provided life-list experiences, adventures, and stop-in-your-tracks views. But not all parks--or hikes--are equal. So what's a trekker to do? Start with these 25 trips, the new classics of the system. Consider them the merit badges of a very well-traveled backpacker. 
Adventure Elevated
5280 December 2017 If you're looking for outrageous adventure, these mountain ranges deliver the goods. Read it. 
Powder to the People
Sunset December/January 2018 In the Colorado Rockies, epic snows transform the mountains into idyllic winter wonderlands. Read it. 
Perfect Day: Whitefish
Sunset August 2017 A glacial lake and cool microbrews are just two reasons to head for the mountains this month. Read it. 
The Long Way 'Round
Backpacker May 2017 Sacred trails the world over help hikers discover deeper truths about the world and themselves. But what truly makes a path transformative? Read it. 
Get Outside
Sunset May 2017 Campfire meals in the Redwoods. Kayaking under the moon. Yosemite's sheer awesomeness. Here's everything you need to make the most of it all. Read it. 
How to Spend a Weekend in Missoula 5280 August 2016 Discover the magic formula for fun in Big Sky Country. Read it. 
Planet-Friendly Gear
Backpacker April 2016 From recycled down to PFC-free jackets, manufacturers are bringing sustainability to you. Read it. 
Almanac
Rodale's Organic Life March/April 2016 Natural chair cleaning, DIY sundials, the best way to weed your garden, and more (wrote some, edited some). Read it. 
Get Unlost
Backpacker March 2016 That time I got a little lost at Canyonlands National Park, and how you can avoid the same fate. Read it. 
Endless Summer Backpacker January 2016
Call it the snowbird's guide to the national parks: Beaches, palm trees, sand dunes, and the occasional giant fruit bat. 
The Quiet Season
Backpacker November 2015 Winter brings a new sensory experience to the national parks, with scenery so fleeting you have to know where to find it. Here are our top picks for the best of the fourth season. Read it. 
Anything Can Happen at Yellowstone
Yellowstone Journal 2015 Can a vacation ever truly change your life? When one family finally comes together for a long-awaited trip to Yellowstone, they find much more than geyser shows and wildlife sightings waiting for them. Read it. |
The Outdoor Brand Playbook series
SNEWS April 16 & ongoing Successfully producing outdoor gear used to be such a simple endeavor: Make great product, then sell it through retail partners, or directly through a catalog or your own store. These days, the formula has become a lot more complicated. This 5-part series zeroes in on best practices for outdoor brands. Read it. 
The Outdoor Retailer Playbook series
SNEWS November 8 & ongoing Everyone in the outdoor industry knows the problem by now: The rise of online shopping has turned the marketplace on its head. This 5-part series examines innovative ways brands and retailers can work together to everyone's benefit. Read it. 
Travel Stars: Camp Provisions
Sunset August 2017 Sleeping under the stars in style in comfort. Read it. 
Trail Town USA
Backpacker September 2016 These places are more than gateways to the good stuff. They're the home bases of the tribe, where backpacker culture carries from the nearby mountaintops all the way downtown. Stop, stay awhile, and say hello to the best hiker towns in the country. Read it. 
Almanac
Rodale's Organic Life Jan/Feb 2016 Cure your hangover with pear juice, cool science of wool, make your own red wine vinegar, and more (wrote some, edited some). Read it. 
The Seven Rules of Solitude
Backpacker September 2015 Crowded campsites and lines for the outhouse? Save it for Bonnaroo. We'll take our wilderness quiet, raw, and lonely, thank you very much. Find your own patch of paradise when you follow these simple rules for escaping the hordes. Read it. 
We Have a Lot of Myths to Bust (Curves Ahead)
Backpacker October 2015 Myth: It's riskier for women to hike and backpack alone than for men. We combed through crime statistics, consulted experts, and talked to veteran solo hikers to find out if there's anything to that common fear. Read it. 
The Best 100 Miles
Backpacker June 2015 The parks boast thousands of stunning trail miles, but some are just a hair more amazing. Find the top 100 miles in the entire system on these 13 hikes. Read it. 
Bad News Bears
Yosemite Journal 2015 Every night, while campers sleep peacefully nearby, a high-stakes battle takes place in Yosemite Valley. One one side, the park's team of wildlife biologists. On the other, Yosemite's population of smart, sneaky black bears. Read it. 
The Local: Seattle
Backpacker May 2015 Like your favorite neighborhood watering hole, you can count on these hikes to deliver exactly what you need, exactly where you need it. Read it. |
Hike Hard, Eat Well
Backpacker August 2014 From trail mix to trout, upgrade every meal with this complete guide to recipes, cooking skills, and backcountry nutrition. Read it. 
Hiking Makes You Smarter
Backpacker May 2012 Yes, the views and exercise and fresh air make every backpacking trip worthwhile. But now, new research shows, staying home is just plain dumb. Learn how backpacking boosts brain power in this exclusive report from the frontiers of environmental neuroscience. Read it. |
Aftershock
5280 Health 2013 Colorado and Wyoming rank at the top of the list for lightning-strike fatalities in the United States. It's scary stuff. But dying from a bolt of electricity may not be nearly as frightening as surviving one. Read it. 
Head Case
5280 February 2012 Ski helmets? How I finally broke through a thick skull--to make sure it remains in one piece. Read it. |
Recent gear reviews
"Shells," Backpacker Spring Gear Guide 2017
"Baselayers" and "Shells," Backpacker Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2017
"Baselayers" and "Shells," Backpacker Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2017
More features
"Welcome to My Office," Rocky Mountain Journal 2015
"Master the Canyon," Grand Canyon Journal 2015
"Saved by Your Brain," Backpacker October 2012
"51 Summer Camping Secrets," Backpacker June 2011
"Readers' Choice: Rockies," January 2011
"Great Smoky Mountains National Park," Backpacker August 2008
"Never Fear," Backpacker September 2008
"Master the Canyon," Grand Canyon Journal 2015
"Saved by Your Brain," Backpacker October 2012
"51 Summer Camping Secrets," Backpacker June 2011
"Readers' Choice: Rockies," January 2011
"Great Smoky Mountains National Park," Backpacker August 2008
"Never Fear," Backpacker September 2008
Miscellaneous
"All in the Family," 5280 August 2011
"The Sound of Silence," 5280 June 2011
"In Season," 5280 May 2011
"A Slice of Paradise," Colorado Homes & Lifestyles November/December 2010
The Greenie Pig column, Grist
"Field Guide to American Dudes," Women's Adventure Spring 2010
"My Pseudo-date with an Extreme Adventurer," Women's Adventure January 2009
"The Sound of Silence," 5280 June 2011
"In Season," 5280 May 2011
"A Slice of Paradise," Colorado Homes & Lifestyles November/December 2010
The Greenie Pig column, Grist
"Field Guide to American Dudes," Women's Adventure Spring 2010
"My Pseudo-date with an Extreme Adventurer," Women's Adventure January 2009