I have a cat named Heisenberg who only calms down when he wears clothing, and that's not even the worst thing about me. Writing clips and contact info at maggieslepian.com
Posts
Guide to Hurricane Helene Resources and Needs for Rural Communities
Thanks to Kimberly Fetherston (@kim.outdoors) for helping to build this list of resources. By now we all know that Hurricane Helene wreaked
In Praise of Trail Angels: An Essential Part of the AT Experience
I had no idea what to expect when I set off from Springer Mountain in early March of 2015. I had never been backpacking for longer than a few nights,
How FarOut’s 2023 Glitches Highlight the Drawbacks of Backcountry Tech Reliance
When FarOut (formerly Guthook) came onto the scene, it blew other backcountry navigation apps out of the water. Tailored specifically for
How to Get To Springer Mountain
Originally published 1/10/2017; last updated 1/27/2022 by Penina Satlow. "Where’s Springer Mountain? You mean the Southern Terminus of the AT?
WayZada is the Company Making 3D Prints of Your Thru-Hikes
The package was lighter than I thought it would be, the contents hidden under layers of bubble wrap. When I finally dug through the protective
The Best Backpacking Gear I’ve Tested Over the Past 5 Years
As the Trek's Managing Editor for more than five years, I had ample opportunity to test, review, and write about backpacking gear. Some items I
Our Favorite Three-Ingredient Backpacking Meals
...For When You Hate Everything in Your Food Bag The first few hundred miles of your hike will be a blissful, face-stuffing party of Snickers and
Biggest Similarities (and Differences) Between Backpacking and Bike Packing
Last summer I gave bike packing a try for the first time. I had no specific gear for the sport, but I had backpacking gear and a full-suspension
Car Camping Gear for Every Budget
We've been hitting the road every week on different car camping trips since early March. At first, this was a way to get out of the house before I
Senate Passes Great American Outdoors Act
On June 17, the US Senate voted 73-25 in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act, which now brings it to the House of Representatives for