j. taylor bell (he/him) is a wildland firefighter and an extremely enthusiastic birdwatcher. He also has a collection of poetry titled HELLO CRUEL WORLD (Wendy’s Subway, 2021) and will be starting PhD research at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia whenever it’s safe. Peep some extremely occasional twitter banter, or wave hello @jtaylorbell1 @disco_steww
Posts
6 of the Most Outrageously Long Hikes in the US
If you've ever hiked on the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail, you're probably familiar with the sentiment that "it's the people that make the
Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Tent Review
If you've already heard about the Ultamid 2, you probably heard that it's the Taj Mahal of tents. Seriously y'all this thing will dominate any
The Ultimate Guide to Resupply and Towns on the Arizona Trail
One of the best and simultaneously worst things about the AZT has to be the preponderance of towns along the way. Some may even hazard to say that
Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie Review
Surely we can agree that a thru-hike has always been a chance to fly your freakiest flags. You've got your ever-more-swashbuckling Hawaiian
(Almost) Every PCT Town, Ranked
My recurring mantra on the PCT last year was a little bit unorthodox: "Never skip a town" is basically the only thing I told myself on a regular
I’ve Been a Thru-Hiker Since 2013: Here’s How Gear Has Changed
When I graduated from college in 2013, I had no idea what I was doing with my life. But I did know that I wanted to hike as much of the Appalachian
Congrats to These 2021 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Week of December 27
Look at all these beautiful people! It warms the heart to see so many intrepid hikers braving every torrential thunderstorm, hand-over-foot climb,
Platypus QuickDraw vs Katadyn BeFree vs Sawyer Squeeze: Which Water Filter Should You Carry For Your Next Thru-Hike?
The perfect water filter doesn't exist. That's not a meme, it's just how I feel. And to be fair, a lot of the time I can't tell if my feelings are
Congrats to These 2021 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Week of December 13
Look at all these beautiful people! It warms the heart to see so many intrepid hikers braving every torrential thunderstorm, hand-over-foot climb,
The Guadalupe Ridge Trail: 102 Miles of High Desert Hiking in West Texas
Agave. Prickly Pear. Catclaw. Lechuguilla. Acacia. All abound on the Guadalupe Ridge Trail, one of America's most challenging yet rewarding desert