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The Best Backpacking Packs of 2021
Your backpacking pack is one of the most important components of your backpacking setup. Your style of pack goes hand in hand with your style of hiking. They need to...
Backpacker Radio #95 | Andy Downs of the ATC on the Mountain Valley Pipeline & Postponing Thru-Hikes During a Pandemic
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Andy Downs of the ATC. For those who might be unfamiliar, the ATC has...
ATC Rejects Mountain Valley Pipeline Opponents’ Request to See $19.5 Million Agreement
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy this week denied a request to release the full text of its August 2020 "voluntary stewardship agreement" with Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, the company overseeing
New Documentary: Nikola Horvat’s “Croatian Long Distance Trail”
Nikola Horvat opens his new documentary, Croatian Long Distance Trail, with the explanation “I move to get others moving.” This documentary is driven by that mission, and by the end...
Patagonia Strider Pro Wind Pants Review
Your Big Three, footwear, resupply strategy, puffy jacket, rain jacket, water treatment, headlamp, map app, nail clippers, taxes. What do all these things have in common? They are more exciting...
Buffalo Soldiers: From Slavery to Stewardship
“We are all the beneficiaries now of the preservation and conservation work these people did back in the late 19th century.” Those are the words of Alan Spears, Senior Director...
Gear Wars: Merino Wool vs. Synthetic Base Layers
I'm not going to pretend that I can get through a "merino wool vs. synthetic base layer" article without saying "it's all about that base" at least once. So there,...
As Trail Days Moves Forward, Hikers Wonder About Safety
The town of Damascus, Virginia is tentatively moving forward with plans to host its annual Trail Days festival this summer, despite the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) calls for thru-hikers to
My First Week Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail
With the Approach Trail behind us and some of our initial kinks worked out, Miguel and I were ready to hit the trail with everything in us. We initially decided...
ATC Reveals Further Details of $19.5M Pipeline Agreement
Facing criticism and questions on social media, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has provided more details about its August 2020 decision to sign a “voluntary conservation stewardship agreement”