Climbing & Hiking

Backpacking off Grand Canyon's beaten paths: My favorite rim-to-river hike on the South Rim

Part 2 of a four-part series on how to navigate with a handheld GPS

Insider tips on where to hike for a short day trip and a longer over-nighter, Park trail vs. Forest trail comparison, details on park and pack campsites, and another reason to visit Central Ohio!

Don't be caught unprepared. Here's recommended day-hiking gear from a Search and Rescue volunteer.

The 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia attracts millions of hikers each year. Additionally about 500 people each year successfully backpack the entire length of the trail. This article explores the history and culture of hiking the Appalachian Trail.

The Angels Landing Trail in Zion National Park is one of the most challenging and popular hiking trails in the U.S . Here is some info that might benefit anyone attempting this spectacular climb.

If you are looking for an easy hike to enjoy the splendor of the Grand Canyon while avoiding most of the tourists, this hike is for you.

How to use and read a compass; a valuable outdoor skill for fun and survival. An introduction to the device and its basic use.

Although Phoenix is a huge city in the middle of the desert, it offers many hiking opportunities in its preserves. The perfect time to experience this environment is the winter.

Learn to follow footprints and other types of clues in all types of terrain.

Ever have a pair of boots that leaked, blew out a seam, or fell apart after only a few months of use? Read more to see if the defective boots can be replaced per their warranty service.

In this article, I review the Keen Gypsum hiking boot. This tough new waterproof hiker conquers the trails while cushioning your feet. From backpacking to rugged hiking, I field tested the Gypsum for several months before writing this review.

Utah is a great place to visit with everything from the "greatest snow on earth" to unique and beautiful geological sites. This list is a convenient starting place for your next adventure.

Hiking the Grand Canyon with kids. Absolutely! Follow our adventure on The Bright Angel Trail, a great place for first-time canyon hikers.

Information about the Appalachian Mountains and the Appalachian Trail. Photos and videos are included!

How to navigate on land without the use of instruments or anything but a map and some common sense skills.

A trail report and guide to climbing the tallest peak in the Rocky Mountains.

Outbound Dan Human recounts his more than two thousand-mile backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail. Memories of the southbound thru hike are shared through a collection of pictures.

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the UK. How to get there and climb to the summit. Includes a Ben Nevis map and practical tips.

If you are going to Northern Italy and you like hiking, go to Stolvizza and experience its beautiful natural paths. Hidden gem in the Italian Alps.

This tutorial demonstrates how to easily install topographical maps on a Garmin GPSmap 62 series global positioning system.

Tips and techniques for using hiking poles, and recommended brands and models, from a hiker who's used them for thousands of miles.

Things to think about before venturing into the backcountry, brought to you by a Search and Rescue volunteer who sees a lot of people who made one or more of these mistakes.

If you're looking for the best running shoe for a big man, this article will provide insight and reviews of a few favorites. A bigger guy can still find a shoe that's comfortable and healthy.

How to navigate with a map and compass, with an overview of types of maps, compass parts, declination, intersection and resection.

Take a hike to the Eternal Flame Falls and see the wonder of a waterfall passing over a natural gas flame. Follow this trail map to find this treasure at Chestnut Ridge Park in New York.

What is the best backpacking stove for your next wilderness adventure? This article covers the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular types of camping stoves.

A dozen beautiful hikes in San Diego County: desert, ocean, and everything in between.

Are you looking to buy new hiking or backpacking boots? A footwear manager and backpacker guides you through the boot buying decision making process.

See geology at its best in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in northern Arizona.

Peppersauce Cave in southern Arizona is relatively well known but not a tourist attraction. It's in a wilderness area on the north side of Mt. Lemon in the Santa Catalina mountains north of Tucson.

For nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts, the Menalon Trail is one of the best if not the best experience you will ever have in Greece. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of information online and so here is the detailed guide to give you a glimpse of what it's really like...

There are plenty of re-usable water bottles on the market today. But are they any safer than drinking out of a plastic one containing BPA left in the sun?

Hiking in the San Francisco Bay Area is amazing. Water flows along many of the area’s trails. Trees grow tall and lush. Views include the gorgeous San Francisco skyline and the Pacific Ocean.

Bright Angel Trail, a corridor trail, is one of the most popular trails at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Despite Backpacker Magazine declaring it one of America's Most Dangerous Hikes, with water sources, some shade, rest areas, and a park ranger presence, it is the safest trail at the Grand Canyon. It is a frequent route to or from Phantom Ranch. We hiked to 3 Mile Resthouse and back to the South Rim; a 6 mile, 2110 foot adventure.

Looking for a jacket to push to the limits of outdoor adventure? Check out this review of the Victorio jacket from Mountain Hardwear. In this review, I test the durability, breathability, and waterproofness of this new Dry.Q Elite jacket.

Xia Boyu made four previous attempts to climb Mount Everest. He succeeded on his fifth attempt at the age of 69. Boyu was a double amputee.

Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with hiking opportunities at all levels of difficulty. Here are a few family-friendly trails that we enjoyed.

Even though hiking is a rewarding activity, it has its potential risks too. A slippery rock can turn a simple day hike into a complex rescue mission. Outbound Dan offers 10 tips to hikers on how to stay safe in the outdoors.

Information about long-distance footpaths around the globe, grouped by continent. Have you hiked any of these trails or routes? Want to?

But you said to always hike with a small group didn't you? As solo hikers, we bear the scorn of the outdoor world. Outing clubs view us with disdain and park rangers scowl as we register as a "party of one." However responsible solo backpackers and hikers who manage their risk appropriately can have a safe and enlightening wilderness experience. This article offers encouragement, explanation, and skill sets for a safe solo hiking experience.

Hike further and faster by adopting lightweight backpacking. These are my top tips for carrying a lighter pack.

Spelunking in the California foothills. Information and directions.

Information, tips, and suggested gear for section-hiking the CT based on our hike from Silverton to Durango, Colorado

From local day hikes to extended backpacking trips, everyone should carry the Ten Essentials while outdoors.

Technical rescue training with Search & Rescue: mechanical advantage, pulley systems, and packaging the patient for a raise.

Situated near Clochan, in Kerry, Ireland, the Lough Adoon valley at Ballyhoneen contains rock art, wedge tombs, ancient settlements, & monuments from the Bronze Age to Early Christian times.

Information, advice, and moral support for new or aspiring climbers, based on personal experience.

Dale Sanders accomplished at the age of 82 what people much younger fail to do every year. He hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail.

Geocaching (GEE-oh-cash-ing) is a great outdoors recreational activity that's similar to a scavenger hunt. There is a hidden object, and you're given clues and GPS (global positioning) coordinates to help you find it. It's incredibly fun, and...

In what began as a simple solo snowshoeing trip in the Adirondack backcountry, a momentary lack of safety protocol pits a backpacker against potential death. Only a knife can change his fate.

Max Patch is a beautiful place to visit and hike in Western North Carolina. There are a number of options for hiking. You can also just climb to the summit - about 1/2 mile - and enjoy the 360-degree views.

Take a virtual tour of this geological, scenic gem, along with information, safety tips, and directions for making the trip yourself to this remote location.

A comprehensive guide to the Polish trails in the Tatra Mountains at intermediate level.

Recommended gear for preparedness on the trail, from a member of a Search & Rescue team, who sees a lot of people who could have avoided (or at least alleviated) problems with proper equipment

A 24-hour pack for Search and Rescue personnel (and anyone else who wants to be prepared for twenty-four hours in the backcountry).

From Giardia and Crypto to Hepatitis A and E. coli, there are some nasty little critters lurking in your drinking water. Be prepared in an emergency too, by having the skills to purify water.

The East Coast Trail consists of 26 developed wilderness paths along 300km of coastline on the East Coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Bay Bulls to the lighthouse is the first 3.5km of the Spout Path.

Learn how to make a blackthorn walking stick: how to choose, cut and cure wood from the Prunus spinosa bush.

In this 100-mile review, the Keen Marshall hiking boot is thoroughly tested during backpacking and hiking trips.

A trip report from our day hike to the Great Range in the Adirondacks. The Great Range is made up of many mountains with great views, right in the heart of the Adirondack Park. Our trip included Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Pyramid, and Sawteeth.

Mount Sinai Egypt, also known by some as Moses Mountain, is an awe-inspiring place, rich in history and religious significance. Read on to experience my climb up this majestic mountain.

A comprehensive guide to the Polish trails in the Tatra Mountains for beginners.

So you want to go night hiking? Taking a hike in the darkness is more complicated than just grabbing a flashlight and heading down the trail. Use these trail-tested techniques for a safe night hiking experience.

The bounce box, or drift box, provides access to gear and supplies on your backpacking trip without actually having to carry it on your back the entire time.

GPS units are essential to successful Search and Rescue teams. This step-by-step guide illustrates the most common SAR GPS tasks. Directions work well for a Garmin Map 60 and other units.

Over three days, I backpacked over Sawteeth, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, Gray, and Dix Mountains. I had a slight fall, a bad weather bivy, an unplanned ceremony, and a meeting with a bear.

A comprehensive guide to the Polish trails in the Tatra Mountains for absolute beginners.

A trip report from the hike on Allen Mountain in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. Allen is the 26th highest Adirondack peak with an elevation of 4,340 feet.

It might surprise you to learn that the largest number of hiking-related fatalities are ascribed to the fittest. It might also surprise you to know why.

Has a skunk tried mating with your stinky sandals? If so, it is time to clean them. Follow these steps to remove the funky smell from your favorite summertime footwear.

Want to explore a place with a mysterious past? Try taking a walking tour of Gungywamp in Groton, Connecticut.

Making our way through "The Jug," a slot canyon along Salome Creek: a trip report

A selection of photos from my own hikes in the Grand Canyon and suggested photographic books from this natural wonder of the world.

While in Santa Fe, take a quick and easy hike just south of town and enjoy petroglyph art made centuries ago. Combine a little exercise with your visit to the City Different.

Newfoundland is a hiker's paradise with more than 200 hiking and walking trails of varying degrees of difficulty, covering thousands of kilometers of this beautiful island.

Why cotton kills ,and why you shouldn't wear it for backpacking or hiking clothing.

Seven scenic easy to moderate hikes in and around Sedona, Arizona with breathtaking views.

This exercise can help you learn something from lost childhood memories. If you have the opportunity to go back where you grew up, taking a walk through your old neighborhood might revive hidden subconscious thoughts.

A trip report from our hike up Phelps Mountain in the Adirondack Park of Upstate, N.Y. Phelps is the thirty-second highest peak of the Adirondack forty-six high peaks with an elevation of 4,160 feet.

Pelican Island NWR was established in 1903 as the very first protected area of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Over 100 years later there are over 560 Wildlife Refuge areas for visitors to enjoy.

Potentially life-saving gear hikers and other backcountry users should carry—some of it in the "just in case" category—whenever they hit the trail.

Hiking boots that help foot and heel pain can set you free to explore nature without pain. Here are 5 of the best pairs of hiking boots for sensitive feet.

As a Search & Rescue volunteer myself since 2007, I've put together this page to give you an idea of what "SAR" is all about and how you can get involved with a team in your area.

This is very different from walking through a spacious cavern. It literally involves crawling on hands and knees through underground tunnels. I once had this experience and I'll describe it. It's called Spelunking.

Adventure to one of Southern Utah's most untouched hideouts- Coyote Gulch, the hidden gem of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I'll explain the fastest way to get there & what you must see.

A well made knife can be a great hiking companion. Outbound Dan reviews several knives from multi-tools to neck knives for backpacking.

Indoor rock climbing holds come in all shapes and sizes. Learning climbing hold names and types is essential to improving your climbing.

If you've been looking for a unique place to hike around Los Angeles, the Devil's Punchbowl may be it. This canyon is filled with interesting formations carved out by earthquakes and water erosion.

The annual gathering of Appalachian trail hikers, from those who dayhike to those who hike the A.T. from end to end.

Join Outbound Dan Human on a short loop hike into the Niagara Falls Gorge from Devil's Hole State Park, down the Whirlpool Stairs and into the gorge past the iconic Giant Rock.

Internal frame backpacks are used for hiking through rugged and uneven ground. They allow the hiker to remain stable. They are easy to size and adjust.

Signal Hill National Historic Site, in St. John's, has several excellent hiking trails. Rated from easy to difficult, they all offer panoramic views and breathtaking scenery.

A summary of the hike of Tabletop and Phelps in the Adirondack Mountain range of New York.

A summary of our hike to the Dix Mountain Range in the Adirondacks. The Dix Range includes the high peaks of Macomb, South Dix (Carson), East Dix (Grace), Hough, and Dix.

Recommended hiking trails in and around the mountain town of Ouray

From south to north—or north to south—in one day, one week, or more.

A dayhike to the O'Leary Lookout.

A pictorial guide of one of my favorite (long) dayhikes from -- and back to -- the South Rim of Grand Canyon

A trip summary from the hike on Nippletop and Dial Mountains in the Adirondacks. Nippletop and Dial are two of the forty-six high peaks in the mountainous region of New York State.