From Goatman to Fathermule: 5 Lessons from the Appalachian Trail for (New) Dads
Join me as we explore how my experiences on long distance hikes have prepared me for the journey of fatherhood.
Blog
International Thru-Hikes: Hiking Abroad
Most people are familiar with the United States’ various long trails, but did you know the trail system here was the inspiration for hiking trails all over the world? These are international thru-hikes ranging in length from 50 miles all the way to gargantuan 2,000 milers, both island-traversing long trails and age-old pilgrimages.
My Idea to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail
The idea to establish the Appalachian Trail was formulated in 1921. My idea to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail was in 2018, a brief 97 years later.
Demystifying the Rain Shell: Hydrostatic Head and MVTR
We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling when cold raindrops start to seep through our rain jacket. I thought this was waterproof? Why am I getting wet? What does waterproof even mean? Aren’t all rain jackets waterproof? If that’s the case, why are some ten times as expensive as others? The answer to each of those questions may be the same: hydrostatic head.
6 Tips for Beginner Outdoor Sport Climbers (5/8)
With the weather warming up, you’re bound to want to take your climbing from the gym to the crag. Here are 6 tips for beginner outdoor sport climbers as you expand your horizons.
Six Moderately Long Walks
The long trails of America catch our imaginations: the Appalachian Trail with its steep rolling mountains, the Pacific Crest Trail with its alpine beauty, and the Continental Divide Trail’s rugged wilderness. These trails are serious undertakings that require money, equipment, and most of all, time. What if you’re short on one or even all of these? There are other routes in America’s National Trail System, and a few outside of it, that can be accomplished without tackling the Triple Crown. Here are six moderately long walks where you can wander off for a month or two without being gone for a whole season.
Staff Gear Favorites: Part 3
Your favorite piece of gear can be like a good friend. You might only see it a few times each year, but it can feel like no time has passed. RRT’s staff has many gear favorites; here are some pieces in particular that have won our affection year after year.
GORE-TEX, PFCs, and Pollution: Harmful Chemicals In Outdoor Gear
Rain jackets, boots, gloves, and other equipment made using high-performing GORE-TEX waterproofing have historically contained PFAS and PFOS. For those, like me, that aren’t chemically literate, this essentially means that waterproof materials are made with harmful chemicals.
5 Short Long Trails: Lesser-Known Thru-Hikes for the Everyday Adventurer
The long trails of America catch our imaginations: the Appalachian Trail with its steep rolling mountains, the Pacific Crest Trail with its alpine beauty, and the Continental Divide Trail’s rugged wilderness. These trails span thousands of miles and multiple states, as do most of the other routes in America’s National Trail System. They are serious undertakings that require money, equipment, and most of all, time. What if you’re short on one or even all of these? These are five lesser-known thru-hikes in the US, all one hundred miles or more, that can get you the taste of a long trail without 4-5 months of walking.
Thoughts on Wilderness: Protecting a Sanctuary
Wilderness, the word itself is music. Edward Abbey states more eloquently than I our feelings about wilderness, a sanctuary that beckons me relentlessly. But what is wilderness?
