The buckle broke at mile four. I was on the first section of the Appalachian Trail north of Amicalola Falls, hiking out and back to test some new gear. I picked that stretch on purpose. The climb to Springer Mountain is steep, and it stays steep for miles. If something in your ki

Five thousand years of carrying things, and what really separates a great backpack from an expensive one There is a particular sound a backpack makes when it fails. It is not dramatic. It is a soft tick or snap . One reinforcing stitch lets go at the base of a shoulder strap, or

Spend enough years camping and you start to notice a pattern: the hazards people worry about most are rarely the ones that cause the most trouble. Bears are a good example. Mention a camping trip to friends who don't spend much time outdoors and somebody will almost certainly ask

Are You Physically Ready for the North Georgia Loop? The North Georgia Loop is close enough to metro Atlanta to feel approachable, but the physical demands are very real. This is not a casual camping weekend or a scenic walk with a backpack. It is a multi-day mountain hike with r

Three July 4th Camping Trips Worth Planning a Whole Year For If you're reading this and you haven't booked a July 4th campsite yet, stop scrolling and do that first. The best spots are gone by Memorial Day. I've had three Fourth of July camping trips that I will tell my grandkids