A 17-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail past Siler Bald and Wayah Gap, two hours from Woodstock and about two and a half from Atlanta. Everything three of us carried, what we used, and what we wished we had. What to pack for an overnight hike: the short answer For an over
Why I walked away from a 25-year technology career to build a camping gear company Who would do this? Walk away from a career that had provided a good life for more than 25 years. Walk away from the stability, the paycheck, the experience, and the professional identity you spent
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