Winter camping has long enticed me into the frosty backcountry. The landscape is beautiful, a world at rest beneath a glittering blanket of snow. Plus, two major hassles of summer—crowds and blood-sucking insects—are nowhere to…
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From the White Mountain Huts to the Giant Races: Meet Katie Schide and Hillary Gerardi
This story is a preview of the upcoming issue of Appalachia Journal. Katie Schide ran down the woodsy mountain trail from the Flégère tram station 800 meters above Chamonix, France, this past August 27, much...
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Ah, winter: Season of outdoor thrills and potentially butt-crunching spills. When snow and ice create dangerous conditions underfoot—from city sidewalks to rugged mountain trails—adding a winter traction system to your footwear will provide the grip…
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I spent my morning walking the dog and serving as an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet for my local mosquito population. It got me thinking about the little buzzers and prompted several crucial questions in my head….
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Spring is the time of year when adult ticks that have overwintered underground emerge for one last attempt at a succulent blood feast. If you find one attached to yourself or your pet, I highly…
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The only interesting fact that I recall from high school physics is that black bears can run up to 30 mph. My teacher, an avid outdoorsman, included this detail in one of many stories told…
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When it comes to choosing a multiday backpack, forget about pockets, zippers, ventilation, access panels, materials, color, and any other number of design elements. Focus instead on the single most important feature: a good fit….
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It’s raining, it’s pouring, a big wind is roaring. In such conditions, you better have your tent guylines set up properly. If not, you can probably expect water inside your tent or—in a more serious…
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It was as a young adult that Yemaya Maurer, coauthor of AMC Guide to Winter Hiking & Camping, became aware of the pleasures of traveling through a winter landscape and mourned a childhood that hadn’t included…
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Do you need a specific type of footwear for snowshoeing? Yes and no. The reality is that you can strap in virtually any pair of shoes or boots and hit the snowy trails. But to…
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A cold wind can steal body heat fast, so it’s important to have a layer at hand to block wind’s chilling effect. But what’s the difference between a wind-proof and wind-resistant fabric? And what are…
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