Take it from someone who's been there, pouring seven pounds of M&Ms into a trash bag is far more satisfying than you may already suspect. Follow that up with pounds of nuts and dried fruit, and you have yourself the ultimate bag of layered trail mix ingredients. You have now arrived at the far
Drinking in Israel: Arak (ערק)
In Brazil you have cachaça, in Russia you have vodka, in the Caribbean you have rum, and in Israel, you have Arak. Arak (uh-rock or ar-ick if you're trying to have an accent) is a member of the anis drink family, and tastes (as some of you more seasoned drinkers may have guessed) like black
Coxinha: Magical Treats From Heaven
If you have managed to resist falling in love with Brazil up to this point, then consider this game over. Brazilians have learnt to manufacture a majestic munchy known locally as coxinha (co-sheen-yah). Inside this fried teardrop of salvation you will encounter an irresistible mix of cheese and
The Fire Island Ferries
Since no cars are permitted on Fire Island during the summer months, your only (reasonable) option for getting to the island is to use the Fire Island ferries (or have a (friend with a) boat). There are two companies who operate ferries between Long Island and Fire Island: the Sayville Ferry
8 Ridiculous PCT Acronyms to Learn
Hikers very much enjoy the use of acronyms, no matter how obscure or unintuitive they may be. However, the use of acronyms is not exclusive to hikers, and I would venture to say that more groups than not are quite fond of acronyms. Whether it be to instill a false sense of creativity, to create
How To Not Be Eaten by Bears
Plenty of things can kill you whilst walking alone for hundreds of miles in isolated woods: hypothermia, starvation, dysentery, hatchet murderers, the headless horseman, lightning strikes, and the most terrifying of all - bears. Imagine yourself snuggled into your sleeping bag late one night,
Brazilian Beach Etiquette: How To Blend In
Let's face it - it won't be a secret that you are a gringo in Brazil. It is fairly obvious separating the locals from the tourists, but the process becomes even easier at the beach. Luckily, by following the simple code of Brazilian beach etiquette you will be able to (attempt) to blend in amongst
PCT DANGER: Marijuana Hazard!
The PCTA has just posted some shocking news on their blog. Apparently, some of the people living in our one and only greatest nation that ever was or ever will be have decided that the law does not apply to them. And they are growing marijuana along the Pacific Crest Trail. Shocking, I
The Mikvah: The Holy Jew Bath
A Mikvah (or Mikveh), quite simply, can be described as a ritualistic Jew bath. Want to know more? Excellent, here we go: Used primarily by the more Orthodox Jewish communities, it is used to symbolically purify the body. According to Jewish law, a mikvah must be connected to a naturally