Bear canisters are an essential piece of backcountry equipment for anyone traveling into bear country (or even anywhere in the backcountry there are animals). Not much has changed recently in the bear canister and food-protection space, but BearVault has just released two new products, the BV425
The John Muir Trail Hiker Survey (2021)
In an effort to get a more comprehensive look at thru-hikers and the long-distance hiking community, this year I launched the John Muir Trail Hiker Survey. The John Muir Trail (JMT) is a more accessible trail than the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail and I anticipate it will be
NOW OPEN: The 2021 John Muir Trail Hiker Survey
This year, in addition to conducting Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail hiker surveys, I've decided to also conduct a John Muir Trail Hiker Survey to serve as a resource for future JMT hikers and to get a similar (yet I suspect quite different) perspective on thru-hiking through the
Forester Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Forester Pass, the 13,153 ft / 4,009 m pass named for the United States Forest Service workers who "discovered" it, is the highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail and is the first Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers (and the final pass crossed by southbound
Glen Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Glen Pass, the 11,969 ft / 3,648 m pass named for Forest Service ranger Glen H. Crow, is the second Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers and the eighth encountered by southbound John Muir Trail (JMT) hikers. It's located 11.6 mi / 18.67 km north of Forester
Muir Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Muir Pass, the 11,969 ft / 3,648 m pass named for John Muir, a Scottish-American naturalist, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and nature-enthusiast, is the fifth Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the fifth encountered by southbound John Muir Trail
Pinchot Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Pinchot Pass, the 12,093 ft / 3,686 m pass named for Gifford Pinchot, the 1st head of the United States Forest Service, is the third Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the fourth encountered by southbound John Muir Trail hikers). It's located just 9.8 mi
Mather Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Mather Pass, the 12,093 ft / 3,686 m pass named for Stephen Mather, the 1st Director of the National Park Service, is the fourth Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the third encountered by southbound John Muir Trail hikers). Despite it not being as high