Wild Mushroom Risotto Thanks to Ben Bebenroth & Spice Headquarters for the recipe! Check out the full video – https://youtu.be/SDbnc25KwI8 Yield: 4 portions Ingredients: 4 cups chicken or mushroom stock 4-6 grinds of black pepper ½-1 tsp. Kosher Salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons olive oil ¼ cup diced carrot ¼ cup finely minced onions 1 pound fresh wild mushrooms, trimmed, cleaned and sliced (see note) 1 ½ cups Italian Arborio rice ¼ cup white or rose’ wine ¾ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese 1 tsp. fresh thyme 1TBS fresh ..read more

The health benefits of getting outdoors are well documented. Even a simple 30-minute walk around the neighborhood can do wonders for your overall well-being. And making time to get outdoors is more important now than ever, as people of all ages spend an increasing amount of time on smartphones and tablets. As devices become more integrated into a child’s development, it is more important than ever to make outdoor activity a regular part of life from an early age. When people aren’t exposed to outdoor activities at a young age, they often struggle to pick them up later in life. In the same way ..read more

The trails are devoid of human life, animals wander freely through the woods, and snow falls soundlessly on the treetops—it’s wintertime in the great outdoors. But despite the sparkling vistas, uncrowded trails, and the beauty nature offers to hikers in this time of the year, many never experience the wonder that the fourth season offers because of one tiny detail: the cold. What most people don’t know is that a little know-how, the right equipment, and simply wearing multiple layers can help with the challenges of camping in the winter. With some planning, you’ll easily stave off frostbite ..read more

Editor’s Note: As of 5/5/2020, the CDC recommends wearing masks at all times during outdoors activities. For more information, click here With officials urging us to limit unnecessary travel, many of us might be starting to feel a bit stir crazy. Being outside and in nature is important for dealing with stress and anxiety—the exact emotions in overdrive right now. But is it possible to safely head outdoors without putting your and others’ health at risk? The short answer is yes—we can technically walk, run, and bike alone or with our immediate household without violating social distancing rul ..read more

From the rocky outcrops of the Talladega National Forest to the waterfalls of the Sipsey Wilderness, Alabama is home to many excellent backpacking trails that practically beg for an overnight adventure. If you’ve only done day hikes, however, a longer overnight trek through the backcountry can seem slightly intimidating. But with a little research and planning, your first backpacking trip can be an amazing experience that paves the way for future adventures. The rewards are well worth the planning and effort. Deep in the woods, you’ll discover the kind of scenery, solitude, and natural wonder ..read more

Enjoy the great outdoors with your best friend…… Walking your dog seems simple enough—it’s just you, your pup, and the great outdoors. But without the right equipment and approach, a much-anticipated W-A-L-K can be disappointing. Get some good gear Search for “walking a dog” online and you’ll find pages of photos with people holding leashes attached to a collar around a dog’s throat, which is exactly what the experts we spoke to advise against. “I’m not a big fan of anything around the neck that’s pulling,” says Anna Mynchenberg, a manager at Bark, the company behind BarkBox. “I can’t imagine ..read more

If you wake up early enough in any national park, you can bear witness to a unique ritual: Employees meeting before sunrise in the staff cafeteria, drinking coffee and making last minute changes to the contents of their backpacks. During my first season working in Glacier National Park, I would come to witness this and participate in it many times, eventually learning which items were essential (the headlamp, the extra socks) and which ones weren’t (the second jacket in July, the bulky guidebook). One item which always made the essential list? Alcohol. By the end of that summer, I’d garnered ..read more

This article is a must read if you love to spend your days outdoors and cook your meals immersed in nature! For many of us, menu planning for a backpacking trip is a last minute consideration. Stop off at a grocery on the way up to the mountains and grab the essentials: mac and cheese, ramen, oatmeal, and, of course, bars, bars, and more bars. But the longer your hike (around the third day of a backpacking trip is usually when it becomes tough to eat another energy bar), the more important it is to vary your diet, both to maintain a high interest in your food and to keep your energy levels up ..read more

COVID-19 is here, and we must stay away from each other. Those of us who can are working from home and avoiding public spaces. In our spare time, we’re obsessively scrolling through news updates and social media posts. Yes, it’s wise to follow the important news in your neighborhood, but there is a limit. No matter how much media you consume, no post or story can tell you what the future holds. Outdoorsmen and women are uniquely suited to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Most of us have freezers stocked full of wild game and pantries loaded with goods from last summer’s garden. Many of us h ..read more

From The Hot Brown to Burgoo, Kentucky is known for many mouth-watering dishes. While the state’s culinary delights are typically served at home or in restaurants, they’re also great choices for campsite cooking. After a long day exploring the outdoors and burning calories, people crave these types of meals that stick to your ribs. The next time you go camping, forego the hotdogs and other typical fare and whip up one of Kentucky’s iconic creations. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites, which you can cook using a campfire or camping stove. Keep in mind that most of these recipes include p ..read more