Avalanches killed 37 people in the U.S. last winter, making it the most deadly season in modern history. Why was 2020-2021 so dangerous, and how can we avoid avalanches this winter? Get the answers to these burning questions in our new winter safety series, dropping on the Out and Back podcast today. In this four-part series, avalanche forecasters expose the factors that played into last season’s tragic fatalities. Tune in to hear the details of one of the most chilling avalanche accidents in Utah’s history. Learn how seasoned ski mountaineers make the tough decision to turn around in the moun ..read more

Avalanches killed 37 people in the U.S. last winter, making it the most deadly season in modern history. Why was 2020-2021 so dangerous, and how can we avoid avalanches this winter? Get the answers to these burning questions in our new winter safety series, dropping on the Out and Back podcast today. In this four-part series, avalanche forecasters expose the factors that played into last season’s tragic fatalities. Tune in to hear the details of one of the most chilling avalanche accidents in Utah’s history. Learn how seasoned ski mountaineers make the tough decision to turn around just shy of ..read more

Avalanches killed 37 people in the U.S. last winter, making it the most deadly season in modern history. Why was 2020-2021 so dangerous, and how can we avoid avalanches this winter? Get the answers to these crucial questions in our new winter safety series, dropping on the Out and Back podcast today! In this four-part series, avalanche forecasters expose the factors that played into last season’s tragic fatalities. Tune in to hear the details of one of the most chilling avalanche accidents in Utah’s history. Learn how seasoned ski mountaineers make the tough decision to turn around just shy of ..read more

Avalanches killed 37 people in the U.S. last winter, making it the most deadly season in modern history. Why was 2020-2021 so dangerous, and how can we avoid avalanches this winter? Get the answers to these burning questions in our new winter safety series, dropping on the Out and Back podcast today. In this four-part series, avalanche forecasters expose the factors that played into last season’s tragic fatalities. Tune in to hear the details of one of the most chilling avalanche accidents in Utah’s history. Learn how seasoned ski mountaineers make the tough decision to turn around just shy of ..read more

Learn more about avalanche safety at avalanche.org. Find and sign up for an avalanche education class with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. Make sure to go to your local avalanche center for area forecasts. Follow us on Out and Back Podcast page on Instagram! And don't forget to pick up your sweet 40% discount on Gaia GPS through the end of 2021 ..read more

It's your worst nightmare. You're all alone, miles from the trailhead, when you trip over a rock and break your leg. What do you do? If you have a satellite communication device, you press a button and send a message for help. Yes, rescue in the backcountry has become that easy. These palm-sized units allow you to send messages from anywhere in the world, let others track your progress in the backcountry, and provide a direct line to help when you need it. How exactly do satellite communication devices work, and can you trust them? We sat down with Morris Shawn, President of ZOLEO Inc, to give ..read more

Before Mac of Halfway Anywhere thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, he struggled to find useful information about the trail. Sure, he read anecdotal thru-hiking accounts. But what worked for one person might not work for him. Mac wanted data. So after completing the trail that year, Mac started a PCT survey to gather that data for himself. The results both somewhat dismayed him while at the same time, proved quite useful. For example, one of Mac’s many findings suggested that hikers wildly underestimate how much a thru-hike costs. In fact, underestimating thru-hike finances proves to be ..read more

Coffee is life for many of us. It’s our morning ritual, a jolt that shakes us out of the afternoon doldrums, and a pick-me-up when we need to burn the midnight oil. But in the backcountry, brewing the perfect cup can be complicated. A pour-over leaves you with messy grounds to haul out and instant coffee often falls short on taste. We turned to some of our favorite professional hikers — Heather “Anish” Anderson, the Hiking Viking, Adventure Alan Dixon, and Liz “Snorkel” Thomas — to unmask the secrets to brewing the best cup of coffee in camp. We spent time with each of these world-famous hiker ..read more

Ultralight backpacking expert Mike Clelland has slept outside as often as possible for decades. Cowboy camping one night 15 years ago, something happened that changed Mike’s life forever. He tried to dismiss it, but it happened again. And again. That series of events sent Mike down the unlikely path of studying how powerful coincidences connect us to the supernatural. “I saw the owls. And I heard a voice in my head that said, ‘This has something to do with the UFO's. You are an abductee',” Mike recounts on Out and Back. “To feel that, and to hear it in my head, it changed the direction of my l ..read more

Newbie and seasoned backpackers alike all hold fears around backcountry travel. Outdoor Backpacking Educator and Empowerment Coach Allison Boyle shares how to overcome them this week on the Out and Back podcast. Allison is the face behind the ultra-popular blog and coaching service She Dreams of Alpine, which teaches women how to become safe, confident, and self-sufficient in the backcountry. In this fun and informative conversation, Allison tells hosts Mary and Abby how a city girl from Houston, Texas ended up becoming a backpacking expert. It certainly didn’t happen overnight, and even invol ..read more