As someone who spends a lot of time outside, especially during the summer months, I have become adamant about protecting my skin from the sun. I wasn’t always this way, though. In my 20s, I was a little careless about applying sunscreen and covering my skin up with UV-protective clothing. As a result, I now have a lot of sunspots on my face that could have been prevented had I been more vigilant about sun protection. What’s more, not that long ago, my mom had some skin cancer on her nose removed and I also had a friend in her 30s who experienced a melanoma scare. Suffice to say, all of this ha ..read more

The first time I properly cleaned my hiking boots, I wondered why I waited so long. Yes, hiking boots are meant to get dirty (it’s a sign that you’re using them!), but there’s something really nice about having a clean pair of hiking shoes that aren’t caked with muck and dirt. Plus, it helps extend their lifespan. My Oboz Sypes hiking boots cost upwards of $150, and giving them a refresh means I save money not having to buy new boots as frequently. Cleaning your boots removes dirt and grime that can cause the materials to crack and break down and also restores the waterproofing and breathabil ..read more

If you have ever felt too cold in your sleeping bag while tent camping, then you know how miserable it is to spend the night shivering and counting down the minutes until sunrise. I previously used a 30-degree car camping sleeping bag for backpacking trips, but it was bulky, heavy, and provided no warmth whatsoever. Since I didn’t have a quality sleeping bag designed for backpacking, it took up a ton of room in my pack and added unnecessary weight to my load. I had gotten used to putting on extra layers before hitting the hay, but even with these warm clothes, I would often wake up freezing th ..read more

I don’t know an outdoor enthusiast who doesn’t hate mosquitos. If you don’t repel mosquitos while hiking, they can turn an otherwise perfect adventure into a nightmare. A couple of years back, I was on a multi-day canoe trip through Labyrinth Canyon in Utah. The mosquitos were so bad that anytime we weren’t in the canoe, we had to be covered from head to toe – a tall order when it was 95 degrees out. The biggest lesson was to never go canoeing during mosquito season ever again! I’ve also been on backpacking trips where I was so damn thankful I brought my nerdy head net. Without it, I would hav ..read more

If you’ve spent any time researching hikes or backpacking trips, you’ve probably come across lingo or acronyms that are unfamiliar. Even as an avid hiker who writes about the outdoors for a career, I still stumble upon hiking terms I have to look up every once in a while. I recently learned “Middle Blues,” (definition below), which describes a feeling I’ve never been able to put into words. While learning hiking lingo is by no means a prerequisite to getting out in nature, it can make you feel a little more confident and “in the know”. It’s helpful to understand what certain terms mean and why ..read more

While you may not be chomping at the bit to go hiking in the rain, knowing how to stay dry and comfortable in bad weather is an important trail skill. You never know when you might get caught in a storm. Or, maybe, you choose to go hiking in the rain! A few years ago, Ryan and I were up in Stanley, Idaho and the forecast called for rain our entire trip. Embracing the wet weather was our only option unless we wanted to be stuck inside our van for a week straight. So, we geared up in our rain gear and hit the trails! Or there was the time when I organized a group backpacking trip to Alaska and t ..read more

Sleeping comfortably in a tent takes practice. While there’s a world of information about the “best tents” and “best sleeping pads,” the process of sleeping in a tent is very personal. We all have different preferences and some of us just have a harder time getting shuteye outdoors than others. So finding your ideal sleeping system when camping requires trial and error to see what works for you — and what doesn’t.  That said, there are tried-and-true tips that will set you up to get better rest outdoors. For me, it took years, countless camping trips, and hundreds of miles of backpacking ..read more

The American Southwest is one of the top destinations for hikers and backpackers with vast landscapes, unique geological features, and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. A desert day hike or backpacking trip can be a wonderful way to explore the trails in this region even when snow blankets most mountainous backpacking destinations. From my years of hiking and backpacking in the deserts of Utah, Arizona, and California, I’ve learned that preparation is key. Hiking in the desert is a completely different experience than hiking in the mountains. Knowing how to deal with heat, sun exposure, desert wi ..read more

I became an REI member 18 years ago right when I finished college and decided I wanted to get more into camping. I remember being in the Seattle store buying my first Gregory pack while the guy in the green vest helped me stuff the pack full of sandbags. Then I walked around the store for a bit before I decided to take the plunge. Two weeks later, I returned home from my first backpacking trip and, as it turns out, I didn’t like the pack all that much. Luckily I bought it at REI and they have the best no-questions-asked return policy, so I was able to exchange it for something I found to be mo ..read more

When you search on Google for images of Colorado, many of those breathtaking, iconic photos of mountain peaks surrounded by alpine lakes and wildflowers are of the Maroon Bells near Aspen. It is no wonder that many people wish to experience this magic for themselves, making the Four Pass Loop one of the most popular Colorado hiking trails. The famous Four Pass Loop trail spans 26 miles. As the name implies, this circuit includes four mountain passes (West Maroon – 12,500 feet; Frigid Air – 12,415 feet; Trail Rider -12,420 feet; Buckskin – 12,500 feet). Due to the high elevation and rocky terra ..read more