Places » Notes from the Field

Gear notes and more from a trek in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness in late October and early November, 2012. Read More...

Trail Angels to the rescue on the PCT and AT. Chapter 11 from Lawton Grinter's new book I Hike: Mostly True Stories from 10,000 Miles of Hiking . Read More...

An unexpected rainstorm and inadequate gear threaten to end one hiker's PCT dreams, and potentially his life. Chapter 3 from Lawton Grinter's new book I Hike: Mostly True Stories from 10,000 Miles of Hiking . Read More...

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Can a backpacker more comfy on the trail find love with a lady for whom three stars is roughing it? An excerpt from Ron's recently published memoir, Pathfinder: Blazing a New Wilderness Trail in Modern America . Read More...

Designed as a European cultural itinerary traversing the continent along the backbone of the Alps, you can experience jaw-dropping Alpine beauty, culture, nature, ecology, history and cuisine in whatever region you like! Read More...

In 2008 and 2009, I got better acquainted with the lovely ladies that make up the Three Sisters in the Cascade Range. Read More...

There were 37,000 new wilderness acres in my home state... how could I not go walking? Read More...

Part two of Roger Caffin's GR5 trek in France. Read More...

Roger Caffin shares his notes on trekking the GR5 in France. Read More...

Bill Stadwiser shares his notes on packrafting Bear Trap Canyon with Ryan Jordan. Read More...

Ultralight Backpackers Scouting Post-Disaster Trail Conditions for the US Forest Service. Read More...

Wise Women Jean (from 20 to 13 pound base weight) and Sue (14 to 9 pound base weight) put their new lightweight gear to the test in the field. Read More...

Jean and Sue select and test lighter gear from a dizzying array of choices while receiving an avalanche of expert advice - which they accept with trepidation, reject, or take on wholeheartedly - all the while listening to their own self-wisdom gained in their six (or near six) decades of life experience. Read More...

BPL subscriber, Al Shaver, didn’t break the JMT speed record for an unsupported hike without resupply, but his account may inspire you to try. Read More...

Long distance hikes have a unique character. BPL editor, Don Wilson, shares his perspectives on gear, technique, clothing and philosophy following a lightweight, 6-week section hike of the PCT. Read More...

BPL subscriber, Al Shaver, will attempt to break the JMT speed record for an unsupported hike without resupply. He starts on the full moon, September 7th. Read More...

The first in a series of three articles chronicling the experiences of hiking buddies Jean and Sue as they begin on the journey to lightweight backpacking. Read More...

Was just 5 pounds of gear enough to keep our warm-weather-acclimatized Arizonian cozy into the 20s? Read More...

Can a SUL pack survive intense bushwhacking? Read More...

Perspectives from the Black Forest Trail in Pennsylvania, with commentary on gear and techniques to stay warm in a hammock with less than five pounds of gear. Read More...

Perspectives from the field, with commentary on gear and technique for high mileage backpacking with a sub-4-pound base weight pack. Read More...

Perspectives from the field, with commentary and comparison of gear and technique for tarp and hammock camping at 40 °F. Read More...

Perspectives from the field, with commentary on gear and technique for hammock camping with less than five pounds of gear. Read More...

Perspectives from the field, with commentary on gear and technique from a 10k high camp near Mount Humphries with less than five pounds of gear. Read More...

Field notes on perspectives from the field, with commentary on gear and technique in the canyons of the desert southwest. Read More...