

We often hear people say, “Slow down,” or “Stop and smell the roses.” We understand what they mean. Take a moment. Look around. Pay attention to the things you might otherwise miss. But hiking can sometimes encourage the opposite. Put in the miles. Get to camp. Beat your previous time. Reach the summit. There…

Moving quickly, we cover miles. Sometimes those miles matter. We need to reach camp before dark. We need to finish the section we planned. So we walk a little faster. The problem is not moving quickly. The problem is when the miles become more important than why we are out there in the first…

Backpacking can seem daunting at first glance. Carrying everything you need into the wilderness for several days. Walking with a pack on your back. Sleeping in a sometimes uncomfortable place, surrounded by unfamiliar noises and with what feels like little protection from the elements. If it’s your first time backpacking, you probably have plenty…