We have just entered the fourth season of the year, and it's one of my favorites! This is based on the 8-season model I wrote about earlier in the year, where we consider both temperature AND sunlight. In "Bright Spring", we enjoy some of the longest days of the year - at my latitude we…Read more “Bright Spring”
Camping
Pif… Pif…
April 7. I know the view of the river, the marsh and the forest beyond is remarkable. I could see it a few hours ago. Geese maneuvered through the remnants of last fall's cattails, and the air was filled with calls from a pair of recently returned ospreys getting reacquainted. Now, I can't see more…Read more Pif… Pif…
My Favorite Place
One of my favorite places in the world is the one I carry with me. My tent, and the rest of my backpacking setup, allow me to escape to almost anywhere. This particular spot was a great one - 20 miles from the nearest pavement, high in the Colorado Rockies, easily one of the quietest…Read more My Favorite Place
PATC Cabins in Shenandoah NP
I've hiked past them for years - rustic cabins perched high in mountain creek valleys. I've always wondered, as I've passed, what they were like. Doyles River, Pocosin, Range View, Corbin... each sits within the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park, occupying the historic site of an older homestead, in many cases - but they're private,…Read more PATC Cabins in Shenandoah NP
Winter Camping Without a Tent
December was a crazy month - it always is during the run up to the holidays, trying to prepare at home, and preemptively get everything done at work. Like I mentioned in the run-up to Christmas though, I had plans, and some of them have come to fruition. In mid-December, I was able to complete…Read more Winter Camping Without a Tent
All The Comforts Of Home
No water, no electricity, but a fireplace AND a wood stove. Perfect! Tulip Tree Cabin, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
Thanksgiving Outdoors, with a Dutch Oven Turkey
If you're spending any time outside this Thanksgiving - hiking, camping, paddling... there's no need to pass on traditional holiday fare. Heck, even if you're not in the woods, this recipe yields a really tasty result, including the satisfaction of cooking over a fire! Equipment Let me just confess up front - a standard dutch…Read more Thanksgiving Outdoors, with a Dutch Oven Turkey
Cedarville State Forest, MD
Washington, DC traffic is no fun. Some love the area, but for many, the 50 miles surrounding our nation's capitol are viewed as a mass of commuters that grows in density and frustration, the I-495, the Beltway, marking an orbit of wasted time and despair. Given that many of us are forced to deal with…Read more Cedarville State Forest, MD
St. Mary’s Wilderness
East of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, but west of the main Blue Ridge, there's a jumble of rugged mountains marked by cliffs, steep-sided gorges, and crystal clear streams. This area contains the St. Mary's Wilderness, the largest Wilderness Area in Virginia, and one of my favorite spots for over 30 years. Like most designated Wilderness Areas,…Read more St. Mary’s Wilderness
FISH IN FERN. The Ten Essentials: A Systems Approach
A different way to think through what you need.
Lost Creek Wilderness, CO
Work has been busy lately, so when I got invited to a series of meetings in Colorado Springs, I saw an opportunity and took it. I arranged to fly out a day early, and do a quick overnight somewhere in the Front Range between Denver and Colorado Springs. A little research led me to the…Read more Lost Creek Wilderness, CO
Time and Direction – Celestial Tricks for the Backcountry
Quick tips on finding your way and tracking time while outdoors
Wilderness Chef #2: Backpacker’s Berry Cobbler
Backpacker's Berry Cobbler - A sweet winter treat on a backpacking stove!
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 