Going Camping? Leave the Hatchet at Home
Hatchets, saws, and axes have a place—and it's not in the backcountry.
Latest
Looking Toward the Fire from My Front Yard, I Thought, This Is Going to Burn My House Down
Last week my house burned to the ground, and if that’s not bad enough, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder
Brooke Merrell Is Denali National Park’s First Female Superintendent in 105 Years
Will oversee projects in Denali, including $91 million bridge construction.
The Ultimate Trail Mix: 14 Hikers Share Their Recipes
From "good old raisins and peanuts" to trail mixes spiced with hot peppers, Michigan cherries, beer nuts, and dried carrots, the ultimate backwoods snack comes your way, courtesy of Backpacker readers.
Grizzly Fatally Mauled Woman In Rare Predatory Attack, Report Concludes
Officials said the bear visited the Montana campsite an hour before the attack.
National Park Officials Warn of Summer Heat After Series of Hiker Deaths
Incident follows deaths at White Sands, Grand Canyon; another hiker passed away in Badlands on Wednesday.
We Put 23 Electrolyte Drinks to a Taste Test. Here Are the Best Ones.
Sure, electrolyte drink mixes are going to keep you hydrated. But which ones actually taste good?
I Thought I Had My Thru-Hiking Setup Dialed—and Then I Started the Pacific Crest Trail
A double-wall tent, camp sandals, and cushier trail runners were among the changes Patricia “Blackpacker” Cameron made once she hit the PCT.
Self Defense Training is Empowering These Women to Get Outdoors
Empowerment self defense classes focused on the outdoors are teaching women to feel safe in the wilderness.
How Moving into a Tent Changed Everything for Nighttime Photographer Malik Martin
The artist’s first-ever Web3 collection tells the story of his own journey into the outdoors
“Tough-as-Nails” Appalachian Trail Hiker Found Dead in Tent in Virginia
No foul play suspected in the death of section hiker Michael Charles Lombardo.
Member Exclusives
Stories, gear reviews, hiking guides, and more just for Outside+ members.
Join Outside+ See All2022 Summer Gear Guide
The 13 Products That Won Awards in the 2022 Summer Gear Guide
We reviewed 341 pieces of gear. But these ones stood above.
Fitness
The Best Hiking Workouts for Every Fitness Level
Reality check: Hitting the gym is the quickest way to hike farther, easier, faster, and pain-free. Get into a routine—or take yours to the next level—with these smart workouts for three different levels.
The Best Hikes
The Best Hikes in Colorado
Lace up your boots for a hiking destination that includes Rocky Mountain vistas, alpine lakes, wind-swept sand dunes, and memorable urban parks.
Backpacking Skills
Learn How to Use a Compass and Never Get Lost Again
Make sure you never get lost again by mastering the underappreciated art of navigating with a compass and map.
Gear Round-Ups
The Best Backpacking Kitchen Gear of 2022
Feast-making cookware that won’t slow you down
Trail Guides
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows
The Narrows at Zion National Park offers an incredible adventure in America's most amazing slot canyons. Here's how to safely explore them.
Survival Skills
How to Remove and Treat Thorns, Splinters, and Other Prick Wounds
Nature can be brutal. Learn how to to deal with wounds from all kinds of thorns, spines, splinters, shards, quills, needles, and anything else that might get under your skin when you’re on the trail.
Classic Destinations
Experience Deep Backcountry on the Appalachian Trail’s 100-Mile Wilderness
Hike some of the East Coast's wildest wilderness on the AT.
Backpacking Gear
Best Backpacking Tents of 2022
Find shelter from the storm with these excellent backpacking tents.
Long Trails
100 Years Ago, the Appalachian Trail Was One Man’s Dream. Now, It’s Everyone’s.
Benton MacKaye's original proposal for the Appalachian Trail came out 100 years ago. While the trail may have changed, the appeal hasn't.
Listen
Out Alive
Real people who survived the unsurvivable
Listen
Impossible Odds
Two friends, 8,000 trail miles, one year
Featured Story
A.T. Phone Home: Backpacker Wants Your Appalachian Trail Stories
Have a tale from the AT? We want you to give us a call—literally.
From Grandma Gatewood‘s walk to Bill Bryson‘s misadventures to the Instagram hiking heroes of today, some of backpacking’s most compelling stories have originated on the Appalachian Trail. Whether it’s for 3 months or a weekend, everyone who sets foot on this path has their own tale: a bear encounter, a spectacular sunrise, or an unforgettable night with a shelter full of new friends. Now, Backpacker wants to help you tell yours. All you need to do is leave us a message.
This season, we’re highlighting ordinary AT hikers’ extraordinary stories. Here’s how it works: give us a call at 303-253-6424 and leave us a message with your name and a story from your section hike or thru-hike. Anything is fair game: we’re looking for your best moments, your worst moments, a story about your tramily, your favorite summit, an experience that got your pulse pounding, a tale about the friendly space alien you met along the way, or just how the trail has changed your perspective. We’ll pick our favorites and feature them on our Instagram and Facebook accounts for everyone to enjoy. Our only requirement: that it’s out of this world.
Tell us your Appalachian Trail story at 303-253-6424
FAQ
Where will you share these stories?
We’ll share our favorite stories from A.T. Phone Home on Instagram and Facebook, and may also feature them on our site, podcasts, and other social media platforms.
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