Archive for ‘National Parks Travel Advice’

What to Bring to Hike a 14er – The Ultimate 14er Hiking Gear List Guide

What to Bring to Hike a 14er – The Ultimate 14er Hiking Gear List Guide

There are a lot of incredible and challenging hikes in North America, but few compare to the exhilarating experience of climbing to the top of one of the tallest mountains in the United States. In American mountaineering circles, the name for mountain peaks with an elevation of over 14,000 feet (or 4,267 meters) is a “fourteener”. For many hiking and climbing enthusiasts, getting to the top of these incredible peaks has a magnetic-like allure. Not only is it a personal challenge to conquer these difficult alpine trails, but the views and the experiences along the way are things you will never forget. However, as beautiful and amazing as it is to tackle a fourteener, these trails are not for the faint of heart. Each year, hikers pay the ultimate price in their conquest to tackle one of these mountains. Many times, it is because they were unprepared for the challenges they would face on the trail. To put you in the best possible position to succeed in your quest to conquer one of America’s 96 fourteeners, I have created this fourteener hiking gear list to help you make sure you are prepared.
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The 5 Best US-National Parks to Visit In 2022

The 5 Best US-National Parks to Visit In 2022

Boasting its breathtaking collection of forests, mountain ranges, valleys, and deserts, the US is adorned with a wealth of stunning national parks that are ripe for exploration. As the handful of dazzling options makes choosing which spots to hit such a complicated decision, we thought that creating a shortlist of the best national parks to visit might help make it easier for you to plan your next trip. Whether you simply want to get back in touch with nature or have been itching to enjoy the gorgeous landscapes and geographical wonders that the great outdoors has to offer, here are some of the best national parks in America that you would want to stop at the next time you hit the road.
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Ten Easy Backpacking Safety Steps to Make Backcountry Hiking Safer and More Enjoyable

Ten Easy Backpacking Safety Steps to Make Backcountry Hiking Safer and More Enjoyable

When I first started to get into backcountry hiking and backpacking, my family thought I was absolutely crazy. Actually, some of them still do. Each year, there are media reports of unfortunate hikers who run into trouble in the backcountry and are either lost, injured, or tragically perish. I have explained to my family that, while even seasoned and prepared hikers do sometimes have accidents in the backcountry, a majority of the tragic stories you read about concern hikers who enter the backcountry unprepared.

While it is true that no amount of preparation can completely eliminate the risks an dangers of backcountry hiking, the same can be said about virtually everything in life. No matter how vigilant we are, accidents can happen. Even with something as routine as driving a car, taking safety precautions such as wearing a seatbelt, driving the speed limit, and paying attention to the road isn’t always enough to keep us safe. However, like with driving, taking certain safety precautions while hiking in the backcountry can significantly increase the likelihood that you will complete your hike safe and sound.
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The Complete Backpackers Packing Guide and Checklist for Backcountry Backpackers

The Complete Backpackers Packing Guide and Checklist for Backcountry Backpackers

For those who like to hike, back country backpacking can be such an exciting and awe-inspiring endeavor. There is something about being alone in the wilderness that can really help you get to know yourself and this beautiful world that we live in. However, as incredible and moving as backcountry backpacking can be, it can also be a very challenging proposition for those who are unprepared.

That’s why I am a very firm believer in making sure you are prepared before taking any hike. This is especially true for back country hikes where you will be staying overnight for one or more nights. Before you hit the trails on your big back country adventure, I would strongly suggest that you closely read my backpackers packing guide to make sure that you have all of the gear that you will need to make sure your hike is both safe and fun.

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The Top 15 Amazing Southern Utah Attractions That Visitors Should Plan to See

The Top 15 Amazing Southern Utah Attractions That Visitors Should Plan to See

Southern Utah is one of the most breathtaking regions of the United States. With five beautiful national parks, many national monuments, and incredible state parks, it’s full of beauty. In fact, there are so many incredible things to see that it is hard to know where to start. That is why I have put together this list of the top 15 most amazing Southern Utah attractions that visitors should plan to see. By using this list to plan your trip, you can be sure not to miss any of Southern Utah’s top sights.
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Top 10 National Park in Autumn to Visit

Top 10 National Park in Autumn to Visit

The national parklands in the national park system of the United States are among some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Between the mountain, desert, ocean, rainforest, and other terrains that make up these stunning parks, there is a wide variety of beauty that can be enjoyed by travelers who visit. While these national parks are breathtakingly beautiful year-round, many are even more beautiful during the colorful months of autumn when the leaves are changing color and mother nature has painted the landscapes with vibrant colors.

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The Ten Best Fourteeners for Beginners to Hike in Colorado

The Ten Best Fourteeners for Beginners to Hike in Colorado

As a beginning hiker, the tougher 14ers in Colorado like Capitol Peak, Long’s Peak, Little Bear Peak, or “The Deadly Bells” might be too much for you to tackle at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set your sights on the clouds.  In fact, there are a number of challenging, yet completely doable, 14ers in Colorado that beginning hikers can attempt to tackle.  With the experience of summiting these easier peaks under your belt, it won’t be long before you build up the experience and confidence needed to tackle some of the more difficult peaks in Colorado.
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How Your Fourth Grader Can Get Your Family a Free National Parks Pass

How Your Fourth Grader Can Get Your Family a Free National Parks Pass

If you love going to national parks but are on a budget that has been limiting you and your family from enjoying them as much as you would like to, the US National Parks Service has an offer that might be music to your ears.  If you have a child that is in fourth grade, they qualify for the Every Kid Outdoors free national parks pass from the US National Parks Service.  With this pass, your child can get your entire family into any US National Park for free.
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The Definitive Apostle Islands Packing Guide

The Definitive Apostle Islands Packing Guide

The Apostle Islands is one of the most beautiful places in the Midwestern United States if not all of North America.  Tourists flock to the islands each year to do some kayaking, hiking and enjoy the beautiful beaches.  However, each year I see tourists arrive in the Apostle Islands completely unprepared.  They either don’t have the right clothing for the climate, don’t have the right gear for the activities they would like to try, or don’t have the equipment to keep them safe and comfortable while camping.
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Planning A Trip to the Apostle Islands

Planning A Trip to the Apostle Islands

If you love to kayak, then you are going to absolutely love following the next adventure that I am planning.  There are a few places in the United States that I think are absolutely ideal for having a kayaking adventure.  Voyageurs National Park in Northern Minnesota, the Channel Islands in Southern California, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Upper Penninsula are some really great spots.  However, my favorite spot to kayak is undoubtedly the Apostle Islands in Northern Wisconsin.
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