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TrailGroove Blog

A Blog by the TrailGroove Team

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  • Aaron Zagrodnick 248
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Gear | Trips | Food | Technique | Reading

Entries in this blog

Trips

Hiking a 3-Day Loop in the Great Smoky Mountains

Every season in the mountains of Southern Appalachia comes with its own charms and beauty that can make hiking a familiar trail a novel experience. Blooming wildflowers, fall colors, and snow clinging to trees are the most readily apparent seasonal highlights that make Great Smoky Mountains National Park such a paradise for hikers and backpackers. While the park is technically the most visited unit in the national park system, in nearly a dozen trips there I have found the backcountry to be surp
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Trips

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Trips

Backpacking the Wondrous Weminuche Wilderness

As I view the green rolling hills and valleys, it is difficult to tell that the elevation is above 12,000 feet. Off in the distance rugged peaks fill the horizon. Today a new adventure begins, one met with anticipation as well as uncertainty. My small Excel spreadsheet route plan reveals that today is actually day 17 of a journey that has been filled with lofty peaks, new friends, and some of the finest scenery in Colorado. Today’s adventure enters the depths of the Weminuche Wilderness in the S
Eric

Eric in Trips

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Trips

Backpacking the Three Sisters Wilderness in Oregon

After a drive into the night and an examination of the small walk-in Devils Lake Campground by headlamp, I found an available campsite – close enough to the trailhead that it was safe to say the first part of my journey (getting there) was complete. It was quiet, but there were several others camped nearby. The peaks that dominated the wilderness trip ahead of me were obscured by the darkness of the night. I was excited for the backpacking trip ahead of me, a nearly 60 mile variation of one of O
Eric

Eric in Trips

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Trips

A San Juan Mountain High: Hiking on the Colorado Trail

The San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado have some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. The views are filled with high peaks, beautiful waterfalls, scenic valleys, and prolific wildflowers which call to you to explore! I have spent several vacations in the area over the years, and was long overdue for another visit. This trip was with three of my hiking friends from the flatlands of Oklahoma and Texas – Craig from Houston, and Ward and Joel from Oklahoma City. We all live at l
Steve Ancik

Steve Ancik in Trips

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Trips

Backpacking the Pecos: A Wilderness of Enchantment

Imagine a wilderness area of tundra ridge walks, a place where 13,000-foot peaks tower into the sky, where wildflowers dot the landscape, and bighorn sheep scramble over the terrain. A wilderness area that would seem to be the stuff that backpacker dreams are made of. Now picture this area tucked away in northern New Mexico. An area ignored by many backpackers. No major long distance hiking trail comes through these mountains. No glossy travelogues feature this wilderness area. This wilderness a
PaulMags

PaulMags in Trips

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Trips

Backpacking Isle Royale: A Superior Adventure

Located approximately 15 miles off the Minnesotan and Canadian shores of Lake Superior, Michigan’s Isle Royale is the largest island in the world’s largest freshwater lake. This national park is a wilderness paradise with 99% of it officially designated as such. It includes scenic ridges, rugged coastal views, inland lakes, unique wildlife relationships, and an excellent network of trails. The island is 45 miles long and 9 miles wide. As the third largest island in the contiguous United States,
Eric

Eric in Trips

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Trips

Backpacking the Loowit Trail: An Otherworldly Hike

Like most Americans who were raised in the East and born after the mid 1970s or so, volcanoes are something I associate with middle school science classes and dramatic pictures of Mount Saint Helens and its 1980 eruption. Even after I became enthralled with backpacking and natural landscapes after frequent trips to the sandstone wonderlands of the Cumberland Plateau and the forested slopes of the ancient Appalachian Mountains, hiking around a volcano seemed like a ludicrously exotic experience.
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Trips

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Trips

High Desert Scenery: A Hike On the Yakima Skyline Trail

Although the quintessential image of backpacking is of alpine lakes, thick forests and craggy peaks, deserts offer the well-prepared backpacker breathtaking scenery and an opportunity for longer hikes months before most mountains have melted out. Desert backpacking is typically associated with the iconic landscapes of the Southwest and destinations such as Canyonlands National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, and numerous other national parks, forest
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Trips

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Trips

Hiking & Exploring Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

Huge views, colorful rock, geology on display, nature exposed, fresh clean air, massive amazement...these are all included in a trip to this Sandstone Wonderland. In far northern Arizona there is a vast area of rugged and beautiful locations known as the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. An area covering 280,000 acres, the monument includes the Paria River Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, the Paria Plateau, the Vermilion Cliffs, and Coyote Buttes. The area is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Lan
Steve Ancik

Steve Ancik in Trips

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Reading

To Build a Fire by Jack London Book Review

While by no means an essential component of backpacking, I’ve found collections of short stories by various authors ending up in my pack more often than not. When tentbound in a thunderstorm, whiling away an afternoon beside an alpine lake, or passing the time on a long winter’s night, I’ve never regretted bringing along a book despite the extra weight. Perhaps no book has brought me as much entertainment, and been so perfect for backpacking, as To Build a Fire and Other Stories by Jack London.
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Reading

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Trips

Backpacking the Buffalo River Trail: Great Heights

We arrive on the shore of the Buffalo River in northwest Arkansas on a chilly morning in early November 2022, wearing old tennis shoes we have repurposed as water shoes, to begin forty-two miles of hiking on the Buffalo River Trail (BRT). In spite of the cold, we will start this hike with wet feet. But warm socks and dry hiking boots await us once we wade up to our knees across the shallow ford at Woolum and cross the more challenging Richland Creek, a narrower and deeper stream that empties int
Susan Dragoo

Susan Dragoo in Trips

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Trips

Backpacking Washington's Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness

For most hikers and backpackers, when they think of Washington their thoughts tend to drift to the rugged grandeur of the North Cascades or the rainforests, beaches, and mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. The beauty and opportunities for amazing trips in those locales can certainly not be understated. As evidenced by increasing crowds at many trailheads in recent years, and stiff competition for permits in areas where they are required, the public lands in the western part of the state aren’t (
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Trips

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Trips

A Ridge of Riches: Hiking the Bridger Range of Montana

The view out the cabin window was nothing short of spectacular. Sitting perched at an elevation overlooking the Gallatin Valley, the city of Bozeman, and most importantly the Bridger Mountains; aptly named by the locals, “The Bridger’s” or “Bridger Range.” A spine that shoots up from the plains with a sheer drop on either side and a ridge that beckons the call for exploration. A sunset glow pierces the cabin window with the fire outside ablaze. The orange glow glissades down the edges of the ran
jansenjournals

jansenjournals in Trips

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Reading

All the Wild That Remains by David Gessner Book Review

Rarely is there a book that compels me to head for the library nearly as much as the trailhead. David Gessner’s All the Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West is a perfect example of such a book and is an entertaining and entrancing mix of journalism, geography, literary analysis, and travelogue. These attributes make it both an excellent work in its own right as well as a wonderful introduction to the books and philosophies of Wallace Stegner and Edward Abbey an
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Reading

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Gear

Closed Cell Foam (CCF): Backpacking & Hiking Jargon

In backpacking circles CCF (closed cell foam) is most often used in relation to your choice of sleeping pad, which often comes down to one key decision – air pad or CCF? Both have pros and cons. A thick air pad is found to offer a more comfortable night of sleep for many and they pack small, but care must be exercised to guard against punctures and carrying a patch kit is recommended. And if you want one that’s both light and warm, they can be pricey. CCF pads are warm for their weigh
Aaron Zagrodnick

Aaron Zagrodnick in Gear

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Food

How to Make Backpacking Quesadillas

This delicious recipe involves packing in some fresh vegetables, cheese, and other heavier-than-usual ingredients and cookware, so it’s probably best as the first night’s meal where the hike in isn’t too long or arduous. When paired with a Mexican rice side dish (with jerky tossed in, if desired) this is a very filling dinner and the quesadillas are great appetizers. Depending on your appetite and how many you make, they can also serve easily as the main course. You can dress them up
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Food

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Trips

Backpacking in Big Bend National Park

Located in the remote Southwest corner of Texas, Big Bend National Park provides numerous opportunities for hiking and backpacking. For those looking for a winter hike away from the cold and snow, Big Bend provides spectacular desert scenery in North America’s largest desert, the Chihuahua, including rugged mountains, expansive vistas, mighty canyons, the Rio Grande, and a variety of desert flora and fauna. The classic backpacking trip in Big Bend National Park is the Outer Mountain L
Eric

Eric in Trips

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Reading

On Trails by Robert Moor Book Review

Like most hikers, when I’m reading about trails it is usually with a practical purpose in mind. Guidebooks, forum posts, magazines, and trail status updates by government agencies are read diligently before an upcoming hike or perused when looking for ideas about where to hike next. When the owner of a local bookstore, familiar with my outdoor hobbies, recommended the book On Trails by Robert Moor to me I was intrigued by his description of the book as taking a holistic perspective on the subjec
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Reading

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Trips

Backpacking Wyoming's Breathtaking Bighorn Mountains

As I drove to the trailhead the mountains were hidden in the clouds. The highway allowed me to drive 80 mph through vast open spaces with few signs of human activity. The rain fell heavily. Although a Michigander at heart, a few weeks earlier I had set out on temporary work that would allow the opportunity for adventures out West. While I had enjoyed many backpacking adventures in the West, this short overnighter would be my first near my new home. Into the Bighorn Mountains The Bighor
Eric

Eric in Trips

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Reading

Turn Around Time by David Guterson Book Review

David Guterson’s Turn Around Time: A Walking Poem for the Pacific Northwest (Mountaineers Books, 2019) is a bold and much-needed undertaking in contemporary outdoor poetry, and though it may not reach the highest echelons of technical deftness and poignancy, it makes up for it in ambition. Turn Around Time is a unique read in a walking poem format. Reading Turn Around Time At its essence, Turn Around Time is a walking poem in the style of Wordsworth, Frost, and Thoreau, chro
Steven Genise

Steven Genise in Reading

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Gear

Feathered Friends Egret 20 Degree Sleeping Bag Review

Muscle creates energy while adipose tissue stores energy. Energy in this context is synonymous with heat. The female anatomy typically consists of more fat than the male anatomy, especially in the chest and hip area. This is why women are generally perceived to sleep colder than men. Women’s bodies are highly efficient at keeping their vital organs protected and warm, but at the expense of our extremities. When hands begin to ache and toes go numb from coldness, these sensations relay a message
Adel

Adel in Gear

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Gear

Zpacks Multi-Pack Review: More Capacity, More Convenience

On backpacks, I’m a huge fan of exterior storage. I’ve settled on a popular arrangement: A large interior storage compartment for items I likely won’t need while hiking during the day, a large outside pocket for items I might need when stopped, and dual side and hipbelt pockets for items I’ll definitely need while on the move like water bottles, maps, snacks, and other great to have at hand items. The Zpacks Multi-Pack builds on this idea by adding a large additional storage option with a variet
Aaron Zagrodnick

Aaron Zagrodnick in Gear

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Technique

Hot Weather Backpacking: Not Too Hot to Handle

In an ideal world that seems to only exist in outdoor gear catalogs, all our backpacking would take place in temperatures that are 65F during the day. Our nights would be a cool and crisp 45F or so. A few delightful sprinkles of rain would occur to add some atmosphere and perhaps a change of scenery to delight photographers. Otherwise there would be perpetually sunny skies with only a few clouds. Clouds to form interesting shapes that materialize as movie characters, castles, or butterflies in o
PaulMags

PaulMags in Technique

2
Reading

Thirst: 2,600 Miles to Home Book Review

A successful thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail is, by any means, a notable physical and mental victory. Setting the fastest known time (FKT) record on the PCT is a nearly superhuman feat of athleticism. Writing an engrossing, entertaining, and inspiring book about the experience is not only another accomplishment for Heather “Anish” Anderson, but is also a true gift not only to the hiking community but to readers in general. Written largely in a day-by-day format, Thirst: 2,600 Miles to Home
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Reading

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Technique

The PCT Method: How to Hang Your Backpacking Food

There’s more than one way to hang a food bag – but after trying a few, I’ve come to rely on the using the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) method. The PCT method balances simplicity, speed, and effectiveness. Rather than simply tying one end of your throw line onto a nearby tree, where a bear or another hungry forest dweller could attempt to chew through the line, break the line, or cause other forms of disorder, PCT style hanging eliminates that point of failure in a quick and easy way. The
Aaron Zagrodnick

Aaron Zagrodnick in Technique

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