Jump to content


TrailGroove Blog

A Blog by the TrailGroove Team

  • entries
    440
  • comments
    633
  • views
    306,020

Contributors to this blog

  • Aaron Zagrodnick 218
  • Mark Wetherington 71
  • Susan Dragoo 21
  • Steve Ancik 16
  • PaulMags 12
  • Eric 10
  • David Cobb 8
  • HappyHour 6
  • tmountainnut 6
  • jansenjournals 6
  • HikerBox 6
  • Daniel Anderson Jr 5
  • George Graybill 5
  • michaelswanbeck 5
  • SparbaniePhoto 4
  • Karen Garmire 4
  • mgraw 3
  • Wired 3
  • JimR 3
  • Steven Genise 3
  • Jen 2
  • DustyD 2
  • Kevin DeVries 2
  • JimG 2
  • Adrienne Marshall 2
  • MattS 2
  • Grace Bowie 1
  • Rob Newton 1
  • Isak Kvam 1
  • Tephanie H. 1
  • Adel 1
  • Greg Jansky 1
  • Allison Johnson 1
  • Doug Emory 1
  • SarahLynne 1
  • eliburakian 1
  • BSuess 1
  • AndreaL 1
  • J. Parascandola 1
  • Madeline Salocks 1
  • Barbara 1

Gear | Trips | Food | Technique | Reading

Entries in this blog

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

0
Trips

Views & Volcanoes: Backpacking the Timberline Trail

The Timberline Trail is one of the classic trails in America and is classified as a National Historic Trail. It was designed in the 1930s primarily by the Civilian Conservation Core. For about forty miles the trail circumnavigates Mount Hood, the highest mountain in Oregon at 11,250 feet. Staying near treeline, a hiker on this trail will experience lush forest, wildflower meadows, rugged canyons with glacial fed streams, and view after view of Mount Hood. Driving nearly 2 hours throug
Eric

Eric in Trips

0
Trips

Canyons & Creeks: Backpacking the Rogue River Trail

I turned up the heat in the car at the trailhead. It was a chilly, near freezing November morning as we finished getting our gear ready. There was a sense of excitement. As I hoisted my pack, I could feel the not-so-gentle protrusion of the solid kitchen frying pan in my back. I knew it would be worth it. I carefully left my key in the car in the prearranged location, hoping that the arranged transportation would deliver it to the end of the trail as planned. There were three of us: a good
Eric

Eric in Trips

0
Trips

Hiking Oklahoma: Where East Meets West

Thanks to Rodgers and Hammerstein and the Weather Channel, most folks know Oklahoma as that place in the middle of the U.S. "where the wind comes sweeping down the plains." And the designation is certainly fitting, especially in the spring of the year when it’s time for Oklahomans to hunker down for tornado season. While the plains indeed comprise a large portion of Oklahoma's land mass and contribute significantly to its cultural history, the state is home to more than 10 distinct ec
Susan Dragoo

Susan Dragoo in Trips

0
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

0
Trips

Backpacking Washington's Scenic Pasayten Wilderness

While much of Washington is a veritable backpacker’s paradise, its three national parks and the areas of national forest closest to the Seattle megalopolis seem to absorb the bulk of the crowds. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness, with its spectacular scenery and name-brand destinations like The Enchantments, and Mount Rainier, with its life-list Wonderland Trail, deservedly draw hordes of eager backpackers. But for those willing to travel a bit further east, incredible backpacking and ample opportunit
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Trips

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
Trips

Hiking & Exploring Kentucky's Red River Gorge

Usually when I travel, I am pulled to the west – New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and surrounding areas. For my latest trip, however, I headed in the opposite direction and visited a place that I had first heard about several years ago: Red River Gorge Geologic Area in northeastern Kentucky. My companion for this trip was Joel, with whom I’ve taken several other trips, both mountain biking and hiking. We left Oklahoma on October 2nd, 2022 and spent four days hiking in the area. The Red Rive
Steve Ancik

Steve Ancik in Trips

0
Food

How to Make Backpacking and Camping Pancakes

Pancakes are a tried-and-true breakfast dish, but they aren’t a common dish for backpacking. While I typically opt for oatmeal when on my backpacking trips, from time to time I like to add some variety by starting off my day with pancakes. Since this dish requires a skillet and spatula, I usually plan to make it when I’m having quesadillas for dinner during the same trip as I will need the skillet for that meal. Before or after the pancakes, the skillet can also be used for making scrambled eggs
Mark Wetherington

Mark Wetherington in Food

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
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

0
Gear

Vapor Barrier Liners (VBL): Backpacking & Hiking Jargon

A vapor barrier liner is some type of vapor impermeable layer often utilized and effective while recreating outdoors in very cold conditions. By preventing vapor transfer from your body into clothing, footwear, or a sleeping bag for example one is able to boost warmth and keep insulation dry in conditions where wet insulation would be very difficult to dry and result in compromised warmth. While using a VBL with your clothing and sleeping bag (for sleeping bags, see the Western Mountaineering Ho
Aaron Zagrodnick

Aaron Zagrodnick in Gear

0
Reading

Breaking Into the Backcountry Book Review

Breaking Into the Backcountry (University of Nebraska Press, 2010), is a memoir of solitude, anxiety, and beauty. It is the story of Edwards’s 2001 experience with the famed Boyden Wilderness Residency, in which an author lives in a remote homestead in the Klamath Mountains, alone, and with only a generator for (limited) power. A chance for the kind of true, unparalleled solitude the likes of which writers seldom get. But Edwards is young, and deeply inexperienced, having grown up in suburban In
Steven Genise

Steven Genise in Reading

0
Gear

Durable Water Repellent / DWR: Hiking & Outdoor Jargon

Durable water repellent (DWR) is a coating added to the surface of a fabric to aid in waterproofing without sacrificing (and usually aiding to) breathability. The most frequent application of DWR in the outdoor gear world can be found in breathable rain gear and breathable water resistant shells. If the surface of the fabric were to “wet out”, breathability through that portion of the fabric would be severely compromised. DWR allows for water to bead and roll off the surface of the fabric, maint
Aaron Zagrodnick

Aaron Zagrodnick in Gear

0



×
×
  • Create New...