Hiking Guides For Everyone
Trail guides, gear picks, and hiking advice from a professional hiking guide.
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Unlike AI results from Google and ChatGPT, these guides are personally written by me with care to ensure your safety on the trails. Every piece of gear I recommend is something I trust and use myself. As a professional hiking guide, I share advice I’d tell my own friends and family. If you like to hike, stay connected through my monthly newsletter by signing up for free on Patreon.
Bucket List Hikes View all
Mt Whitney Hike
The Mt Whitney hike is one of the classic bucket list adventures in the U.S. At 14,505 feet, Mount Whitney is the highest peak in...
How To Hike Half Dome
The hike up to Half Dome, towering over the Yosemite Valley at 8846 feet, is one of the great bucket list hikes. You'll pass iconic...
Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Hike Guide
The rim-to-rim hike in the Grand Canyon is iconic, spectacular, and challenging. Over my years of hiking the rim-to-rim, I've seen people of all shapes...
Cactus to Clouds Hike
The Cactus to Clouds hike is epic. Backpacker Magazine rated it one of the hardest day hikes in the world. You start in downtown Palm...
Critical Hiking Skills View all
Garmin inReach SOS: Costs & How to Use It
Garmin inReach SOS is a feature you hope you'll never need, but if you do press that button, what really happens next? In this guide,...
How Does GPS Work? GPS for Dummies
Almost everyone understands that GPS uses satellites to pinpoint our position on earth. Whether you have a GPS unit or use a smartphone with GPS,...
How To Read a Topographic Map
I know that topographic maps and non-digital navigation can be intimidating, especially for those who never used them. In this guide, I'm going to focus...
Backpacking For Beginners: Hiker → Backpacker
Backpacking for beginners doesn't have to be as intimidating as it is. Unfortunately, the massive amount of information online, coupled with pundits' strong opinions, can...
Underrated Great Hikes
Hike Wheeler Peak NV
The hike to Wheeler Peak (NV) is tough, but it has its payoffs. On a clear day, you can see for 100 miles, and the...
Peter Skene Ogden Trail Guide
The Peter Skene Ogden Trail is a hidden gem. Although it is not widely known among the hiking community, it is designated a National Recreation...
Hike Mount Perry from Dante's Ridge
The hike to Mount Perry along Dante's Ridge is easily the most underrated in Death Valley National Park. The easy-to-follow trail follows a ridge along...
Black Elk Peak Hike
Black Elk Peak is not only South Dakota's high point, but it's also one of the most beautiful hikes in the USA. This guide will...
New Guides
Enduro 3 vs Fenix 8: Which is Better Outdoors?
On paper, the Enduro 3 and Fenix 8 look very similar. But after hiking with both in real conditions like desert sun and shaded forest,...
Garmin Enduro 3 Review: The Best Backpacking Watch
The Garmin Enduro 3 is the best backpacking watch you can buy in 2025. It lasts for weeks, handles rough conditions, tracks your location with...
Garmin inReach Mini 2 vs Mini 3: Should You Upgrade?
If you’re trying to decide between the Garmin inReach Mini 2 and the newer Mini 3 or Mini 3 Plus, I'll walk you through what...
Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus First Impressions
I picked up the Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus on launch day and took it straight out on the trail. After using the Mini 2...