Blog – Page 3 – Six Moon Designs

Jan 04, 2023

How to Responsibly Fly a Drone While Hiking - By Mickey Martin aka The Virtual Sherpa

Drones have become increasingly more popular among outdoor recreationalists, especially with hikers and backpackers. Drones have countless uses in the backcountry including search and rescue, mapping out difficult to reach areas, tracking animals, educating outdoor recreationalists and of course creating some pretty unique photos and videos. Chances are, if you ask one of your hiking buddies about their feelings towards drones, they will have a pretty strong feeling. Countless times, I have heard hikers say “they are too loud,” “they should be banned everywhere,” or “the buzzing sound will scare other hikers and animals.” The point of this blog is not to get into a pissing match over various opinions around drones, but rather educate those who wish to fly on how to responsibly fly a drone while hiking. Just like you research weather, terrain, conditions, and other logistics before a hike – those wishing to fly a drone will need to do some research before flying their unmanned aircraft.

Jan 04, 2023

What to Pack for a Day Hike by Mickey Martin aka The Virtual Sherpa

What should you pack for a day hike? Should my packing list be different during various seasons? How about for a 14er hike? I get asked these questions all the time. Whether you are heading to hike around your local State Park or a demanding summit, it’s important to have a bag full of the necessary items and gear. Over thousands of miles of day hiking, I have refined my bag and thought I would share with you all. Below is a list of gear that I recommend for a typical day hike.

Jan 04, 2023

Hiking the Timberline Trail by Rory Pedrick

Earlier this fall, I, along with my Dad and neighbor Leif, hiked the Timberline trail. The trail is roughly a 40-mile loop around Mount Hood and consists of rocky trails and sweeping views of Mt. Hood. This trail is well worth your time if you have a long weekend on your hands. I want to begin by saying I'm not an expert, and this article is written from the point of view of a newcomer, as this was one of my first long-distance backpacking trips. Here is my overall summary of my trip and some tips I picked up along the trail.

Jan 04, 2023

Hiking National Scenic Vs. Hiking Routes by Jada Lippincott

A few weeks ago I completed my thru-hike of the Grand Enchantment Trail (GET), an ~800 mile route expanding from Albuquerque, NM to Phoenix, AZ. First off, The GET is the most beautiful mile-by-mile route that I have ever hiked. From the desert lowlands, to traversing mountain ridges, to fording rushing rivers, to scrambling up steep canyon walls, the GET has truly got it all. Now, you may be asking yourself, “why haven’t I heard of the GET?”. You are probably most familiar with the 11 National Scenic Trails that make up our ‘official’ trails here in the US. Outside of our National Trails system, we have tons of other routes, which simply connect littler trails to create one large trail - like the GET. If you’ve never gotten off the beaten path before, route finding can be a little scary. We’re talking remote, we’re talking burly, and we’re talking beautiful. I’m going to be explaining five differences between hiking National Scenic Trails and Hiking Routes!

Jan 04, 2023

The Dark Valley of Injury by Heather Hoechst

It was all going so well. Until it wasn’t. I had spent the summer training for my first 100 mile mountain race scheduled for September 16. As soon as the snow melted, I started with long hikes in the San Juans, followed by big days of backpacking, interspersed with running on the roads and trails around Durango. I thought I was doing everything right. Having had a hamstring tendon surgically reattached not even two years before, I knew I had to be careful. I swam three times a week. I did strength training. I foam rolled. I ate enough. I went to bed early. In early August, I was feeling strong.