Ultralight Hiking Blog

Hiking Rafts Into the NF American River by Nicole Smedegaard

Hiking Rafts Into the NF American River by Nicole Smedegaard

The North Fork of the American River is an epic playground of challenging whitewater rapids, including a 14.5 mile stretch that paddlers call Giant Gap. The actual gap is a river canyon sized slot ...

The Lycian Way: Dreamy Thru-Hiking by Dave Stamboulis

The Lycian Way: Dreamy Thru-Hiking by Dave Stamboulis

We long distance hikers are an odd bunch. We can’t live without our daily dose of wilderness, without the challenges of putting on a pack with seemingly everything we need to survive, and getting o...

The Lightest Tread: Hiking in Context with Amiththan Sebarajah

The Lightest Tread: Hiking in Context with Amiththan Sebarajah

Paul chats to long-distance hiker and 'recovering academic' Amiththan Sebarajah to gain his perspective on thru-hiking and discuss how he frames that perspective against the complex and nuanced bac...

Top 10 Benefits of Going Backpacking by Heather Hoechst

Top 10 Benefits of Going Backpacking by Heather Hoechst

While there are likely hundreds, nay, thousands of benefits of going backpacking, I’ve done my best to summarize the top 10 reasons I hoist my pack on my back and make for the trail. In no particul...

Braced for Impact by Carol Wilson

Braced for Impact by Carol Wilson

Backpacking gear has changed so much over the years, thankfully! Many, like myself, started out with the "heavy but affordable" gear, such as the 5 lb sleeping bag and 7 lb tent and took a...

Its A Strange Old World We Live In

Its A Strange Old World We Live In

The Beauty of Iceland - photo taken as we made our escape towards the airport as "Covid Lockdown" loomed. The plan was to “commute” by bike from a meeting in Scotland back to our house i...