There’s more to rain than falling water. Here are the weirdest wet weather facts you didn’t know. 1. Virga, also called phantom rain, is precipitation that evaporates before it hits the ground. It often appears as wispy, gray streaks radiating from clouds, and is most common in desert environments. 2. Graupel, aka soft hail, looks…
Read More
Sat, 3/3, 9:30 am-Sun, 3/4, 4 pm Group: Atlanta Outdoor Club When: Saturday March 3, 9:30 am to Sunday, March 4, 4 pm Where: Lake Burton, GA Cost: Free; carpool donation requested (registration required) Details: It looks like we’re going to have some great backpacking weather this weekend, so let’s get out and enjoy it with a…
Read More
With map and compass in hand, world-class navigators take to the Estonian forest to compete at the World Orienteering Championships. Who has what it takes to complete this race? The energy in the forest is palpable as USA competitor Greg Ahlswede walks up to the start line. Around him, professional navigators from across the globe…
Read More
Zion, Grand Canyon, and others recorded highest-ever visitor counts. Zion National Park saw a record number of visitors in 2017.The National Park Service recorded more than 330 million visits in 2017, the second highest in its history, according to a report published Wednesday. In a year marked by the total solar eclipse visible across North America,…
Read More
In the last 18 months at least four western state game & fish licensing or park systems have apparently been hacked, along with Kentucky and another state the hacker claimed but didn’t identify. No evidence has surfaced of personal information taken or tags illicitly obtained. So, no worries, right? How secure are you that…
Read More
Thurs, 3/1, 5-7 pm Group: Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association When: Thursday, March 1, 5-7 pm Where: Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, Mammoth Lakes, CA Cost: $10 (tickets required) Details: Joshua Cripps started making remarkable photos while he was still in the womb. His first significant image, titled Sonogram, was praised for its graininess, deliberate blurring of details,…
Read More
The environment all too often pays the price for high-performing gear. But these 10 products save waste from landfills, ditch harmful chemicals, and allow you to adventure guilt-free. 1. Big Agnes Sandhoffer 20°F Until now, there has generally been a tradeoff between sustainability and performance. But Big Agnes’s Sandhoffer 20°F is now friendly on both…
Read More
In these backcountry paradises, rain is part of the adventure. 1. Iceland: Hesteyri to Latrar to Straumnes Iceland’s Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is far less traveled than the Ring Road and Golden Circle, but it’s no less epic. It’s just harder to get to, which is why you want to be here. Constant rain and snow…
Read More
If you want to hit a target with accuracy every time you aim, you need a rifle scope. The scope
Read More
The best local trails, as selected by BACKPACKER Local scout Brad Stapleton. The City of Angels: land of brunch, tanning, and of course, celebrity sightings at the local coffeeshop. For those of us looking to travel off the beaten path to places that don’t start with “Runyon,” there are tons of options that are all…
Read More