Okay, I’ll admit it: years ago, I would never have been qualified to tell you what to bring on a day hike. I used to set off on trails completely unprepared for the twists and turns that lay ahead. I’ve left my rain jacket in my car, and hiked unsuspectingly into chilling alpine storms. […]
Noel Krasomil
Get Paid to Hike: 10 Hiking Jobs to Make Money on the Trail
Mark Twain once said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This quote is a bit overused and might even be considered a cliché, but Mr. Twain wasn’t lying, even when it comes to us hikers. That’s right, you can get paid to lace up your […]
The Ideal Colorado Road Trip Itinerary (Ideas, Costs & Map)
If I had to sit down and draw up my dream U.S. road trip itinerary, I’d have a hell of a hard time ever leaving my home state of Colorado. I’m a hopeless skiing, hiking, camping, and outdoor addict, and I simply can’t imagine a better setting to fire up my camper van and […]
Traveling Sucks Sometimes: My 12 Worst Travel Stories
Traveling sucks sometimes, it’s a fact. Life on the road has the tendency to unravel and spiral out of control when we least expect it. The best-laid plans can fall apart at a moment’s notice, and there’s nothing any of us travelers can do about it. I’ve watched helplessly as my backpacking trips have […]
Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake: Vail Day Hiking at its Finest
Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake Hike I’d been eyeing Vail’s Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake day hike for a couple of years, and on a perfect Colorado July day, I finally pulled the trigger. The ensuing adventure was a breathtaking and ass-kicking journey through the Gore Mountain Range’s more rugged and raw […]
Chicago Lakes Trail: Colorado’s Stunning Mt. Evans Wilderness
Chicago Lakes Trail in Mount Evans Wilderness The Chicago Lakes Trail exemplifies everything I love in a Colorado day hike, even if its high-elevation ascents had me pouring sweat and gasping for air. I guess it’s hard to complain about such challenges when the trail I was hiking lead to a crystal clear glacial […]
4th of July Trail: Nederland’s Gem (Arapaho Pass + Lake Dorothy)
4th of July Trail Hike to Arapaho Pass and Lake Dorothy The 4th of July Trail is just a short drive from my hometown, yet I’d never experienced its staggering beauty until my recent hike exploring its wide-open spaces. Hiking the trail’s breathtaking Arapaho Pass to the pristine Lake Dorothy blew my mind at […]
Carry-On Packing List for 2021: Pack Light, Travel Right
I’ve been traveling light and using packing lists for years, and I’ll never take for granted how good it feels to travel carry-on only. Because I’ve seen how miserable traveling with excess can be. But here’s the good news: Baggage doesn’t have to slow us down. Traveling light is a choice. We don’t have […]
76 Hiking & Backpacking Songs: Unique Music for Your Playlist
I’ve been a little hesitant to share my 76-song playlist of hiking and backpacking music with the world. The whole idea makes me a bit uneasy. See, I’d love to believe that when I’m out hiking, I’m a purist who can walk alone in the wilderness, at one with nature and nothing else. There’s […]
Bukhansan National Park: Hiking Dobongsan’s Jaunbong Peak
Jaunbong Peak Hike in Bukhansan National Park I was bored and stir-crazy, itching for something new. The cramped and hectic streets of Seoul were starting to get under my skin. I needed a break from South Korea’s booming capital of 10 million people. It was time for a nature fix. A scenic hike up […]