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10 Hiking and Backpacking Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

https://thehikinglife.com/2026/09/10-hiking-and-backpacking-myths-you-shouldnt-believe/

Published: September 11, 2026 23:40

“A good lie can walk from Baghdad to Constantinople while the truth is still looking for its sandals.” ~ Arab proverb Myths are like white lies with lots of staying power. The great outdoors has a bunch of them. They Read More ... The post 10 Hiking and…

A Hiker’s Guide to the 2026 REI Labor Day Sale

https://thehikinglife.com/2026/08/a-hikers-guide-to-the-2026-rei-labor-day-sale/

Published: August 31, 2026 01:10

As many of my US readers will be aware, the Labor Day sales are now in full swing. It’s a great opportunity to pick up wishlist hiking and backpacking gear at heavily reduced prices. Over the last few days, I’ve Read More ... The post A Hiker’s Guide to…

Gear List: Iceland Traverse & Hornstrandir Trek

https://thehikinglife.com/2026/08/gear-list-iceland-traverse-hornstrandir-trek/

Published: August 24, 2026 22:57

In late summer 2023, Kate “Swept Away” Pickett and I trekked around Iceland’s Hornstrandir Peninsula and completed a north-to-south traverse of the country. The hikes covered approximately 120 km (75 mi) and 600 km (373 mi), respectively. Temperatures were…

Hiking Hornstrandir: Into Iceland’s Most Remote Wilderness

https://thehikinglife.com/2026/08/hiking-hornstrandir-into-icelands-most-remote-wilderness/

Published: August 9, 2026 08:03

The Hornstrandir Peninsula is Iceland’s most remote wilderness region. Located in the rugged Westfjords, this pristine nature reserve has no roads, no permanent residents (at least of the bipedal variety), and is accessible only by boat during the summer.…

Introducing My New Book: “Hiking & Backpacking for Dummies”

https://thehikinglife.com/2026/07/introducing-my-new-book-hiking-backpacking-for-dummies/

Published: July 23, 2026 03:11

“How-to” books can sometimes be a bit dry and jargon-heavy. With some notable outliers such as Mike Clelland’s Ultralight Backpacking Tips, hiking texts are usually no exception. That’s why when the folks at Wiley – publishers of the iconic For Read More…

Jotunheimen Loop: Hiking through the Land of the Giants

https://thehikinglife.com/2026/01/jotunheimen-loop-hiking-through-the-land-of-the-giants/

Published: January 5, 2026 00:10

Jotunheimen is arguably the most aptly named of Norway’s 47 National Parks. In the local language, it translates to “land of the Giants.” Encompassing an area of 1,151 sq km (115,100 sq mi), the park features the country’s 23 highest Read More ... The post…

Southern Utah Traverse: An 800 Mile Hike from Nevada to Colorado

https://thehikinglife.com/2025/07/southern-utah-traverse-an-800-mile-hike-from-nevada-to-colorado/

Published: July 8, 2025 14:33

From late April to early June this year, Kate “Swept Away” Pickett and I completed an approximately 800 mile (1,287 km) hike across southern Utah. We began our journey on the Nevada border WSW of Enterprise and finished seven weeks Read More ... The post…

Trollheimen Triangle: Hiking in the Heart of Troll Country

https://thehikinglife.com/2025/02/trollheimen-triangle-hiking-in-the-heart-of-troll-country/

Published: February 26, 2025 19:37

The Trollheimen Mountains of central Norway are one of the country’s most diverse mountain ranges. Located in the transition zone between marine and alpine environments, Trollheimen features ancient woodlands, lush river valleys, crystal-clear mountain…

Samaria Gorge: Hiking the Grand Canyon of the Mediterranean

https://thehikinglife.com/2025/01/samaria-gorge-hiking-the-grand-canyon-of-the-mediterranean/

Published: January 23, 2025 15:38

While primarily known for its rich ancient history and idyllic beaches, Crete is also home to one of the Mediterranean’s most rugged and beautiful mountain ranges. Towering above the Aegean Sea, the White Mountains (“Lefka Ori” in the local tongue) Read…

Five Lakes Loop: A Classic Hike on Bolivia’s Altiplano

https://thehikinglife.com/2025/01/five-lakes-loop-a-classic-hike-on-bolivias-altiplano/

Published: January 14, 2025 16:54

My most recent visit to Bolivia’s Altiplano was in 2017. The raison d’etre of that journey was a 600 km/373 mile traverse of the region, which featured multi-colored lakes, the world’s largest salt flat, and a memorable finish on top Read More ... The post…

Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2024 Edition)

https://thehikinglife.com/2024/12/books-for-hikers-and-backpackers-2024-edition/

Published: December 13, 2024 18:34

The fifth iteration of the “Hiking Books Guide” has been updated and expanded to include more than 90 works divided into eight categories: 1. Educational; 2. Guidebooks; 3. Humour; 4. Inspirational; 5. Literature; 6. Memoirs; 7. Philosophy, and; 8.…

Gear Review: Katabatic Alsek 22 Quilt (250+ Nights)

https://thehikinglife.com/2024/11/gear-review-katabatic-alsek-22-quilt-250-nights/

Published: November 27, 2024 14:29

Note: Katabatic’s Holiday Sale is running until December 2. All quilts are 15% off, while Jackets and Bivys are 20% off.  I picked up the Katabatic Alsek 22°F quilt in 2018. Over the last six and a half years, I’ve Read More ... The post Gear Review:…