I'm exhausted not from the trail, but from planning.

Bears, scorpions, and chasing trails! 

Apparently I've had some pride wrapped up in my PCT journey.  Here I address it. 

The end of a chapter and the beginning of another. 

What I’ve learned in 500 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail.

They call me Pooparazzi!! 

The journey from Big Bear to Wrightwood  

Happenings between Idylwild and Big Bear.

2017 PCT Journal: Mount Laguna to Idyllwild

2017 PCT Journal: Days 1-3

I decided to spend some money on optics in 2016 and I think it's time I talk about my experiences.  Here are my thoughts on what worked, what didn't work, and what I'll do going forward.

This year is going to be big.  I've decided to take a leave of absence from work to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in its entirety from Mexico to Canada.  I'll be doing this with the support of Warrior Hike and am excited to share my journey with you!

From humble Midwest beginnings to the summit of Mount Hood (Wy'east) in Oregon, this is a story about patience, perseverance, and commitment to a dream.  

After an entire season with the Seek Outside Redcliff shelter, I've decided it's time to put all of my thoughts and experiences with it into one article.  The good, the bad, and what it was like to go from a traditional tent shelter to an ultralight tipi with no floor.  You're going to want to check this one out!

Though it was cut short, my 2016 Archery Elk season was one I'll never forget.  I was fortunate to spend it with close friends and be into elk every day.  So many great memories and lessons learned.  Take a minute to check out what my season looked like and how I did!

After spending the summer with the Kuiu Teton Insulated Jacket, I thought it would be great to do a quick follow up post on my findings thus far.  Check it out!

Backcountry problems are REAL problems.  I came to the realization on a recent backpacking trip that the problems we face in the backcountry have far more weight to them than the ones we tend to make for ourselves in our daily lives.  I think it's important to cherish these problems - big or small - and accept them head on.  For me, they help to baseline myself again and restore in my brain what REAL problems really are.

Buying your first backpack can be confusing if you don't know what you're looking for.  In this post, I do my best to help explain what to consider when purchasing your first pack as well as what I personal preferences.  Welcome to Backpacking 101 - Choosing A Backpack!

I finally had a chance to put the new Exo Mountain Gear Daypack to work for a weekend scouting trip and was pleasantly surprised at how much gear I was able to fit inside.  It may be deemed a "daypack," but it's so much more than that when you start adding in all of the available space that's not accounted for.  It's a perfect size for the backcountry hunter who may need to spend a night or two out in the field without having too large or too small of a pack.

Never in a million years did I think I'd find myself backpacking alone with a handful of chicks, but that's exactly what happened this past May when four of my friends wives were the only ones to roger up for an overnighter on Mount St. Helens.  Whatever guy tendencies I had going into this trip would need to be checked at the door because I was outnumbered 4 to 1 and I figured that maybe this was a good opportunity to see the outdoors through the eyes of the opposite sex.  As it turns out, it was a trip I'll never soon forget.