By Renee Patrick 　　The quintessential Oregon that comes to mind for many is one of wet, lush forests, rocky coastlines, and snowy peaks, but on the other side of the Cascade Mountains lies a high desert landscape that covers almost half of the state. For Brent Fenty, Oregon Natural Desert Association’s (ONDA) executive director, this immense desert has captivated him...

　　Last year, Brandon Sharpe made the pilgrimage up the west coast’s Pacific Crest Trail, through 14,000 feet of elevation, 25 national forests, and 7 national parks. His incredible photos showcase many of the trail’s iconic views, and they continue our series: “Thru the Lens: Photo Journeys of the Major Thru-Hikes.” 　　var lightbox_transition = 'elastic'; var lightbox_speed = 800; var lightbox_fadeOut...

　　Jackson Hole, WY, the place I’m lucky to call home, has gained an international reputation for three things: skiing, powder and skiing. It’s the lifeblood of our 15,000-person town, based in the northeast corner of the least populated state in the country. The most accessible backcountry terrain, Teton Pass, sees just shy of a quarter-million runs each year, more than...

　　Editor’s note: Triple Crowner Quoc Nguyen undertook the PNT in the fall, a feat that should be reserved only for expert thru-hikers and those with extensive avalanche education and winter backcountry experience. Below he recounts his journey and provides tips for anyone thinking of thru-hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail. 　　5 author tips for hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail located at the...

　　By David Clock 　　Last year, David Clock hiked California’s 211-mile John Muir Trail. His striking photos reveal the grandeur of the trail’s surrounding terrain, and they kick off our series: Thru the Lens: Photo Journeys of the Major Thru-Hikes.” 　　var lightbox_transition = 'elastic'; var lightbox_speed = 800; var lightbox_fadeOut = 300; var lightbox_title = false; var lightbox_scalePhotos = true; var...

　　Your favorite hiking trails may be under snow until spring, but snowshoeing is an affordable, accessible way to keep winter fun. The solitude of snowshoeing is also a bonus: there are no crowds, heavy machinery, or endless lift lines. The following destinations are some of the best places to snowshoe in North America, from groomed Nordic tracks and valley floors,...

　　Baffin Island is the worlds fifth-largest island. It lies mostly north of the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Arctic Archipelago. It is absolutely wild, perched on the fringes of our global, Westernized society. Baffin Island is the indigenous land of the Inuit, who have lived and thrived there for thousands of years. We were incredibly fortunate to travel on these lands,...

　　Theres no business like snow business. 　　Nearly every year in January or February, I make a pilgrimage to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, where I indoctrinate a bevy of aspiring Shackleton wannabes on the finer points of polar travel and winter survival. 　　 　　For those of you who dont know, I teach a variety of hands-on intensives focused on winter...

　　What would you do if you had just 48 hours and an ultralight pack of overnight gear? How fast and how far would you go—and where? What epic human-powered adventure would you conquer? 　　Last summer we posed this question to MSR employees in a contest inspired by MSR’s new TrailShot pocket-sized water filter. In their ideas, the employees had to...

　　It takes time, planning, money and dedication to undertake an epic thru-hike like the Great Western Loop, Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail. If you’re looking for something more manageable—even one done in a day or two—North America has plenty of options for short thru-hikes that can be completed in a single long day if you’re an experienced trekker, or...

　　By Eric Larsen 　　 　　Some people look at winter and see bone-chilling cold, bad driving conditions and more, but if youre anything like me you see winter as the great leveler—literally. Snow evens out the bumps, stumps, roots and rocks of any trail, and covers up undergrowth and shrubs, making the wintry landscape beautiful and perfect for snowshoeing. Still, some...

　　Words by Nina Caprez, photos by Jan Novak 　　Climbing has this ability of showing us what is really going on inside of us, of bringing our ego to the light, and that’s often painful. 　　Standing at the bottom of the wall, I was realizing this. Realizing I had not really faced this type of challenge as directly and bravely as...