This is my 12th season as a backpacker and — I hate to admit it — the first season I haven’t had a pack on my back. Several trips started out with packs packed, but turned into camping / day hiking-into-the-wilderness-trips, covering sections of the...

Wild Bill, the Duke and I just spent three days in the King Range, that 4,000 foot mountain range that forms the backdrop to the 28-mile Lost Coast Trail. On Saturday we topped King Peak at 4,200 feet and spent two hours having lunch and enjoying the...

If you’ve read my posts about technology, you know I love iPods as trail companions. I’ve struggled lately on the trail: do I bring my iPhone (with camera, movies, music, GPS app - 5 ounces) or just go with my Flip Ultra (video camera that easily...