Amtrak sleeper cars are awesome. Covered meals, showers, and a bed to sleep on make cross-country traveling way easier. But, with those luxuries comes an added cost; in fact, Amtrak’s smallest sleeper cabin, the roomette, is usually more expensive than… Read More »How Much Does an Amtrak Roomette Cost? Prices for 2023 (Updated: May 10)
Bears will typically only charge people if they feel threatened or (much less likely) challenged. If a bear is startled by your presence, or you have inadvertently given off a menacing vibe, you may trigger an aggressive response. Outside of… Read More »Why Do Bears Charge Humans?
Carrying bear spray into the mountains or backcountry is a common practice for safety-minded hikers, backpackers, and hunters. That said, most of us have never had a chance to use it, which leads lots of people to wonder whether or… Read More »Bear Spray On Humans: Safe? Legal? Smart? Answers Here
My wife and I chose to hike this 9.5-mile route as kind of a “cool down” hike the day after we tackled Mount Mitchell, and it was a great choice. Starting at the Mount Mitchell State Park information center, we… Read More »Hike report: Commissary and Buncombe Horse Trails, near Mt Mitchell
Amtrak is expensive, there’s no way around that. If you’ve booked a trip that you can no longer go on, the money you spent is going to be the first thing on your mind. Let’s take a dive into Amtrak’s… Read More »Amtrak refunds: what to know (and how to cancel) if your train travel plans change
I’m afraid of bears. There are a lot of people who would thoroughly enjoy a far-off bear encounter, but I’m not one of those people. When I’m backpacking, I carry bear spray, because I am 0% interested in making either… Read More »The Best Bear Spray for Backpackers, Hunters, and More [2023]
If you’re anything like me, the prospect of seeing bears on your next backpacking trip is as exciting as it is terrifying. I love nature, but I also love being alive. Getting too close to a bear, without being prepared,… Read More »Do Air Horns Deter Bears? Alternative Bear Safety
One of the biggest challenges before a backpacking trip is selecting a backpack that actually works for you. Planning a trip longer than 3 days means you’re going to need more than just the bare essentials- plus lots of extra… Read More »Backpacking Basics: What Size Pack for a 5-Day Trip?
My wife and I hiked from Black Mountain Campground to the Mount Mitchell Summit on 05/19. – it’s one of the most popular trails in the state of North Carolina, pretty much entirely because Mount Mitchell is the highest point… Read More »Hike report: Mount Mitchell from Black Mountain Campground
When you’re prepping for your next overnight or multi-day backpacking trip, one thing that should be on your mind is how to safely deal with a bear encounter. Spending time in bear country is a great way to get far… Read More »Is Pepper Spray the Same as Bear Spray?
Across the 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, you’ll encounter almost everything nature has to throw at you. Snow, rain, howling wind in some parts; bleak, dry, and arid desert in others- even active volcanoes! Stretching from one US… Read More »What National Parks are on the Pacific Crest Trail?