The Outbound

It was late September, and we were on the hunt for larches. We knew it was probably still a little early in the season, but with solidly decent weather in the forecast, we decided to give it a shot. Some friends were day hiking at Rainy Pass, so we arranged to meet them there while we tackled the Cutthroat Lake trailhead.

A day-by-day recounting of the G Adventures trip from Kathmandu to the base of ‘The Top of the World’ by Anton L. Delgado and Stephen Higgins By: Stephen Higgins + Save to a List Cover Image: A hiker on a G Adventures trip takes in a view of Mt. Everest. Photo by Anton L. Delgado. The Himalayas felt unreachable at the start of the year. But in a flurry of pitches and last-minute bookings, we were signed up for a G Adventures trek to Everest Base Camp.

It is starting to feel like spring and I am not ready to replace my skis with running shoes yet. I used this pack to ski in the resort many times. I am pleasantly surprised with how it fits on my back, and how much stuff I can fit into its tiny 16L space. I can fit my helmet or laptop (not at the same time of course) with a spare jacket, gloves, water bottle, and snack with no issues. On my first outing with the pack, I got stuck on the chairlift because one of the straps got tangled on the bar.

Product Name: Thule AllTrail 25L Product Description: A versatile top-loading pack with quick access to gear. Offer price: MSRP: $119.95 Currency: USD Quality (5) Features (5) Fit (5) Durability (5) Eco-Friendly (4) Summary The Thule Alltrail 25L Daypack is comfortable and a great choice for hiking, travel and everyday use, with a sustainability footprint that exceeds industry standards.

Bryce was the last of Utah’s Mighty Five for me to visit. I’ve wandered through the wonders of Capitol Reef, felt the magic of Zion, and regularly find myself returning to the beauties of Arches and Canyonlands. But Bryce? Bryce had been calling to me for years—luring me in with its hoodoos and towering spires carved by time. And finally, I answered. What unfolded over 4/5 days could easily be replicated in a matter of 72 hours.

It's not just the logistics of living in a van or chasing sunsets—it's learning to regulate your nervous system through chaos, to meet yourself again and again in the quiet, and to untangle your identity from the expectations of others. In the past ten months, I’ve attended several gatherings across North America—Holy Toledo, Descend, Northwest Nomads, Moonlanding, and a beautifully unorganized yet organized Vansgiving.

I often find myself deep in the backwoods of western and central Oregon. But more often than not, I find myself just slightly in the backwoods of Oregon; not truly remote, just remote enough for the free time I have available. An afternoon post-work might be all I can cram in, but the scenery is still beautiful, the cell service is non-existent, and the safe drinking water is nowhere to be found.

Altitude Awareness: The elevation in Colorado can sneak up on people, especially if they’re not use to it. Most cities are already a mile high. Denver, for example, sits at approximately 5280 ft. While neighboring mountain towns such as Frisco and Breckenridge reach over 9000 ft. With popular hiking peaks soaring to elevations above 14,000 feet, it’s important to be aware of how the elevation can significantly affect your breathing, hydration and energy levels.

When my friend Lauren and I laced up our Danner Women's Trail Trainers for the first time, we had one goal: see how they handled a full afternoon of movement, from soft sand to city sidewalks. Our adventure took us from Fletcher Cove Beach Park in Solana Beach down the coast for about a mile, then back up and into town for a well-earned lunch. The first thing I noticed was how light these hikers were. Like, surprisingly light.

If you’ve ever hiked Annie’s Canyon in Encinitas, you know it’s got a little bit of everything—wide, sandy trails, tight slot canyons, and just enough scrambling to keep things interesting. It’s the kind of route that demands a shoe that can handle variety. So, when my friend Paulo and I set out to test the new Danner N45 hikers—me in the women’s version, him in the men’s—we were excited to see how they’d perform.