When Crappy Gear Is OK
byIn 2004, my friend Nick and I went on a 10-day road trip from Montana to Phoenix, where I was moving after graduate school….
ADVENTURE
The Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim: A Trail Diary
by4:35 a.m. The wind blows across the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, 20 mph constant. Mitsu and I hurriedly grab hats and gloves,…
Climbing Out Of A Huge Metaphor
byTen years ago last weekend, my old friend Jarrett didn’t have cancer anymore, so I thought it would be a good idea to take…
For Sale: Palatial Mountain Getaway
byLocation, location, location! This one-bedroom is close to nothing. Step inside the 29-square-foot ripstop nylon palace and say hello to your new home! The…
Affordable Alternatives To The Seven Summits
byWant to climb the Seven Summits? Sure you do. Want to pony up $157,000 (not including flights)? If the answer to that second question…
Should You Keep Your Big Goals To Yourself?
byA couple years ago, I was talking to my dad on the phone and asked about his plans for the next weekend. He said…
Break In/Destroy Your New Sleeping Bag With These 11 Simple Steps
byNothing’s better than a brand-new sleeping bag, that miraculous cocoon of warmth that enables you to sleep under the stars. Nothing, that is, except…
25 Things Said That Might Mean You’re Going To Have An Epic*
by*epic meaning a very long day, not like a we’re-gonna-die epic “You’ll be fine.” “I’m pretty sure it’s this way.” “We don’t need a…
Complaining Is Useless
byOne Sunday last August, maybe halfway through a 22-mile trail run in 85 degrees and full sun, the day after we’d run 24 trail…
Why Your Smartphone Is A Great Adventure Tool
byEvery once in a while at a book signing or during an interview, someone asks me: What’s your favorite piece of outdoor gear? I…
None Of This Makes Any Sense And That’s Just Fine
byLast Saturday night, I was running one of my favorite trails in the dark. I had gotten a late start, realized I failed to…
The Great Dirtbag Pissing Contest
byA few weeks ago, someone put a sticker saying “Does this Sprinter van make my trust fund look big?” on my friend Thomas’s van…
Put More Self-Flagellation In Your Vacation
byWouldn’t you like to get away? To a place where you can be pampered and just relax? Of course you wouldn’t. This is the…
Is This What I Have To Do To Get Away From My Phone? I Guess So.
byI sit on a rock along the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park, assembling a camp stove and filling a pot with water…
52 Pieces Of Adventure Advice
byEverybody has a few one-liners that always crop up in their head when they’re out hiking, skiing, climbing, and/or having a good time or…
10 Basic Rules For Adventure
byEarlier this year, my book Surviving the Great Outdoors came out, representing about 12 years’ worth of poking around in the out-of-doors—climbing, backpacking, hiking,…
Fake Merit Badges For Real Outdoor Achievements
byBecause we all deserve a little recognition for doing things well out there. —Brendan More stories like this in my new book, Bears Don’t…
Tips For Selecting The Best Campsite Ever
byThat’s right, summer’s not over yet. Here are some tips to make the best out of your last few nights under the stars. If…
The Best Campsite In The World
byOne Friday this past March, I hiked a few miles down a trail and set up a tent in one of the quietest places…
2017’s Most Affordable Adventure Van
byYou probably have a lot of questions when you’re thinking about what kind of van you should buy for your adventure trips. Should you…
Announcing A New Book: The Great Outdoors: A User’s Guide
byToday, I get to share something that some wonderful people and I have been working on for almost two years: a big, fat book…
7 Must-Have Gear Picks For Your Summer Adventures
by1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Just kidding. You probably have most of the stuff you need already. But I’ll tell you what,…
The Time Travelers: A Film About Doing The Thing
byAt 11 p.m. on January 13th, I watched a group of eight guys push a 48-foot long boat into the Colorado River at Lee’s…
My Favorite Adventure Books
byThis isn’t necessarily one of those “Best Adventure Books Ever Written” lists—just a list of a few books I have read and loved over…
Wind, You Jerk
byMy friend Jayson and I were out trail running on Saturday, for long stretches exposed to a 50 mph wind. It was the kind…
Take ‘The Mountains Are Calling And I Must Go’ To The Next Level
byYou’ve seen the John Muir quote “The mountains are calling and I must go” on t-shirts, coffee mugs, wood cuts, prints, and Instagram captions….
Hate Crowds? You Are Crowds.
byLast Monday, my mom and I stood behind a fence at Arches National Park and took a couple photos of Landscape Arch, the longest…