Author: Matcha

Funniest Mishaps Experienced By Adventurers Across the Country

ByMatcha May 18, 2020 0 Comments
Ah, life on the trail and in the mountains. It’s beautiful, it’s challenging, it’s...whoops, not supposed to go that way!? If you love the outdoors, you’ve undoubtedly run into scenarios where your adventure hasn’t gone exactly as planned. You forget to bring an essential piece of gear, wildlife intervenes in unexpected ways, or the weather, trail, adventure partner, or whatever just...

How To Have a Successful First Backpacking Experience with Your Child

ByMatcha April 14, 2020 0 Comments
Getting your kids out into the backcountry with you can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a parent. Hiking by day and reading bedtime stories (by headlamp) in a tent by night will create fond memories of exploring the outdoors. That being said, the first time out is the make it or break it trip. If it goes well, you will most likely have yourself a backpacking buddy for...

Keep Your Gear Like New: Cleaning, Repair, and Storage Tips

ByMatcha March 24, 2020 0 Comments
After a few days in the great outdoors, the last thing you want to do when you finally get home is tackle the task of cleaning your gear—we get it. But, as any outdoor enthusiast knows, gear is pricey stuff—and that’s if you buy it once. However, putting in just a little bit of time and effort into keeping your gear cleaned, fixed, and stored properly has big impact on its lifespan and...

The Last Outbacks: Exploring Lower 48 Backcountries Where the American Frontier Held Out

ByMatcha March 16, 2020 0 Comments
From the North Cascades and Great Basin borderlands of Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho to the most obscure depths of the Greater Yellowstone and the boreal waterways of the Upper Midwest, plenty of sparsely populated and wild places remain in the contiguous United States. We’re lucky enough to still have headwater basins, desert canyons, and anonymous crags far enough from roads to rarely see a...

6 Backpacking Hacks for Thru-Hiking

ByMatcha March 3, 2020 0 Comments
The more you dig into the endless advice for long-distance hiking, the more you’ll find the best insider hacks are less about crushing the biggest miles with the fanciest gear and more about saving money, weight, and time in some of the most low-maintenance ways possible. Becoming an efficient long-distance backpacker or thru-hiker comes with its own set of challenges, a lot of which you’ll...

10 Must-Visit Hot Springs in the West

ByMatcha February 24, 2020 0 Comments
Natural hot springs invoke a special kind of magic found nowhere else—they are a balm for the soul in a hectic world of buzzing cell phones, honking horns, and constant demands for attention. While we don’t have room to include every worthy hot spring in the United States, these selections are some of the best in the western U.S. So relax and take a soak at one of these memorable natural...

7 Underrated Outdoor Adventures in the U.S.

ByMatcha February 5, 2020 0 Comments
Most outdoor lovers know about hiking the Appalachian Trail or exploring the Grand Canyon. While those are bucket-list adventures and life-changing experiences, there are innumerable more options out there that are just as thrilling. Whether you’re backpacking, climbing, paddling, or biking, here are seven underrated outdoor adventures across the U.S. to keep on your radar. 1. Bikepack the Red...

5 of the Best Winter Backpacking Trips in the United States

ByMatcha January 23, 2020 0 Comments
Hitting the trails in the wintertime brings with it a whole different level of adventure. The uncrowded mountains all to yourself, the challenge of navigating snow-covered trails and unpredictable weather, and the mug of hot chocolate at the end of a long day are all enticing enough on their own but put them together and that’s when the magic begins. While backpacking in the winter can get a...

Four of the Best Day Hikes in the World

ByMatcha January 21, 2020 0 Comments
Going on a day hike can be an exhilarating experience that leaves you with a sense of accomplishment and a renewed connection with nature. From breathtaking scenery to once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters, you never know what you might discover out on the trail. While going on a long hike can make for an unforgettable adventure, sometimes you only have the time or energy for just one day....

How to Get Started Backcountry Skiing

ByMatcha January 9, 2020 0 Comments
Backcountry skiing is everything you love about skiing in-bounds—the rush of carving the perfect turn, the feeling of floating through a powder stash—but without the traffic, either in the parking lot or on the slopes. Sure, you have to earn those turns, but it’s worth the effort, and the hard work makes the view at the top (and the run afterward) even sweeter. Ready to see why backcountry...