Corporate Blogging

Survival Book Roundup   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here and the companion blog here   When it comes to resourcefulness in the outdoors, you don’t need to learn everything by trial and error. There are plenty of great books that can help you sharpen your skills and become a more prepared hiker. Here are some we recommend—and our favorite tips to get you started. Bushcraft 101 By Dave Canterbury Best For: Survival Skills Get ready for whatever nature could throw your way with this guide on bushcraft, (the art of surviving in the woods with as little modern gear as possible). Detailed lessons include firemaking, manufacturing your own tools and gear, foraging, and trapping and processing game. Top Tips: Stones...

Inspiration and Advice from WTA’s 2014 Photo Contest Winners   Written for the Washington Trails Association blog   Visit the published article here   Last fall, photographers submitted more than 2,600 incredible images from Washington trails to our annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest. We were blown away by the quantity—and quality—of photos we received, and narrowing down the field to 16 winners was tough. We loved the variety of trail experiences those photos represented, from fog-enshrouded beach hikes to star-speckled overnights to delightful meanders with kids. Through the lenses of their cameras, hiking photographers captured everything we love about hiking in Washington. We look forward to sharing many of the 2,600 images with you...

Go Big This Year!   Written for the Washington Trails Association blog   Visit the published blog here and the companion magazine article here   Do your New Year’s resolutions always seem to fizzle? Whether your aim is to get outside more this year, hike farther or discover a few new trails, it’s possible you’re thinking too small. There’s a cure for the common New Year’s resolution. It’s a big, bold, audacious year-long challenge. Think it can’t be done? Meet Beautiful Existence. We first learned of Existence (yes, that’s her legal name) and her signature year-long challenges in early 2014, as she set out to spend the year trying every sport that REI offers gear for. Over the course of the year, she revolutionized her relationship with the...

Lightweight Hiking Shoes for Autumn   Written for the Washington Trails Association blog   Visit the published article here   The days may be getting shorter and wetter, but that’s no reason not to hit some of your favorite local trails—just dress appropriately for the weather and wear good shoes. WTA’s gear review team has been sampling some of the latest light hiking shoes, looking for the best in comfort, water repellency and beefy tread to keep you sure-footed on the trails this fall. Here are some notable contenders. Chaco Women’s Zora One of our testers’ favorites, these lightweight hikers fit well straight out of the box and didn’t require any break-in thanks to the unique LUVSEAT footbed—so comfy! They’re perfect for people who love giving...

Changing the Face of the Outdoors: Q&A with Author James Edward Mills   Written for the Washington Trails Association blog   Visit the published blog here and the companion magazine article here   James Edward Mills is an outdoors journalist, the creator/producer of The Joy Trip Project and the author of upcoming book The Adventure Gap, a new book set to be released by Mountaineers Books in October 2014. In it, Mills chronicles Expedition Denali—the first all-African-American summit attempt on Alaska’s Mount Denali—and creates a compelling case for all Americans to embrace their place in the great outdoors. WTA recently spoke with Mills about his upcoming book. What is the adventure gap? James Edward Mills: We’ve often heard of the...

Kelty’s TraiLogic Collection Makes Gear Shopping Easy   Written for the Washington Trail Association blog   Visit the published article here   For backpacking beginners, purchasing the big items needed for a night in the wilderness —backpack, tent, sleeping bag, etc.—can be a daunting task. Kelty is trying to change that with the release of its new TraiLogic Collection, an integrated, three-season backpacking system that promises to make gear shopping as simple as grab-and-go. Does the system make good on its promise? We tested it—in rain and sun, on trail and in camp—to see. Here’s what we found. TraiLogic Pack The TraiLogic pack boasts 50L of space from both the 35L main compartment and a 15L detachable pocket—not the roomiest available, but...