Editor’s note: This article was first published on May 29, 2020. It was updated on Dec. 30, 2020 with the latest winter guidelines for responsible recreation. With winter in full swing, many continue to venture outside to ski, snowshoe, hike or play in the snow—and find solace in nature during …
Read More »Refuge Outdoor Festival: Where BIPOCs Can See Themselves in a Life Outdoors
Growing up in Louisiana, once dubbed “the sportsman’s paradise,” you’d think I’d have at least some bit of familiarity with outdoor life. That hasn’t been the case. It’s not entirely my fault, though: The outdoors was represented to me as a place catering only to the needs of hunters and …
Read More »The Best Down Jackets of 2021
A version of this story appeared in the fall 2019 issue of Uncommon Path. Mastering a layering system takes work. But once you’ve done it, we think you’ll never go back. Layering systems are typically made up of a base layer, a mid layer and an outer layer. A down jacket, …
Read More »Adirondack Hamlets to Huts – REI Co-op Journal
Ask any visitor to the Adirondack Park in New York what they like best about it, and you’ll likely get an answer along the lines of “the peace and quiet.” At 6 million acres, it’s easy to find vast areas of rocky peaks, networks of ponds and rivers and more …
Read More »How to Find Solitude in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Editor’s note: Please consult the CDC or your state health department for information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. When spending time outdoors, please recreate responsibly. Some locations within Great Smoky Mountains National Park may be temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Check with the NPS for current conditions. For the 76th year in a …
Read More »Good Gear: Green Guru Breathes a Second Life Into Old Gear
If one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, then Davidson Lewis is a gold miner. He and his team at Colorado-based company Green Guru sift through the outdoor industry’s waste stream—which is more like a raging river—hunting for durable, high-quality materials that can be upcycled into everything from hard-wearing wallets …
Read More »Where to See Bison Roaming in the U.S.
For millennia, tens of millions of bison, also called buffalo, roamed the North American continent, critical to the Great Plains ecosystem and to the cultural and spiritual lives of Native Americans. But not long after white settlers arrived, bison hunters overexploited the bison population for meat, hides and other products. …
Read More »The Best Gifts for Outdoorsy Dogs
Editor’s note: This year’s a bit different—shop early to avoid lines in-store and get your gifts delivered with plenty of time to spare. Shopping in-store? There might be a line. Join the waitlist from anywhere to save time. You have good gear, why shouldn’t your best friend? Upgrade your four-legged …
Read More »The Best Gifts for Hikers
Editor’s note: This year’s a bit different—shop early to avoid lines in-store and get your gifts delivered with plenty of time to spare. Shopping in-store? There might be a line. Join the waitlist from anywhere to save time. Shopping for the sort of person who prefers an inflatable pad and …
Read More »Yosemite Permits: Your Guide to Half Dome and the Backcountry
Editor’s note: Please consult the CDC or your state health department for information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. When spending time outdoors, please recreate responsibly. By now, we all know: Our national parks are popular. The year 2019 was the fifth consecutive year that National Park Service-operated lands topped 300 million annual visits. …
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