Explore the trails of Pachaug State Forest on this backpacking trip celebrating Connecticut Trails Day 2019. The trip was guided by Mat Jobin from Reach Your Summit and documented by Matt Woodward of ExploreCT. #NationalTrailsDay #backpacking #PachaugStateForest #ultralightbackpacking #Connecticut

Thru-hiking has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years. Books are being written and published. Blockbuster movies such as Walk In The Woods, Wild and Mile... Mile And A Half are inspiring thousands of hiking enthusiasts. More people are getting outside and recreating. With thru-hiking season a couple of weeks away for many aspiring AT hikers, and currently underway for some, here are 8 reasons why you may want to consider getting out on the trail for a long d

I know what you're thinking and I had the same feeling when I first learned about it. Backpacking? On Cape Cod? Surely you must be kidding. Contrary to what we may think, there is indeed a rare and great backpacking opportunity on Cape Cod for those who open themselves to the idea. As I write this, part of the country is experiencing some of the coldest temperatures recorded due to a Polar Vortex. Recordings so cold it even beats out the current temp in Antarctica. Though the

My sixth segment on the Bay Circuit Trail came with a lot of historical significance, more daylight and a bit of trail running. I had been conditioning myself for the Allegheny 100 Hiking Challenge in June. The A100, as it's known, is a 100 mile hiking challenge that takes place in Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The challenge is a self-supported trek that has to be completed in 50 hours. There are also 25, 50 and 75 mile challenges for those who prefer to not take

A look at two new pieces of gear from Ultimate Direction for 2018. The FK Tarp and FK Bivy. Testing out the tarp and bivy system during a solo overnight trip in mid-March on a self-created backpacking loop. A muddy morning wake up on the Appalachian Trail in May. My footprint, tarp, bivy and gear had a light coating of mud from a night of heavy downpours, but I remained dry the entire time. Here's another shot from that morning. Early morning for the second day of the Alleghe

Earlier this year Sierra Designs put out a new line of sleeping bags that could become a new standard in the outdoor industry. The Cloud takes characteristics from their popular Backcountry Bed series, blending it with hints of top bag and quilt designs. This zipperless mummy bag features premium 800-fill power water resistant DriDown and comes in three flavors, 20F (1 lb 13 oz, $299) and 35F (1 lb 7 oz, $279) for men, and 20F for women (1 lb 12 oz, $299). The shell fabric fo

Picking up where I left off near the T, I crossed a busy intersection and entered the woods Indian Ridge Reservation. It was a cold late February day, when I set off to compete this section. Wind gusts picked up at times, making it feel cooler than it was. This section transitioned from dirt to pavement quite often making the weather a little more enjoyable. The lack of snow on the ground made the mileage feel the same. Indian Ridge is a small section of the BCT at around onl

For the next stretch of the Bay Circuit Trail, I picked up right where I left off in Oxford State Forest. It was a mild, but cool February day with a little rain in the forecast. This area is also open to hunting (the other in the town of Boxford is Georgetown Rowley State Forest) so I opted for bright colors on this trip. The hike began leading me down an easy stretch of terrain on the BCT that intersected with multiple unmarked trails and carriage pathways. A few sections h

Have you ever found yourself pressed for time, but itching to get out on an epic adventure? Let me introduce you to fastpacking. Fastpacking beautifully blends backpacking and trail running for a one-of-a-kind journey. It allows us to get out for big miles, big views and a sense of accomplishment within a shorter period of time. One of the key elements to fastpacking is simplicity. If you are a gram counting, tooth-brush shaving avid ultralight backpacker then you may already

A closer look at the ultralight Osprey Levity 45 backpack, new for spring 2018. #Osprey #backpackinggear #backpacking #outdoors #adventure #backpacks

The next section of the Bay Circuit Trail, I hiked after some snow had fallen. Picking up where I left off at Rte 1, the trail left Willowdale State Forest and entered Cleveland Farm State Forest. The short section of this forest was quiet and full of hardwoods as I navigated its relatively easy terrain. The trail eventually led to a recently constructed bridge across the Mill River. Luckily the river wasn't flooded when I passed through this portion of the trail so I was abl

Last year, Reach Your Summit was the first to offer a backpacking adventure trip in the entire country for National Trails Day (CT Trails Weekend). My group hiked a 38.5 mile loop over two days, connecting the blue blazed Mohawk Trail (formerly part of the AT) with the white blazed Appalachian Trail in Connecticut. This year, I wanted to offer something bigger and continue with something else that had never been done before. After extensive research, knowledge of multiple tra

This video is a combination of two trips. The first is a quick 6 mile rainy training hike on part of the LKD Loop where I was eager to test out a trail running vest pack I picked up, the Patagonia Nine Trails 15L. Near the end of this trip I show how the gear held up in non-stop rain. The second half of this video takes place on a 39.3 mile backpacking loop (named the LKD Loop) that I created and am offering to the public for National Trails Day 2018. My goal for the hike was

In this video I share a 22.5 mile training hike I take on the New England Trail, in preparation for the Allegheny 100 Challenge which I am participating in this June 2018. For additional info on the Allegheny 100 check out the link provided here: https://northcountrytrail.org/trail/upcoming-events/special-events/allegheny-100/ #outdoors #backpacking #Allegheny100 #NewEnglandTrail #longdistancehiking #hiking

The much anticipated Osprey Levity is not a pack for everyone, but for those it is, it could be a game changer. The pack comes in a 60 liter and 45 liter version, both weighing under 2 lbs. It is the lightest framed AND ventilated pack to date from Osprey. Blending lightweight fabrics and attention to design, the Levity is sure to peak the interest of the outdoor community and ultralight backpacker's this year. I've been eyeing this pack since it was shown at Outdoor Retailer

When I'm out backpacking, whether I'm solo or with a group, I like to follow a well-defined routine when I arrive at camp. By creating and following one, I am able to enjoy extra time on the trail and not worry about forgetting tasks or gear at my site. Having extra time on the trail allows me to cover more ground, ensure that I am not racing the daylight to make camp before dark and adds to my experience of the trip overall. Accidentally leaving behind gear at my site can ha

A good sleeping bag will only get you so far. In addition to a bag, I share tips and methods I use for sleeping warm and comfortably during winter backpacking trips in the video above. #winterbackpacking #backpacking #backpackinggear #wintercamping #backpackingskills #travel

The Patagonia Ascensionist may have been designed with alpine in mind, but I have found it to be a great lightweight 3-season backpacking alternative for carrying gear. What intrigued me with this pack was its sheer simplicity. No frills, no fuss. This may not be a preference for other backpackers, but I find it to be a suitable option for my needs. Below, I'll share a look at this pack and a few adaptations I made to make it an excellent pack for many of my solo 3-season tri

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost UL 1 is a super lightweight 1 person double wall tent with a weight listed at 1 lb 14 oz (tent, rainfly and tent poles). I weighed mine in a 1 lb 10 oz before adding tent stakes and stuff sacks. It is a true freestanding tent, though the sides can still cave in a little. Not to worry, Mountain Hardwear addressed this and built in loops on the side of the tent body that clip to the fly. With the fly attached and staked out, you'll be able to maximiz

The video above shares a look at three lightweight water filters suitable for many outdoor adventures as well as seeing each in use on the trail. #backpacking #travel #backpackinggear #watertreatment #adventure