This month kicked off my 3-season guided backpacking trips as well as conditioning for this year's Allegheny 100 Challenge. With multiple skills and adventure group trips planned in the next few months in places like the White Mountains, Long Trail and Appalachian Trail, I'm looking forward to getting out with hikers in some beautiful locations and also putting some new gear to the test. Here are 5 items you'll find with me on the trips: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400

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

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

In this video, I go over my gear selection, nutrition and hydration for a 25 mile day hike on the Appalachian Trail, followed by sharing the hike itself. This training hike is 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/ #Allegheny100 #outdoors #adventure #backpackinggear #Pat

Grass Mountain is a peak located in southwestern Vermont in the town of North Bennington. The mountain is a part of the New England's 50 Finest list and involves a trail-less hike to the top. With good map and compass skills and terrain reading, this hike can be a fairly easy bushwack. The route I took, began near the end of Shatsbury Hollow Rd after traveling down a network of well-maintained old country gravel roads. I parked on Shatsbury Hollow Rd, where it appears to fork

Packing the Ten Essentials for any trip is a good habit to have. Even if you are going for a simple day hike, kayaking in a nearby lake or snowshoeing in the rolling hills. This list can provide you with items that can help address accidents and emergencies, and also get you through an unexpected night or more out. In the video above, I'll break down the Ten Essentials with you and how each item helps. I'll also share a few other items I like to add to the list and carry with

With the opportunity to bag four peaks within a few hours, it was hard to pass this up during a recent trip to Acadia National Park. Not only were my girlfriend and I rewarded with incredible views from each of the four peaks, but we also enjoyed solitude along this lightly trafficked section of the park. We had read about this trip while having breakfast back at our camp during a classic crisp, windy fall New England morning. The loop was one described in the AMC's Discover

The Seven Sisters are part of a distinct basalt ridgeline within the Holyoke Range that is part of the New England National Scenic Trail *(also known as the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail), which offer a challenge for day hikers and thru hikers up for the task. The route is technical with a never-ending vertical change totaling in at 3,288ft in 11 miles (if completed as an out-and-back). A few bypasses along the route can add as extra credit mileage and also offer a safer path sho

Whether you're logging in miles on a multi-day backpacking adventure or enjoying a day hike with the family, staying healthy and safe on the trail is always an important factor of any trip. So this year with reports of tick numbers on the rise, especially for those hiking in the northeast, consider taking the precautions listed below to help significantly decrease the risk of tick-borne illnesses. By following these tips, you will be one step ahead and able to enjoy your trip

Picture yourself at the beginning of a trailhead. The beginning of a trail that takes you across high mountain ridges, by endless scenic views and through neighboring towns. A trail that connects you on a deeper level to the outdoors, to a new community and to the world. Long distance hiking has been on the minds of many for years now. In fact, it was on the mind of Benton Mackaye atop Stratton Mountain in the 1921. Benton is responsible for conceiving what we now know as one

A hiking friend of mine recently told me about a newly created 14 mile trail in southern Connecticut with almost no hints of civilization. A long hike without passing signs of society too often? I became instantly hooked. I have always loved New England and the abundance of hiking opportunity that we have here. Opportunities rich in history and just as much with views. Sure we may not have the high elevations (our highest is Mount Washington at 6,288ft), but we make up for th

Last week my girlfriend and I had the opportunity to explore and enjoy one of our beautiful National Parks, Acadia, in celebration of this year's National Park Service Centennial. Our National Parks never cease to amaze me and we are all incredibly fortunate to have so many amazing places to explore in this country. Below you will read a little bit about our trip in the park as well as some of my favorite spots where we explored or grabbed a bite to eat. So without further ad

Hiking can provide some incredible and memorable experiences. It can also connect you with a community, the land and provides us with many health/well being benefits. It may not seem like it, but Connecticut has a lot of beautiful, unique places to explore. The state is also home to two nationally designated long distance trails in the U.S., the legendary Appalachian Trail and the New England Trail. With so many options around the entire state or right in our backyards, there

Countless studies have been made and the results are always positive. Spending time outdoors, such as hiking, is good for our health and well being. Do you know just how good it is for you? Check out some the many benefits below. Benefits of Hiking For Adults - Improved Cardio Fitness - Improved Muscular Fitness - Reduced Depression - Weight Control (Hiking Burns Up To 422 lbs An Hour For An Individual Weighing 155 lbs. Up To 493 lbs Hiking With A Pack) - Better Quality Sleep