It's well past dark when we finally make the second creek crossing and drop our packs. The halfway mark offers a brief solace. But we still have the big climb – two miles and nearly 2,000 feet of icy elevation before we gain the saddle, then a relatively flat final mile back to the truck. Sitting in silence we down chalky energy bars and nurse the last of our dwindling water. Lost in thought. Recalling what's recently behind and daunted by what lies directly ahead. I tug off

Overview: When it comes to cold-weather camping I'm certainly not a newbie, having weathered my fair share of snow storms and single-digit nights in my backpacking and backcountry hunting adventures over the last 30 years. And, due to investing in quality gear, I typically stay decently warm and comfortable. But sometimes the conditions are just more than the gear can handle. It's not to say that it's bad, but just not suited for the job at hand. That was the case with my col

Overview: Ever since watching Brad Brook's fantastic film " Hunting The Last Wild Places I The Frank" I've wanted a hot tipi for my backcountry hunting trips. After a miserable Colorado elk hunt (at least from a weather standpoint) spent in a small backpacking tent with my two boys in 2023, I finally pulled the trigger on getting one for a 2025 return trip to the same place. The ability to have a shelter that provided warmth, a place to dry out, and ample space for boots

Overturned dirt lies in a heap, damp from recent rain, still carrying the earthy petrichor of so many seasons. Empty bottles clutter a stump beside the fresh hole. An army-green ammo tin carrying your ashes rests quietly alongside. As your brother Kevin struggles through heavy words and the box is placed into the earth, hot tears streak behind my sunglasses, like August rain sliding down a dirty windowpane. I take my turn and toss a handful of soil over top. As hard as I try,

Jason Aldean twangs through the speakers " ...chillin to Skynard and old Hank... " Despite the mercury, the dance floor of the old...

A comprehensive review of Poncho Outdoors' extensive line of performance shirts

A thorough review of Winston's Air 2 Max Saltwater Fly Rod

Outside the nylon walls a faint morning grey nibbles the edges of a sooty night sky. I'm tucked cozily into my sleeping bag, but I really...

Overview: I'm a sucker for handcrafted knives and tools. Sure, there's something practical about a synthetic handle on an axe, or knife,...

Overview: While I spend a lot of time out-of-doors in inclement weather and sub-freezing temps, my tolerance for the cold just isn't what it used to be. Highly aerobic activities like winter hiking, upland hunting, or stalking big game aren't an issue, but less active pursuits like sitting in a duck blind, chasing whitetail from a tree stand during the late archery hunt, or winter fly fishing on the river can be a different story. And despite investing in some of the top gear

Friday, November 22 5:56 AM. MST The revolutions of the stove fan grow slower and slower. Momentum fading like the last drops of daylight...

Overview: Having recently completed my fourth DIY "Western" big game hunt, I've come to realize two things. First, the importance...

Overview: I was due for an optics upgrade on my western hunting outfit – a HOWA .308. I wanted quality glass but didn't want to break the...

Overview : The Whiskey Leatherworks Traveling Mixologist Kit classes up any outdoor occasion. The campaign-style waxed canvas (available...

Inside around the fire while snow falls, watching the sunrise from the porch with a cup of coffee, or playing games around the table, there

Upland, whitetail, or big game; pushing through the popples behind a trusted dog, tucked up in a tree along a cedar swamp, or glassing deep in the backcountry mountains, if you have a hunter on your holiday list here are 26 gift ideas, at a range of price points, sure to make them smile. Fox River Men's Outdoors Extra-Heavyweight Mid-Calf Boot & Field Sock ($18) Keep out the cold with these extra-heavyweight FoxSox. They'll keep you warmer than a sheep. Plus, wool can absorb

Fly anglers, myself included, are among the worst of all gear junkies. The good news? That makes holiday shopping easy. I've assembled this list of 26 unique items that any angler will love. From $12 replacement boot laces to $5,000 fishing rafts – no matter how naughty or nice the angler on your list has been, you're sure to find something appropriate here. Replacement Wading Boot Laces From Yakoda ($12) Add new life to your boots with Yakoda's American-made replacement lac

Light a fire, pour a drink, and settle into that comfy chair – winter is reading season. If you have someone on your holiday list that...

Switzerland. The destination had been on our bucket list for a while, but other travel, typically to warmer, sunnier climes during long...

We were due. I know it's presumptuous to believe a river owes you something, but I did, and could make a strong argument the sentiment...