Backpackers. I think you’ll agree there’s nothing that quite compares to the simple, pure fun of backpacking. In fact, the simplicity of it is actually why it is so rewarding.

But the wilderness has a way of magnifying even the little overlooked details, the little mistakes in gear or planning. Your safety and enjoyment of your hiking trip depend on your preparedness. Choosing and bringing the right gear and clothing. Physical preparedness. Packing properly and efficiently. And so on.

This site will provide tips and information you need to pick the right gear and plan your trips … so you can spend more time in the wilderness where you’d rather be!

A little about me …
I’ve been hiking and backpacking for over a decade. I love long-distance backpacking — I’ve hiked the length of Utah on the Great Western Trail (two months the first time, a month the second time). I’ve hiked 600 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Sierra Nevada Range on a two month trip. Another memorable and beautiful outing was a month-long backpacking trip in Washington’s Cascades. I’m also the author of Utah Thirteeners, a guide to hiking Utah’s 21 highest summits, and have climbed all 29 of Utah’s county peaks.

My intent with this site is simply to provide some of the trail-tested bits of backpacking advice and tips that I’ve learned over the years, along with any other good, useful information I can find on the subject of backpacking.

David Rose
Tooele, Utah