Gear
Mountain Hiking Gear
Modern hiking gear is a fantastic mix of old and new — compasses & GPS devices, knives & smartphones, wool socks & space blankets. A backpack full of cool hiking gear is one of my favorite things about mountain hiking.

Hike Your Dog Safely in the Summer Heat
From springtime on, heat indices can regularly blow past safe limits for our canine companions. Here’s how to keep your pooch cool and safe on the trail this season.

12 Best Hiking Apps
The best hiking apps broken into four categories: navigation/planning, field identification, photography, and fun.

Camping in the Catskills: a Beginner’s Guide to Backcountry Campouts
Camping in the Catskills? This comprehensive list of resources, regulations and gear tips will help get you ready for your first Catskills campout.

Best Hiking Boots of 2022
If you’re looking for a new pair of hiking boots, this list of hiking boot brands and models will get you started with great recommendations.

Best Camera Settings for Photographing Sunsets & Sunrises (40+ Tips)
Dawn and dusk: there’s no better time of day to shoot landscapes than when the sun is low on the horizon. Here’s everything you need to know to plan, prepare, and pull off the perfect sunrise photo shoot.

Winter Hiking Essentials
Winter hiking essentials — crucial gear and intel to hike safely this winter.


Winter Gear Checklist
Download this helpful PDF with explanatory notes and a handy winter day-hike gear checklist.

Free Zoom Virtual Backgrounds: Catskills Summits
Please enjoy this collection of Free Zoom Virtual Backgrounds. This set contains 16 images of Catskills summits.

Winter Hiking Gear: Microspikes
Microspikes have, effectively, opened up the world of winter hiking


Catskills vs Adirondacks: 9 Differences
For planning, prepping and execution, here are the 9 key differences between hiking the Catskills and Adirondacks high peaks.

KÜHL Hiking Shorts (Review)
We thought it would be fun to test some high-end hiking shorts. Would they live up to their own hype?

What to Pack: The 10 Essentials
The ten essentials is a list of items you should carry on every trip into the backcountry. This essential gear can keep you safe and on track. In an emergency, it might save your life.

Best Hiking Books for Hikers
These are the best hiking books I’ve found to date. Many were instrumental in getting me started, and giving me the confidence to hike the wilderness solo.

Best Bug Spray & Bug Repellent
This three-tiered best bug spray system keeps me (mostly!) bite free in New York’s backcountry every season