Yellow backpack with the 10 essentials inside

The 10 Essentials: What to Pack for Every Hike

The 10 Essentials is a list of items you should carry on every trip into the backcountry.

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brand new hiking boot stuck deep in mud

Walk Through Mud

Here are three great reasons to always walk directly down the middle of every trail, and especially through any mud puddles or water you find on the trail.

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wet dog in front of waterfall

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.

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discarded orange peel sitting on snowy ground

How Long Does Trash Last on the Trail?

Many people don’t know how long it takes natural items to decompose, assuming that whatever biological matter they discard will break down quickly. But many of our most common scraps take an astonishing amount of time to fully disintegrate…

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blue plastic brush cleaning dirt off bottom of dirty hiking hoot

Leave No Trace at the Trailhead

Step up your LNT game with this simple post-hike trick.

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white and blue headlamps sitting on wet wood in woods

How to Buy a Hiking Headlamp

For hikers and campers, headlamps are essential pieces of gear. Whether you’re hiking out at dusk after a long day, or hiking in, in the pitch dark for a glorious summit sunrise, a headlamp will keep you on track and safe.

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sign and forest worker

Cairns Are Bad News

TL;DR — Building cairns disturbs fragile, sensitive habitats and stresses whatever environment they’re built in. I didn’t know people also built them in streams…

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hwa lice on hemlock

Catskills Hemlocks Under Threat

Spend any time in the Catskills and you’ll see how special our hemlock groves are, and how unique their micro-environment is. Learn about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and how you can help.

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catskills fall foliage 2022

The 3 Best Ways to Not Die on a Hike

Every month, people get into trouble in the Catskills, almost always because they are under-prepared. Here are the 3 best things you can do to stay safe on your hike, while making sure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.

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