HIKING THE EPIC AMATOLA TRAIL – South Africa’s Most Challenging Trail
One of the most remarkable aspects of our journey was the ever-changing landscapes. From dense forests to open vistas, from cascading waterfalls to towering peaks, each day brought new wonders to behold. The transition from the lush Enchanted Forest to the expansive Tyume River basin felt like stepping into a different world altogether, a testament to the incredible diversity of the Eastern Cape's natural beauty.
Backpacking Food Hacks to Keep You Eating Well Anywhere
Reward yourself on your first day out with a delicious milkshake. Just grab a pint of ice cream right before you start hiking, seal it in a bag, wrap it with an insulating layer, and in a few hours, open it up and enjoy.
How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier
Water purifiers also combat viruses, which are too tiny for most filters to effectively catch. If youāre traveling in less-developed areas of the world, consider products that also provide protection from viruses (such as hepatitis A, rotavirus, and norovirus).
Eating Right while Hiking and Camping
After a few days in the backcountry, it seemed as if food became less about sustenance and more an obsession. Upon reaching a fellow hiker, a common question became: āWhat are you eating?ā In town, many of us headed straight to the junk food aisle to pick up sugary pastries, pizza, and ice cream.
Meal Planning for Ultralight Backpacking
To lighten your food load and still get the calories and nutrition you need to maintain your stamina on the trail, aim for nutritious foods that are high in calories relative to weight and volume. Choose foods that provide at least 100 calories per ounceā125 calories or more per ounce is even better.
How to Treat Water while Hiking or Camping
After heavy rain, wait before gathering water for treatment.Ā When streams are on the rise, rain has washed surface material into them, as well as lakes and other water sources. This increases bacterial loads and muddies up gathered water.
Backpacking Food Ideas & Meal Planning
You can take most foods backpacking, but itās best to stick with foods that are portable, lightweight, and not too bulky. Fortunately, there are ways to take backpacking versions of your favorite mealāfrom burrito bowlsĀ toĀ tuna noodle casseroleāwhether you dehydrate the meal at home,Ā buy ready-to-eat dehydrated mealsĀ that only require adding hot water, or assemble your meal from a mixture of fresh and dry ingredients.Ā
How to Choose Headlamps
Headlamps today use LEDs almost exclusively as their light source. LEDs are rugged, energy-efficient, and long-lasting.
How to Choose Between a PLB and a Satellite Messenger
PLBs and satellite messengers are your two best options for sending distress signals when on an outdoor adventure.
How to Build a Campfire
Build fires only in designated fire rings, grills, or fireplaces. Most developed campgrounds have some version of these. Using a fire ring will lessen your impact and keep your fire contained.
How to Use a Compass
Why not rely exclusively on a phone or GPS receiver? Because batteries can die and gadgets can malfunction. A compass relies only on Earth's magnetic fields. If you donāt have one yet, read How to Choose a Compass.
7 THINGS EVERY FIRST-TIME CAMPER SHOULD KNOW | CAMPING ESSENTIALS
The idea of camping can intimidate some people. But the truth is, camping is not only one of the easiest outdoor activities to do, but itās also one of the most widely loved. Its simple charms are addictive: crackling fires, fresh air, the exchange of stories with close friends, and all the sāmores your inner-fifth-grader-heart could want.
A Beginnerās Guide to Bikepacking
Bikepacking is essentially having multi-day, self-supported adventures on your bike. Typically, this would involve being more off-road than on-road and would feature some kind of lightweight camping, whether thatās in a small, lightweight tent, or an even lighter bivvy bag and tarp set up.
South Africaās 16 most beautiful hiking trails
South Africa is known to be a land of diverse landscapes and breathtaking vistas; an expansive playground capable of satisfying even the most die-hard travelerās wanderlust. And what better way to explore this raw, unadulterated terrain than by foot? Hmm, but where to start? Well, here are South Africaās 16 most beautiful hiking trails; let the Instagramming begin.
A Beginnerās Guide to Trail Running
The appeal of getting out into green spaces and exploring on foot is obvious so for the last few months Iāve been building up my fitness with regular runs and learning the basics of trail running. Iām definitely still a novice with a lot to learn, but I have picked up a few things over the last few months that Iāll share in this beginnerās
How to Choose Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, reduce eyestrain in bright conditions and protect you from flying debris and other hazards.
How to Choose Sun-Protection (UPF) Clothing
Choosing clothing that has been designed for sun protection and tested to confirm its Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) will give you greater control over your total level of UV exposure.
Meet The first all-Black climbing team to summit Everest
TheĀ Full Circle Everest team has become the first all-Black climbing group to summit Mount Everest. The history-making climb occurred on May 12, 2022, when seven members of Full Circle (six Americans and one Kenyan) officially stood on the highest peak in the world in the Himalayas on the China-Nepal border.
TIPS FOR PROPERLY DISINFECTING YOUR RV | HOW TO BEST CLEAN YOUR RV
Thereās a difference between simple cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning removes dirt, germs, and impurities using soap and water. This step doesnāt kill germs, it simply removes them which helps lower their numbers and thus the risk of infection. Use soap and water to regularly clean surfaces. Be sure to pay extra attention to high-touch surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, faucets and sinks.
How to Choose Travel Clothing
Fabrics should breathe well, wick moisture away from your skin, and dry quickly. Cotton, while OK for casual wear, is generally less suited for traveling than the fabrics listed below.
How to Choose First Aid Kits
Even if you pack only a small first-aid kit, youāll have a great resource for treating minor issues and for preventing them from becoming major ones. Managing aches and pains also makes any trip more enjoyable.
How to Choose and Use Sunscreen
Sun rays contain ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the source of sunburn, premature skin aging, and skin cancer, which more of us get than all other cancers combined.
How to Go to the Bathroom in the Woods
Ā If youāre in a rafting group camping along a very large river, Leave No Trace recommends peeing directly in the water; the river volume will dilute it, and the camping area avoids getting over-saturated.
The Ten Essentials for Hiking & Camping
Back then, the list included a map, compass, sunglasses and sunscreen, extra clothing, headlamp/flashlight, first-aid supplies, fire starter, matches, knife, and extra food. Over the years, the list has evolved to a āsystemsā approach rather than including individual items. Hereās what it looks like today:
How to Stay Hydrated on the Trail
A good general recommendation is about oneĀ half-liter of water per hour of moderate activity in moderate temperatures. You may need to increase how much you drink as the temperature and intensity of the activity rise.
Tips for Solo Backpacking & Camping
On a backpacking trip, youāll be responsible for carrying all the gear, making all the decisions, and figuring out whatās making that creepy noise in the middle of the night. While a solo trip can certainly be challenging, it will also give you a chance to get outside your comfort zone and find out what youāre capable of.
Virtually āhikeā all of South Africaās National Parks
Over the course of 12 months, some 170 new trails and 232 points of interest were recorded, and 560 miles were hiked. Viewers may also virtuallyĀ hike the five-day Otter Trail, walk withĀ elephants, andĀ track cheetahsĀ on foot.
