News
This year marks our 80th anniversary. We’re celebrating by going back in time, to trace the history of the modern-day backpack, a history slightly older than we are. Humans have been carrying loads around on their backs since time immemorial. But it hasn’t always been easy. Years ago, hikers struggled under cumbersome, ill-fitting packs. This […]
The post The History of the Backpack appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
It isn’t too difficult to make your own vegetarian backpacking meals, but incorporating enough protein into them can be a challenge. Protein is a critical macronutrient that helps facilitate muscle repair. You might be able to overlook it on a quick overnight, but over the course of a longer multi-day hike, your muscles will start […]
The post Backpacking Vegetarian Lentil Chili Recipe appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
I know I’m going to eat it somewhere in the middle of the berm. It’s a beautiful wave of dirt, piled high and smooth, but I’m carrying too much speed as I enter the top of it. I picture my bike going one direction and my body going the other and consider feathering my brakes […]
The post ‘Biggest Buzz … Since the Casino’: Cherokee Turning to Mountain Bike Trails to Grow Economy appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
Want to get out on the best mountain bike trails near Asheville? Whether you enjoy grin-inducing descents, smooth rollers, technical drops, punchy climbs or bermed flow trails, the Asheville area has a trail system for every type of rider. Tucked away in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, downtown Asheville is within an […]
The post 10 Top Mountain Bike Trails Near Asheville appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
If you’re shopping for a new mountain bike, you’ll inevitably face a big choice: full-suspension or hardtail? A full-suspension mountain bike features both a suspension fork up front and a rear shock, whereas a hardtail bike has only a suspension fork. The type of suspension a mountain bike has will affect the bike’s control, traction […]
The post Full-Suspension vs. Hardtail Mountain Bikes appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
After figuring out how to set camp up in under 20 minutes, cook things in the backcountry that actually taste good and manage avoiding blisters while hucking a large pack around, we all feel like backpacking experts. However, there are a few things that can evade even the most skilled backpackers. Check this list and […]
The post 9 Ways You’re Camping Wrong Without Even Realizing It appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
Far from overcast Seattle, east of the Columbia River, sits the community of Ephrata, Washington. And just outside the small town, twenty miles of singletrack at Beezley Hills Preserve beckon, making Ephrata an unexpected mountain biking destination in eastern Washington. The land was once used as pastureland for grazing horses by rancher Frank Beezley, the […]
The post Dust, Sun and Singletrack appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
For many backpackers, the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) looms majestically before them, at the apex of their life list. If you’re contemplating this adventure, then you already know that some serious planning is in order. One of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of getting ready for a PCT thru-hike is the decidedly unglamorous task […]
The post How Much Does It Cost to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail? appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
Scenic vistas, stunning waterfalls, dramatic peaks, rolling hills and spring wildflowers are a few of the highlights visitors can expect when hiking near Asheville. From easy-going hikes along streams to awe-inspiring summits to challenging backpacking adventures, Asheville has something for everyone. A wide variety of day hikes and backpacking trips can be found in the […]
The post 10 Top Hikes Near Asheville appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.