Erik The Black's Backpacking Blog

Planning a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail or other long backpacking trip? Here are some tips for getting in shape before your big hike…

The Colorado Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Here are some pictures from my thru-hike in the summer of 2010…

Here are 7 more backpacking foods that are lightweight, non-perishable and provide a high calorie-to-weight ratio, making them ideal for ultralight backpacking.

Day hiking is different from backpacking because you don’t plan to camp out, which means less gear (and less weight). But it’s still smart to bring a few essentials “just in case”. This is what I pack when I go for a day hike…

Here’s another ultralight, high calorie trail recipe. I eat this breakfast three out of five days on my long hikes. It’s inexpensive, easy to prepare, warms me up on cold mornings and provides lots of energy…

With lightweight packs the way you organize your gear affects comfort as much as what you carry. There are many ways to pack a backpack. Here’s how I pack mine…

A game of chess is fun after a long day of hiking, but even travel chess sets are too heavy for lightweight backpacking. Here’s how you can make an “Ultralight Trail Chess Set” that weighs less than an ounce…

Macaroni and Cheese is a staple dinner for long distance backpackers. It’s cheap, lightweight, easy to prepare and available virtually everywhere. It’s also pretty bland tasting. Try this recipe next time to add some flavor (and a ton of extra calories) to your “Trail Mac”…

Last week I posted an article with some tips for thru-hikers. Here is Part 2 of that series, with more information about footcare, diet, gear weight, managing finances, staying positive and not quitting…

Thru-hiking is backpacking an entire trail in a single trip. If you are planning a thru-hike here are some tips to help you succeed, with information about why hikers quit, setting priorities, pacing, scheduling, hiking your own hike and making trail friends.