How to Make a Temporary Gear Hanger Without Damaging Trees
Simple ways to keep wet or dirty items off the ground while avoiding nails, cord damage, and unsafe overhead loads.
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Miles, Meals & Mosquitoes
Backpacking adventures, trail wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way.
James McAfferyJames McAffery is a lifelong backpacker who believes the best lessons are learned somewhere between the trailhead and the next campsite. He writes practical guides about gear, trail skills, backcountry meals, and avoiding mistakes—especially the ones he has already made himself.
Recent articles
View archiveHow to Make a Safe Night Hike Decision When the Group Is Behind Schedule
A practical framework for deciding whether to continue hiking after dark, with guidance on navigation, terrain, headlamps, fatigue, weather, group management, and safer campsite alternatives.
Read articleHow to Make a Remote Trip Safer for Someone With Asthma
A practical guide to planning safer remote trips for people with asthma, covering medical preparation, medication redundancy, exertion, triggers, communication, and emergency decisions.
Read articleHow to Make a Cold-Weather Sleep System Work With the Gear You Own
A practical guide to building a colder-weather sleep system from the sleeping bag, clothing, pad, liner, and shelter you already own.
Read articleHow to Make a Campsite More Comfortable Without Bringing More Gear
Practical ways to make camp more comfortable through better site selection, organization, moisture management, and sleep habits—without adding weight to your pack.
Read articleHow to Leave a Shared Water Source Better Than You Found It
Practical habits for collecting water, washing, filtering, and moving through busy sources without contaminating or monopolizing them.
Read articleHow to Leave a Clean Campsite When You Are Tired and It Is Raining
A practical rainy-weather departure checklist for backpackers, covering food scraps, micro-trash, tent sites, drainage, and the overlooked items that create avoidable impact.
Read articleHow to Keep Your Feet Dry When the Trail Is Too Wet for Waterproof Boots
A practical guide to managing persistent mud and shallow water on Eastern Canadian trails, including gaiters, footwear choices, foot care, and drying routines.
Read articleHow to Keep Water From Freezing in a Tent on a Winter Overnight
Practical bottle placement, insulation, sleeping-system, and morning-routine options for subfreezing camps.
Read articleHow to Keep Tortillas, Cheese, and Crackers Usable for Five Days
A practical five-day packing and storage system for tortillas, cheese, and crackers, including moisture control, food choices, protection from crushing, and hot-weather considerations.
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