Independent field notes
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.
A practical way for beginners to compare distance, elevation, remoteness, campsites, and escape options before committing to a British Columbia route.
Read articleA practical framework for choosing a Southwestern desert backpacking route when springs, tanks, and other water sources may be seasonal or unreliable.
Read articleA practical field checklist for choosing a campsite before darkness arrives, covering drainage, wind, hazards, privacy, environmental impact, and proximity to water.
Read articleA practical guide to comparing bear-resistant food containers when parks, campsites, and transport rules don’t agree.
Read articleA practical guide to choosing between freestanding, semi-freestanding, and trekking-pole shelters when rocky, sandy, root-filled, or hard-packed campsites make staking difficult.
Read articleA practical guide to choosing a backpacking route through Alberta and Saskatchewan’s Canadian Badlands, with advice on heat, exposed terrain, water planning, navigation, access, and route selection.
Read articleA practical guide for beginner backpackers on choosing and fitting a backpack based on torso length, hip belt fit, load lifters, pack volume, and the weight they actually carry.
Read articleA practical guide to choosing a low-impact campsite near beaver ponds and wetlands, with advice on waterlogged ground, wildlife movement, fragile vegetation, insects, food storage, and local regulations.
Read articleA practical method for estimating canister-stove fuel on cold, mountainous trips, including the effects of cooking style, snow melting, wind, altitude, water temperature, and group size.
Read articleA practical method for building a three-season backpacking list for Atlantic Canada, where wind, rain, fog, and temperature swings can make a standard spring, summer, or autumn checklist unreliable.
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