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 checklist for checking reservation windows, campsite rules, cancellation policies, quotas, alternates, and other details before booking a backcountry permit in a popular North American park.
Read articleA practical framework for choosing a three-season backpacking route in the Yukon, with attention to remoteness, weather, river crossings, navigation, and evacuation planning.
Read articleA practical framework for choosing a first desert backpacking route in Utah, with emphasis on water reliability, shade, navigation, permits, and sensible trip planning.
Read articleA practical reflection on building clothing, shelter, mileage, and turnaround decisions around uncertainty rather than the best-case forecast.
Read articleWhy map distance can hide bogs, blowdown, steep ground, and slow travel—and how to compare routes more honestly.
Read articleA practical lesson about testing gear at home, learning failure points, and carrying only the backup items that solve likely problems.
Read articleA practical guide to planning clothing, shelter, and backup options for real trail exposure—not just the weather forecast.
Read articleA practical guide to reading beyond the wind forecast when choosing a campsite, with advice on how terrain, forests, valleys, ridgelines, and changing storm direction affect the wind you actually experience.
Read articleA practical reflection on how voices, cooking, music, and shared campsites shape the backcountry soundscape—and simple habits that help everyone enjoy a more considerate night outdoors.
Read articleA reflective, practical guide to speaking up when a hiking group may have missed a turn, with strategies for handling uncertainty, politeness, group dynamics, and safer navigation decisions.
Read article