Numb Feet While Hiking? Here’s How To Fix It
If your feet ever become numb while hiking, don't worry. This common hiking ailment has a few potential causes and easy fixes.
Latest
The BLM Made the Largest Public Lands Purchase in Wyoming History, Unlocking Previously Inaccessible Acres
Almost 9.5 million acres in 13 western states are permanently inaccessible to the general public because they're surrounded by private land. BLM director Tracy Stone-Manning wants to keep chipping away at them, acre by acre.
Black Bear Euthanized After Injuring 3-Year-Old and Mother in Smokies
Incident comes days after US Forest Service warned campers about food-conditioned bears.
The Ethics of Thru-Hiking with Kids
Each year, more families seem to earn attention by taking to long trails with small children. What are their motivations, and is it bad for the kids?
Navigating in Zero Visibility Is Tough. Learn to Do it Right.
Leapfrogging, following benchmarks, and more.
Every Hiking Dog Owner Should Know These First Aid Tricks
Dogs can get hurt on the trail just like you. Here's how to treat 5 common problems.
Miracle on Mt. Hood Part 1
In 2013, Mary Grimm got lost amid whiteout conditions on Mt. Hood. She spent six days alone before anyone found her.
Yes, Ultralight External Frame Packs Are a Thing
These four load-haulers are bringing the retro design into the modern era.
Watch: Floods Destroy Roads, Force Evacuations in Yellowstone National Park
The park will remain closed to incoming visitors through at least Wednesday.
Someone Spray-Painted Graffiti on One of Yosemite’s Most Popular Trails
Tags along Yosemite Falls Trail prompt National Park Service to ask for help identifying suspects.
Meet First Peoples Mountain: Yellowstone’s Mount Doane Gets a New Name
A mountain named for a U.S. Army officer who led a massacre against local tribes has received a new moniker.
Grand Teton Hands Visitor 5-Year Ban, $17,600 Fine Over False Report in Missing Hiker Case
Mother calls report "extremely upsetting" but calls on hikers and mountaineers to continue search.
The River Yearned to Run Free. As a Gay Man, So Did I.
A hike in the author's native Washington state gives perspective on half a millennium of persecution, and a home worth fighting for.
The Best Dehydrated Macaroni and Cheese
Think all cheese delivery services taste the same? Not a chance.
Interior Department to Phase Out Single-Use Plastic on Federal Lands by 2032
A new order from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland reverses a Trump-era policy that prevented national parks from banning plastic bottles.
The Best Sunscreen Sticks for Any Outdoor Activity
Perfect for the on-the-go adventurer, these portable sticks make sunscreen application—and reapplication—easy
Their Plane Went Down in the Sea
A routine flight turns into a fight for life.
Forest Service Warns Hikers About Rising Bear Encounters in North Carolina
Hikers in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forest Asked to keep a lookout for bold bruins.
Temps at Southwestern Parks Are Approaching Record Highs—With Deadly Consequences
With Death Valley and the Grand Canyon expecting a sweltering heat wave, hikers will need to take precautions.
Marmots Keep Sneaking Into Hikers’ Cars With Hilarious (and Expensive) Results
Attracted by the smell of engine components and fluids, marmots regularly crawl under car hoods in search of something to nibble. Sometimes, they're still there when the cars leave.
A Wilderness Doctor’s Advice to Keep Your Child Safe on the Trail This Summer
Snakes and heat shouldn't keep your little one locked inside all summer. Here's how to keep them safe in the backcountry.
Member Exclusives
Stories, gear reviews, hiking guides, and more just for Outside+ members.
Join Outside+ See All2022 Summer Gear Guide
The 13 Products That Won Awards in the 2022 Summer Gear Guide
We reviewed 341 pieces of gear. But these ones stood above.
Fitness
The Best Hiking Workouts for Every Fitness Level
Reality check: Hitting the gym is the quickest way to hike farther, easier, faster, and pain-free. Get into a routine—or take yours to the next level—with these smart workouts for three different levels.
The Best Hikes
The Best Hikes in Colorado
Lace up your boots for a hiking destination that includes Rocky Mountain vistas, alpine lakes, wind-swept sand dunes, and memorable urban parks.
Backpacking Skills
Learn How to Use a Compass and Never Get Lost Again
Make sure you never get lost again by mastering the underappreciated art of navigating with a compass and map.
Gear Round-Ups
The Best Backpacking Kitchen Gear of 2022
Feast-making cookware that won’t slow you down
Trail Guides
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows
The Narrows at Zion National Park offers an incredible adventure in America's most amazing slot canyons. Here's how to safely explore them.
Survival Skills
How to Remove and Treat Thorns, Splinters, and Other Prick Wounds
Nature can be brutal. Learn how to to deal with wounds from all kinds of thorns, spines, splinters, shards, quills, needles, and anything else that might get under your skin when you’re on the trail.
Classic Destinations
Experience Deep Backcountry on the Appalachian Trail’s 100-Mile Wilderness
Hike some of the East Coast's wildest wilderness on the AT.
Listen
Out Alive
Real people who survived the unsurvivable
Listen
Impossible Odds
Two friends, 8,000 trail miles, one year
Featured Story
A.T. Phone Home: Backpacker Wants Your Appalachian Trail Stories
Have a tale from the AT? We want you to give us a call—literally.
From Grandma Gatewood‘s walk to Bill Bryson‘s misadventures to the Instagram hiking heroes of today, some of backpacking’s most compelling stories have originated on the Appalachian Trail. Whether it’s for 3 months or a weekend, everyone who sets foot on this path has their own tale: a bear encounter, a spectacular sunrise, or an unforgettable night with a shelter full of new friends. Now, Backpacker wants to help you tell yours. All you need to do is leave us a message.
This season, we’re highlighting ordinary AT hikers’ extraordinary stories. Here’s how it works: give us a call at 303-253-6424 and leave us a message with your name and a story from your section hike or thru-hike. Anything is fair game: we’re looking for your best moments, your worst moments, a story about your tramily, your favorite summit, an experience that got your pulse pounding, a tale about the friendly space alien you met along the way, or just how the trail has changed your perspective. We’ll pick our favorites and feature them on our Instagram and Facebook accounts for everyone to enjoy. Our only requirement: that it’s out of this world.
Tell us your Appalachian Trail story at 303-253-6424
FAQ
Where will you share these stories?
We’ll share our favorite stories from A.T. Phone Home on Instagram and Facebook, and may also feature them on our site, podcasts, and other social media platforms.
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