Trails & routes
Tacoma Mountaineers launch 2027 Nordic ski course
The Tacoma Mountaineers' 2027 Nordic ski course blends classroom and online lectures with three field trips to teach cross-country skiing fundamentals.
Latest Adventure Travel news
Permits & access
Ash Dykes begins 434-mile Sangha River inflatable kayak expedition
Welsh explorer Ash Dykes has launched a 434-mile inflatable kayak journey down Central Africa's Sangha River, the first of six extreme expeditions in his Project 6 series, facing wildlife, health, and logistical challenges.
Trails & routes
The Hipbelt Debate in Ultralight Thru-Hiking
A personal account questions the long-term physical toll of hipbelt-less ultralight packs, while a stalled Dhaulagiri expedition highlights tensions over risk assessment and decision-making on high peaks.
Permits & access
National Park Reservations Favor Wealthier Visitors, Study Finds
A new study analyzing seven major national parks shows advance reservation systems disproportionately benefit visitors from higher-income ZIP codes.
Safety & emergency
Nevada Adventure Center Opens in Boulder City
Travel Nevada's first Adventure Center opened in Boulder City on October 7, offering a basecamp for guided tours and rentals.
Topics
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The board
Profiles
Acadia
Park Loop Road, Carriage Roads, and... · Entrance pass for vehicles, separate...
Accessibility And Adaptive Access To Backcountry
Accessibility And Adaptive Access To... · Adaptive access backcountry permit
Airnow Air Quality
AirNow.gov website and mobile application · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...
Alpine And Glacier Travel
Alpine And Glacier Travel · Yes
Appalachian Trail
United States · 1930s (conceived), 1937 (first continuous...
Arches And Canyonlands
Scenic drive with spur roads to trailheads · None for entry; timed entry permit for...
Avalanche Awareness And Terrain
Rocky Mountains, North America · High-altitude mountaineering training...
Data and guides
Analysis
Gear
Himlung Himal Base Camp Avalanche Leaves 14 Missing
An avalanche triggered by heavy snowfall buried Himlung Himal Base Camp on September 27, 2026.
Trails & routes
Long Trail Hikers Find Respite at White Horse Lodge
Thru-hikers on the Long Trail take a zero day at a Vermont lodge, focusing on gear replacement and consuming a massive food resupply after a tough week.
Trails & routes
Long Trail Hikers Use Bad Weather Alternate Route
Hikers on Vermont's Long Trail abandoned the main route due to a storm, using a safer descent suggested by Sugarbush resort staff.
Gear
Backpacker Editors Pick Fall Gear for Adventure Travelers
Backpacker magazine's editors highlight three pieces of gear they used in September 2026.
Skills
Russian Team Seeks Funding for New Everest Route
An all-Russian team, led by Andrey Vasiliev, is seeking funding to pioneer a new alpine-style route on Everest without oxygen or support next spring.
Safety & emergency
Colorado UTV Rescue Uses Spotlight Drones on 250-Foot Fall
Grand County Search and Rescue used drones with spotlights to perform a five-hour, overnight technical rope rescue after a UTV driver fell 250 feet.
Trails & routes
Thru-Hikers Confront Stench and Storm on Vermont's Long Trail
A group of thru-hikers on the Long Trail push through a demanding 9.6-mile day.
Gear
Lightning Strike Kills Hiker in Utah's Tin Shack Shelter
A 19-year-old hiker died after lightning struck a historic metal shelter on Mount Timpanogos, exposing the danger of such structures during storms.
Trails & routes
Seven Under-the-Radar Ski Towns for Authentic Adventure
A new list highlights seven lesser-known U.S. ski towns, including Red Lodge and Leadville, prized for their uncrowded slopes and local character.
Permits & access
Two Climbers Die in Manaslu Avalanche; Summit Push Underway
An avalanche on Manaslu killed two climbers as hundreds vie for the summit ahead of an approaching cyclone. Experts warn of dangerous conditions while teams choose between waiting, retreating, or pushing on.
Trails & routes
Wool Shirts Excel for Fall Trail Running Temperature Control
A trail runner details why they switch to wool-blend shirts for autumn runs, citing superior comfort, temperature regulation, and environmental benefits.
Trails & routes
Thru-Hiker Confronts the White Mountains' Legendary Climbs
An Appalachian Trail thru-hiker details the physical and mental test of New Hampshire's White Mountains.
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Common questions
What is Pack and Summit for?
Backcountry travel in North America, held together by three things: the route, the permit that gates it and the skill it demands. Trails & routes and Permits & access cover the where, Skills and Gear cover the how, and Safety & emergency covers what happens when it goes wrong.
Can I plan a trip from what is here?
Not on its own. Pieces summarise reporting and published guidance about routes and conditions, and conditions change by the week and by the hour. Land managers, current forecasts and up to date maps are what a trip is planned from.
Is the permit information official?
No. Permits & access reports what agencies and named publications have published, including lottery dates and quota changes, and every system has its own rules and revisions. The managing agency's own page is the authority before you apply.
Is Skills a substitute for training?
No. Reading about avalanche assessment, river crossings or navigation is not the same as being taught them, and the site says so rather than implying otherwise. Where a piece describes a technique, it names the source that published it.
Why is there no writer's name on the articles?
Nobody by name. Pieces are written with automated assistance from the source material, with the publication credited in place of an author, and no piece claims the route was walked by anybody here.
How do I follow new pieces?
Through the RSS feed at /feed.xml, which carries every piece in publication order. It needs no account and no key.