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Tales From The Trail Part 2 Episode 2

Admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:52:19 +0000

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a thousand-mile footpath — entirely within Wisconsin — that highlights these Ice Age landscape features while providing access to some of the state’s most beautiful natural areas.

This episode focuses on the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit.

The Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is 30 miles long, extending from the village of Dousman, Wisconsin, almost to the city of Whitewater. Forest Headquarters is 3 miles west of the village of Eagle on State Highway 59.

If you missed the first Tales from the Trail Season. You can watch all of them on TheBackpackerTV.
Part One Episode One
Part One Episode Two
Part One Episode Three

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

Tales from the Trail Part 2 Episode 1

Admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:39:38 +0000

This episode focuses on the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit.

Tails from the Trail was Directed by Paul Sheehan.

Its hard to imagine that many Americans are unaware of the natural landscapes that abound across our great nation. Its even harder to believe were not doing all we can to protect them. For just that reason, former producers of MTVs The Real World and National Geographic Adventure bring you Tales from the Trail. A new breed of outdoor programming, Tales from the Trail teaches the methodology of leave no trace trekking, seeking to challenge the most experienced packers while revealing just how accessible these locations are to the novice.

Well hike alongside Blaire Carson, an athletic California girl with a penchant for nature trail medicines and comedic relief, and Chris Abel, a stuntman and accomplished Appalachian Trail thru-hiker. Together, Blair and Chris are certain to appeal to a diverse audience as they lead the way through an American backcountry ripe with mountaintop vistas, whiskey jug trios, haunted quarries, and untold history.

If you missed the first Tales from the Trail Season. You can watch all of them on TheBackpackerTV.
Part One Episode One
Part One Episode Two
Part One Episode Three

Admin

Almost There – The Muir Project

Contributor — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:25:02 +0000

During the summer of 2011, a group of multimedia artists spent 25 days hiking the 219 mile long John Muir Trail. The intent was to capture their experience on the trail and bring it back to the general public in the form of a gallery exhibit including photographs, video installations and hands-on displays that allow visitors to truly get a feeling for the beauty and majesty of the trail without the burning lungs and blisters. Alongside the exhibit will be a feature length documentary chronicling their adventures on the trail.

This is the first glimpse into their epic journey, accompanied by the single, ALMOST THERE by Opus Orange.

themuirproject.com

JMT: The Muir Project key players/hikers: Jason Fitzpatrick (Co-Director/DP), Ric Serena (Co-Director/DP, ricserena.com), Jennifer Serena (Still Photographer/Producer, jenserena.com), Durand Trench (Location Sound Recordist), Zee Hatley (Camera Operator), Paul Bessenbacher (Music Composer) and Bernard Chadwick (Musician & Installation Designer) and David & Kelly Finlay (Colorado-based teachers)

Color Graded by Bob Curreri bobcurreri.com/

Equipment Used:
Nikon D3S (for stills and timeplase)
Nikon D7000
Nikon Lenses shared between D3S and D7000
Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8
Nikkor 105mm/f2.8
Tokina 17mm
Canon 5D MarkII equipped with EF 24-105 f4
Canon Vixia HF10
Kessler Pocket Dolly 27″
GoPro HD
Sound Devices 302 mixer
Sound Devices 744 recorder
Stereo pair of Sennheiser 8040′s
2 Sennheiser 416′s
Aquarian Audio hydrophone
Goal Zero Elite Solar Panel and Battery

Music Accreditation
song: “almost there”
artist: opus orange
courtesy of emoto music
opusorange.bandcamp.com

Best of 2011

Admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:26:00 +0000

As we close out 2011 and bring in the New Year, so many new and exciting hiking opportunities for 2012. Last year I relocated from Illinois to Georgia. The main reason for this was to be closer to Southeast where I could explore the North Georgia Mountains, and the Smoky’s. Although, I could do without the Atlanta traffic.

Northern Georgia has so much to offer. Whether it’s camping, hiking or backpacking.

Hopefully 2012 will be filled with new opportunities to explore this part of the Country. My goal is do much more in the Smokey Mountains and North Carolina.

Hope you enjoy the video. Hope it motivates you to want to get out and appreciate the awesomeness of nature. Sometimes right in your own backyard.

Have a great 2012, and I’ll see you on the trail.

Admin

Backpacking Dayhike Emergency Overnight Gear

Contributor — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:22:09 +0000

This is a “What If” and not an actual Emergency Overnight. This is an emergency outdoor protection gear review of backpacking gear I carry on a dayhike – featuring the MSR E-Bivy, Sea To Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Sleeping Bag Liner and Equinox Tarp Ultralite Poncho/Shelter with Extension. Video shot by wawhiker

How to make Navy Bean Soup & Cornbread

Admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:20:13 +0000

Once again Hungry Hammock Hanger teaches us how to make some awesome backcountry freeze dried meals. Todays meal is Navy Bean Soup & Trail Cornbread.

Admin

Kilo 3P 3 Season Tent

Admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:58:39 +0000

I really like this new tent that Easton Mountain Products is selling. The Kilo Hat-Trick combines lightweight, packable features with comfortable living space for state-of-the-art versatility. Rated for all-season use, the three-pole design delivers unparalleled stability with ample space for three. The advanced Easton Carbon EVO™ frame utilizes the revolutionary AirLock™ connectors to pioneer new levels of lightweight performance. Color-coded poles match Pole Pilot™ sleeves and the rain fly can remain attached for easier set up in challenging conditions. Hat-Trick offers a low weight-to-space ratio while still offering the long-lasting durability of PU5000mm floor and 1500mm fly.

Admin

NOLS and STEP

Contributor — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:30:55 +0000

STEP’s mission is to equip academically-promising, low-income, first-generation college-bound Arizona teens with the self-confidence, leadership skills, and internal tools to succeed in college. STEP’s overall goal is to help break the chain of generational poverty in the families with which we work by preparing students for success in higher education.

After creating STEP in 2002, STEP Founder Tracy Baynes partnered with NOLS Professional Training in early 2005 to serve their mission of providing life-skills and leadership training to low-income, college-bound high-school students in order to better prepare them for the challenges ahead in college. STEP students go on a 3 week customized NOLS sea kayaking expedition in the pristine wilderness of Alaska’s remote coastlines. For 23 days STEP participants paddle a sea kayak beneath towering glaciers and past wooded coves. They come back better leaders and role models for their peers.

Backpacking to the Elysian Fields Ultralight Style

Contributor — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:48:25 +0000

The Elysian Fields are on the north slope of Mt. Rainier below Crescent Mountain and were named by Major E.S. Ingraham in 1888. In classic mythology the Elysian fields were a place where the good dwelt, hense a paradise. There are at least twenty lakes in the area called Elysian Fields Lakes.

This video shot by Willis Wall talks about this trip. More importantly, ultralight wight Backpacking. Visit Willis Wall’s website to see all the multimedia products he has and learn more about his experience on the Wonderland Trail and Mt Rainier.

In a real world backpack to a remote and virtually inaccessible area of Mt. Rainier National Park, my 15 year old daughter and I, Trail Ambassadors for Gossamer Gear, demonstrate ultralight backpacking with basic pack weights of 9 pounds. This trip had typical challenges like heat, cold, water issues, scrambling, bushwhacking and bugs.

With over 25 years of hiking this park, and in particular the Wonderland, Williswall offers information and products that will help in your research and quest for knowledge.

National Trails Day – Volunteers at work

Contributor — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:20:12 +0000

Volunteers from the Pacific Crest Trail Association did work on the PCT just south of Sedum Ridge in the Columbia River Gorge area on June 4-5, 2011. We did tread and brushing work over the weekend.

When the environmental movement burst forth in the early 1970s, it overshadowed a crisis in America’s foot trails. A five-fold increase in new backpackers coincided with a boom in snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and off-road
vehicles—all during a time when the number of miles of trails was diminishing.

For the last three decades, American Hiking Society has been at the forefront protecting the nation’s trails and the hiking experience. Our deep roots in outdoor recreation, advocacy, volunteering and experiencing nature through hiking bring me enormous pride and satisfaction. Hiking our nation’s trails offers Americans boundless opportunities to enjoy nature, renew themselves and establish a lifetime of fitness. American Hiking Society works toward ensuring that hiking trails and natural places are cherished and preserved for us and for future generations as well. Join American Hiking Society. Be a trail volunteer. Protect and enjoy nature. Hike.

Video was shot by Chris Sanderson who won our Trail Day Facebook Contest

Choosing Backpacks by Get Out More Tour

Contributor — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:45:18 +0000

Sheri Propster from the Get Out More Tour discusses what backpacks worked well for her on this hike through the Catskills of New York.

When you travel into wild places you need to go prepared with the appropriate gear and skills and that will require the appropriate backpack. Sheri talks about the importance of volume, carrying capacity, and torso fit while showing off our ACT Zero Backpacks from Deuter

Total Backpack Weight by Get Out More Tour

Contributor — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:34:11 +0000

Randy Propster talks about our “total backpacking weight”. Randy and the Getoutmoretour has just finished a backpacking trip on the Devils Path in New York. Rated as one of the toughest in the North East.

Osprey Packs at A.T. Trail Days, 2011

Contributor — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:48:38 +0000

The folks of Osprey Packs came to the 25th Anniversary of Appalachian Trail Days to visit with old friends, repair gear, and talk pack design and technology. There was a hiker parade, a water war, a Virginia thunderstorm, and a lot of good barbecue–as Osprey marketing guru said, general revelry ensued.

Video was shot by Horizonline Pictures

Citico Wildnerss – North Fork Citico Creek

Contributor — Sun, 29 May 2011 13:33:18 +0000

The United States Congress designated the Citico Creek Wilderness (map) in 1984 and it now has a total of 16,226 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Tennessee and is managed by the Forest Service. The Citico Creek Wilderness is bordered by the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness to the east.

Elevations range from 1,400 feet to about 4,600 feet, with only a few of the rugged upper terrain’s slopes inclined less than 30 degrees. The Wilderness contains the entire upper drainage of Citico Creek, which consists of the North and South Forks and at least eight clear-running tributaries

Thirteen trails totaling 57.4 miles provide access to much of the Wilderness. Most of the paths at lower elevations follow old tramways or roads with gentle inclines, but may require “wet” crossings (typically streams). Upper-elevation trails grow faint and sometimes remarkably steep. The 10.6-mile Fodderstack Trail, often used by horsepackers, runs along the Unicoi Mountains, passing near the crests of Big Fodderstack and Little Fodderstack. Several trails lead into the neighboring Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness and North Carolina.

Brian Delay puts together some excellent Backpacking videos. This is one of them. This video on the North Fork of Citico Creek. Located in the South District of Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee.

A week on the A.T – Pennsylvania

Contributor — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:04:46 +0000

Christopher Husta puts together a narritive short film about pushing away from his computer to spend a week hiking the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. The AT runs 229 miles through the State with rigid rocks formations that make walking on a flat trail almost non existent.

The Appalachian Trail follows ridges of mountains east of the Alleghenies to the Susquehanna River in a long section of Trail notorious for its foot-bruising, boot-destroying rocks. The Trail north of the Susquehanna is characterized by long, flat, rocky ridges broken by fairly strenuous climbs in and out of gaps. About ten miles south of the Susquehanna River, the Trail crosses the Great Valley of the Appalachians to the Blue Ridge. This southern portion of the Trail through Pennsylvania has many sections that are gentle, and grades are easy, making it one of the easiest sections of the Trail.

Israel National Trail

Contributor — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:19:47 +0000

Did you know the Country of Israel has a National Long Distance Scenic Trail? They do, and it’s a backpacking trail.

The Israel National Trail – Israel Trail, INT (Shvil Israel in Hebrew), is a 940 km long Hiking Trail crossing Israel from north to south.

This well-marked thru-hiking trail passes through vast Israeli landscapes from the northern border with Lebanon to the green mountains of the Galilee, along the Mediteranean coast line, by the urban attractions of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the Negev, the Israeli desert.

You can download the data book here.

The Israel-Trail runs through Israeli heritage and historical sites as well as special sites of the Holy Land sacred to many religions, mostly to Christianity and Judaism.

The Israel National Trail has a web site also. You can check out the FAQ page on their website.

We would love to hear from people that have hiked this trail before.

Wet and Rainy in the Tray Mountain Wilderness

thebackpacker — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:11:55 +0000

A weekend backpacking trip into Tray Mountain Wilderness. At 4,430 feet, Tray Mountain dominates the southern portion of this rugged Wilderness, which straddles the crest of the Blue Ridge. From up high, fast-flowing streams tumble down narrow gorges and over many waterfalls. Second-growth hardwoods at least 60 years old are the primary forest cover. Deer, squirrels, grouse, and wild turkeys make common appearances, along with the ever-elusive black bear, raccoons, doves, quail, and woodcocks. About 41 miles of trout streams produce rainbows and browns. You’ll see remnants of past logging operations, mostly abandoned roads.

Bryan Delay and myself found a loop trail on Sherpaguides and decided to backpack this loop. Finding any information on anyone else who had hiked this loop before become almost impossible. The sherpaguides map had no topography or real direction as to where this loop was. There are two places you can park and try to do this loop. One is on Tray Mountain Rd (79) and park your car literally on the side of the road. There are no signs, no parking area. The trailhead is right before the turn West on 79 (see map) The trail goes straight up. There you find an intersection. One goes to Chimney Mountain, and one drops down into the gorge. This trail has not been kept up and is mostly is disarray. Bring a compass, and a topo map. The other side of the Trail Head is on an old abandoned road. The road ends and there are 3 choices of trails. One to the Left, and one to the Right, and one we’re not sure of where it goes. On the map below, you can see where the cars are parked (Circles) the trail we hiked (Yellow) where we camped (triangles) and the trail we couldn’t find (red) If you have any questions, e-mail me and I’ll help direct you where we parked.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) follows the crest of the Blue Ridge for 16.5 unusually level miles from Unicoi Gap to Dick’s Creek Gap, with a shelter at Tray Mountain. The High Shoals Trail leads about 1.5 miles to the High Shoals Scenic Area, where a waterfall drops over dramatic cliffs. Hunters and anglers come often to this area, but the AT attracts the most visitors.

Scott Janz

Growing Is Forever

Admin — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:33:33 +0000

Watch this moving, poetic video by filmmaker Jesse Rosten and writer Kallie Markle about the ancient forests of Redwoods National and State Parks. Then plan a trip there with the help of National Park magazine’s spring feature, “On the Road,” about a road trip between the Redwoods, Crater Lake, and Oregon Caves.

Visit the National Parks Conservation Website.

Admin

Backpacking Robertson Mountain

Contributor — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:49:54 +0000

Overlooking Old Rag Mountain, the Robertson Mountain hike has one of the steepest trails in the central section of the Shenandoah National Park, with an elevation gain on the Robertson Mountain Trail of 1,700 feet in just over 1.5 miles.

From the parking area, pass the closed gate hiking up the yellow blazed Berry Hollow Fire Road for 0.8 miles. Here you reach the intersection of the Old Rag Fire Road on the left, the Saddle Trail on the right, and Weakley Hollow Fire Road that continues straight.

Continue straight on the yellow blazed Weakley Hollow Fire Road (concrete post points towards Old Rag Parking Area) for 1.2 miles and arrive at the Robertson Mountain Trail.

Turn left uphill on the blue blazed Robertson Mountain Trail for the steepest section of the loop, and gain 1,700ft in just over 1.5 miles to the top of Robertson Mountain.

Continue down the other side of Robertson Mountain on the Robertson Mountain Trail where it ends at the junction of the Old Rag Fire Road in another 0.6 miles.

Turn left downhill on the yellow blazed Old Rag Fire Road as it descends for 2.2 miles back to the intersection with the Berry Hollow Fire Road.

Turn right on the Berry Hollow Fire Road for the remaining 0.8 miles back to the parking area.

Video was shot by Tales from the Trail Director: Paul Sheehan

Backpacking the AT in Five Minutes

Contributor — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:54:41 +0000

Kevin Gallagher is a Richmond, VA based filmmaker. His is an avid long distance backpacker and amateur naturalist.

Each day of the six month trek on the AT, Kevin took photographs of a single quintessential section of the trail. Twenty four successive steps down the trail were captured each day. At the end of the journey he had over 4,000 slides which were then strung together to offer a condensed view of what an accelerated hike along the Appalachian Trail would look like.

Visit Kevin’s website. You can order the entire video there.