When I first started hiking, I didn’t own a single piece of real hiking gear. My trail shoes were old Nike gym shoes with zero traction. I was wearing cotton leggings, an oversized cotton sweatshirt, and the same school backpack I used in college. I…
Wowza. There’s been a big change in the America the Beautiful pass system announced by the US Department of the Interior in 2026. Some of these changes are good, some are… well, they’re definitely going to impact people’s vacations. I have purchased an America the…
If you’re trying to decide where you should stay on your trip to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, you’re not alone. All of the options either sound like camping or spending an arm and leg on an all-inclusive luxury stay – with not…
If you’re planning a trip to the Patagonia region, you probably have Torres del Paine – Chile’s crown jewel National Park – on your list. Torres del Paine is a nature lover’s dream. Towering peaks, turquoise glacier-fed lakes and rivers, and unique wildlife make it…
Struggling to find the perfect gift for the outdoorsy person who already seems to have everything? You’re not alone, and you’re in the right place! After working at REI for over six years, I’ve helped hundreds of people find gifts that actually get used: not…
Backpacking in Torres del Paine is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s absolutely stunning, and you’ll feel lucky with every step, but let’s be real: the weather is no joke. Even in the middle of summer, you’ll get everything from sideways rain to blazing sun to snow…
