Outdoors

Oregon–pretty much the whole state–is a gold mine of outdoor adventure. There’s mountain biking, hiking around mountains, backpacking, kayaking, and so much more. And the Oregon Coast is no exception. Between sandy beaches, whale watching, sandboarding, biking and hiking, you’ll never run out of things to do. But if you want to avoid the crowds, follow this coastal Oregon road trip itinerary for fewer people and plenty of quality outdoor time, epic views, and moody Pacific Northwest weather.

At Terradrift, we’re big fans of hammocks. But hammocks are best for solo hangs (unless you want to get reeeeal cozy–by which I mean be smashed together like two pieces of bread on a panini). Which means if you’re heading out with friends or family, you have to bring one for everyone (or everyone’s gonna fight over the one). But what if that wasn’t the case? What if you could comfortably fit three or more people on a hammock and still be able to lounge, sit up and play cards, or snack and relax? Well, the Tentsile hammock offers just that And we got our hands on a Trillium giant 3-person camping hammock to see if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. Here’s what we thought of the functionality, setup, comfort, and whether we think it’s worth it.

When I head into the mountains, either the Wasatch range near my home, the Austrian or Swiss Alps, or the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, I am always moved. Sure, I love to move fast and summit peaks as much as the next outdoor lover, but for years immersing myself in nature has been as much about the peace and calm I find there, enjoying the majestic scenery, and taking time to bear witness to the power of nature. But when I got to go to Alberta, Canada recently and spend time in the Rockies around Banff and Jasper (the tailbone of Turtle Island–a.k.a. North America), the wonder I have always felt in the outdoors was amplified each time I set out to explore with the region’s Indigenous guides. Here are 5 Indigenous tours I heartily recommend in the area.

In the list of states long overlooked when it comes to hiking, biking and outdoor adventure, West Virginia ranks pretty high on the list. But for those who know, this little state that’s as much the north of the south as it is the south of the north is brimming with wide open spaces to explore. There are tons of wilderness areas, state parks, and forests to get lost in (please don’t get lost), so we recently headed to Tucker County, home to Blackwater Falls, Canaan Valley, and Dolly Sods, to see what makes the region so special. Here’s how to spend a long weekend to a week biking, chasing waterfalls, and hiking in West Virginia.

When it comes to the outdoors, there are a lot of myths about animals’ survival, navigation, and more that people have perpetuated for years, sometimes decades. Like, for example, when people in Fayetteville, Arkansas, who have clearly never left the state say that the city is just like Austin, Texas. I’ve lived in both places, okay? It’s really not. Anyway, it’s the same with these 10 outdoors-oriented myths. One person says one slightly incorrect thing one time, and everybody feels like they have to repeat it. So, we’re gonna straighten some things out right here, right now, so you’re not spouting nonsense the next time someone asks you about bear bells.

Headed to Vegas but prefer to opt outside instead of hitting the strip? We feel you. Nightlife isn’t our thing either (though if you dig both, then you’re in the right city). Fortunately, There’s a wealth of rad hikes near Las Vegas, plus other adventurous outdoor activities within an easy drive from the city center.

Let’s talk about periods! And I’m not talking about punctuation! Yep, this guide to backpacking or camping during your period goes out to all the people out there who menstruate! Because we want to help you get outside to play even when you’re menstruating. Because being on your period while camping or hiking or kayaking or backpacking shouldn’t be scary and it shouldn’t keep you from recreating if you don’t want it to. So here are a few tips, tools, and advice for better (and more sustainable) periods outdoors.

Whether you’re backpacking, bikepacking, trail running, cycling, or whatever the heck else it is you do, it’s kinda important to keep your body fueled and engine running. Almost as important as staying hydrated. But a lot of easy, tasty options out there for fueling quickly on the go aren’t vegan, including some energy gummies and chews (many contain gelatin, which is made of fish or animal bones). Fortunately, there are some baller and delicious vegan energy chews out there for the plant-based crowd. Huzzah! Here are 5 that we’ve tried and why we dig ’em.

Ticks are the worst. Give me mosquitos any day over ticks. Sure, both can carry disease, but in the U.S. ticks are more likely to give you something gnarly (like Lyme disease or Alpha Gal) that mosquitos. And there’s just something about an insect that sticks its head into your skin to feed off of you and that’s difficult to remove that’s totally unsettling (we feel similarly about leeches). But as much as we hate ticks, we’ll admit that they’re a bit misunderstood. And they definitely shouldn’t keep you from going outside this summer. So we chatted with Dr. Thomas Mather, an expert on all things ticks, to dispel some myths about ticks, explain how to protect yourself, what insect repellents actually work, and what to do if you do get snacked on.

One man has been fined $300,000 for not adhering to Leave No Trace principles. Don’t be that guy.