Backpacker

the good fight

The migratory patterns of wildlife have never followed human-drawn borders. Unfortunately, that can leave animals vulnerable to any number of manmade barriers like highways, subdivisions—or border wall projects like the one between the U.S. and Mexico. Though currently halted, it has already done a remarkable amount of damage to area wildlife. The wall itself is an obvious inhibitor, but, the construction crews, demolition operations, and clearcutting projects that prepare space for the barrier also prevent endangered species like the Mexican gray wolf from continuing to recover their former territory and block north-south migratory patterns for deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. The wall’s path goes through several national wildlife refuges, national monuments, and national forests, but no Environmental Impact Statements or reviews have been conducted, thanks to a 2017 waiver issued…

predict the weather

HERO SKILL The Lightning Crouch No hiker wants to get caught in a storm. But in the event you can’t find shelter, follow these steps to minimize the consequences of injury. Around 50 people die in the US from lightning strikes each year, says Alex Anderson-Frey, assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington. Don’t be one of them—check the forecast ahead of time and stay off summits when storms are near. If you find yourself caught in a storm, assume the lightning crouch: “Keeping your feet together and crouching low to the ground will reduce your odds of being struck and reduce the length of the path the electricity will take through your body if you are struck,” she says. With your heels together, a strike will travel through your…

clouds

There are two basic cloud types: STRATUS CLOUDS are flat, lower to the ground, and indicate more stable conditions. CUMULUS CLOUDS are puffy, tall, and indicate unstable or stormy conditions. Observations that hint at the forecast: CLOUD-BASE HEIGHTS: Descending cloud bases indicate deteriorating conditions; rising clouds indicate improvement. CLOUD MOVEMENT: This can tell us about wind patterns up high and show where a storm is coming from. High-Level Clouds (16,000 to 40,000 feet) CIRROCUMULUS: These puffy clouds form a broken layer that can resemble sheep fleece or fish scales, and indicate increasing moisture and an atmosphere that is becoming unstable. They can also signal an approaching cold front. CIRROSTRATUS: This thin cloud layer forms a halo around the sun and is made of ice crystals; when it’s overcast like this, expect precipitation in the next 24 hours. CIRRUS: These…

making a field forecast: observe everything

In-the-Field Forecasting Once you head into the backcountry, you leave the resources of online weather forecasts and weather apps behind. In the field, you won’t be able to make predictions very far into the future (12 to 24 hours is a reasonable goal), so it’s imperative to constantly look for changes or trends—even when the weather is good. Hooked on meteorology? Take Jamie Yount’s online course, Wilderness Weather Fundamentals, at backpacker.com/wildnernessweather. YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG Estimating Wind Speed It’s easy to tell the difference between a breeze and a gale. But when it comes to putting a number on it, you’re probably exaggerating. EVER RETURNED FROM A TRIP and told your friends, “the winds must have been 60-mph up on that ridge”? Whether you meant to or not, you were probably overestimating. “In most cases, as…

how to plan your big, fat, summer full of fun

The typical American has an annual carbon footprint of 16 tons, which breaks down to a daily average of 96 pounds. Travel, household energy use, and purchased goods and services are the three main contributing factors to an individual’s carbon impact, accounting for 70 percent overall. When we’re out hiking, that usage drops significantly—yay, backpacking! But any kind of travel, even low-impact, contributes to a person’s carbon footprint. In the following pages, we compare the impacts of five Americans embarking on a typical non-hiking vacation, a dream backpacking trip, and that same backpacking trip designed around minimizing environmental cost. Read on to see which hiker you identify with, and how you can plan your summer adventures around the lowest possible carbon expenditure. *The following stats were gathered by the climate experts at…

unquarantine your muscles

THE EXPERT KAELYN SILVA, CSCS, Pasadena, CA Silva is the owner of Pasadena Sport Science. When she’s not training clients, she enjoys hiking with her dogs in California’s Ansel Adams Wilderness. Warmup (3 sets) 1) Forward and Reverse Skip Skip forward 20 yards (about 25 paces), then skip backward to your starting point. Repeat three times. 2) 20 Wide-Base Crossover Toe-Touches Stand with your feet just wider than your shoulders. Lift your arms so that they are parallel to the ground. Bend and twist at the waist, touching your right foot with your left hand. Return to start. Repeat by touching your left foot with your right hand. 3) 20 Jumping Jacks 4) 20 Standing Torso Rotations (per side) Stand with your feet just wider than your shoulders and lift your arms, bending your elbows at right angles with your…