Five Essential Canoe Paddle Strokes
There’s something satisfying about the J stroke. The subtle nature of it, how just a small turn of your wrist can provide gentle course correction and keep the boat pointed in the right direction. It’s…
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Conservation Advocacy Toolkit
November 12, 2024 After last Tuesday’s election, a change of U.S. leadership is underway that will influence environmental policy for years to come. Just as we have done with every administration, the Appalachian Mountain Club...
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Snowshoe Poles vs. Trekking Poles
There’s no question that a good pair of poles is a boon for staying on your feet and balanced while out snowshoeing, especially if you’re tromping around in uneven terrain or snow conditions. But what…
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New England Cross-Country Ski Areas: Online Resources
As an avid skate skier, I have been closely following the imminent arrival of winter, snow, and miles of beautifully groomed cross-country ski trails. Here are a few of the online resources I use to…
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Do You Know How to Respond to a Moose...
I had the biggest wildlife encounter of my life last winter on the cross-country ski trails of Anchorage, Alaska. I skied by a moose calmly browsing in the willows near the trail. As I passed…
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The Brightest, Most Visible Safety Colors for Cyclists and...
Are you a bicyclist or runner? Do you want to reduce your chances of being hit by a car? Consider this: The brightest, most visible color you can wear during daylight hours is fluorescent yellow-green….
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Best Backpacking Trips in New England: Early Season High...
Itching to start backpacking in the mountains at higher elevations? May trips are perfectly doable—you just need to have realistic expectations about the potential conditions. Learn more in the following post…or learn even more on…
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Best Backpacking Trips in New England: Early Season Trips
On Thursday, May 27 at 7 p.m., I’ll be giving a slide show and presentation at REI in Reading, Mass., to highlight favorite trips and photos from my guidebook AMC’s Best Backpacking Trips in New…
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Hiking Footwear 101: Welcome to Boot Camp
Your feet are your most important piece of hiking equipment. Keep them happy and you will be even more so. Displease them and you will suffer their bruised and blistered malice. Their fate rests in…
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How to Prevent Heel Blisters
Blisters are almost always caused by friction on your feet, which usually occurs when your foot slips around inside your footwear. This is particularly common in the heel. Do you know how to prevent this?…
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