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I second Dave’s advice. And I’ll add that if most of your tele experience is with burly boots on skis that are 100 underfoot, trying to turn a narrower ski with a lighter boot—even a 3-pin boot—could well feel like a very different sport. The best do-it-all ski profile is probably 90-70-80...

I’m not an obsessive ounce counter, but it seems to me that once you’ve got a tarp and a bug net, the weight is getting pretty comparable to a modern ultralight solo tent. Given that a tent can be set up quickly without much fussing compared to a tarp, which often requires some site-specific...

That’s mostly my approach too, but there’s no denying it’s a “namby pamby” way to go about it!

I can’t vouch for how they work in large sizes, but I also really like those Asolo boots. Actually I prefer the Asolo 535, which is the same as the 520 except... wait for it... no Gore Tex lining! I guess that makes me person #8.

"Just bring the snowshoes," is an easy argument in retrospect, but it ignores what even most experienced hikers do. Let's face it, most days you don't need snowshoes. Few bemoan this change more than me. (I once stated on this board, with only a little hyperbole, that "If you're not wearing...

Thinking only about the alpine tundra, fewer dogs might be seen as a good thing.

I don't think that's quite right. We've inherited the decisions of the past, and they are not easily undone. I certainly think about what the mountains would be like with less development. Maybe someday we will decide to "rewild" places. Until then, though, it's not hypocritical to consider the...

On that note, I don't think that the practice of hiking mountains - let alone in the dead of winter - can survive a little logic.

There's still 86 inches of snow near the top of Mount Mansfield: http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/?Page=depths.php

I ski Atomic Rainiers on trails like this all the time. They're fine, though perhaps slightly more "noodley" than a straighter ski. For practical purposes though, it's not a big deal. The larger challenge is that the narrow waist is not ideal for trail breaking in deep snow. A wider platform...

Nice report. The reason that the "Maple Ridge Trail" seemed like a backcountry ski trail is because you were actually on the Teardrop Trail, a CCC-era ski trail that is still maintained. :) It can be easy to miss the Maple Ridge Trail if it isn't recently broken, as the overwhelming majority...

No. This article is not an opinion about science; it's an opinion informed by science. Science tells us how the animals behave. Opinions formed by understanding the science, and reflecting on its implications, can help us decide how to behave. Since the article offers some modest opinions on...

This is well said. I want to be a good steward of the land, and hope others hikers want to as well. In the northeast especially, the mountains are much more than a scenic backdrop to our own personal adventures. They're among the only remaining large, ecologically functioning landscapes left...

I like this (or at least the past iterations of it) as a wool mid-layer: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/70861?page=shetland-wool-sweater-crew

According to the article, there was no rescue because the hiker walked out to the road "early" Friday morning. I assume that could mean anytime after midnight. The main effect the NH policy on rescues has had on my hiking is that I have started using a much later time before asking anyone to...

Well I guess I certainly am not getting the Chouinard royalties, because I'd say you'd do just as well with "Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills" which is in print and is probably at your local gear store.

Peaks don't "count" if you ski? I've never cared about lists, but I'm fairly certain that is incorrect. Overall it looks like something that can help guide new hikers to the right places!

Mountaineering Freedom of the Hills may not be the best book to get detailed information on modern rock and ice climbing safety techniques. However, it is an absolutely sound reference to learn the basics of crampon technique and using an ice ax for self belay and self arrest.

I agree! Let's have the government ban certain people from the woods so we all can have less government intrusion and more freedom!

You probably know this but the weather forecasts for the Presidentials are not very reliable this far out. You may want to remain flexible on your start date for the traverse if at all possible. Other hikes of varying difficulty worth considering might be the Moat traverse, Chocorua, the...