Backcountry Basics
Archive
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How BYU Changed My Life
Afer four years studying at Brigham Young University, I've finished my Bachelor's Degree and am getting ready to pursue a Master's Degree. Here are some reflections of my experience.
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Saving the Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is on the brink of disappearing and something needs to be done. That something should not be offending the lawmakers who have the ability to pass legislation that could actually save the lake.
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Impacts of Climate Change in America
Here's a paper that I wrote on this semester and will continue to expand and edit during the first several months of 2023. The format of the paper required me to choose a specific locality so I chose the United States because of the impact we have on continuing the change. It is also important to recognize that climate change negatively affects every person on the planet.
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Great Basin Birthday
I've been to a lot of National Parks in the west, but one that had escaped my attention was Great Basin National Park. That is, until a very close friend told me about it and we planned a trip.
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Alternative Solutions for Utah Lake–Round Two!
I had a lot of fun writing the first batch of alternative solutions for Utah Lake so I decided to do it again! This one was inspired by the Great Salt Lake Issues Forum that I attended.
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White Rim Adventures
My experience biking on the White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park. It was really hard but also incredibly awesome. 10/10 would recommend but make sure that you are actually in good enough shape to bike around 100 miles.
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Standing with Ukraine
My thoughts on Putin's invasion of Ukraine. For the sake of these great people, let us work to root out injustice and evil from our society
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Alternative Solutions for Utah Lake
The Onion style article for solving Utah Lake's problems
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The Problem with Sustainability
What does sustainability really mean? What is it that we want to sustain? Definitely not the status quo. So perhaps the thing that we really ought to be figuring out is what we need to change rather than how we can keep life the same.
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MLK Day Adventures
When life gives you a day off you may as well make the most of it! I did this through a long day in southeastern Utah. We explored among the goblins and rappelled into one of their caves.
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Lakefront Metropolis or Lakebed Disaster?
With the natural ecosystem of Utah Lake threatened by developers, we must take action to preserve this precious resource. Here is a brief overview of the situation with several things that you can do to get involved.
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Santa in a Canoe?!
Santa is usually depicted as a fat bearded man in a red suit with flying reindeer, but what if that narrative were to change? Here's my experience as Santa this winter at work.
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A Climate Modest Proposal
Inspired by Jonathon Swift's "A Modest Proposal", here is a satirical proposition that rather than resisting climate change we embrace it and work to accelerate the warming of the globe. There is a lot that can be done so it is time to get to work!
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Climbing Gear List
If you've spent time with climbers you've probably heard them talk about their gear. You may have also thought to yourself, "what in the world is that?" as you hear about new gear. Fortunately, getting started with climbing only requires a few pieces of equipment with names that aren't too difficult to get your head wrapped around.
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Why I Summit Mountains
Hiking is hard, hiking up mountains is even harder. Why do I (and many others) still do it? I blaim it on a condition that I like to call mountain amnesia.
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Recreational Wellness
Nature has a lot to teach us, start learning from it
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Finding Greater Meaning in Plant Identification
Plants are pretty cool, I'd recommend learning more about them
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Biking, Hiking, and Canyoneering in Southern Utah
A three day escapade in the mountains of southern Utah. It turns out that there's a lot to do down there, I'd definitely recommend spending some time exploring the area to anyone interested in doing exciting things.
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Frying Pan Backpacking
Boiling water in a pot is great for basic backpacking meals, but it can leave you wanting for something more. Introduce the backpacking frying pan, my new favorite addition to the backcountry kitchen.
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Adventures in Alaska Basin
The Teton mountain range of western Wyoming is world-renowned for its unique peaks and unparalleled views. Most people explore the area from the east side in Grand Teton National Park, but the lesser-known west side also holds many incredible meadows, valleys, peaks, and lakes accessible only on foot.
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Adventure Planning
Planning for anything can take a lot of work, and adventures are no exception. With many backcountry excursions there are a few things that are especially important to include in your plans before you head out.
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Be Prepared
An exposition on being prepared, it's pretty important
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Trail Etiquette
Because trail traffic is increasing it is even more important to understand basic trail etiquette. Here are a few suggestions for how to act on the trail and at the destination of your trip.
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Environmental Sustainability
The world is our playground, let's stop breaking it
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Backpacking Gear List
The balance between too much and not enough is a delicate one. One shirt or two shirts? Three or five liters of water? How many layers should I bring? The list could go on, but they all go back to the same foundation: determining how much is too much.
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Rappelling Gear List
With almost every activity, having the right gear can make a world of difference. Without the right equipment, you are very limited in what you can do. Rappelling is no exception to this, though this can often make it a very intimidating sport to get started on. In the most basic sense, all you really need is a harness, helmet, rappel device, and a rope to get down on. In practice, however, there is a lot more to keep track of.
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Food, Glorious Food!
Food may be one of the most important things that you can plan for when going on any excursion. Whether it be snacks for a day hike or a meal plan for a week-long trip, food is what will keep you moving down the trail. As with most things, it is best to start with the basics: the bare necessities of fueling your hunger.
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Rappelling Basics
When all your friends are walking backward off a cliff should you do it to? I certainly would, if they were attached to a rope that is.
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Adventures in the Subway
A canyoneering adventure through the Zion Subway. How the moon opened up an opportunity of awesome adventure.
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Backpacking Basics
Intentially going out into the wilderness with minimal gear is a good idea, unless you don't know what you're doing. Fortunately it doesn't take much to become confident in your ability to survive a night in the backcountry.
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Kayaking Basics
Arguably one of the most intense sports out there, whitewater kayaking allows you the freedom to take your own lines and to really feel the power of the waves. When you are punching through holes and soaring over waves there is a sense of great satisfaction from doing something that most people would never dream of doing.
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Mountain Biking Gear List
Want to start mountain biking but aren't sure what you need to start? Or maybe a more important question, how much does starting in this sport need to cost? The answer, probably a lot less than you'd think.
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I Camped Inside a Volcano!
Backpacking trip through Craters of the Moon. This definitely isn't clickbait, I legitimately slept in the middle of a volcanic crater. It definitely wasn't active, but it was not too long ago geologically speaking.
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Rafting Basics
When a buddy asks if you want to go on a rafting trip the first thing you should say is absolutely! Then you might want to figure out what exactly it means to go on a rafting trip. That's what this article is for (preparing for the trip, not the actual invitation)
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Camping Gear List
The moment when you arrive at your campsite and realize that you forgot something important is not quickly erased from memory. Even just one piece of equipment can make or break a trip. That’s why I have put together a list explaining many of the necessities for an enjoyable campout.
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Climbing Basics
With climbing gaining popularity, especially after it's debut in the Olympics, you might be wondering a little more about what makes it so special. Here I've laid out the basics for you to start getting involved in this awesome sport.
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Mountain Biking Basics
Whether you’re sending it down some steep single track, cruising through the countryside, or slowly meandering through the forest, biking is a great way to get outside and get a good workout. With this sport’s increasing popularity, it has become commonplace to see cars on the highway with a rack full of bikes.
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Re-Creation
Recreation is more than just an activity that we participate in, it is meant to be something that changes us. By understanding how our experiences with the natural world can change us it helps us plan and prepare to "recreate" ourselves.
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Introduction
Welcome to Backcountry Basics, this is an introduction
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Fire
Fire is something that we have all seen but often take for granted. There is a lot that we can learn from fire if we take the time to observe it.
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Hiking Gear List
Hiking is by far one of the most widely enjoyed recreational activities and it’s easy to see why. It has become so easy to take half a day and breathe in the fresh air of the outdoors with a large number of short trails just waiting to be used. With how accessible many of these are, it is very easy to be under-prepared for these excursions. That’s why I’ve created a short list of some of the basic “must-haves” for a day hike, along with a few extras that I like to bring along.
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Hiking Basics
Hiking is an easy way for anyone to start having experiences with the natural world. Whether you want to start off easy with a paved pathway or jump off the deep end to full-day excursions, there are a few things that are important to remember.
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Cross Country Skiing Basics
Nordic or cross-country skiing is one of the best ways to stay active during the snow-filled months of the year. While it is as popular as downhill skiing, nordic skiing has its place in the rankings of best winter sports.
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Winter Camping Basics
There are times when it is hard to convince yourself to get up and do something outside. The winter is one of them, especially when that "thing" is camping. There are, fortunately, plenty of things that you can do to make winter camping a great experience.
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Camping Basics
The intricasies of spending a small fortune to live like a homeless person.Surprisingly, it's not very hard. You just have to watch out for a few common mistakes.
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Cabin Ski Trip
Cabins are one of my favorite places to hang out, especially during the winter. There is something about the heat of a wood stove warming you up that can’t be beaten. And being able to have incredible views out my window as the first thing I see each morning is a real treat.