Stories by the Author

Smiling hiker in neon gear stands at Pacific Crest Trail Southern Terminus marker in desert landscape.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: Ultralight Backpacking Gear List for 2026
Here’s everything you’ll need – and everything I bring – for three-season success in the backcountry.
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Two hikers with large backpacks standing on trail edge, looking at forested mountains under a cloudy sky.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: Continental Divide Trail Gear Guide (2025 Survey)
A dive into gear for hiking the Continental Divide Trail.
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Person inside a light blue tent in a forest with pine trees and large rocks nearby.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: John Muir Trail Gear Guide (2025 Survey)
A comprehensive picture of the gear JMT hikers use.
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Smiling hiker wearing sunglasses and orange jacket with mountains in the background under blue sky.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: 11 New Pieces of Ultralight Backpacking Gear I Tried (and Loved) in 2025
Here is the newest and my favorite gear from the past year, and what I’ll (likely) be updating my next year’s gear list with.
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Backpacker with gear walking on a large metal pipe through a dry grassy meadow with distant mountains.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide (2024 Survey)
This post covers the highest-rated gear, the most common gear, base weights, gear advice, and more.
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Pacific Crest Trail National Scenic Trail sign featuring a tree and mountains on a tree trunk.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: Pacific Crest Trail Gear List (Round Two) – UPDATED
Reviews of the gear you will need to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
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Snow-capped mountain above dense pine forest under a cloudy blue sky.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: Wonderland Trail Backpacking Guide
A guide to hiking the Wonderland Trail in Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park.
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Blue tent pitched on grassy rocky terrain near an alpine lake with rugged mountains in background.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: The John Muir Trail Gear Guide (2024 Survey)
A dive into gear for hiking the John Muir Trail.
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Close-up of Sawyer water filter attached to a backpack with a blurred hiker walking on a trail.
Reviews
Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters
Using the data from the Pacific Crest Trail survey, I’ve come up with a list of the best PCT water filters and treatment systems.
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Five hikers with backpacks walking in a line across a desert landscape under a cloudy sky.
Media Mentions
Halfway Anywhere: The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide (2023 Survey)
I’ve organized this in a way that I hope will give a comprehensive picture of what gear PCT thru-hikers are using.
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