Iceland

The Northern Lights were my goal.  I’ve seen lots of photos of the aurora, but I’ve always wanted to see them in person.  So I decided we would go to Iceland and try to see the lights.  Of course, you have to go when there is darkness,…

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Tumbling Rock Cave

On April 4, 2015, my wife, a couple of friends, and I went to Tumbling Rock Cave in Jackson County, Alabama. Jackson County has the distinction of having the highest number of caves of any county in the country. And from what I have seen so far,…

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Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzalez is a book that I think everyone who ventures into the backcountry should read.  It focuses on the psychology of people who have survived deadly experiences in an effort to identify what helps people survive and what contributes to people dying.  Much…

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Outdoor iPhone Apps

I’ve done a lot of research trying to find the best outdoor apps for my iPhone. I love the utility of a smart phone for the backcountry, and these apps help bring out the potential of the phone. ⇒ MotionX-GPS – This is my GPS app.  It…

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Satellite Communicators

One safety-related device that can really spark a debate among backpackers is the satellite communicator. On one hand you have a group that argues they interfere with the wildness of the backcountry. And on the other hand you have a group that argues they are an essential…

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Fenix HP-11 Headlamp

I like bright lights.  I generally take lighter, dimmer headlamps with me on backpacking trips, but on caving trips I like to have bright lights.  The Fenix headlamps are a great option. I have a Fenix HP-11 headlamp that offers 277 lumens of light and is water…

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