Yes, your neighborhood trail is fine. But this is no time for fine. You can do better than fine this summer. It’s time to raise your adventure game. Trails must be explored. Rivers must be swum. Camp feasts must be cooked. Friends must be wowed. From sock wrestling (yes, really) to happy hour, here’s how to level up up your backcountry carousing.
Sock Wrestling 101
Brawling, but classy. (For level 2, you’ll need climbing equipment.)
Level 1: Two contenders square up, wearing only one sock each. The
game ends when one person is wearing both socks. We recommend playing on grass, sand, or another soft surface.
Level 2: Same rules, but with a vertical dimension: Find a barn or backcountry shelter with thick rafters, or adjacent trees with very sturdy branches. Hang two ropes about ten feet apart. Hoist two climbers in harnesses so they’re a few feet off the ground, and then securely tie off the rope (or use a belayer). Have both climbers remove one sock each, have them swing toward each other, and watch the fun begin.
How to Do a Backflip on a Rope Swing
Impress your buddies with some aquatic acrobatics
- Before you do anything, scout the bottom of the river or lake to make sure it’s deep enough and free of rocks or other hazards.
- Grab the rope as high up as you can to give yourself the most room to flip. Hold on tight with both hands and get a swing going.
- As you swing away from the shore, kick both legs up over your head, simultaneously dropping your head and shoulders back and down toward the water.
- You should be nearly horizontal by the time you reach the apex of your swing. At this point, let go, continuing to kick your legs up and over to follow through.
- Straighten as you come out of the flip to land in the water feetfirst.
Pack the Perfect Backcountry Bar Kit
Surprise your buddy with a full-service camp cocktail menu that includes: Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Boulevardier, Manhattan, and Mint Julep. With this kit, you can make two of each.
- 2 four-ounce plastic bottles (for packing vermouth and simple syrup)
- 2 two-ounce bottles (for packing Campari and bitters)
- 1 larger bottle (to use as a shaker)
- 4 ounces sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce Angostura bitters
- 3 ounces simple syrup (equal parts sugar and hot water)
- 2 lemons
- 1 orange
- 2 maraschino cherries (in a zip-top bag)
- 10 mint leaves (in a zip-top bag)
1 can