At the time, I thought I was a genius.

I was about 250 miles into the Pacific Crest Trail, still a relative novice. It was lunchtime, and as I looked through my food bag, I saw the usual suspects: ramen packets, peanut butter, and lots of high calorie snacks. I considered getting out my stove and cooking a 鈥溾�濃�攃ombining the noodles with dried mashed potatoes and peanut butter for a dense glob of sodium and fat鈥攂ut I was feeling lazy and knew I still had miles to go. Then it hit me: What if I could have that same meal with less effort?

I took the dry blocks of rice noodles, spread peanut butter between them, sprinkled the seasoning over it, and put them together. The first bite of my made a bit of a mess, but I persisted through the rest of the dry, crunchy creation. For the rest of the day, I felt amazing. I crushed miles through the pines, feeling full of energy and pulling into camp in the early evening.

Unfortunately, my love affair with my new creation didn鈥檛 last: The next time I tried it, the novelty had worn off and I realized that it was borderline inedible. I could barely crunch my way through half. My experiments in unflavored chia seed oatmeal, cold-soaked rice and beans, and -peanut butter tortilla wraps didn鈥檛 perform much better.

Food challenged me time and time again on the PCT, as I looked for creative ways to get down my calories, save on weight and time, and eat things I enjoyed. But the importance of food was just one of many insights I wish I鈥檇 had pre-trail. 贬别谤别鈥檚 what I wish I had known when I set off.

Know what you like to eat before you start.

Most of the preparation I did for the PCT was physical. I went on day hikes, did mountain trail runs, and made sure my body was ready for the challenge. What I didn鈥檛 do was spend time finding foods that hit the sweet spot of flavor, nutrition, and weight. A couple of months into my journey, I was still experimenting with snack and meal combinations, and I鈥檓 not sure that I ever did get it right. Some of my main learnings: Flavor packets are your friend, a little dried fruit can go a long way, and Annie鈥檚 White Cheddar Mac n鈥� Cheese never gets old.

The side quests are always worth the added time and miles

My group was tired by the time we entered . We had . Now, the first road we鈥檇 crossed in 240 miles was closed. Our only way into Yosemite Valley was a 25-mile downhill hike, something we were all dreading. But as the sun lit up the granite around us on the morning of July 4, we instantly knew the 50 extra miles were worth it. We hiked past Vernal and Nevada Falls, gazed up at Half Dome, and entered an oasis of civilization. A kind man named Big Ocho offered to buy us pizza in Curry Village, and we washed it down with cold beers as we gave our weary legs a rest.

Whether it鈥檚 an ostrich farm, a raging waterfall, or just an ice cream with friends, the fun adventures to be had just off the trail are one of the best parts of hiking the PCT. The miles will be there when you get back.

Talk to the townies.

The PCT can be a bit of a bubble. When you are hiking, the vast majority of people you鈥檙e interacting with are affiliated with the trail in some way: other thru-hikers, section hikers, trail angels, and so on. This community is friendly, supportive, and generous, but limiting your social experience to just them would be a missed opportunity. The trail passes through or near dozens of vibrant towns, and the people who live there have just as many stories to share as you do. Take the time to go to a local bar and chat up the locals. You never know what you might learn.

Make some plans for afterward.

The . For 2,650 miles, you鈥檝e had a crystal-clear sense of purpose, a simple goal, and the gratification of achieving it step by step. Then, you head home. What awaits you there is your choice. For me, I figured I would decide my next move after I was done. But while having some time to rest was lovely, I ended up falling into a depression, spending most of my day in my childhood bed watching YouTube videos rather than planning my next adventure. Having some sort of plans for after you鈥檙e done, like a fun trip with loved ones, a seasonal job, or even just a place to live, will set you up for success as you navigate your way back into society.

The post 贬别谤别鈥檚 What I Wish I Knew Before Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

Some of backpackers鈥� most unforgettable moments happen deep in the wild: enjoying the solitude of the High Sierra in Desolation Wilderness, navigating the intricate Maze District of Canyonlands, or scrambling up Maine鈥檚 on the Appalachian Trail

But you know what backpacking memories you鈥檒l really remember forever? Those inconsiderate assholes that camped right next to you a few years back. The dude who blasted EDM until 3 a.m. (who brings a Bluetooth speaker backpacking?) and then left behind a bunch of half-burned trash that was still smoldering the next morning will take up space in your brain for years, if not decades, to come

If you want to make yourself into the main character of someone else鈥檚 trip, just follow these six simple tips. For everyone else, consider this a handy guide for what not to do next time you鈥檙e sharing your campsite with company.

Set up your tent literally right next to other campers

T丑别谤别鈥檚 a loneliness epidemic across America, and nowhere do people feel more in need of human connection than when they鈥檙e sleeping outside in some remote wilderness, hours or even days away from emergency services.

Make sure to set up your tent right next to your neighbors so they feel welcome next to you, a complete stranger. Besides, the views here are sublime鈥攁nd much better when shared with others.

Leave food outside overnight

Backpackers love seeing wildlife, and one of the best ways to lure in the really great animals鈥攂ears, mountain lions, coyotes, unusually large chipmunks鈥攊s to leave your food out in the open to lure them in. Rookie backpackers waste their time hanging their food from a tree in a bear bag, or worse, add unnecessary weight to their pack by bringing bear canisters to keep scavengers at bay. Instead, sprinkle some food beneath your neighbor鈥檚 tent. The following animal visit will catch them completely by surprise.

Humans have shared food as a means of connection for thousands of years. It鈥檚 time to extend that camaraderie to our fellow critters, too. ; you鈥檙e going to blow its mind with this Clif bar. Fork over your best snacks for memories you鈥檒l remember for the rest of your (now very much shortened) life.

Make lots of noise

Ok, luring animals to your neighbor鈥檚 tent was all good fun, but now that they鈥檙e screaming in absolute joy, it鈥檚 time to shoo those animals away by blasting your curated 鈥淏ackpacking Memories鈥� playlist on . Your neighbors will wish there was cell service so they could Shazam every song.

The same goes for your 鈥渋nside voice.鈥� You鈥檙e in the great outdoors鈥攗se your 鈥渙utdoor voice鈥� to communicate with your friends and yelp with delight at every great view. Note: shouting in bear country is always a no-go鈥攜ou don鈥檛 want to scare these beautiful behemoths away.

Shine bright lights all over at night

: t丑别谤别鈥檚 tree roots, shrubs, and rocks everywhere, and your fellow backpackers might not see them and injure themselves. Since you skipped your NOLS wilderness first aid class, everyone will be safer if you point your headlamp in their area all night long. Bonus points if you鈥檝e got one of those ultra-bright headlamps that has more lumens than a lighthouse.

Oh, your neighbors are trying to stargaze in this remote paradise? Absolutely not. Stargazing invites too many existential thoughts about our place in the universe and whether t丑别谤别鈥檚 an inherent meaning to life. Your fellow backpackers will thank you for the bright lights in the morning, after they鈥檝e been able to enjoy a long, peaceful sleep untroubled by thoughts of the great void.

Leave your pet unattended

Dogs can be great company while exploring the wilderness, but so they can enjoy it like they did thousands of years ago. Don鈥檛 limit their experience by expecting them to follow commands or stay close to you鈥攍et them run wild down game trails and across steep, jagged terrain out of your supervision.

To really give your dog the full experience, don鈥檛 get them in shape beforehand (otherwise the trip won鈥檛 be a surprise), provide clean water (they鈥檝e evolved to drink anything), or bag up their poop (it鈥檚 great compost that enhances our wild areas).

And finally鈥攁nd I can鈥檛 stress this last point enough鈥攍et your dog greet all the other backpackers on trail far ahead of you. Bella is friendly and has the best personality of any dog, possibly ever. Every backpacker out here is just ecstatic to meet her as she charges their way. Under no circumstances should you ever leash your dog and deny other backpackers the chance to make an unexpected new friend.

Leave your campfire blazing when you leave

Nothing brings a group of people together like in the great outdoors. But way too many backpackers have bruised their egos and failed to impress their fellow hikers after struggling to start a fire.

Do future backpackers a solid by throwing a few extra logs on your fire before departing to make sure whoever comes next still has a good bed of coals going. Oh, you heard you鈥檙e supposed to make sure the ashes are cool to the touch and douse it in water for good measure? Yeah, sure, that鈥檚 fair advice if you鈥檙e an individualistic asshole who sneers at the lost art of hospitality. Learn some manners.

Besides, wildfires are all too common these days, and this dangerous, dry brush isn鈥檛 going to thin itself. Burn everything you can get your hands on and do your part to prevent wildfires.

The post Don鈥檛 Be That Guy. 贬别谤别鈥檚 How Not to Act at the Campsite. appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

Gather 鈥檙ound children, and let me tell you about my best-ever high-altitude dump. I was climbing the Grand Teton with and we paused for dinner on the Lower Saddle. Mac n鈥� cheese has consequences, as do nervous bowels. So I grabbed my TP and headed for the ridge-top latrine, where I dropped trou, admired the view of Idaho to the west, and released my burden. Sweet relief! Soon my crap was out of sight and out of mind, if not out of nose.

Want to take a dump like I did? Forget it. The Park Service , citing the high cost of hauling out waste by helicopter. Ever since, hikers have been responsible for their own Tetonic piles of crap. Which they should be: Even when waste leaves your body, it鈥檚 still yours. (That who really can鈥檛 be expected to take care of his own turds, now can he?)

What鈥檚 a responsible hiker to do-do?

I called Jeffrey Marion to discuss this shitty situation. Marion teaches recreation ecology at Virginia Tech, and he , literally, on Leave No Trace. It turned out, to my surprise and bowel relief, that there is some good news where #1 and #2 are concerned.

鈥淚n the grand scheme of things, human waste isn鈥檛 a huge problem in the backcountry,鈥� says Marion. 鈥淚t can be a problem in localized areas that get a lot of use, like on Mt. Whitney. Also in extremely cold places, or dry places, or anywhere you can鈥檛 dig a cathole. Otherwise it isn鈥檛 usually a big deal, because it鈥檒l decompose within a year.鈥�

Not that he鈥檚 letting you off the fecal hook, entirely. 贬别谤别鈥檚 everything Marion would like you to know about dropping your load responsibly in the woods.

Cat Holes Rule

Marion is a firm believer in digging our way out of the human waste problem. Just grab , hurry 200 feet away from your campsite or a trail, dig a 6- to 8-inch hole, do your business, and then backfill. That much you knew, right? According to Marion, about 80 percent of backcountry visitors comply with those guidelines. But the tricky bit comes with the toilet paper, which seems to erupt from catholes like tulips from warm soil in springtime.

鈥淲e find a lot of toilet paper around popular campsites,鈥� Marion notes, 鈥渆ither because people don鈥檛 care, or because toilet paper is the last thing into the hole, and it鈥檚 only covered by leaf litter.鈥� His trick: After you wipe, use a stick to push the TP to the bottom of the pile, then refill the hole. In the right climate, it鈥檒l all decompose in about a year.

Crap and Leak Creatively

When you emerge from your tent with elimination on your agenda, take a fresh look at the landscape. 鈥淧eople tend to spot the same big bush or a rock near the campsite and think, 鈥業鈥檒l go there,鈥欌�� says Marion. 鈥淚t leads to a concentration of waste that can smell bad and be dangerous.鈥�

All those #1s and #2s add up to big numbers, and attract flies. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how diseases are transmitted,鈥� says Marion. 鈥淭hey land on your waste and your dinner.鈥� The 200-foot-rule will probably force you out of the flies鈥� flight path. Better yet, plan on taking a nice crap break en route to your next destination, away from campsites and drinking water.

Urinalysis

Urine is in fact sterile, so spraying it around won鈥檛 harm the environment. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an aesthetic concern,鈥� says Mr. LNT, 鈥渘ot a health hazard.鈥� He advises aiming at (or squatting over) a rock, rather than peeing all over the underbrush, which large ungulates will mow down for the salts and nutrients you piss away.

Pack Out Menstrual Products, Period

Backpackers who menstruate can鈥檛 always plan their adventures around their cycles, so they have two choices: learn to use (and clean) a menstrual cup, or pack out used pads or tampons. Most menstrual hygiene products contain perfumes and plastic liners, which attract critters and resist decomposition. So you鈥檒l need to pack them out in a sealable baggie or water bottle (cover it with duct tape, if you don鈥檛 want to see red). Dropping crushed aspirin or a tea bag into the menses will cut the smell. Of course, users of The Pill can to put off their flow until they return to civilization.

Up High, and Down Low, It鈥檚 Gotta Go

In the desert, waste won鈥檛 decompose. In frigid temperatures and on rocky peaks, t丑别谤别鈥檚 no diggable soil, so no catholes. You鈥檒l have to

Which brings us back to the summits of the Grand Teton and Mt. Whitney. Marion misses their high-altitude johns.

鈥淚n a high-use area, that鈥檚 really the way to go,鈥� he says. 鈥淎fter they removed the latrines on Mt. Whitney, rangers gave out toilet kits to hikers, but animals would get into the bags and they would leak and smell. People said 鈥業鈥檓 not packing that out,鈥� so we found them near the campsites.鈥�

With the zeal of a poop prophet, he extols the seven above-ground 鈥溾�� Vermont鈥檚 Green Mountain Club installed along the Long and Appalachian Trails in Vermont, and . Those loos are sweet-smelling because the waste decomposes aerobically, becoming fertilizer that maintenance crews can scatter in the woods. Just the way bears do it.

For high-use, high-altitude areas, latrines and helicopter evacuations of honey buckets are the way to go, says Marion. 鈥淚t鈥檚 expensive, but that can be built into the cost of wilderness permits.鈥�

And as my Grand memories tell me, paying for a scenic latrine is anything but money down the drain.

The post Confused About Pooping in the Woods? This LNT Expert Has Tips. appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

Treadiquette is a monthly column helping hikers calibrate their moral compasses. Have a burning question about ethics or etiquette on the trail? Send your predicaments to treadiquette@backpacker.com

Dear Backpacker,

I recently visited a very popular trail while on vacation out of state. I鈥檇 been looking forward to the hike for months, and when I arrived, the trailhead was packed. I circled the lot a few times, but all of the official spots were taken. However, there was room in a line of cars parked in a 鈥渘o parking鈥� zone beside the road. I joined the dozen or so other cars鈥攚hat鈥檚 one more, after all? My hiking partner, however, got mad at me, and was grumpy for the rest of the hike. Who鈥檚 in the right here?

鈥擳railhead Renegade

Dear Renegade,

Your dilemma is one most hikers are familiar with鈥攖he devil on one shoulder goading you toward the open trail, while a rule-abiding angel tells you to hit the road. It鈥檚 immensely difficult to delay your hike, especially one you鈥檝e been eagerly anticipating, and even more so when you see scores of other hikers bending the rules in their favor. But exercising a bit of willpower could save you from a gut-wrenching end to your hike: No one wants to return to the trailhead, weary-legged and hungry, to find a hefty ticket, or worse, that their car has been booted or towed.听

Parking restrictions serve many purposes. On many occasions, illegally parked cars have prevented emergency vehicles from accessing trailheads. The same is true for snow removal vehicles in winter, trail maintenance personnel, and rangers who need to access the trail for myriad reasons. Importantly: Parking illegally also tends to piss off local residents, giving hikers a bad reputation (and in some cases, threatening access).听

Leave No Trace also starts before you even get out of the car: Roadside parking can have ill effects on plant life and surrounding habitat. Just like we encourage hikers to keep their boots on the path to , it鈥檚 best to avoid running over plants or delicate soil.听

Limited parking can help manage crowds on hiking trails, which reduces impact on the environment and boosts your enjoyment as a visitor. Parking only where permitted is a , both on the trail and off.听

We know the disappointment of showing up to a crowded trailhead, so take the following steps to avoid driving home in frustration. When visiting a busy area, always identify a nearby alternative hike鈥攜ou might even discover some unexpected solitude if you have to take plan B. Where available, take advantage of shuttles and carpooling so you can skip the parking lot drama altogether.听

Our best advice: Get an early start. You might be tempted to snooze the alarm, but the only way to guarantee a parking spot is beating the crowds. Those lonely miles in the crisp morning air will make it oh so worth it.听

Zoe Gates is a senior editor at Backpacker. She runs the Treadiquette column and does her best to avoid trail widening.

The post Parking Like a Jerk Is a Trailhead Epidemic. Why Shouldn鈥檛 I Do It Too? appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

Autumn is an inflection point for hikers: As the leaves fall, we bid goodbye to summer鈥檚 balmy temperatures and long days and start thinking more seriously about the cold. We trade up our lightweight bags for heavier ones, find ourselves planning out our clothing strategy, and try to remember what R-value our pads are (and 补苍测飞补测).听

I struggle with that seasonal transition every year, just a little bit. It鈥檚 not that I hate camping in the cold (I don鈥檛) or that I forget how to layer (I live in Colorado鈥擨鈥檝e gotten snowed on in August). But fall is a time of constant change, when you can encounter summer-like warmth or early-season snow in a single day, so t丑别谤别鈥檚 no single surefire strategy to prepping for a trip. Still, there are a couple of rules that can as the temperatures drop. We asked Backpacker鈥檚 editors to share their hard-won lessons about what not to do during the third season.

Bringing a Warm Coat When You Need a Warm Sleeping Bag

Especially when you鈥檙e hiking in an area that鈥檚 high-altitude or dry (or, like where I live, both), autumn temperatures can dip drastically at night, dropping from balmy to freezing. Does that mean you should pack an and ? Not necessarily. It鈥檚 easy to forget when you鈥檙e staring down that weather forecast, but most backpackers are wrapped up and cozy in their tents long before that overnight low hits. Unless your route takes you across a mountain pass or some other high-altitude terrain where you could face unpredictable and dangerous weather, consider bringing a more modest midlayer, eating an early, high-calorie dinner, and getting into bed before the mercury nosedives.

One thing you don鈥檛 want to skimp on? A warm sleeping bag. While you鈥檒l probably survive spending a chilly autumn night wrapped up in a summerweight bag or quilt, you鈥檒l likely be shivering too hard to sleep much. Invest in a lightweight three-season bag like the , and unless you know you sleep warm, resist the urge to push the temperature rating.

Forgetting the Gloves

One thing you shouldn鈥檛 leave at home: the gloves. Your fingers are one of the first parts of your body to get cold, as your circulatory system automatically diverts warm blood to your torso in response to chilly conditions. Losing feeling in your fingers can quickly spiral from a nuisance into a safety issue as you begin to fumble with your gear. You don鈥檛 need to carry a set of heavyweight ski mitts: A pair of heavyweight liners or light fleece gloves like the Outdoor Research Vigor, or even a light pair of fleece mittens if you contend with poor circulation, should be more than enough for most backpackers.

Leaving the Sun Protection at Home

Everyone knows you have to sunscreen up during the peak days of summer, and most of us have learned that we need to make sure we鈥檙e protecting our skin during the snowiest months of winter. But while it鈥檚 true you may not be in the same danger of sunburn during fall鈥檚 shorter days as you were in the dog days, we have sad news for you: You can still get scorched during shoulder season. If you haven鈥檛 cultivated a year-round sun-protection habit, now is a good time to start. Keep a solid mineral sunscreen handy, but if you don鈥檛 want to remember to lather up, fall is also a great time to add a UV-protective long-sleeve layer like the into your rotation.

Going Stoveless

So you decided to go for it, leaving your stove at home and dedicating yourself to for the summer? Well, part of making a smooth transition to fall is knowing when to dig that Pocket Rocket out again. While you can still cold-soak during the chillier months, it鈥檚 an advanced-level move that we鈥檇 only recommend to the most masochistic of ultralighters. As a 20-something, I learned that the hard way after bringing only cold food on a shoulder-season trip in central Argentina鈥檚 Sierras de C贸rdoba. Now, I tote a canister stove and make something to warm myself inside and out. For best results, .听

Not Double-Checking Water Sources听

Assuming that a water source that runs in summer is still firing in fall is an unforced error that too many backpackers make. By October or November, creeks and springs that have been flush since the spring melt may be starting to run dry, especially in the desert. If you鈥檙e counting on them to refill your bottle, you may be in for some . Even in 2023, the best solution to this problem is still the most old-school one: Ask someone who knows. Call up the park service, your local ranger station, or a nearby hiking group and ask them for the beta on any seasonal water sources along your route. (We鈥檝e occasionally had luck checking recent comments on sites like AllTrails, but your mileage may vary, especially with routes that don鈥檛 see a lot of visitors.) Summer springs all dried up? Plan on carrying a little extra H2O.

The post Avoid These 5 Autumn Hiking Mistakes for a Better Shoulder-Season Trip appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

Yes, paddling the Grand Canyon, skiing the Haute Route, and climbing Half Dome are all legendary missions. You should totally do those things and other notable听bucket-list adventures. But they鈥檙e outings that most people already know听about and may be crowded when you get there.听What are the less known epic trips that few听people ever do? We found a few.

Scuba Dive with a Navy SEAL in Oahu

Stephen Kaplan and James Beck are retired U.S. Navy SEALs听who were deployed overseas for years as top combat divers. Now听they鈥檙e teaching others skills, like jumping out of a helicopter into the ocean听and scuba diving among听deep-sea wrecks, through their outfitting business,听, based in the town of Kapolei on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Sign up for the听three-hour Navy SEAL dive (from $589), and you鈥檒l get a crash course in underwater travel from literal veterans in the field. No scuba experience is necessary, and all gear comes included.

E-Mountain Bike听Across the Swiss Alps

You can certainly ride a standard mountain bike in the Alps. But if you鈥檙e looking to really cover some ground, an e-mountain bike听could be just the ticket.听 is offering a new eight-day guided e-mountain-bike trip (from $3,988) across the mountains of听Switzerland starting this summer. You鈥檒l travel on听trains, gondolas, and trams to reach the trails and stop at classic mountain huts for midday meals and overnight stays. A highlight is riding the 25-mile听, designated Epic by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. If you鈥檙e not into e-bikes, you can听 of the Swiss Alps on a regular mountain bike, too.

Snowkite听the New Hampshire Backcountry

The听听in North Conway, New Hampshire, can teach you traditional skills听like avalanche education or听mountaineering as well as how to听. Its courses (from $150 an hour) are geared toward newbie snowkiters听and held on frozen lakes and fields in the White Mountains. Lessons include kite听and harness rentals; you鈥檒l need your own ski or snowboard gear. Once you鈥檝e got the skills, you can head out on your own when the wind is up. The school provides information for experienced snowkiters who want to plan a DIY expedition into the backcountry.

Camp in the Country鈥�s Least-Visited听National Park

Let everyone else swarm the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, and head to听, one of the most remote national narks in the nation, located in听the middle of Lake Superior. This park gets fewer visitors per year than Yellowstone sees in a single day. Isle Royale is closed from November to mid-April, but come spring, you can access it via ferry or a chartered seaplane from nearby Houghton or Copper Harbor, Michigan. The backcountry camping here is desolate and beautiful鈥攊t鈥檒l just be you and some moose.

Cycle Idaho鈥檚 Route of the Hiawatha

Do this in a day: ride, hike, or run the , a 15-mile rail-to-trail route near the historic town of Wallace, Idaho, along the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains. You鈥檒l start near Lookout Pass Ski Area and pedal听over train trestles and through ten听tunnels, including the 1.6-mile-long Taft Tunnel, making for a dark and spooky passage (you鈥檒l need bike lights to illuminate the way). Kids will love it, especially because you can do the whole thing in one direction鈥攁nd all downhill鈥攖hen听hop the听shuttle back to your car. Camp in a nearby听 (from $45).

Heli-Paddleboard听in Whistler, B.C.

This summer,听 will begin offering a new backcountry stand-up-paddleboard half-day adventure (from $1,171). 贬别谤别鈥檚 how it works: You and your inflatable Red Paddle Co. loaner board will be loaded onto a helicopter in Whistler听and whisked to an alpine lake unreachable听by hiking. There听you鈥檒l be treated to a catered picnic lunch and set free to paddle around a body of water that鈥檚 entirely your own (for a couple of hours anyway).

Climb a Sea Stack in Ireland

Off the coast of Donegal, you鈥檒l find over 100 craggy sea stacks, or rock towers, that rise hundreds of feet above the ocean. These are among the tallest sea cliffs in Europe. Book a day of guided climbing with local outfitter听, and it鈥檒l take you to the top of several听(from $250). You鈥檒l climb, then do a Tyrolean traverse on a rope over the open water, connecting you to neighboring sea stacks. No previous rock climbing experience is necessary. Stay in the 19th-century听 (from $215), now a five-star hotel, and staff will arrange the adventure for you.

Paddle听the Barrier Islands of听Virginia

You don鈥檛 need to be a seasoned sea kayaker to handle this scenic 70-mile stretch of the Virginia Seaside Water Trail, which connects the state鈥檚 barrier islands. You鈥檒l spend several days paddling from Chincoteague to Kiptopeke, the longest undeveloped shoreline on the eastern seaboard, stopping to collect oysters and crabs and staying at quaint, waterfront听bed-and-breakfasts.听 offers four-day trips (from $995), where you can stay a couple of nights in an updated 1920s-era fishing lodge called听, which opens for the season in March.

The post 8 Bucket-List 黑料吃瓜网s You’ve Never Heard Of appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

For most people, the joy of traveling isn鈥檛 the researching or booking鈥攊t鈥檚 that moment you step off the airplane in a place you鈥檝e never been. So why not skip the planning and let someone else chart your next adventure for you, including choosing the destination?听Besides, who cares where you go when you鈥檝e got expert travel agents finalizing every last detail for you?

Introducing the latest trend in travel: surprise trips to places that won鈥檛 be revealed to you until it鈥檚 go time.

Jubel

, a tech-enabled travel company founded in 2015 in California, offers customized multi-destination getaways听and route planning. It can also save听you more than听55 percent in travel costs compared with听booking a trip yourself, thanks to insider travel deals. Jubel also offers .

Fill out its听survey with your preferred dates, budget, and travel style, and it鈥檒l send you a trip proposal. You can be completely surprised by the destination or learn the continent or country ahead of time. Once you鈥檝e booked, you鈥檒l get sealed envelopes to open along your journey, plus details on what to pack and when to show up at the airport. International trips start at around $1,000 per person听per week.

Pack Up and听Go

Want a weekend getaway in the U.S. without any hassle of planning it? Enter , founded in 2016 in Pittsburgh. Give the company听your dates and听budget, and complete a quick survey (sample question: Do you want action, relaxation, or culture?), and it will do the rest for you. Prior to your trip, you鈥檒l get a packing list, flight information, and a weather forecast. Days before you leave, an envelope with your destination and itinerary will arrive in the mail. Open it at the airport. Trips start at $400 per person.

The Vacation Hunt

Whether you have three days or two weeks, the expert travelers at , started in 2017 by a husband and wife听in Washington, D.C., will plan a trip for you. Tell the reps what you鈥檙e looking for (spas or zoos? bars or museums?) and they鈥檒l start sending you clues as to where you鈥檙e going. Packaged trips in the U.S. start at $750 per person; international trips start at $950. They also offer gift certificates if you want to give someone else a surprise trip.

Magical Mystery Tours

With , you won鈥檛 know where you鈥檙e going until you show up at the airport. First, enter your preferences: Do you want a foreign trip? Do you dislike the cold or the beach? Would you prefer heading to the desert or someplace tropical? Then input your dates, budget, and who you鈥檙e traveling with. The company will take care of the details. Magical Mystery Tours has been booking destination vacations to locations all over the globe since 2009. Cost听depends on the length of the trip, whether it鈥檚听international or domestic travel, and the kind of accommodations you want.听Weekend trips for two start at $1,500.

Surprise Me听Trips

Choose between quick road trips from your hometown or far-flung destinations via airplane. You鈥檒l get details about what to bring and where to be just before your departure. For its听weekend road trips, tell the company听where you want to start, and it will听plan a surprise itinerary around your region, including a few nights in different locales and major landmarks and activities to check out along the way.听Despite this travel company鈥檚 name, it听will also arrange trips that don鈥檛 come as a surprise, if that鈥檚 more your thing. was launched by three well-traveled friends in Texas in 2016. Weekend regional road trips start at $375.

Black Tomato

In 2017, high-end travel company 听debuted its听 service, which creates adventurous tailor-made expeditions听to wilderness destinations听like Mongolia or the Arctic that are听kept entirely a secret from you. 贬别谤别鈥檚 how it works: select a polar, jungle, coastal, desert, or mountain trip鈥攐r have Black Tomato choose that, too鈥攁nd book at least six months in advance to give you time to train and prepare. When you arrive at your location, you鈥檒l be outfitted with all the gear you need, plus a private transfer from the airport to your starting point and a satellite phone for emergencies. Chart your way through a series of mapped-out checkpoints using navigational technology and your own two feet. The journey ends at a luxury retreat. Average Get Lost trips cost around $15,000 per person鈥攂ut there are shorter, less expensive options, too.

Rustic Pathways

Designed for high school听students looking for an exciting summer group trip, student-travel company Rustic Pathways offers a to an unknown international destination. Before departure听you鈥檒l get a Patagonia duffel bag sent to you that鈥檚听filled with clues and a few essentials. Then arrive at the designated airport and spend the next two weeks exploring foreign cities and remote villages with听other intrepid听students as a guide leads the way. As of press time, there were still a few spots left on an upcoming trip in late June. It听costs $5,995, not including airfare.

The post 7 Travel Companies That Plan Mystery Vacations appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

I鈥檒l do just about anything to avoid paying full price for a plane ticket. It doesn鈥檛 help that the tickets seem to be more expensive than ever, while airlines have simultaneously cut down on all the extras that make flying even halfway tolerable. For that reason, I鈥檝e cultivated a few tricks that enable me to save enough money for a spendy听international plane ticket in less than six months.

Do Your Research

Not all plane tickets are created equal. You could use two or three different search engines, plus go directly to an airline鈥檚 site, and come up with very different prices. It鈥檚 well worth the extra time to听do some serious searching over the course of a few weeks and at different times of day, as prices change constantly.

In the initial research phase, look听for the average price for a plane ticket to your desired destination. When you get ready to book, my rule is to search at least three different sites to find the best price. 贬别谤别鈥檚 my strategy:

• Check the actual airline site first to see what its听price is. Sometimes it will be the best deal.
• Check at least two online travel agencies, such as , , and听,听to see what their prices are.

Set Your Budget

You should have a pretty good idea of what you鈥檒l need to spend on a ticket, based on your research. This is your starting point for a budget.

From here听you can figure how much money you need to save each month. For instance, let鈥檚 say your ticket will cost you approximately $1,000 to visit Europe in the fall. In this example, you would need to save around $160 per month for six months to afford the ticket. And since airline prices are in constant flux, I always suggest adding 20 to 30 percent to that anticipated ticket price and budgeting accordingly. You can never go wrong with aiming high on a savings goal鈥攖he worst case is you have extra cash for the trip. So in the example above, I would actually plan on setting aside $200 per month for a $1,000 ticket.

If you have accumulated airline miles on a credit card, now is the time to see how much those miles are worth. Some credit cards, like cards, give you access to the company鈥檚听Ultimate Rewards program. If you book an airline flight through Ultimate Rewards, you receive a 25 percent bonus for any points you use.

Find the Hole in Your Spending听

There is a black hole in everyone鈥檚 spending. I鈥檝e worked with clients for over 12听years and have yet to find one person who doesn鈥檛 have a black hole in their spending. For most of us, it鈥檚 either the amount听we spend when听eating out or听on miscellaneous purchases at places like drugstores or on听Lyft or Uber rides, etc.

To hit your savings goal, or any goal you have, finding your black hole is essential and doesn鈥檛 take a lot of heavy lifting. I fully understand that you might not want to know what your black-hole spending category is, but trust me, it鈥檚 a good experiment.

There are so many different budgeting apps to help you categorize your spending, including听, , and .

The old-school method to find your black-hole spending category is to print off your most recent bank statement, grab some highlighters and a beverage of your choice, and highlight your expenses, broken down into categories. Add up each category when you鈥檙e done, and see what stands out to you. For instance, if you think you鈥檙e spending $200 a month eating out, and in reality听that number is closer to $500, that鈥檚 a clue you can use to alter your spending.

All of these little tweaks to your spending only help you听reach听your savings goals in the long run.

Up Your App Game

Mobile apps can do a lot of the work听when it comes to managing your money. There are lots of apps that听can help you save and invest your money, but since you鈥檒l听need to tap your savings in the next few months, it鈥檚 best to use apps that keep your money liquid (easily accessible).

You might be thinking, Why would I go through all the trouble of using an app to save money?听That鈥檚 a great question. One of the best ways to rev up your savings is to earn interest on your savings鈥攅ven if that means a few extra bucks here and there. In the world of savings, every little bit helps to get you to your goal.

Here are some of my favorite apps to do this.

Ally Bank

might be a name you recognize. It鈥檚听one of the leaders in online banking and has听an impressive online savings account that currently earns 2.2 percent annual percentage yield (APY). Indeed听an excellent place to stash your cash while you鈥檙e saving to hit your goal.

Aspiration Bank

is a bank meets app, with zero fees. You can earn up to 2 percent听APY on your savings, track your spending, and get cash-back rewards.

Tip Yourself

is a mobile app that allows听you to听tip yourself throughout the day. Think of it as a听modern-day mobile swear jar. The app motivates you to save for all sorts of tasks you complete during the day.

Use these tips to save for a plane ticket in whatever period of time you have. Remember:听a little money strategy goes a long way in helping you hit your travel-adventure goals.

The post How to Save for an Expensive Plane Ticket appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

Confession: I鈥檓 a big fan of travel agents (whoops, sorry, ), even though I could technically book all my trips through websites and apps. And despite the fact that many of us might consider this industry old-fashioned and out-of-date, research shows that travelers, and millennials in particular, are once again turning to these specialists to help plow through TripAdvisor detritus. If you’re wondering: how much does a travel agent cost, and why would I book with one anyway? Read on.

How to Know If You Need a Travel Agent

Once you鈥檝e come around to the idea of hiring a travel agent, ask these three questions before booking:

1. Is this a domestic听trip or one that involves traveling to a part of the world you鈥檝e never been? If it鈥檚 the former you don鈥檛 need a travel agent.
2. Can I get a better deal by using a travel agent? (This question requires you pricing out your trip with and without one.)
3. Is this a big-budget, special-event kind of trip? If the answer is yes, go with a travel agent.

The Pros of Using a Travel Agent

They can find crazy deals.

This is literally their job. If they have been in the travel business for many years, they likely have supplier relationships in place that can help leverage better deals for you. Many travel agents specialize in locations (i.e., cruise vacations in Europe). Some travel agents offer package deals, with more savings passed on to you then booking the trip on your own鈥攖hat is good news to your wallet.

They will be your advocate.

One of the best ways to utilize a travel agent is as an advocate听should something derail on your trip. They can help you with lost luggage, in the case of natural disasters, if you get stuck in a location before your trip, etc. They are there to help you get your trip back on track.

They鈥檒l take care of the little things.

I love my travel agent, and I love all the extras she provides when we use her services for a trip. For instance, when we traveled to the Bahamas, she made sure there was a nice bottle of champagne and strawberries in our room on our arrival, and she also upgraded our room free of charge. While this certainly is not a guarantee when you use a travel agent, there are a lot of added-value extras you can expect when you use a travel agent. Why? Because travel agents know you don鈥檛 have to use them to book your trip, and they want to say thank you.

They鈥檙e true experts.

Most travel agents have been working in the industry for years now, and it鈥檚 their job to stay on top of travel trends and upcoming hot destinations. When I spoke with my travel agent about a trip to Europe recently, she offered a few alternate destinations. I was not thinking about the destinations she suggested, but the alternatives offered great activities, culture, food, interesting boutique hotels, and more options for less money听than my original destination.

They don鈥檛 usually cost extra.

It鈥檚 a myth that working with a travel agent will automatically cost you more; most get paid via commissions from the hotel or outfitter. Sure, some travel agents do charge a fee for putting together an itinerary, but most will credit you that fee if you end up booking the trip through them. Make sure you know all the potential fees before you use a travel agent, and do not hesitate to negotiate away.

The Cons of Using a Travel Agent

They鈥檙e not going to help with cheaper airfare.

Back in the day, you would use a travel agent to book every aspect of your trip. However, with so many options to find low-cost airfare, like , , and听, booking your own flights听is easy and cost-effective. Most travel agents cannot score discounted flights, and many travel agents will not even bother. Follow these tips on how to find the cheapest flights possible, instead.

They鈥檙e not you.

This may seem obvious, although it鈥檚 still听important to consider. A travel agent not only finds you the best deals, but they also offer suggestions for activities, restaurants, and more. This is great if you鈥檙e听someone who doesn鈥檛 like to research these things, but you run the risk of working with someone who doesn鈥檛 get your personal preferences (maybe they lean toward road tours听rather than technical singletrack). Do your own research first, and come up with a list of activities that you want to do. Once you have that list, pass it along to your travel agent to see if they can rustle up any deals as they book.

How to Find a Great One

One of the best ways to find a reputable travel agent is to get referrals from your friends and family. Anyone that has used that travel agent for a previous trip and enjoyed their service is someone worth checking out. As with anything, I always suggest talking to at least two different travel agents to see who you feel most comfortable with. Remember, they are there to work for you.

Know your travel budget before you reach out to a travel agent. Likely, this will be the first question they ask you and will help steer them toward听the best destinations for that budget. If you are traveling somewhere that鈥檚 specialized, like going on that once-in-a-lifetime African safari, find a specialist that knows that region inside and out. They will usually have the best deals and relationships with hotels and activity companies in that area.

How Much Does a Travel Agent Cost?

Usually, the cost of hiring a travel agent to organize a trip for you is fairly minimal. Many agencies charge a flat fee of around $100, and others may charge a certain small percentage of your trip. Most of their take-home profits come from the hotels, wholesalers, resorts, and businesses they work with, but be sure to as your travel agent about fees upfront and before you start working with them to plan your next dream vacation. (No one likes hidden fees and surprises.)

The post Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of Using a Travel Agent appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.

We love sharing our favorite places in the world with you. But it鈥檚 been a while since we gave you advice on planning trips and preparing for travel, like how to find the best airfares, fly with large gear, sail through customs, seek out听like-minded people on the road, maximize your airline credit-card miles, get off the beaten path, and other tried-and-true recommendations. So we mined tips from our most active travel writers and other experts to bring you these new rules. All you have to do is read them and go.

Find Your Crew

It鈥檚 never been easier to engage with other like-minded travelers, thanks to apps and active social-media groups with extensive reaches.

With the help of Facebook groups, you鈥檒l听never have to travel alone if you don鈥檛 want to.听Post that you want to ride the Whole Enchilada听in Moab, Utah, with someone, and you鈥檒l likely find a riding mate quickly.

Make the Most of Our National Parks

A national park advocate shares his advice on how to avoid crowds, get off the beaten path, see wildlife, and find adventure.

We asked David Lamfrom, director of the wildlife program for the National Parks Conservation Association, for his advice on how to do national parks while still avoiding crowds and steep entrance fees.听

Eat Healthy in Airports

It鈥檚 almost time for summer travel. We reveal some of our favorite airport restaurants plus tips on how to avoid loading up on junk food as you fly off on your mountain and beach adventures.

Some people get the munchies while high. 黑料吃瓜网听writer AC Shilton gets them while physically high鈥攕ay, at 30,000 feet. Here听she provides tips on how to eat healthy while traveling.听

Cruise Through Security and Customs

With these tools, t丑别谤别鈥檚 no reason to wait in long lines.

You know all those people you see heading for the lanes that say Global Entry and Clear? 贬别谤别鈥檚 what they know that you need to know.

Travel Alone at Least Once a Year

For this veteran journalist, the intoxicating freedom of traveling solo outweighs the risks every time. Here are her life-on-the-road strategies.

It鈥檚 a good thing to go it alone on occasion, whether camping in the wilderness, road-tripping cross-country, or flying across the world. Just do it safely and strategically.

Invest in Long-Haul Flight-Survival Gear

These bags, clothes, tools, and, yes, drugs make regular long-haul flights survivable.

Getting to faraway places requires sturdy and functional gear.听Wes Siler, a writer for听黑料吃瓜网听and frequent traveler, lists his must-pack gear items听for long flights and big adventures.听

Score Deals on Airline Tickets

Whether you鈥檙e headed for California or Costa Rica, these tips will save you money and minimize hassle.

Getting a cheap airline ticket comes down to the right timing, airport, and season. Don鈥檛 get caught paying extra just because you bought your ticket on a Friday instead of a Tuesday.听

Get Your Gear There Affordably

Traveling with large gear can get pricey. 贬别谤别鈥檚 how to bring your mountain bike or surfboard along without going broke.

Flying with gear can be downright expensive, and some airlines charge gear-specific baggage fees in excess of $200 one-way. Then again, some of them let you fly with your oversize听gear for free.听

Use a Travel Agent

Yes, you can try to book your epic adventure by spending hours searching the internet. Or you can save time, money, and hassle by using a travel agent.

The next generation of world travelers is using travel agents more often. Maybe you should, too.

Explore a State Park

There are more than 10,000 different state parks across the country, many of which have terrain that rivals any national park. These are our five听favorites.

The busloads of tourists crammed into the designated scenic overlooks at national parks can be overwhelming. If you want a truly wild experience this summer, explore our underrated state-park system.

Pack Smart

Technically advanced outdoor gear can make traveling on your next business trip easier, more comfortable, and more efficient.

Do you really want to be that person in the aiport lugging around a 40-pound backpack? Or worse,听checking your luggage? We鈥檒l answer for you: you don鈥檛, so听丑别谤别鈥檚 how to not be.听

Maximize Your Airline Credit-Card Miles

Credit-card mileage programs are as confusing as they are enticing, with rules, add-ons, and fine print that鈥檚 always changing. 贬别谤别鈥檚 how to score lots of free tickets with them.

Airline-mileage expert Scott Keyes has 84 credit cards. Maybe you don鈥檛 need that many, but you do need to know his tips on how to basically fly anywhere for free.听

Get Travel Insurance

And everything you need to know before you purchase a plan.

If a travel disaster does strike, you could be out thousands of dollars. The question is: How much risk can you live with?听

Let These Stories Inspire You

From SUPing down the Colorado to hiking the Appalachian Trail听solo, these features explore and revel in the adventures our country has to offer.

贬别谤别鈥檚 a (noncomprehensive) list of the best travel stories we鈥檝e ever told. Find some inspiration to pack your bags and hit the road.听听

Don鈥檛 Recline Your Airline Seat

You heard us. On cramped flights, the person who reclines their seat in front of us really chafes.

If t丑别谤别鈥檚 one thing we hate about flying,听it鈥檚 not the overpriced tickets or the baby crying three rows ahead听in economy class. It鈥檚 the people who recline their seats with total disregard for the听person behind them.

Own Your Layover

Frequent fliers spend a lot of energy trying to avoid long layovers. But with these tips, the right attitude, and a bit of ingenuity, you can turn your layover into an adventure.

A seven-day layover in Iceland? Yes, please.听

Chill Out

One final piece of advice: You鈥檙e on vacation, people. Drink the tequila! Eat the pasta! Sleep in! And yes, lounging in a hammock on a beach is a legit adventure. Bon voyage.

The post The New Rules of Travel appeared first on 黑料吃瓜网 Online.