Did you know that today is the autumn equinox? Day and night will are in balance, and then will tip us over the edge into nights that outlast our days. It may officially be the first day of autumn, but it sure doesn't feel like it. As I sit here writing this, the high in Raleigh today is 90 degrees. The raging intensity of this summer's heat feels like an omen — I find myself anticipating a tumultuous, powerful winter, fueled by the chaos this heat has stirred into our global climate...

For YEARs the two questions I get most from students are: What should be in my day pack? What should be in my first aid kit? And my answer is always the same— "Well, that depends...." It depends on what you're doing, where you're going, who you're going with, what time of year, your group size, and your trip duration. A list I hand you is built for my trips, my experience, my preferences and my training. Instead of copying someone else's packing list, I use a systems method to guide what...

Why You Need it There's a reason the first principle of Leave No Trace is Plan Ahead and Prepare. Most people who need rescuing did not plan or prepare for their trip properly- and they end up in a survival scenario because of it. But what does plan ahead and prepare and prepare actually mean? How to we accomplish being prepared? That first step in a trip plan- even something as simple as a day hike- consists of several considerations: What activity are you doing? Where are you going? Who are...