Bringing In The New Year On The AT

Every year on New Year's Eve, Americans crowd around TVs and flock to New York City to watch celebrities perform and a giant ball slowly drop for 60 seconds.

With no desire to spend New Year's Eve in front of a television watching celebrities twerking, I wanted to start the new year differently than I have in previous years.

For the past four years around this time of year, some friends and I take a trip to the mountains for few nights on the trail. So, when planning the trip, we decided to bring in the new year in the backcountry.

With both the Smoky Mountains and Appalachian Trail in mind, on December 31st, the seven of us set out for Newfound Gap, the lowest drivable path through the Smokies (16 miles SE of Gatlinburg, TN).

From left to right: Waylon, Brent, Nolan, Blake, myself, Joe, and Brad.

The Head-To-Toe Winter Wish-list

Christmas day is fast approaching, and many of us are still scrambling for gift ideas to give our loved ones. If you don't know what to get someone who spends an excessive amount of time outdoors, or who would like to spend more time outside but lack the proper tools to do so, here is a head-to-toe breakdown of the best gear for the colder months.

Shell: Outdoor Research Axiom™ Jacket

• Top-of-the-line storm shell
• 2012 winner of Outside Magazine's "Gear of the Year" award
• GORE-TEX® Active Technology
• Highly breathable
• Perfect for high-aerobic winter activities
• Available in 4 color combinations
• Available only in men's sizes
• Ladies, check out the OR StormBound Jacket!

Review for the Arc'teryx Atom LT

As my new favorite article of clothing, the Arc'teryx Atom LT boasts features the will keep you comfortable in a wide range of environments and activities.

Men's Atom LT Jacket

Women's Atom LT Jacket With Hood

The Atom LT, available with or without a hood, uses Polartec® Power Stretch® with Hardface® Technology to provide a 4-way stretch fabric with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish to bead water and repel harsh winds.

Turf Wars: Chaco v. Teva

As we as species grow smarter, so does what we wear.

Footwear was once nothing more than a way to protect out feet from rocks and the cold. Today, not only does what we wear on our feet protect us from the elements, but they can describe who we are.

Whether you prefer business shoes, high-heels, or no shoes at all, your footwear, or the lack thereof, serves a purpose.

Two of the most popular sandal companies in the United States, Chaco and Teva, advertise their products to the adventurer in us all. But are they both for everyone?

Climbing Gear For Thin Wallets

Not only is climbing exciting and extremely challenging, it is also expensive. Especially for an unemployed college student.

Though the gear I have rented at my university's rock wall does its job well, I hate using stuff that is not mine. There is something about wearing shoes and harnesses that other sweaty people have warn that makes me uncomfortable.

After deciding I wanted to take the sport of climbing seriously, it was time to gear up.