Guest Post: The Top Ten Attributes of Great Campgrounds

Enjoying the sunrise in Shenandoah National Park.

There are more campgrounds in the United States than you could possibly hope to count. Lucy for us, they're everywhere! Some of them are terrible, some are passable, and some are good. And then there are those campgrounds that rise above our expectations - the great ones. But what makes a campground great? What is it about the perfect campsite that sets it above the rest? A great campground will offer you plenty in the way of amenities, facilities, services, and enjoyment. But it's even more than just a clean toilet, or nice showers. Below, guest post author Perry Rosenbloom discusses the top ten attributes of truly great campgrounds.

Infographic from REI: Choosing Running Shoes...And Boy Do Your Feet Sweat A Lot

Choosing running shoes can be complicated, but in this handy infographic, REI breaks down different types of shoes as well as fun facts about feet. Though knowing my feet sweat a pint a day isn't as fun a fact as some of the others, it's a cool tool to learn more about lacing techniques and what you need to know about your feet when you're shoe shopping. I'd love to see an infographic that addresses different types of shoes, specifically minimalist shoes, in their next infographic, but for now, I'm content with knowing how many bones, joints, and ligaments are in my feet, among other things. Enjoy!

The Hydration Summit: A Five-Week Journey to Exploring Best Practices and Emerging Technologies for Hydration on the Trail

After a series of 90-degree days with what felt like 200% humidity, I saddled up for a Mount Rainier training hike in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 2010. The thought of carrying a 40-pound pack up the short, but incredibly steep Glen Onoko Falls trail was exhausting in and of itself. Add in the fact that I'd probably sweat a liter per hour while I was out; I knew it was going to be a long day. With two Nalgene bottles and a host of other containers filled with water to weigh my pack down, I left the parking lot with perspiration glistening on my forehead. Four hours later, I called it a day. As I unloaded my pack next to my car, a friendly kayaker asked if I'd been paddling because I was completely soaked with sweat.

Guest Post: How to Plan a 3,000 Mile Cross-Country Road Trip

Guest post author Patrick's trusty steed
in the middle of a cross-country trip last year.

The great American road trip, the cross country haul, the ultimate coast-to-coast journey; something many dream of, but never do. Perhaps it's the time commitment that discourages people, or perhaps the perceived expense. There is no denying that fuel is not exactly cheap these days, and 3,000+ miles of driving is nothing to jump into haphazardly. But for some folks, the road calls and the call cannot be ignored. What does it take to pull off such an adventure? What planning is involved?  

In today's guest post, professional photographer and adventurer Patrick Gensel lets us in on what it takes to pull off a trip that will take him from Northeastern Pennsylvania to some of the west coast's most iconic mountains. He's no stranger to long drives and extended adventures; a similar trip last year took him from the east coast to the top of Mount Rainier and back. On this trip, he's hoping to summit another mountain that eluded him last year and see more of the American west.

Gear Review: Lilypond Magnolia Tote

(image source)

Deodorant. Lunch. Assorted snacks, including three Larabars. 20oz. coffee mug. CrossFit workout gear. Swimming gear. Jeans for dinner out. Three varieties of lip balm. Bottle of Burt's Bees lotion. Water bottle. Notebook. Wallet. Phone. iPod. On a typical day, that's a sampling of what I might carry around in my Lilypond Magnolia Tote, and with room to spare. It's a fantastic bag with those of us who pack multiple activities into our day. Prior to seeing Lilypond pop up on The Clymb, I'd never heard of the brand, but one look at the Magnolia Tote and I decided to give it a try.

I'm low-maintenance when it comes to bags and purses; function takes precedence over form, though form still plays an important role. While in the market for a new tote I could both take to work and to the gym, the goal was to find something that could hold everything I'd need that was lightweight and attractive. It had to have enough pockets for storing little things, enough room for a variety of random items, and had to be comfortable to carry around. I found exactly what I needed in the Magnolia Tote.