Complete Havasupai Packing List Before we left for our Havasupai trip, I sent everyone a packing list. Some followed it exactly; some added items to it; some skipped things altogether. Everyone came out of the canyon with a short list of what they’d do differently next time and an understanding of how their gear choices…
Havasupai Trail: Hike to the World’s Bluest Water Ten miles, eight waterfalls, and some of the bluest, clearest water on Earth—welcome to the Havasupai Trail! Nothing quite prepares you for the surreal beauty of turquoise-blue falls cascading through the heart of a red rock canyon. This is the part of the Grand Canyon that many people never get to experience. The first time I told the family I wanted to do the 10-mile hike into this oasis, they…
The Basics: Camping and Huts on the Laugavegur Trail Camping or staying in huts on Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail shapes almost every other planning decision that follows. From pack weight and daily flexibility to comfort in bad weather, camping on the Laugavegur Trail influences far more than where you sleep. It also affects logistics, including how…
So, How Hard Is Havasupai Really? How hard is Havasupai? That was the question hanging over our group as we started planning our Havasupai trip. We were seven people, ages 15 to 51, all carrying full packs—and not one of us truly trained for Havasupai. Our group had mixed abilities, different hiking speeds, and varying…
Why Layering Matters for hiking (and Not Just Cold Weather) Five hours into New Zealand’s 19.4-kilometre Tongariro Alpine Crossing, we weren’t just wet — we were soaked all the way through. It had been raining nonstop since our first step onto the trail. We didn’t have proper waterproof or outer layers, and there was no…
Choosing Gear That Earns Its Place in Your Pack Every item in your pack has to earn the effort it takes to carry it. What you carry — and what you leave behind — affects how you move through the trail. The weight on your back shapes the entire experience, whether you notice it or…
One Trail, Two Very Different Endings On paper, adding Fimmvörðuháls looks like “just one more day.” On the trail, it feels like a very different decision. If you’re wondering whether you should add Fimmvörðuháls to the Laugavegur, you’re not alone. The infamous Laugavegur Trail ends in Þórsmörk, which makes finishing there a complete trek, not…
The Hikes That Shaped Our Ring Road Days We didn’t plan our Ring Road days around cafés or ticketed attractions. We came for the hikes, viewpoints, and landscapes that define the country. While Iceland’s Ring Road is known for its iconic roadside stops, this guide focuses on short hikes just off the Ring Road. These are the…
Golden Circle Alternatives: Quieter Trails and Bigger Adventures The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most iconic sightseeing route — and for good reason. It’s close to Reykjavík, easy to access year-round, and packed with big-name attractions that first-time visitors love. But if you’re looking for something a little less commercial and a little more adventurous, there…