gear

Did you know that each year we produce around 300 million tons of plastic worldwide? And did you know that 91 percent of that plastic waste doesn’t get recycled—even when you put it in the recycling bin? Instead, it ends up in landfills (not breaking down), or even worse, in our rivers and oceans! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to discourage you from recycling your recyclables (please keep recycling!). That being said, the phrase is “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” so clearly the best way to solve the plastic problem is to reduce! Every little change makes a difference, and even imperfect and inconsistent changes to our plastic consumption is a step in the right director toward taking better care of our planet!

Hiking is a fantastic way to get out into nature and be active during spring, summer, and fall. But once winter rolls around, it can seem daunting to face the freezing weather and icy conditions. However, there’s no reason to let the cold stop you from seeing the gorgeous majesty of nature in winter. The first step to an enjoyable winter experience is having the right equipment and an understanding of proper layers. Remember that base layers keep you warm, and outer layers—or shell layers—keep you dry. Here are seven other essential winter hiking items to make your excursion comfortable and safe:

Photo by Ville Koivisto

Photo by Georgie Pauwels. cc“You are out of your mind.”

Do you remember your first day of college or your first day on the job? Going from class to class or task to task? Do you remember those lucky sneakers that barely had any sole left or those great heels that looked fabulous with your new outfit? Chances are you also remember the painful blisters and aching feet that gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “killer shoes.”

Just 45 square inches. Doesn’t sound like much, and truthfully it isn’t. But if “packing light” meant living out of a 45-square-inch suitcase for six weeks, then I guess it would have to be enough.

After months of planning, you’ve finally made it to your dream destination—and what happens? A storm rolls in, and rain or fog or snow are getting in the way of all those great photos you were going to take. Now how are you going to get any photos? Here are a few suggestions on how to get a great photo in spite of the weather.