Backpacker – September 2019

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
12 BACKPACKER.COM

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TRAILCHAT

Your opinions, photos, and feats

PAY TO PLAY

In the United States, hunters fund

conservation through license fees and tags.

In this issue’s Geopinion, Heather Balogh

Rochfort argues that it’s time for hikers to

chip in by instituting a tax on outdoor gear.

We asked our Twitter followers: Do you

agree? (Turn to page 23 to read Heather’s

argument.)

BACKTRACKING

After Ryan Wichelns argued in favor of adding

clearer signage to the Continental Divide Trail,

one Triple Crowner wrote in to point out that it

wouldn’t have helped him during his trip over

Independence Pass anyway. “Independence Pass

is not on the official CDT, which passes 10 miles

east through Hope Pass,” said Tim Guetersloh,

who thru-hiked the CDT in 2014. BACKPACKER

regrets the error.

@backpackermag

Ta g yo u r ’g ra m s #trailchat for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram feed.

PEAKBAGGING WITH PUP

“I would say yes, but taxes equal

waste. If you want trails, support

your local hiking club and volunteer

to build them.” –@scottzent

@timber_tails

Pharoah Peak, Banff National Park, Alberta

Want to make any scenery more beautiful? Bring your best friend. Timber, a two-and-a-half-year-old

Australian Goldendoodle, shares the view of Egypt Lake with his human partner Brooke Willson

(@brookewillson) after making the two-day trek from Banff’s Sunshine Village.

THE FAMILY THAT

HIKES TOGETHER

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

Nicholas Kristof has reported from

around the world, but for the past

seven years, he’s been on a very

different journey: section-hiking

the Pacific Crest Trail with his

daughter, Caroline. (Read about

their journey on page 92.) Want to

follow in their footsteps? Get your

little ones ready with this step-by-

step road map.

BABIES

Yes, you can take a baby

backpacking. Read about how

Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan did it at

backpacker.com/babytrip.

TODDLERS

How you introduce your littles to

the trail helps determine what they

think of hiking as they grow. Make

it fun with our guide to peakbagging

with toddlers at backpacker.com/

toddlerhikes.

KIDS

The older they get, the farther your

youngsters can go. Find trips, tips,

and stories for families that hike at

backpacker.com/family.

TEENAGERS

Everyone has to fly the coop

eventually. Get your teen ready

for the next phase of his or her life

with our guide to the best outdoor

colleges in the United States at

backpacker.com/outdoorschools.

Yes

No

37%

63%