When you’re hiking or backpacking on the go, or just in the planning phase of such, there may be meals you don’t want to take the time to extensively plan. And if you’re going gluten free, it’s even more of a pain to get your trail food prepped. This gluten free recipe works good with the Jetboil MiniMo, from my …
Macronutrient Timing With Consideration to Hiking
With respect to the endurance activity of hiking, macronutrient timing – i.e. the timing of ingestion of carbohydrates and protein – becomes important when the hiker is participating in continuous moderate to intense effort hiking that lasts for intervals greater than one hour’s time. The body has a finite store of glycogen in the muscle and liver (300-400g and 80-100g …
The Roll of Creatine in Hiking Nutrition
Creatine monohydrate is a popular sports and exercise supplement used to enhance performance under high intensity conditions and help build lean muscle during training. It has been deemed safe and effective by the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) in their position stand, Safety and Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation in Exercise, Sport, and Medicine, and is used fairly ubiquitously throughout …
Gregory Paragon 58 Vs Osprey Exos 58
Today I’m looking at the Gregory Paragon 58 versus the Osprey Exos 58, and will go through why I ended up choosing the Paragon 58 for my next hike-in campsite camping. I’m more of a day hiker, with a Patagonia 24L day pack, crammed full of 10 pounds worth of clothes, water and gear. And when my girlfriend is down …
Short Hikes in Topanga State Park
Whether the day is half over, it’s about to rain, it’s 105F degrees, you’re pressed on time, or with another hiker that is otherwise limited on how far they can go on trail, there may be times where you want to get out and hike, but just not that far. I have some ideas on a few loops, and an …
Guide to Trail Specific Wildflowers in Topanga State Park
I’ve hiked Topanga State Park hundreds of times, and in this guide will walk you through the wildflowers found on each particular trail, as there is some variance throughout the park. Generally your best bet at seeing a colorful variety of wildflowers in Topanga SP is to visit in the early spring time, after the winter rains and more hospitable …
Dog Friendly Hiking Trails Near Topanga State Park
So you’ve just pulled into the Trippet Ranch parking lot and realized, from all the signs at the trailheads, that dogs are not allowed on the trails at Topanga State Park. You really want to take your dog hiking today, but which other trails are near enough to Topanga SP, that you can drive to them relatively easily, so that …
How To Feel Safe at Night When Camping
If your not used to camping outdoors, the thought of being caught off guard while sleeping, by some spooky animal or trespasser, can rob you of your precious slumber, and make you feel run down the next day. Here are several ways you can feel safer at night when sleeping exposed to nature. Use a Tent When we were kids, …
What’s Up With the Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp – Review
In this Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp review, I’ll show you how it works, then take a critical look at its features. The instructions that come in the box with the headlamp aren’t the best, so I’ll go through the details on how it operates. Affiliate link: Check the latest price of the BD Spot 400-R on Amazon How To …
Best Picnic Areas Inside Topanga State Park for Hikers
Sure you can pull in to Trippet Ranch parking lot at Topanga State Park, with the sub-sandwich you just bought on Ventura, and set up shop at one of the many picnic tables overlooking the lot. It’s okay. You get to eat, run to the bathroom, then hike. But if you’re looking for a more private lunch, immersed in nature, …