9 backpacking tips — preparing for your first hike
May 5, 2023
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Nine tips for preparing your gear for backcountry adventures.
Author, speaker, adventurer, and conservation historian Jeffrey H. Ryan shares his passion for nature and the great outdoors in print, in person, and online with audiences worldwide.
Books by Jeffrey H Ryan
How to tell ticks to bug off
The insect season is in full swing, but that doesn’t mean they have to limit your time outdoors. You can minimize the risk of Lyme Disease and other tick- and mosquito-borne diseases by using repellants, staying in the center of the trail, and being vigilant about spotting ticks on your clothing or skin..
My Section Hikes Through Virginia on the Appalachian Trail
The stretch of Appalachian Trail through Virginia is 524 miles — one quarter of the entire footpath. I was recently asked to reminisce about my five section hikes through the state and about how the mountains and towns of this beautiful place have become so integral to my writing. If you’d like to learn more about section hiking in Virginia, you can check out my Virginia AT overview page or my book Appalachian Odyssey, which recounts all five trips in detail.
In my recent appearance on the TalaTerra podcast, I discussed the contributions made by Frederick Law Olmsted, Gifford Pinchot, Benton MacKaye, Theodore Roosevelt, Bob Marshall, Aldo Leopold, and Howard Zahniser in forming and preserving America’s public lands. We also importantly discussed how important the role of consensus building was (and is) in shaping our futures.
It’s finally here — that glorious time of the year when the trail beckons. It’s also a great time to make sure your gear is still up for the task. Here are my top tips for getting it done.
Darin Olien Show
I’ve given hundreds of interviews over the years, and this one ranks as one of the best. Just goes to show what can happen when two people who share common interests and backgrounds get together to compare insights.
National Archives Book Talk
The National Archives Museum hosted a special talk featuring U.S. Fish and Wildlife Historian Mark Madison and me to discuss my book, This Land Was Saved for You and Me with special emphasis on some often overlooked people who contributed to the movements to create America’s parks, forests and wilderness areas.
Care More Be Better Podcast
The pandemic helped millions rediscover the physical and spiritual effects of being in nature
— but the story has much deeper roots
I recently had a super discussion with Jennifer Walsh and Monica Olsen, hosts of the Biophilic Solutions podcast about the American pioneers who extolled the benefits of being in nature decades before many took note. Please check it out!
This Land Was Saved for You and Me
My new book traces the path from Olmsted’s first wanderings in Yosemite to the signing of The Wilderness Act in 1964.
Along the way, we meet well-known advocates for America’s lands and waters including Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, and Aldo Leopold. But importantly, we also meet many lesser-known people who gave their all to protect forests and wilderness areas before they would be gone forever and ensured that all Americans would retain the benefits of ownership.
Published by Stackpole Books in hardcover format, This Land Was Saved for You and Me is available now from national and local retailers. Click the “order” button below to learn more.
More Upcoming Events
I am currently booking in-person and virtual appearances for 2023. Please check the sidebar to the right for dates and times and check back often for updates.
Navigating the Trail
You Can't Make this Stuff Up
Where it all Began
The Surprising Story of Antonin Dvorak, The Chicago World’s Fair and the Appalachian Trail
Upcoming Events
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Recent Blog Posts
Why we need both Time and Place for Contemplation
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Frederick Law Olmsted’s “island of sanity” amidst the 1893 Columbian Exposition offered a chance for quiet contemplation away from the bustle. 130 years later, it’s a critically important concept.
The Forest … and The Tree
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How a patch of Maine forest brought enduring joy to a community and shaped a profession In 1710 — right about the time Queen Anne’s
Latest Podcast Appearances
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So pleased to have been a guest on a couple of great podcasts recently. Looking at Birds Looking at Birds with host Chris B is
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Really enjoyed my wide-ranging chat with Jay Barone of The Curiosity Chamber podcast about the importance of green space and getting outdoors as it relates
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I had a great time discussing the history of the AT with host Stefan Van Norden of the Nature Revisited podcast.
Green Mountain National Forest adds 2,100 acres
April 12, 2022
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The new acquisition includes a variety of streams and bogs. (US Forest Service photo.) The Trust for Public Land has facilitated the purchase of over