Just in time to help you start making summer hiking plans, my cover feature in the May/Jun '11 issue of Washington Trails highlights some of the backpacking options around Washington's iconic Mt. Rainier, and helps you select from some of the most scenic trails The Mountain has to offer in Backpacking the Big One: 5 Sure-to-Wow Trails in Mt. Rainier National Park.

And to help you plan your trip, check out the gear team's picks for backpacking food options—everything from freeze-dried insta-meals, to home-spun camp gourmet—in this issue's episode of The Gear Closet.

For the Mar/Apr '11 issue of Washington Trails, the gear team set out to test the latest and greatest in backpacking and camping illumination: headlamps, flashlights and portable lanterns. See what our favorites were, and what stood up to some good 'ol outdoor abuse in this episode of The Gear Closet.

Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast you know? Check out this list of items compiled by the WTA Gear Team, featured in the Nov/Dec '10 issue. We featured everything from outerwear and techy goodies, to first aid and doggie hiking boots! Visit The Gear Closet.

Washington Trails doesn't cover only Washington. Sometimes they head south of the border into their northwest neighbor and feature some equally amazing hiking areas. The Sep/Oct '10 issue features my article spotlighting the otherworldly geologic features of the John Day Fossil Beds. Check out the full piece Traveling Through Time: Exploring the John Day Fossil Beds in Central Oregon.

Looking for some of the best backpacking locations Washington has to offer? Compiled by several Washington Trails correspondents, this article in the Jul/Aug issue features a variety of mountain, rainforest and high country locations worth visiting, with my own selection featuring Olympic National Park in Explore the Enchanted Valley.

Check out a new feature offered on Backpacker.com: Print & Go Hikes. These two-page downloadable PDFs contain a trail map, GPS waypoints, elevation profile, driving directions and area info. Get this one of the Ape Canyon trail on Mount St. Helens—featuring photos and GPS track by me!
Download the PDF here.