The best light comes when most hikers are back at the car. How nature photographers working alone can plan the walk in and out in the dark, stay on their feet at cliff edges and shorelines, keep warm while standing still, and leave word when the exact spot is not planned.
A tactical fleece hoodie and a technical backcountry fleece are built for different work. How they differ in weight, breathability, pockets and layering, where each one suits, and how to check a fleece before you buy.
Ten regional weather hazards and what each does to a trip: haboobs, chinooks, Santa Ana and Diablo winds, derechos, dry thunderstorms, katabatic and gap winds, lake-effect snow, inversions, nor’easters and atmospheric rivers. Where and when each happens, what warning you get, and what to do.
The Garmin Enduro 3 is a solar GPS watch with topographic maps, multi-band GPS, sapphire glass and a flashlight. It is rated at 120 hours of GPS tracking and 36 days as a watch, and comes in one large 51 mm size.
How to choose a hiking watch: the three kinds, how to read battery figures, GPS accuracy, maps and navigation, the altimeter and compass, which watches can call for help, and how to match a watch to your trips.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has accurate GPS, offline maps, a bright screen and satellite SOS from the wrist. Apple rates it at 50 hours of use and up to 45 hours of GPS in a new extended mode. It works only with an iPhone.
The Coros Apex 4 is a GPS watch with offline topo maps, dual-frequency GPS, a titanium bezel and sapphire glass. The 46 mm model tracks for about 65 hours on a charge. The screen is plain and it lacks smartwatch extras.
The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is a rugged GPS watch with multi-band tracking, an altimeter, a compass and a flashlight. The 45 mm model runs up to 28 days as a watch and 40 hours of GPS. It has no maps, only breadcrumb navigation.
The Osprey Eja 58 is a women’s backpacking pack with a suspended mesh back, an adjustable torso and a full frame at 2 pounds 11 ounces (1.22 kg). It carries about 35 pounds (16 kg) or less comfortably; the hip belt is thin and fixed in shape.
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L (women’s) is a three-layer rain jacket with pit zips, an adjustable hood and a recycled nylon face, at 12.4 ounces (352 g). It is durable and dependable in heavy rain; the fabric is stiff and the cut is close at the hips.
