John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged outdoor · everything

www.wired.com

This Is Why You Should Try Ultralight Backpacking (2025)

A personal, practical case for ultralight backpacking that traces the movement's roots to Mark Jenkins' 1994 "Less is More," then lays out a working definition (10-pound base weight or less), the "Big Three" gear priorities (pack, sleep system, shelter), and a needs-versus-wants framework for cutting stuff. It argues ultralight is less about gear obsession than a mindset shift—eating separately from camp, cowboy camping, trying quilts—that ultimately makes the whole backcountry experience less burdensome and more enjoyable.

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www.costco.com

www.islands.com

Between Asheville And Hickory Is North Carolina's Crystal-Clear Blue Ridge Lake For Fishing And Camping

Lake James State Park in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains offers a scenic and accessible retreat featuring a 6,800-acre reservoir with clear turquoise waters ideal for fishing, swimming, and water sports. The state park provides three campground options ranging from $20–$30 per night, including a secluded peninsula accessible only by kayak, plus over 30 miles of hiking and biking trails with views of the surrounding mountains. Located about an hour from Asheville and accessible year-round with free day-use admission, the park combines outdoor recreation with convenient access to major regional airports.

Permalink campingnorth carolinastate parksoutdoor

stag2.wired.com

What Is Down Fill Power (2026): Fill Weight, Synthetics

Down fill power measures the loft—cubic inches of volume—produced by one ounce of down, indicating quality rather than quantity; higher fill power means larger down clusters that trap more air and retain more body heat. However, fill power alone doesn't determine warmth; you must also consider fill weight (the amount of down used), baffle construction (which keeps down in place), and the space available for down to expand, since a high fill power jacket with minimal fill will be no warmer than a lower fill power jacket with more down. Understanding the combination of fill power and fill weight gives you a meaningful way to compare different down products for warmth-to-weight ratio, especially when shopping for sleeping bags where these differences become significant.

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newatlas.com

Air-beam canopy completes all-inflatable amphibious day camp

Bote, an inflatable watercraft company, has launched the Hangout Shade series—lightweight, packable inflatable canopies with UPF 50 protection that set up in under five minutes and work either standalone on land or attached to Bote's floating Hangout Dock platforms. The two sizes (Shade 7 at $669 and Shade 10 at $799) represent the company's expansion beyond paddleboards and kayaks into a broader Hangout Suite of inflatable lounging and gathering gear designed for recreational use on and off the water.

Permalink summercampinggearbeaches

www.islands.com

The Longest River Entirely In Texas Is Lined With Great Places To Camp, Fish, And Boat

The Brazos River, Texas's longest river entirely within the state, stretches 1,280 miles from northwest Texas to the Gulf and offers accessible outdoor adventures through multiple scenic sections. The most popular paddling and camping area lies between Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Granbury, featuring calm, meandering waters, abundant fish species (largemouth bass, crappie, white bass), and numerous campgrounds ranging from primitive sites to fully equipped RV resorts. The best time to visit is March through October, with convenient access from major cities like Fort Worth and Austin, plus nearby attractions such as the historic town of Granbury and the near-ghost town of Caddo.

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www.vacationstravel.com

Eight of the best places to see the Northern Lights

The aurora borealis occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with nitrogen and oxygen in Earth's upper atmosphere, creating the dancing green and blue light displays visible from high northern latitudes between September and March. The article identifies eight prime viewing locations—Norway, Greenland, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Alaska, and Scotland—and recommends watching during new moon nights with clear skies, particularly between 9pm and 2am when activity peaks. While sightings cannot be guaranteed due to the phenomenon's unpredictability, communities with minimal light pollution offer the best chances of witnessing this celestial phenomenon.

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www.travelandleisure.com

The 15 Least-visited National Parks in the US for Beautiful Views and Adventure Without the Crowds

The article profiles the least-visited U.S. national parks, explaining why remote parks receive far fewer visitors and offering practical context for would-be travelers. It highlights remote Alaska entries such as [[Gates of the Arctic]], [[Kobuk Valley]], and [[Lake Clark]] alongside island and mainland outliers like [[Isle Royale]], [[Dry Tortugas]], and [[American Samoa]], and links low visitation to factors including limited access, seasonal weather, high travel cost, and deliberate preservation policies. The piece summarizes visitation statistics, terrain and wildlife characteristics, access logistics, and recommended planning tips including permits, transportation, safety, and leave-no-trace practices so readers can understand trade-offs between solitude and infrastructure and decide whether an adventurous, less-crowded national park experience is right for them. It also offers suggestions for timing visits to maximize wildlife viewing and photography opportunities while minimizing environmental impact.

Permalink hikingtraveladventurenational parks

www.steamboatchamber.com

Steamboat Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K

The Steamboat Marathon is a Boston-qualifying race held annually in Colorado along the Elk River, combining scenic mountain views with a small-town racing atmosphere that has earned it recognition as a top-10 North American destination marathon. The event offers marathon, half-marathon, and 10K distances and serves as an official qualifying race for several prestigious national competitions. Runner's World has featured the Steamboat Half Marathon in its bucket-list destination races.

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www.xgrass.com

XGrass | 51 Fun Backyard Landscaping Ideas

This is a promotional catalog from the Recreational Group showcasing 50+ backyard improvement projects featuring their brands' products—including VersaCourt game courts, Tour Greens putting greens, XGrass synthetic turf, and Swisstrax flooring tiles. The examples range from simple additions like bocce courts and shuffleboard to elaborate multi-sport facilities and custom golf courses, demonstrating how their modular systems can be adapted to various yard sizes and family interests. The underlying message is that these low-maintenance synthetic alternatives to traditional landscaping allow homeowners to create year-round recreational spaces suited to athletes, families, and pet owners alike.

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www.gardendesign.com

Backyard Landscaping Ideas

This guide provides comprehensive advice on planning and designing a functional backyard as an extension of the home, covering essential steps like evaluating your site, considering how you'll use the space, and choosing appropriate plants and hardscape materials. It emphasizes practical design principles such as dividing yards into garden rooms, planning for privacy, choosing styles that complement your home, and considering maintenance requirements. The piece includes numerous real-world examples of transformed backyards—from small urban spaces to larger suburban properties—illustrating how techniques like layered plantings, vertical gardening, lighting, and strategic furniture placement can maximize enjoyment of outdoor areas regardless of size.

Permalink designbackyardlandscapinggardening

stylebyemilyhenderson.com

The 2021 #ShowEmYourDIY: 22 DIY Ideas to Transform Your Sad Backyard Into Your Favorite Place - Emily

This is a collection of 22 reader-submitted DIY backyard projects ranging from simple painted deck murals and stenciled patios to ambitious builds like greenhouses, pergolas, and custom outdoor furniture, with costs from under $100 to several thousand dollars. The posts showcase various skill levels and budgets, featuring before-and-afters alongside detailed instructions, material lists, and budget breakdowns so readers can replicate projects from painted faux marble floors and modern wall panels to stock tank pools and stucco sofas. The emphasis is on inspiring homeowners to tackle their own outdoor spaces using creativity and accessible materials, whether renting an apartment in Brooklyn or owning a home with significant yard space.

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www.rd.com

How to Clean a Grill Quickly and Easily

Cleaning a grill regularly improves food taste, extends equipment life, and needn't be complicated once you know the proper steps. For charcoal grills, the process involves scraping hot grates immediately after cooking, waiting 48 hours for ashes to cool, deep-cleaning the interior with degreaser and a brush, then wiping down the exterior. Gas grills follow a similar initial grate-cleaning step but require disconnecting gas lines and disassembling components before using warm soapy water and a vacuum to clean the interior and exterior, with preventative maintenance like oiling grates and using a grill cover helping maintain both types year-round.

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www.outsideonline.com

How to Score the Best National Park Campsites for Summer

National Park Service campgrounds have become increasingly difficult to book, with camping visits exceeding 13 million overnight stays in 2022, so advance planning is essential. The piece details eight of the most coveted and hard-to-reserve campgrounds across the system—from Yellowstone's Slough Creek to Acadia's remote Duck Harbor—providing specific booking windows, fees, best sites, and nearby hiking or outdoor activities for each. The takeaway is practical: start reservations six months in advance through Recreation.gov on a rolling basis, or risk ending up at an RV park instead of your dream national park campsite.

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www.outsideonline.com

The Best Trails Around Asheville, According to a Local Hiker

Sandra Aguirre founded Latinos Aventureros, a 7,000-member bilingual hiking group in western North Carolina, after discovering that mountain hiking helped her recover from depression following her divorce. What began as personal hikes with her three children evolved into weekly group outings focused on introducing the BIPOC community to outdoor recreation across the Blue Ridge Mountains region. The piece includes Aguirre's personalized guide to Asheville, featuring her favorite spots for coffee, swimming holes, sunsets, restaurants, and breweries.

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www.outsideonline.com

Highway 19E Is the Most Underrated Road Trip

Highway 19E, a 60-mile stretch of North Carolina and Tennessee backroad north of Asheville, connects eight major outdoor destinations within 25 minutes of the main road, including Mount Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi), Linville Gorge, Grandfather Mountain, and sections of the Appalachian Trail known for exceptional hiking and scenery. The piece details each attraction—from strenuous mountain hikes and wilderness camping to waterfalls, mysterious Brown Mountain Lights, and world-class trout fishing—with practical information about trailheads, difficulty levels, permits, and seasonal considerations for planning a multi-stop adventure through southern Appalachia.

Permalink hikingcampingnorth carolinaroad trips

www.outsideonline.com

The Best Hike in Every State

This is a state-by-state guide to the best single hike in each of the 50 United States, selected by the publication's writers and editors based on considerations like scenic beauty, terrain variety, and distinctive features. Each entry includes a brief description of the hike's route, elevation gain, length, and what makes it noteworthy—whether that's waterfalls, alpine views, cultural landmarks, or wildlife encounters. The selections range from accessible short walks like Michigan's Pyramid Point (easy family-friendly dune views) to challenging multi-day backpacking routes like Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness and the John Muir Trail in California.

Permalink hikingtraveladventurenational parks

www.outdoorlife.com

Backpacking Checklist: Don’t Forget These Must-Have Items

This is a comprehensive backpacking gear checklist with product recommendations across multiple categories—shelter, sleep systems, clothing, cooking equipment, and safety gear—organized by price point and use case. The guide includes specific product picks like the Osprey Exos backpack and MSR PocketRocket stove, along with an extensive FAQ addressing common questions about weight limits, packing duration, water treatment, and what experienced backpackers actually need versus what beginners unnecessarily carry. It emphasizes that the "Big 3" items (backpack, tent, sleep system) are the heaviest components and suggests beginners should aim for 25-35 pounds total load.

Permalink hikingcampinggearsafety

www.outdoorlife.com

25 Best Camping Food Ideas

This comprehensive guide offers practical camping meal recipes for every daypart, organized by cooking method (simple prep, gas stove, or campfire cooking) and ranging from quick breakfasts like bagels to elaborate dishes like chicken and waffles or foil-packet Reuben dinners. The article includes detailed ingredient lists and instructions for several complete recipes, along with shorter suggestions for lunch, dinner, desserts, and snacks that can be adapted to different skill levels and available time. Beyond recipes, it addresses food safety concerns like not storing food in tents and offers practical advice on meal planning based on how much time you want to spend cooking versus exploring.

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www.nytimes.com

The Best Gear for Your Go Bag

While preassembled emergency bags offer convenience, they typically contain low-quality items, limited customization options, and incomplete gear selections that create a false sense of security. The guide reviews six popular preassembled kits—from Judy, Uncharted Supply Company, American Red Cross, Echo-Sigma, Emergency Zone, and Preppi—finding that all fall short due to poor construction quality, inadequate first aid supplies, unreliable electronics, and minimal room for personalization. Building your own go bag from scratch, though time-intensive and costing around $550 initially, remains superior because it allows you to select durable, high-quality items tailored to your specific location and needs while maintaining the knowledge and familiarity with your supplies that matters in an actual emergency.

Permalink gearsafetywatersurvival