How to Plan Snacks for a Hike That Runs Longer Than Expected
I’ll clarify how much food to reserve when a day hike may stretch longer than planned, how to protect snacks in heat, and how to avoid buying or carrying more than you need.
Read articleIndependent field notes
Uphill Both Ways
Practical hiking guidance, honest gear advice, and field-ready trail knowledge for handling steep climbs, changing weather, and everything that rarely goes according to plan.
Ryan CallowayRyan Calloway is an enthusiastic hiker who believes every steep climb is worth it—although he reserves the right to complain on the way up. He writes practical trail guides, gear advice, and honest accounts of wrong turns, unexpected weather, and the small victories that make hiking memorable.
Recent articles
View archiveHow to Plan a Hike With a Late-Arriving Friend
I'll show you how to prevent one late friend from turning a planned hike into a rushed decision, with a clear meeting cutoff, a daylight-based route choice, and a simple way to separate arrival logistics from trail safety.
Read articleHow to Plan a Hike When the Trailhead Road Is Unpaved
I’ll help you decide whether an unpaved trailhead road fits your vehicle, timing, and risk tolerance. You’ll learn how to verify road conditions, account for weather and fuel, and choose a backup plan before committing to a remote hike.
Read articleHow to Plan a Hike When the Trailhead Has No Cell Service
I’ll compare the offline planning choices that matter most when a remote trailhead has no cell service, from printed maps and written itineraries to vehicle details and backup communication plans for solo and beginner hikers.
Read articleHow to Plan a Hike When the Nearest Hospital Is Far Away
I’ll clarify how to plan a remote hike when medical help is hours away, from choosing a route and sharing medical information to building realistic communication and evacuation plans for solo and small-group travel.
Read articleHow to Plan a Hike Around a Seasonal Road Closure
I’ll help you compare the main ways to handle a seasonal road closure—from walking the closed approach to choosing another trailhead—so you can verify access, recalculate time and distance, and avoid arriving with the wrong permit or turnaround plan.
Read articleHow to Plan a Hike Around a School-Day Schedule Without Rushing the Descent
When a school-day hike has to fit between drop-off, homework, and dinner, the clock can become the hardest part of the route. I’ll show you how to choose a manageable outing, set a real turnaround time, and protect the descent from last-minute rushing.
Read articleHow to Plan a Hike Around a Reservation or Timed Entry Window
I’ll compare fixed-time, flexible, and backup-based hiking plans so you can choose the right balance of buffer, certainty, and route freedom when a reservation or timed entry window controls access.
Read articleHow to Plan a Group Hike When Everyone Has a Different Stop Preference
I’ll help you turn different stop preferences into a workable hike plan by setting a shared pace, break rhythm, regrouping points, food timing, and turnaround rule before anyone reaches the trailhead.
Read articleHow to Plan a Budget-Friendly Hike Without Cutting Safety Margins
I'll show you how to cut transport, food, and gear costs while protecting the systems that keep a beginner hiker safe: navigation, weather protection, communication, and emergency capacity.
Read article