ajtestbed “OH SHIT,” I wrote in my journal. “All the light was just sucked out of the sky. The woods are VERY DARK.” It was my first solo backcountry trip, and I was crouched beneath a hastily erected tarp on a tiny island in a big lake in northwestern Maine. I was terrified. From 7:00 p.m. to … Read more
The Underwater Photography Guide recently announced the nominees and winners of their 2022 Ocean Art contest winners. Being that it’s January, it’s likely freezing wherever you’re reading this and lots of these images are from bathwater-warm tropical areas, and of course, because these images are stunning, we wanted to share them here. Top image: Honorable … Read more
Since Christmas, there have been only 3 or 4 days without rain in much of California. And not just rain, but torrential rain. You’ve likely seen the flooding and mudslides on the news. For many people it’s been a disaster, one that is likely to become increasingly more common in the coming decades. But enough … Read more
Jim Walmsley is a top-flight ultra runner competing at the world’s highest level. That in itself isn’t something AJ normally covers, but there’s something about the dedication he has to the craft that’s inspiring but also borderline alarming. To push yourself that hard for that long, in some of the most difficult adventure racing conditions … Read more
Raleigh has been around since 1885, right about when the “safety bicycle” first hit the scene. This would be the style of bike you’re used to today, two wheels of the same or very similar size, with a chain or belt drive. All of this as opposed to the penny farthing, a decidedly dangerous bike, … Read more
The story of a Montana woman who, last fall killed and skinned a domestic dog, then proudly posted photos on her social media pages, has sparked a flood of public outrage. It should. The woman allegedly mistook the dog for a wolf, saying she was excited to share that she had “smoked a wolf pup.” … Read more
Don’t know about you, but here at AJ HQ we kinda geek out about trip planning. Heck, we’ve planned trips we couldn’t even go on just for the fun and the exercise of it. The more risk an adventure takes on, the more intricate the planning becomes. Food, fuel, shelter, backup plans, plans B, C, … Read more
Being a beginner sucks. There’s nothing worse. If you’ve managed to survive to adulthood while preserving even the tiniest, most minuscule shred of pride, it’s gone the instant you step out on a limb and become—God forbid—new at something. Kids, on the other hand, can learn anything in five minutes and be smug little jerks … Read more
The outdoor industry continues to grapple with the thorny problem of forever chemicals, like PFAs and PFCs (PFCs are technically PFAs too, the terms can be confusing), that are often used to treat performance fabrics for things like water repellency. If a jacket, for example, has been treated with PFAs, those chemicals can be released … Read more
If you’re like us you have a few technical backpacks and daypacks and for day trips out to the backcountry, you’ll stuff one of those with the, well, stuff you need. But backpacks aren’t really that useful unless you’re planning to actually hike with your gear and food. Often you just need something burly that … Read more