Essays

Archive

The joy of being a masochistic oddball

Vasu Sojitra didn't let an amputation stop him from skiing or climbing. Now he's turning his attention to advocacy.

Don and Steve Friedman decided to bond with a trek in the Cascades. Worked great! Except for some minor disagreements about work. And money. And hope. And the meaning of life. And …

Artist Eric Bealer was living the remote, rugged good life in coastal Alaska with his wife, Pam, an MS sufferer, when they made a dramatic decision: to exit this world together, leaving behind precise instructions for whoever entered their cabin first. Eva Holland investigates the mysteries and meaning of an adventurous couple who charted their own way out.

From surf cams to Fat Bear Week, live nature feeds inspire adventure and offer a break from reality

The best way to de-stress during this frightening time is to look for safe opportunities to get outside

Why a lifelong outdoor adventurer couldn't resist the siren song of fairways and greens

Seduced by the idea of turning my hobby into a paycheck, I led bike tours across the U.S. throughout my twenties. As I learned, some passion pursuits are best left pro bono.

As our country has grown more divided, so has the outdoors. But Seeker's Wild is bridging the gap between the two camps who love spending time in nature.

Every year, explore.org calls on its A-team to capture the rotund glory of Katmai National Park’s brown bears

As Wyn Wiley, the creator of the drag-queen Instagram star, explains, it all started when he grabbed some six-inch heels buried in his closet and decided to take a risk

The longtime ranger has spent decades sharing stories of Buffalo Soldiers and advocating for diversity in the national parks. But his journey started on the edge of a cliff in Germany.

The national organization and its regional offshoots give non-cis-male cyclists the chance to bike in nature and learn skills in a welcoming community

When the path to parenthood is an uncertain trek

Some believe the platform has made the sport more accessible and lucrative for female anglers. But not everyone sees it that way.

The end was coming for Roany, a strong and beautiful horse who’d been at the center of Pam Houston’s life for 25 years. What she wanted for him was simple: a peaceful exit, lifted by the touch of human hands.

The risks and rewards of being (literally and figuratively) out in the wilderness

New accounts sharing bad behavior, plus public stands from notable climbers, are bringing gross online interactions into the light

What began as a carpe diem trip has become one of the few representations of visible queerness in the outdoor world

The organization’s equity pledge ignored the work of Teresa Baker and many others striving to make the outdoor industry more inclusive. So we asked a dozen of them how to move forward.

The Venture Out Project is doing more than just teaching outdoor skills. It's creating a community.

One writer, inspired by Edward Abbey to head west, sets off for a seasonal gig that proves to be a deeply isolating experience