Love & Humor
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Reflections on getting just a little bit older
The American downhill skier may not have won a medal in Beijing, but he got the most style points by far
Outside columnist Brendan Leonard investigates his relationship to nostalgia, happiness, and type-two fun
I’ve lived in a van for a year. It sucks, and now I’m ready to change things up.
Science shows that spending time outdoors can help with all kinds of serious ailments. So why not a broken heart?
I’m on a quest to learn to love the body I’m in but afraid to push my limits outside
I want to thru-hike part of the AT or PCT, but I’m the main caregiver in my household
I’m not convinced I can be with someone who isn’t into the same kind of adventures as me
Watching your dog age is one of the hardest parts of having a pet. Make their life comfortable and full of joy, and they’ll know how much you love them until the very end.
Tips for being a backpacking beginner and a woman adventuring alone
While getting his PhD in English, Logan Scherer developed an intense friendship with a male grad student that lasted for years, through his friend’s engagement and marriage to a woman. Scherer struggled to make sense of it, until he lost himself in a group of spinster nature writers from the late 19th century who eschewed marriage to live alone or with other women during a time when the language of queerness didn’t exist.
When you get creative with natural materials in parks, some call it art; others call it litter
What makes a queer person choose to live in an outdoorsy hot spot instead of an urban gayborhood?
38 quotes that we interpret for our own needs
Working as a camp counselor teaches you important skills that could jump-start your career
What to do if you followed your dream, only to realize it wasn’t what you wanted after all
How to balance freedom and adventure with safety and security
Ivy Le’s wildy funny take on adventure entertainment might just shift the conversation on who belongs in the outdoors
Why do I feel so, I don’t know, not that great after I spend a few minutes scrolling through social media?
Twelve reasons Deepak Chopra's new podcast on Audible will help change the way you view yourself and the world
From adventurous sled dogs to aging golden retrievers, online canines make millions of people feel good about their day
If you sent me this question before the pandemic, I probably would have a very different answer. But we’re all in a different time now.
Your field guide to swiping for a soulmate
Please give me some kind of hope that I’m not raising a kid who always will prefer computers to canoes
In the words of Brendan Leonard: “I did perhaps underestimate it a tiny bit”
A daring advice columnist sets off on a road trip with a singular goal: to ask strangers if they make love outside—in towns named Eden
Your style, no matter the reason, is your choice. Period.
Being rusty now doesn’t mean you’ll be rusty forever
Your partner’s planning an epic adventure with his ex, but you’d rather be his go-to travel buddy
The curious challenge of loving someone who’s always leaving you in the dust
“Is it your interpretation that I am taking you for your walk, or would you say that you are taking me for my walk?”
And what to do when your fitness level doesn’t match your adventure partner’s
Can I cut switchbacks? What about smoking on the trail? And what do I do with all those rocks?
Even if your idea of getting after it involves a camp chair and a cold one, you can (and should!) practice these skills
At home with the successful young climbers and burgeoning social media stars
You’re dead set on walking every inch of a trail, but your partner doesn’t mind skipping a section or two. How do you compromise?
After a year spent inside with too much time on his hands, a writer survives two days in the woods with only the equipment available to his hobbit alter ego—rapier and lute included
Tips for calming your own nerves—and those of people who love you
No matter where you go in Texas, you’ll find trails for every kind of hiker
Camping solo may not always be easy, but it'll always be worth it
There you are, at the bottom of a hill, on foot, or on your bike, or on skis, ready to start up. But are you really ready? Here are a few strategies you might consider. 1. Choosing More Pain for Less Time by Going Faster over Less Pain for More…
It's time to stop judging people for how they recreate outside
Do you jog around the block at the end of a run so your mileage equals a nice round number?
What to do when a significant other, or a friend, doesn't respect your decisions
What to do when you can’t be active in the same way
It might seem embarrassing at first, but putting a costume on your dog will likely result in more pets for him and more laughs for you
You’re actively running and cycling, but your partner’s on the sidelines. Here are tips on coping with this challenging dynamic.
Totally normal ways to keep the conversation moving
Sometimes our darkest moments create the best kind of magic
It's not just about saying you're sorry. You should also explain how you'll do better next time.
You have some options beyond that perfectly formulated post-workout beverage
The key to an adventure that's fun for everyone: lower your expectations, squash insecurities, and bring along plenty of creature comforts
Because it's make-a-year-end-list season
Expanding your community is always tough. Throw in a pandemic and a move to a rural area, and it could feel impossible. But a shift in perspective might be all you need to (safely) fill that social void.
An illustrated guide that no one ever asked for
The majority of my favorite days have been on trails that wouldn't make anyone's list
The key is to go all out on the things you feel comfortable doing
Should all your training be hard? Do you need to stretch? We've got answers.
By setting boundaries around what you post, when you're online, and who you surround yourself with in real life, you can strike a better balance between Instagram and reality
Plus, how to make up for missing an important day
From pizza to ultramarathons, what's the best way to chill out?
What happens when your ski and river guiding partner isn't able to work during the pandemic?
Jack English is the proud owner of an off-grid cabin nestled in California
"The time is always right to do what is right"
A lot of people get recognition because they do groundbreaking, brilliant, and deserving work, work that rises to the top through merit alone. But there are other groundbreaking, brilliant people who don’t always get recognition.
Outdoorsy people always have the best stories about dating. Some of them are wild enough to make national headlines.