Wildcrafting is the art of selling herbs, roots and various plants that can be used for treating ailments, medical purposes and even seasonings for food. Items which seem easy to obtain, such as pine cones, seashells and fossils, are being sold on the Internet on sites such as Ebay. Even such items as bone, driftwood, [...]

Many of us are dog owners. And those of us who enjoy the weekend, weeklong or open-ended getaway, appreciate having a companion when no other human being can match our schedule. Before you begin your journey, there are a few things to consider for your canine sidekick: Find a Trail Suitable for a Dog – [...]

Jim Sammons provides some key rules to becoming a better fisherman when the kayak is your boat of choice. These tips are useful whether you’re fishing a lake, river or the ocean.

The official charity of America’s national parks, the National Park Foundation, has received a $500,000 grant from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. Disney’s goal is to help promote and connect kids and families to America’s national parks. The money will go to the Foundation’s “Ticket to Ride” and “America’s Best Idea” programs, which hopes to [...]

Outdoor specialty store Gander Mountain has teamed up with the non-profit, Nashville-based Soles4Souls in an effort to supply shoes to needy children. The promotion started April 16th and will continue until May 14. Country recording artist Billy Gilman’s new single, “The Choice,” is being used to promote this charitable event by the two companies. Gander [...]

Robert Earl “Bob” Smith, who in 1965 created one of the most invaluable components in the ski and snowboard world, died on April 18 at his home in La Quinta, California. He was 78. Dr. Smith’s design kick started Smith Optics, a leader in outdoor eyewear. According to Tag Kleiner, marketing director for Smith Optics, [...]

Recently, my dog Annie and I had the opportunity to test some of Ruff Wear’s equipment, namely the Approach Pack and the Bivy Bowl. It was the first day of spring when we took off through the rolling hills of Southern Tennessee. My shoes soaked up the dew as the sun filtered in through the [...]

In Our Southern Highlanders, Horace Kephart has painted a brilliantly colored picture of what life in Southern Appalachia must have been like. First published in 1913 and revised in 1922, the book offers intimate yet unaffectionate insights derived from the perspective of a man who has been there, living among the mountaineers in the early [...]

In my opinion, the best part of a hiking trip is the downtime. Yes, I love the toil and sweat of gritting my teeth and climbing a few thousand feet. The accomplished feeling and satisfaction of looking out over the valley below brings unexplainable exhilaration; an intrinsic mixture of dauntless gall and cerebral bliss. But [...]

It was 5:00 Thursday morning when the last siren that I cared to hear blared past my window. Sleep had left me long ago as I rolled out of bed and made plans to get out of Savannah. I had read about Cumberland Island, two hours south of Savannah, and decided to give it a [...]