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Empowering you to be a confident, independent, and responsible outdoor enthusiast

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Explore Vanlife

From awesome skiing and outdoor recreation, to off-season prices, and a welcoming mountain town, in this blog post I share 4 reasons to visit Jasper, Alberta in winter.

Winter Destinations

The ultimate gift guide for outdoor lovers featuring gift ideas for him & her, for hikers, backpackers, vanlifers, international travelers, skiers & more.

Read about the top highlights from Bearfoot Theory's first-ever Open Roads Fest. A van life festival for outdoor enthusiasts.

Join us at Open Roads Fest June 25-28, 2020

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The ultimate gift guide for outdoor lovers featuring gift ideas for him & her, for hikers, backpackers, vanlifers, international travelers, skiers & more.

40 Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers 2019: Ideas for Hikers, Vanlifers, Travelers & More

Hit the slopes or cruise the coast with our list of 12 winter destinations for outdoor adventure, perfect for the sun-seeker and snow-lover alike.

Snow & Sun: 12 Winter Destinations for Outdoor Adventure

The summer crowds have dispersed, but it's still prime camping season. Get prepared and learn how to stay warm with these fall camping tips.

Fall Camping Tips: How to Prepare and Stay Warm

Get all the info you need for backpacking the San Jacinto Peak Loop Trail, the most scenic route to summit San Jacinto Peak.

Backpacking Guide: Hiking the San Jacinto Peak Loop Trail

Use these tips to learn how to do Moab like a local and be a responsible visitor while hiking, camping, off-roading and more.

How to Do Moab Like a Local: Must-Know Tips for your First Visit

The Telluride Via Ferrata is a fun, thrilling mix of climbing & hiking where you use special equipment to traverse a steep cliff. Plan your trip with these tips.

Telluride Via Ferrata: Everything you Need to Know

Learn what to wear hiking in fall with our checklist of the best fall hiking clothes for women that are breathable, wick sweat, keep you warm AND look good.

What to Wear Hiking in Fall

Get our guide to the best day hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park including distances, trail descriptions, what to be prepared for, and more.

Best Day Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

The ultimate gift guide for outdoor lovers featuring gift ideas for him & her, for hikers, backpackers, vanlifers, international travelers, skiers & more.

40 Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers 2019: Ideas for Hikers, Vanlifers, Travelers & More

Learn about the trail, permits, and gear in this detailed guide to hiking the Wave in Arizona in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

Everything you Need to Know about Hiking The Wave in Arizona

20 Best Hot Springs in Nevada Mapped

Looking to score a deal on cheap camping and outdoor gear? Here are 12 places to buy discounted outdoor gear - both new and used.

12 Places to Buy Discounted Outdoor Gear

Follow this detailed 7-day Teton and Yellowstone road trip itinerary to travel to the best sites, hikes, and attractions in these two incredible national parks.

The Ultimate 7-day Teton and Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary

Interested in winter hiking? Learn about base layers, insulating layers, shells, and other cold weather hiking clothes with our winter outdoor apparel guide

Winter Hiking Clothes & Cold Weather Layering Basics

What to wear skiing - the ultimate guide to skiing apparel so you have the right clothes for staying warm, dry, and comfortable on the slopes.

What to Wear Skiing: The Ultimate Skiing Apparel Guide

Sprinter Van Bathroom: Pros and Cons & Would I do it again?

Explore The best in Gear

A little Instamagic

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An all-time campsite on the Trans-Catalina Island Trail.⠀
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I just finished this 5-day coastal backpacking trip off Southern California that has just about everything you could want in hiking trail. Amazing campsites, non-stop views, wildlife, solitude, and bison burgers 😋. Stay tuned for updates to the Trans-Catalina trail guide on the blog!⠀
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Happy Monday everyone! I spent this weekend in the classroom, and my brain is firing on all ends. One thing I’ve loved about being a blogger and owning my own business is the never ending learning process. Whether it’s learning how to manage a team, about the tech that makes my website run properly, or strategies to ensure the business remain sustainable, it’s been an exciting journey that I’m excited to continue.
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I’ve spent the last couple of months doubling down as a student, and it’s looking like 2020 is going to a big year for the Bearfoot Theory community. I can’t wait to share the details of what we’ve been up to and what the next chapter will look like.
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As students of life, I’d love to hear what you are currently working on down in the comments👇🏼
📷 Photo by my amazing friend and fellow entrepreneur @brookemattinglyphoto
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#blogging #forceofnature #womenwhohike #sheexplores #womenwhoexplore #outdoorwomen

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Welcome to Bears Ears National Monument, the home of the Ancestral Puebloans who lived here over 1000 years ago. This fragile area offers an incredible look into history with access to petroglyphs, cliff dwellings, and other artifacts, and with such, comes the potential to leave a devastating imprint. Before you visit, it's imperative that you know the nuances of what it means to be responsible here, and it goes beyond the typical concepts of Leave No Trace. Here are a few crucial tips for your visit:⠀
1) Don't touch or take anything from the sites. The oils on your skin can stain, damage, and deteriorate the artwork and the artifacts. You also need to be careful not to step or lean on any structures.⠀
2) Don't eat in or near the dwellings. Crumbs attract insects and rodents who can cause irreparable damage.⠀
3) If you have to go to the bathroom, make sure to walk at least 200 feet from ruins, trails, and water sources. For poop, dig a cathole 4-6" deep, and pack out all used toilet paper (check the blog for tips if you feel grossed out by this and aren't sure how to do it).⠀
4) Don't draw your own artwork on the walls. It's illegal and poor form all around. ⠀
5) In these areas, people use cairns (stacks of rocks) to navigate when the trail might be hard to follow. Don't build your own cairns that could mislead other hikers and get them lost.⠀
6) Don't camp or have fires in the alcoves, even if doesn't appear to be any archeological remains. Fires can leave scars that make it difficult for archeologists to date the sites.⠀
7) Watch your step. Southern Utah is home to cryptobiotic soil which is the lifeblood of the desert. You'll see areas where people have trampled this crust-like soil that can take hundreds of years to recover.⠀
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Do you know someone who is planning to travel here? Tag them in the comments so they show up equipped with the necessary knowledge to help preserve this important piece of history.⠀
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#leavenotrace #bearsears #bearsearsnationalmonument #nationalmonument

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Did you know only 10% Grand Canyon visitors spend time on the North Rim? We spent three days camping for free on public lands surrounding the Park and hiking around the North Rim on secluded trails. I've always wanted to backpack Rim to Rim, but now it's moved right to the top of my trail bucketlist. Has anyone here done it? If so, which direction did you hike and would you suggest 2 or 3 nights?⠀
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👟Wearing my favorite kicks - the @obozfootwear Sawtooth II B-Dry // sponsored
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#grandcanyon #oboz #obozfootwear #truetothetrail

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SAN DIEGO MEETUP! Join us for a free meetup in San Diego on 11/2! We'll be hanging out at Playa Pacifica in Mission Bay Park Saturday afternoon/evening (4-8pm) where we'll grab a fire pit and enjoy sunset over the bay. Everyone is welcome and no van necessary. The event is also dog-friendly. Head to our IG stories and swipe up for details.
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#sprintercampervans #vanlifemeetup #vanlifegathering #sandiegovanlife #vanlife #sandiego

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What if everybody brought the best version of themselves to the trail? What if instead of complaining about all of the people, you decided to say hi, smile, or even strike up a conversation with fellow hikers? I’ve come to realize that it’s all in your perspective. You can be upset that your once secret trail is now popular (reality check: you can’t control population growth). Or you can realize that we are all out here for the same reason. Your version of connecting with nature might look different than someone else’s, but the end game is the same. The outdoors offers undeniable mental and physical benefits, so isn’t that a good thing for our society as a whole? More happy, healthy, outdoor-loving people?⠀
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The key is making sure that trail users understand trail etiquette and the nuances of Leave No Trace. However, it’s also important to remember that not everyone grew up with the luxury of easy outdoor access. What may seem like common sense to you, may not be if it’s your first time on a trail. If we want to be a positive influence on those new to the outdoors, we need to lead by positive example, and that includes our attitude.
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#hiking #leavenotrace #womenwhohike #outdooradventure

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