The Big Outside » Ask Me

By Michael Lanza Yellowstone National Park is a place where the earth comes alive, with more than 10,000 hydrothermal features and 500 active geysers—that’s more than half the world’s geyse...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-the-10-best-short-hikes-in-yellowstone/

Michael, Here’s a question I’ve struggled with. Because of the timing of my trips, I often end up hiking and backpacking solo. I enjoy that (and enjoy groups). However, as a result, I’ve ha...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-should-i-hike-or-backpack-solo-in-bear-country/

Hello Michael, I am a college student at Franklin Pierce University, and I have a couple questions I’d like to ask you. I have been enjoying your articles and website and your book, Before Th...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-what-are-your-favorite-new-england-hikes/

Hello Michael, I’ve read through a lot of your blog, and it really has inspired me to get outside more and look for greater adventures than what I’ve already done. I have never been anywhere ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-should-i-go-backpacking-solo/

Hello Michael, I just stumbled on your amazing blog and ordered your book—I can’t wait to read it! I am completely inspired by your blog. I have one question: I am from the Northeast original...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-do-you-protect-your-kids-and-yourself-against-tick-borne-diseases/

Mr. Lanza, I am writing to ask your advice on how to find more complicated active outdoors experiences for my kids. I live on the East Coast (small town, coastal South Carolina), but as a family ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-tips-on-finding-more-complicated-family-adventures-and-hiring-guides/

Hey buddy, Been a longtime reader of your blog. I am a father of a six-year-old daughter. When I was younger, my parents encouraged us to be active outdoors, and it is something that has stuck wi...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-do-i-outfit-a-growing-kid-affordably/

Hi Michael, We have a newly turned six-year old, a three-and-a-half-year-old, and I’m expecting! How old were your kids when you started doing “big” trips with them? By big I mean hiking an...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-old-were-your-kids-when-you-started-taking-big-trips/

Mike, I know this is a really random question, but when descending mountain trails my big toes suffer immensely. Besides tying the laces up really tight, is there a trick to protecting them witho...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-do-i-stop-getting-battered-toes-when-hiking/

Hey Michael, I am planning a grand adventure this summer that will include Yellowstone National Park. My buddy and I are hoping to spend three to four nights backpacking. Yellowstone is massive, ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-the-best-multi-day-wilderness-trips-in-yellowstone/

Michael, I stumbled upon your blog and have enjoyed reading your advice. I am currently deciding between the Gregory Baltoro 75 and 65. I have always had a 65L pack and was looking to upgrade to...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-should-i-buy-a-larger-backpack-if-its-not-much-heavier/

Michael, I wondered if you might have some recommendations for either camping and dayhikes or two-day backpacking trips in the Seven Devils/Hells Canyon area. Or, maybe you have other suggestions...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-where-should-we-dayhike-and-backpack-in-hells-canyon/

Hi Michael, I hope this finds you well! At the end of the year I am hoping to join my friends on an adventure to Argentina to climb Aconcagua. We are not taking the technical routes, so no ropes...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-do-we-flatlanders-train-for-high-altitudes/

Michael, When carrying a bear canister, where and how would you place it in the pack? Toward the bottom above the sleeping bag? More toward the top of the pack just below the shoulderblades? Woul...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-to-load-a-bear-canister-into-a-backpack/

Hello Michael. While researching for a summer backpacking trip with my wife, I came across your excellent website for the first time. Thank you for setting such a high bar in quality images and n...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-backpacking-in-sequoia-national-park/

Michael, In looking at your website (super nice by the way!), looks like you and your friend just did part of the hike I am planning! We are planning on starting at Crawford Notch and traveling ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-planning-a-96-mile-appalachian-trail-hike-in-new-hampshire/

Hi Michael, I just found your blog today after starting my research for a summer guided rafting tour for families. In my next life I’d like to come back as one of your offspring! My husband wou...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-can-you-recommend-rafting-outfitters-and-trips/

Michael, I sweat profusely while hiking. I love winter and fall, but summer kills me. In your opinion, what is the most breathable, light rain shell out there? Money is no object, and I was hopin...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-whats-the-most-breathable-three-season-rain-jacket/

Hi Michael, My fifth-grade daughter and I spend most of our summer playing and hiking. We are upping our backpacking mileage each year and hope to be able to do the Wonderland Trail around Mount ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-backpacking-trips-with-an-11-year-old/

Michael, Your spectacular photos of Castle Peak and the White Cloud Mountains have inspired us to take a backpacking trip there this August or September. Do you have any suggestions for a loop h...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-what-backpacking-trip-do-you-recommend-in-idahos-white-cloud-mountains/

Hi Mike, We are planning a trip across the country in July to Seattle/Tacoma. We have six kids (ages one to 12). We’re planning to drive all the way across and back in about a month. There are...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-which-national-parks-should-my-family-visit-on-a-cross-country-trip/

Hi Michael, Hope all is well. I’m looking for your opinion on a 30-liter pack. I am going to Nepal in October on a 15-day trek. I think this would be the perfect size for me, because also I lik...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-what-pack-do-you-recommend-for-hut-treks/

Hi Mike, I am 63 and retired. I have done multiple bicycle tours up to 600 miles around Lake Ontario. Now this boy in and old man’s body wants to hike the Appalachian Trail in the spring of 201...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-tips-on-gear-for-an-appalachian-trail-thru-hike/

Mr. Lanza, Been following you for a while, great site, great articles and amazing photography. I’ve been a lifelong outdoorsman and really enjoy hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and fly-fis...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-what-camera-equipment-do-you-carry-in-the-backcountry/

Hi Michael, I was wondering if you would recommend these Aku SL Sintesi Mid GTX boots for an average day of hiking as well as backpacking. I’m about to retire a pair of Merrells I’ve had for ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-which-boots-cross-over-well-from-dayhiking-to-backpacking/

Michael, I am an active backpacker and trekker. I have become disappointed in the use of Gore-Tex in hiking boots. I know you test many boots, but I wonder if you use many of those you test to ex...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-do-i-find-waterproof-boots-that-wont-leak-on-rugged-wet-hikes/

Michael, Thank you for continuing to both inform and inspire through The Big Outside. Your efforts are always appreciated. As I mentioned to you a couple years ago, my wife, daughter and I have b...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-what-are-the-best-hikes-in-rocky-mountain-national-park-and-near-breckenridge-co/

Good morning Mike, Anne is telling me she needs an avalanche beacon for a weeklong backcountry ski trip to Canada. We don’t own any because we retired from sketchy backcountry about the time be...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-advice-on-avalanche-beacons-and-safety/

Michael, Tremendous trip with your family (in this story)! My wife and I have four days in Jotunheimen National Park. May I request a recommendation for an area to concentrate? We are very experi...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-advice-for-four-days-trekking-in-norways-jotunheimen-national-park/

Hey Michael, Nice Blog! Just spent a bit of time checking it out. So I have a question. My husband and I are heading north (we’re from Colorado) to do some backcountry skiing and mountain bikin...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-where-should-we-go-backcountry-skiing-around-sun-valley-and-idahos-sawtooths/

Hi Michael, I very much enjoy the stories posted on your website. My friend and I are planning a winter ski trip to Yellowstone in early March and your advice would be much appreciated. We’re...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-advice-on-a-multi-day-backcountry-ski-tour-in-yellowstone/

Michael, I’ve been checking out your excellent backpacking posts and think you may be the right person to help me out with my search. My partner and I have taken a year off work to travel aroun...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-what-are-your-favorite-places-in-the-northwest-and-northern-rockies/

Michael, My wife and I, mid-30s, are planning a getaway week (from our kids 3 and 5) for the first week of June. We’ve booked cheap round-trip flights from Cleveland (900’ above sea level) to...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-is-early-june-too-early-for-hiking-mount-whitney-and-in-yosemite/

Michael, This is a great, straightforward review . I was just looking at these boots and I am strongly considering them based on your review. I am torn between these Thunder III GTX and the La Sp...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-which-boots-do-you-recommend-for-backpacking-heavier-or-lighter/

(Via Twitter from @Keeping_Secrets, aka Grant, St. Louis, MO) @Keeping_Secrets: Hey Mike! I’m looking at new hiking boots. We pack heavy. Looking at Vasque Breeze 2.0. Thoughts? Recommendations...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-what-do-you-suggest-for-heavy-duty-backpacking-boots/

Dear Michael, I am 22 and am looking to do some backpacking with a friend in Austria’s Alps this summer, specifically the Grossglockner and Schober Groups out of Zell am See. You wrote an artic...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-can-i-backpack-with-a-tent-in-the-alps/

Michael: I just got turned to your site today and have enjoyed reading your gear reviews. I plan to return for more reading soon and learn of your adventures. I noticed that we like a lot of the...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-whats-a-good-tent-for-cold-wet-weather/

Michael, Westcomb Focus LT Hoody vs. Montbell Versalite for $150? Just wondering. Tim (submitted as a comment to my review of the Westcomb Focus LT Hoody rain jacket) Hi Tim, Good question. I hav...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-expensive-waterproof-breathable-jacket-vs-inexpensive-which-do-you-recommend/

Hey Michael, I saw that you subsequently reviewed the Sierra Designs Flash 2. Which of these tents are you packing now? For the Flash 2, with the side vestibules not touching the ground in areas,...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-which-tent-is-better-sierra-designs-flash-2-or-exped-mira-ii/

Hi Michael, We discovered your website about a year ago, and have loved getting inspired by your stories! We have planned a family backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail this August, based on ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-got-a-family-backpacking-tent-recommendation/

Hi Michael, I just discovered your site, The Big Outside, while looking for information on backpacking with kids. We have been car camping with our kids since they were tiny but will try our fi...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-tips-on-food-for-backpacking-with-kids/

Hi Michael, I hope all is well with you. I talked to you a couple of months ago about winter packs and you were extremely helpful. I need new boots for hiking/light backpacking, and I have a very...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-advice-on-buying-lightweight-boots/

Can I sound off for a moment about Gore-Tex and other supposedly waterproof/breathable membranes? I’ve owned four pairs of boots, a running suit and a pair of gloves that have been Gore-Tex lin...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-how-waterproof-are-waterproof-breathable-apparel-and-boots/

Hi Mike, Any recommendations on a lightweight backpack for overnight to five-day trips? Todd McCall, Idaho Hey Todd, I’d say get a pack around 50 liters that’s lightweight but not ultralight,...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-advice-on-buying-a-lightweight-backpack/

Hi Michael, I wonder if you could help me shed a few pounds – from my pack, not off my body. I’ve been section hiking the AT, and over the years have gotten my pack weight down from about 45 ...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-can-you-offer-advise-on-lighter-gear/

Tips for our first family backpacking trip? We have a three year old and a 1.5 year old. Via Twitter from Melissa Avery ‏@melissabravery @MichaelALanza: Find a lake or stream 1 or 2 mi. in. Cam...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-tips-for-a-first-backpacking-trip-with-young-kids/

Michael, You are living the dream!  My wife and I are really enjoying your work through the magazine articles and your most recent book, keep it up. We have two young daughters (2 and 3.5) and j...

https://thebigoutside.com/ask-me-hiking-with-preschool-age-children/