MSR Dromedary Bags: My Guardian Angels For More Than 50 Expeditions

MSR Dromedary Bags have become my guardian angels, providing me life—yes, literally providing life—on more than 50 expeditions around the world to complete major athletic goals. From first desert crossings in China to climbing huge first ascents on vertical rock walls in Greenland, on every continent and beyond, they have kept me alive. Let me explain: Water. It is the sweet giver of life. This transparent fluid forms the world’s streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the major constituent of the fluids of living things. We are water and water is life. And, of course, life is sweet. My body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water, depending on the day or my activity. To function properly I need to drink between one and seven liters of water per…

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From Sea to Source: Misadventures & Camping on the Hudson River

In August of 2019, my friend Kirk and I fulfilled a childhood dream, paddling the Hudson River from source to sea. Growing up, my friends and I would explore my small hometown and go as far as we could get before making it home for dinner. We would go paddling, swimming, cliff jumping, hiking and occasionally jump trains when they were moving slow enough. Setting off to wander our town each day was an exploration, even if we had been there before. As kids, my friends and I were too naïve to even realize that our exploits rarely took us more than a mile or two from home, yet they still had a sense of adventure that built the kind of lasting friendships that are only forged in the outdoors….

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Bikepacking Through Death Valley: A Loose How-To Guide

Something about bikepacking Death Valley drew us in—maybe it was the iconic sand dunes, the deep canyons, salty-dry basins, or moving rocks, but more likely it was just the empty space and lack of cell service. After a year of chaos, we all wanted a break. What better way to get out the angst than to hammer pedals for a week in the middle of the largest National Park in the country? After getting tested for COVID (a qualifier that’s nearly a prerequisite these days), the five of us met at Saline Warm Springs, a hidden gem in the northwest corner of the park. The pools were closed and the wind was gusty, but we had work to do anyway. That afternoon we went through and packed all our food,…

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The MSR Away Team Shares Their Favorite Outdoor & Hiking Essentials

We couldn’t be more excited to introduce the all-new MSR Away Team—a passionate crew of adventurers from around the world who will share their trips, expertise and insights with the MSR community. Chosen from nearly 1,000 applicants, these 10 amazing outdoorspeople will bring the stoke all summer long. Read on to meet the whole crew and learn about the favorite outdoor gear and hiking essentials they take on every adventure. Make sure to follow them on Instagram to see all their explorations. Corey McMullen @coreyoutdoors Home base: New Hampshire, United States Corey is a photographer and an avid backpacker and trail runner who has stayed close to home in the White Mountains of the Northeast United States since the COVID pandemic hit. This summer he plans to camp and backpack…

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