(suspected bugs, support requests -- ask questions regarding functionality; make test posts (non-member guests welcome), etc. NOTE: make sure you know how a function should work before reporting a problem. Also, read the FAQ :))

(admin notices and forum policies, rules, disclaimers, as well as tips for navigating the website, etc.)

( to keep this community going and growing. Click on the banners/links herein and we receive a small commission from your purchases. Thank you for taking the time ... e.g., "One Deal At a Time", "Gear Outlets", "Sales", "Clearances", Gear Stores, etc..) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(since 1997, the granddaddy of gear forums - the original hangout for serious gear heads. In here, talk gear -- lightweight, ultralite, superlite, hyperlite, whatever lite. It's all in here.)

(discuss fabrics, tools, techniques, successes & failures -- (also, checkout the HomeMadeGear.com website))

(discuss food solutions for the backcountry -- (also, get FOOD at BackcountryFood))

(e.g., lightweight concepts, bears, ethics, lite vs. heavy, shoes vs. boots, first aid kit vs. no first aid kit, light vs. hyperlight, your intellectual or spiritual musings, etc.)

(post want ads and buy & sell used gear - read forum policy!)

(general backcountry issues - permits, harmonious multi-use (hiking, horses, hunting, motorized noise-makers, fishing, etc), conservation, regional issues, general backcountry Chit Chat & topics of interest that don't fit elsewhere.)

( ASK HERE - Backcountry Basics. This forum is for new hikers, backpackers & other backcountry travelers who have basic "HOW-TO" questions.)

(share experiences and practical advice for staying healthy & safe in the backcountry: e.g., personal preparations; maintenance of body parts; general safety tips.)

( discuss corresponding lite gear, backcountry ethics & your own practices & experiences (positive & negative); introduce your animal friends (photos, stories, etc. )

(the gadgets & your experiences -- optics (binoculars, monoculars) electronics (cameras, picture-editing software, GPS, compasses, altimeters, watches) communications (phones, radio, ham radio)

(Strategy, technique, and dialog for the "almost-over-the-hill" hiker. Still miss the scent of burning wool as your socks dried next to the campfire - you can reminisce here :-) Need compassion for your age-related aches & pains - or are you a retiring "Baby-Boomer" who needs help getting started - this is THE place.)

(upcoming trip plans, finding hiking partners, trip reports, trail journals, as well as inquiries related to domestic & international backcountry destinations.)

(book reviews & discussion -- books related to the backcountry or books you pack into the backcountry.)

(discuss backcountry-related photography - technique, equipment, etc.)

(post your photos - wildlife, landscapes, backcountry folks, etc.)

(publish your trip report or journal along with photos.)

(ultralight with children ? - experiences and tips for family hiking & backpacking adventures).

(whether cross country or in the mountains, "lightweight in the backcountry" is the way to go -- share your experiences, gear and advice with other backcountry cyclists).

(what comes to mind is "lightweight portage" -- in this forum, share your equipment, techniques, adventures, experiences and advice with other paddlers !)

(whether it's wild Cutthroat, stocked Rainbow or ??, fishing in the backcountry is an adventure - mix in a little cross-country, ultralight tackle and a lot of solitude and WOW !!)

(AT / PCT / CDT / JMT, thru-hiking, section-hiking, fastpacking.)

(discuss lightweight gear, techniques, tips & experiences specific to mountaineering (e.g., climbing tools, scrambling techniques, basecamp tips, recent experiences, etc.))

(winter, the magic time to be out in it - talk equipment, techniques, destinations, experiences, etc. for snowshoeing, non-snow hiking, cross-country skiing, snow camping, etc. -- visit award-winning The Winter Backpacker)

(HUMOR - appropriate for family consumption and yes, British are welcome :)

(home gardening: tips and discussion about growing vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs and other non-narcotic plants in the home garden)

(discuss topics other than backcountry - fully moderated, by the way!)