Send us Fan Mail

We break down four concrete reasons trekking poles belong in a hiking or backpacking kit, from better posture to real stability on rough ground. We also share how we choose and set up our poles, and why they can double as shelter support and first-aid tools when things go sideways.
• Why trekking poles are not just for older hikers
• setting pole height for better posture and biomechanics
• choosing foldable versus collapsible designs and lever locks
• using trekking poles with trekking pole tents to reduce pack weight
• keeping tip covers for sensitive terrain and safer use
• turning a pole into a splint in a first aid situation
• gaining stability on stream crossings, boulder fields, and steep descents
If you have questions about trekking poles, drop those in the comments below. If you're on the podcast, make sure to listen, click that link, and drop me an email letting me know what you're thinking about, what you have questions about. If you like this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel so you can see more great content just like this.

Support the show

Send a text

We travel from Wukoki's sandstone perch to Wupatki's 100-room complex, tracing trade routes, desert farming, and the living science of a breathing blowhole. Along the way, we weigh preservation, oral histories, and how plazas and ball courts shaped community life.

• Wukoki's defensive siting and sandstone construction
• Site etiquette and why artifacts must stay put
• Ripple marks as geology's timeline beneath pueblos
• Wupatki as a trade hub linking north and south
• Meanings of the blowhole in science and tradition
• Ball court uses across sports, ceremonies, and storage
• Three Sisters planting and dryland agriculture
• Nalakihu's modest footprint and Citadel's basalt walls
• Terraces, sinkholes, and the land's hidden fractures
• Living ties for Hopi and Zuni communities today

If you're on the podcast, click that link and drop us a message and let us know what you're up to...

Support the show

Send a text

We hike the Bonita Vista and Lenox Crater trails at Sunset Crater, share why NASA trained astronauts here, and explain how a thousand-year-old eruption reshaped this volcanic field. We give practical tips on altitude, footing, water, and protected areas you cannot hike in.

• quick overview of Bonita Vista and Lenox Crater loop
• Why astronauts trained on Sunset Crater terrain
• what to expect at 7,000 feet and why to hydrate
• views of the San Francisco Peaks, O’Leary Peak, and Bonita Lava Flow
• why Sunset Crater’s cone is closed to protect fragile soils
• accessible options on the Lava Flow Trail
• planning advice for late starts and cinder footing

If you have questions or comments about Sunset Crater, please let me know by emailing or texting me.

Support the show