Connect with us

Published

on

Everyone has something they want to do before the inevitable happens. As we hope the inevitable will come as late as it possibly can, the activities on our bucket list go unchecked.

Most people hesitate to do something they always wanted to do. The main reason is that they can’t afford it or they can’t find the time and so on. However, you cannot live your life to the fullest unless you do something for yourself.

Therefore, you must take a leap of faith, or you’ll end up regretting not doing something. So, live a little will you and give that bucket list another go. That said, here’s why you should check things off your bucket list as soon as possible.

Time is running out.

Scrabble Tiles put next to a watch in order to say Time is Precious
No, it’s not but the window of opportunity when you can actually do something doesn’t appear very often, so if you don’t take the chase now, you might never decide to actually do it.

A good example is that lots of guys want to attend an NBA game, in person, of course. They will often browse the best US sportsbooks and perhaps place a few wagers but never actually go to the game.

The main reason is that tickets are expensive, and they get sold out almost immediately. So, if going to the NBA Finals is on your bucket list, you should plan a guy’s road trip to wherever the finals will take place, on time and actually commit to it.

In life, something always comes up that makes people hesitate when chasing their dreams. But time is not promised to anyone. See why you should check things off your bucket list as soon as possible:
Click To Tweet

Life is a box of chocolates.

Most people spend their lives grinding through the system, never actually doing anything they like. So, when you’re old and retired, you no longer have the energy or the will to do the things you wanted to do when you were younger.

Don’t wait to be burdened by regret when you’re old and wrinkly. As they say that life is full of surprises, you’ll never get a chance to find out just how much that is true if you don’t actually do something.

If we take the aforementioned example, it’s one thing to watch NBA Playoffs at home and a completely different experience to watch a game in person. So, if a chance presents itself for you to actually do something you’ve always wanted, make sure you capitalize on it.

Carpe Diem

Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/review-nemo-hornet-osmo-2p-ultralight-backpacking-tent/

Continue Reading

Frontier Adventure

The Best Backpacking Gear for the John Muir Trail

Published

on

Wind4 016 2

By Michael Lanza

So you’re planning to thru-hike the John Muir Trail and making all of the necessary preparations, and now you’re wondering: What’s the best gear for a JMT hike? Having thru-hiked the JMT as well as taken numerous other backpacking trips all over the High Sierra—mostly between late August and late September, which I consider that the best time to walk the Sierra, to avoid snow and the voracious mosquitoes and blazing hot afternoons of mid-summer—I offer the following picks for the best lightweight backpacking gear and apparel for a JMT thru-hike.

Indisputably one of the best backpacking trips in America—and among the very best I’ve taken over three decades of backpacking, including 10 years I spent as Northwest Editor and lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog—the JMT meanders for 211 miles through the magnificent High Sierra, from Yosemite Valley to the summit of the highest peak in the Lower 48, 14,505-foot Mount Whitney (where backpackers must then descend another 11 miles to finish the trip at Whitney Portal trailhead). See my story about thru-hiking the JMT in seven days.

With few opportunities to resupply along the trail—and given the generally dry weather in the Sierra in summer—you can easily and should hike the JMT with the lightest gear that works for you (or that you can afford). Maximum pack weight will depend on how many days you spend on the trail and your food weight, but it’s quite feasible to keep your base pack weight (everything but food and water) within 15 pounds or less—and certainly no more than 20 pounds—without compromising safety or comfort in camp.

Wind4 016 3
Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

A backpacker hiking the John Muir Trail above Helen Lake in Kings Canyon N.P., High Sierra.
” data-image-caption=”Marco Garofalo backpacking the John Muir Trail above Helen Lake in Kings Canyon N.P. Click photo to learn how I can help you plan your JMT thru-hike.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JMT2-085-Marco-Garofalo-hiking-above-Helen-Lake-John-Muir-Trail-Kings-Canyon-N.P.-High-Sierra..jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JMT2-085-Marco-Garofalo-hiking-above-Helen-Lake-John-Muir-Trail-Kings-Canyon-N.P.-High-Sierra..jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1″ decoding=”async” width=”900″ height=”600″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JMT2-085-Marco-Garofalo-hiking-above-Helen-Lake-John-Muir-Trail-Kings-Canyon-N.P.-High-Sierra..jpg?resize=900%2C600&ssl=1″ alt=”A backpacker hiking the John Muir Trail above Helen Lake in Kings Canyon N.P., High Sierra.” class=”wp-image-54840″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JMT2-085-Marco-Garofalo-hiking-above-Helen-Lake-John-Muir-Trail-Kings-Canyon-N.P.-High-Sierra..jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JMT2-085-Marco-Garofalo-hiking-above-Helen-Lake-John-Muir-Trail-Kings-Canyon-N.P.-High-Sierra..jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside
Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/crs-28-mission-control-audio/

Continue Reading

Frontier Adventure

CRS-28 Mission Control Audio

Published

on

hqdefault 2

hqdefault 3

This is the vehicle trajectory and mission control audio without any additional commentary. There may be very long periods of silence. For our full hosted webcast, visit

Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/photo-gallery-36-gorgeous-backcountry-lakes/

Continue Reading

Frontier Adventure

Photo Gallery: 36 Gorgeous Backcountry Lakes

Published

on

Wind4 016

By Michael Lanza

Water makes up about 60 percent of our bodies—and, I suspect, 100 percent of our hearts. We crave it not only physically, for survival, but emotionally, for spiritual rejuvenation. We love playing in it for hours as children and we paddle and swim in it as adults. We’re drawn by the calming effects of sitting beside a stream or lake in a beautiful natural setting, an experience that possesses a certain je ne sais quoi—a quality difficult to describe, but that we can all feel.

And nothing beats taking a swim in a gorgeous backcountry lake.

I’ve come across quite a few wonderful backcountry lakes over more than three decades of exploring wilderness—including about 10 years as the Northwest Editor of Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog. I’ve just updated and expanded this list of my favorites to give you some eye candy as well as ideas for future adventures—and perhaps compare against your list of favorite backcountry lakes.

Wind4 016 1
Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

Click on the links to my stories in these brief writeups to learn more about each of these trips. Much of this story is free for anyone to read, but reading the entire story requires a paid subscription. See my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan a trip to any of these lakes.

If you know some gorgeous lakes that are not on my list, please suggest them in the comments section below this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Here’s to your next peaceful moment beside a gorgeous lake deep in the mountains somewhere.

Elizabeth Lake in Glacier National Park.
” data-image-caption=”Early morning at Elizabeth Lake in Glacier National Park. Click photo to learn how I can help you plan your Glacier trip.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1″ decoding=”async” width=”900″ height=”600″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?resize=900%2C600&ssl=1″ alt=”Elizabeth Lake in Glacier National Park.” class=”wp-image-38774″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&ssl=1 1080w, https://i0.wp.com/thebigoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gla6-018-Elizabeth-Lake-in-Glacier-National-Park.-2.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1 1200w” sizes=”(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px” data-recalc-dims=”1″ />Elizabeth Lake in Glacier National Park.

Elizabeth Lake, Glacier National
Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/astronomers-are-searching-for-a-galaxy-wide-transmitter-beacon-at-the-center-of-the-milky-way/

Continue Reading

Trending