Story by Hilaree Nelson 　　Photos by Nick Kalisz, Dutch Simpson and The North Face. All rights reserved. 　　I’m always in awe of the things I obsess over, especially when the lens is through hindsight. Mostly because in the moment, when the idea first takes hold, when the dreams start waking me up at night, when the secret planning starts to form...

　　It takes time, planning, money and dedication to undertake an epic thru-hike like the Great Western Loop, Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail. If you’re looking for something more manageable—even one done in a day or two—North America has plenty of options for short thru-hikes that can be completed in a single long day if you’re an experienced trekker, or...

　　Your favorite hiking trails may be under snow until spring, but snowshoeing is an affordable, accessible way to keep winter fun. The solitude of snowshoeing is also a bonus: there are no crowds, heavy machinery, or endless lift lines. The following destinations are some of the best places to snowshoe in North America, from groomed Nordic tracks and valley floors,...