By David Clock 　　Last year, David Clock hiked California’s 211-mile John Muir Trail. His striking photos reveal the grandeur of the trail’s surrounding terrain, and they kick off our series: Thru the Lens: Photo Journeys of the Major Thru-Hikes.” 　　var lightbox_transition = 'elastic'; var lightbox_speed = 800; var lightbox_fadeOut = 300; var lightbox_title = false; var lightbox_scalePhotos = true; var...

　　When I started planning my 2015 Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, I knew I wanted ultralight backpacking gear. I wasn’t aiming for sub-10 pounds or any particular ‘goal weight’, but I wanted to make intentional gear choices that kept my base weight low without going completely barebones. (Base weight is the total weight of your pack, fully loaded, not including anything...

　　One of the best parts of mountain running is when you get to walk. I’m not calling mountain running a gentle stroll, but generally, you’re not full-on, maxed-out sprinting hour after hour up an enormous rock pile. The running part is great, but the main draw is that rock pile and the ones around it. Just being, and moving, in...