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Fit For Miles

Fit For Miles

A reluctant runner's ramblings on travel and fitness

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July 21, 2021 Brandon Chase

Gear for an Outdoor Summer in 2021

[disclosure] Summer is officially in full swing, and I’ve been lucky enough to spend a great deal of time outside

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June 18, 2021 Brandon Chase

Losing Light: Joe McConaughy’s Long Trail FKT Documentary

This article first appeared on TheTrek. On June 10, 2020, in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Joe “Stringbean”

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November 24, 2020 Brandon Chase

Gear Review: Merrell MQM Flex 2 GTX

This article first appeared on TheTrek. [disclosure] Merrell is no stranger to the outdoors, having produced highly-acclaimed hiking shoes and

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November 20, 2020 Brandon Chase

Sale Alert! Enlightened Equipment up to 20% Off

It isn’t often that ultralight cottage gear companies have sales, but this year Enlightened Equipment is bucking the trend by

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August 1, 2020 Brandon Chase

Gear Review: Leatherman Signal and Free T4

[disclosure] This article first appeared on TheTrek. Leatherman multi-tools are widely regarded as some of the highest-quality and best-value appliances

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May 8, 2020 Brandon Chase

Coaching With Joe McConaughy: 1.5 Years Later

Over a year ago, I wrote an post explaining Why I Hired a Running Coach. In it, I outline my

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May 1, 2020 Brandon Chase

Gear Review: Somewear Global Hotspot

This article first appeared on TheTrek. UPDATE 3/25/2021: Somewear has dropped the price of its Global Hotspot from $350 to

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March 2, 2020 Brandon Chase

Optimizing Your Research for A Thru-Hike

This article first appeared on TheTrek. When I decided I was going to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2018, I

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February 24, 2020 Brandon Chase

New Gear Roundup: What I’m Testing in 2020

[disclosure] Every year, a few things get added to my gear rotation and a few get subtracted. It’s an iterative

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February 17, 2020 Brandon Chase

Isloo Fresh: Organic Farming in Islamabad, Pakistan

On a weekend trip within the city we toured the Isloo Fresh Farm in Bain Nala, just 45 minutes from

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fitformiles

Brandon (Moxie)
Our final day in Alaska encompassed a return to Fa Our final day in Alaska encompassed a return to Fairbanks and onward travel home. We had a final meal together at the hotel, returned gear we had borrowed, and repacked our bags for the journey (e.g. trekking poles, tent stakes, and knives in checked bags). ⠀ ⠀ Everyone departed with memories and stories of the previous week that will not soon be forgotten, and much of that is owed to @andrewskurka & @flyinbrianrobinson who crafted an unrivaled backcountry adventure from decades of experience and knowledge. It's a real privilege to work alongside these titans of backpacking and I look forward to the next one!⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #backpacking #theoutdoorfolk #getoutside #instagood #takeahike #embracethebrutality #everytrailconnects #exploremore #thegreatoutdoors #wildernessculture #optoutside #choosemountains #thruhike #thetrek #livingthedream #lifeoutside #hiking #mountainrunning #ultralight #BrooksRange #gatesofthearctic #alaska
Our pickup point in the Brooks Range was Oolah Lak Our pickup point in the Brooks Range was Oolah Lake, but because of unpredictable weather we were unsure at what time our plane would arrive. We got there early, grabbed our sleeping bags, and waited over six hours until we heard the familiar buzzing of propellers in the distance. It made no difference to us, as we faced another long wait in Bettles to be transferred back to Fairbanks - such is life in the backcountry.⠀ ⠀ Once in Bettles, we were greeted with the opportunity to shower in 8 days which was very much welcomed. We had one more dinner of #beansandrice before retiring to the nearby riverbed to set up our tents one last time.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #backpacking #theoutdoorfolk #getoutside #instagood #takeahike #embracethebrutality #everytrailconnects #exploremore #thegreatoutdoors #wildernessculture #optoutside #choosemountains #thruhike #thetrek #livingthedream #lifeoutside #hiking #mountainrunning #ultralight #BrooksRange #gatesofthearctic #alaska
On our second-to-last day in the Brooks Range, we On our second-to-last day in the Brooks Range, we were delighted to have a short window of sunshine that allowed us to go up and over a pass we had been eyeing all day. @andrewskurka & @flyinbrianrobinson regaled us with a celebratory sun dance at the apex, but sadly I wasn't fast enough to capture a video! ⠀ ⠀ The back side of the pass was remarkably rocky and loose. We took our time on the descent to avoid any injuries, as extractions from this area are extremely difficult and time consuming to do. ⠀ ⠀ Once down, the clouds reconvened and that was the last we would see of the sun until returning to the mainland.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #backpacking #theoutdoorfolk #getoutside #instagood #takeahike #embracethebrutality #everytrailconnects #exploremore #thegreatoutdoors #wildernessculture #optoutside #choosemountains #thruhike #thetrek #livingthedream #lifeoutside #hiking #mountainrunning #ultralight #BrooksRange #gatesofthearctic #alaska
After the first few days, our luck with weather ra After the first few days, our luck with weather ran out and we experienced cool, windy, and overcast conditions with small bouts of rain for the remainder of the trip. Though it put a damper on our routing options, the group remained resilient and continued to put in high-effort days.⠀ ⠀ We managed to make it up and over Oolah Pass and the Continental Divide, between Kuyuktuvuk Creek and headwaters of the Itkullik River, which demarcates the northern and southern parts of the Park. The northern areas are distinctively more arid and cooler due to higher elevations which made for a wonderful contrast to the bogs of the south. ⠀ ⠀ We made our way along the remaining iced-over portions of several riverbeds and sought shelter among the willow-covered gravel braids at night while nursing the sore feet and hot spots of group members - an inevitable result of the terrain.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #backpacking #theoutdoorfolk #getoutside #instagood #takeahike #embracethebrutality #everytrailconnects #exploremore #thegreatoutdoors #wildernessculture #optoutside #choosemountains #thruhike #thetrek #livingthedream #lifeoutside #hiking #mountainrunning #ultralight #BrooksRange #gatesofthearctic #alaska
For the first three days of our trip we had mild a For the first three days of our trip we had mild and often decent weather with cool mornings and sunny afternoons, the recipe for perfect hiking and traversal of higher-altitude passes. ⠀ ⠀ The going is tough, as there are no established trails within the park and the footing is brushy, spongy, and boggy. Our route was entirely dictated by the weather, terrain, and group decision. We would often stop to ask, "what looks good?" and then head in that direction, which would inevitably include river crossings, contouring along mountainsides, and slogging through tussocks. We would arrive at camp after 12-15 miles of intense effort ready to pass out.⠀ ⠀ All throughout the park are moose and elk antler sheds (in addition to the animals themselves, of which we saw far fewer), some spanning several feet in width and weighing 15 pounds or more. Though we often took photos, we always replaced them to their natural resting spot.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #backpacking #theoutdoorfolk #getoutside #instagood #takeahike #embracethebrutality #everytrailconnects #exploremore #thegreatoutdoors #wildernessculture #optoutside #choosemountains #thruhike #thetrek #livingthedream #lifeoutside #hiking #mountainrunning #ultralight #BrooksRange #gatesofthearctic #alaska
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