Outdoor Enthusiast Interview

Colton Gardner

After growing up exploring and experiencing all that the outdoors have to offer, I decided to combine my web design skills with my love for the outdoors, and share the outdoors with the whole world. I started Outdoor High Adventure in July of 2007 and it has just continued to grow. Since then, the Backpacking Discussions forum and Backpacking Recipes and Food Tips blog have also been created.

The purpose of Outdoor High Adventure is to show people around the world what mother nature has to offer and encourage everyone to have their own outdoor adventures. The Backpacking Recipes and Food Tips specifically though, was made to show that you can have more delicious and less expensive meals than eating the same Top Ramen or expensive freeze dried meals each day while backpacking. Most of the recipes on the blog also only require a ziplock bag to prepare and eat it in - no bowls or pots. When I was searching for recipes online before Outdoor High Adventure had them, I would keep finding ones that required pots, pans, skillets, or preparation while on the trail. I couldn't figure out what kind of backpacker really did this. After finding a few valuable resources for backpacking meal recipes and with a collection of my own, I brought them all into one place, Backpacking Recipes and Food Tips blog. It has tons of recipes for every meal, drinks, and snacks, along with tips for planning, preparing, and enjoying your food on the trail.

2) Tell readers about your hiking experience.

For as long as I can remember, my family was teaching me to enjoy the outdoors. We have explored all around the country with motorized vehicles and on foot. I've grown to love backpacking and hiking especially. I've been hiking all over, exploring my local mountain ranges here near home in Utah and Colorado, and also traveling far to experience exotic places like Hawaii, the breathtaking waterfalls of Havasupai, or the luscious forests of Alaska. My parents taught me to enjoy, respect, and protect all that nature has for us. My purpose in starting Outdoor High Adventure has been to share my experience, by giving backpackers tips that I've had to learn, reports of hikes I've been on, and recipes I've enjoyed.

3) You state in your blog that you are new and still growing. Tell us about your vision. Where are you going with this blog and what do you want to be able to provide to the online community of hikers.

With the Backpacking Recipes and Food Tips blog, I'd like to keep posting valuable information for backpackers and outdoors-men alike. I would love to see it become more popular and be able to create a community where visitors post their knowledge, too. I want the blog to be a discussion for each individual, by having them comment and learn from other's experiences as well as mine. I would love to even get to the point where I could have guest posts and partnerships with other backpacking companies.

4) It seems that anyone who has been hiking for more than 20 minutes has a story to tell. Tell us your favorite hiking story.

5) What would you consider your best advice for a new backpacker?

Go Light. The first principal in enjoying backpacking is to go light. Even if you can't get there all at once because of the cost, keep moving that direction. Figure out what is the heaviest thing in your pack and determine if you can afford to replace it with the light version. It may be that bulky heavy sleeping bag that goes first. Another common way to lighten up is to acquire a backpackers micro sized stove and filter water instead of carry large quantities.

Be Extra Prepared. Every backpacker should plan for the worse case scenario. If you are preparing food for one night pack a little extra in case you find yourself needing to spend an extra night. There have been so many times when I've been in a situation that I didn't expect to be in. Some of the time I was prepared for it, some of the time I wasn't. While hiking in the Zion Narrows, we came upon a group that was planning on hiking it in one day, ended up having to stay the night with us in our camp. They weren't prepared for something like this, but we had prepared. We had extra food and dry clothes for them. This is just one of the times that being extra prepared came in handy. Also, be sure to always bring a first-aid kit with more than just bandages. Don't forget the Mole Skin or Duct Tape for blisters.

6) What do you think of the new reality shows about outdoor survivors. Do you think our readers can get good advice from them or do you consider them to be purely entertainment?

There has been a lot of controversy about the authenticity of some outdoor reality shows lately, with the cast apparently staying in hotels and staging scenes. I think the majority of those shows are fake and are purely for entertainment. You may only be able to take 5% of what they say as real outdoor advice. Although, Survivorman, in my opinion is great. He seems to really be doing it all on his own, and can give some real good survival and outdoor information. Some of the situations he gets into may seem a little extreme, but anyone who watches can learn some good lessons from Les. Not only that, but Survivorman brings in a bit of humor; he's able to laugh at himself when he does something like accidently light his camp on fire. There is no camera man, he carries one camera and does his own filming. Sometimes he comes out and says what he is doing could get very dangerous so he brought a satellite phone, or might have a backup crew, but miles away.

7) You have a Backpacking Discussions Forum that includes backpackers from novice to expert. Tell our readers how you hope they will use the forum and how to become a part of the discussion.

Outdoor High Adventure's Backpacking Discussions forum is fairly new, but I would love to see it grow and expand. Currently, it has just over 400 posts, but as Outdoor High Adventure and the forum become more popular, I would love to see many more members. As you said, it is designed for the beginner backpacker all the way to experts. I have fought hard to keep it ad-free to members, and so far I've been able to keep them away for registered members. There is a wide range of Outdoor High Adventure and the forums to discuss everything about backpacking, other outdoor activities, and even an Off Topic forum. Anyone can join the discussions by heading over to Outdoor High Adventure and the Backpacking Discussions and registering!

Return from Outdoor High Adventure Interview to Interviews

Return from Outdoor High Adventure Interview to Ultimate Ultralight Backpacking