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Matt Suwak

Matt was reared by the bear and the bobcat and the coyote of rural Pennsylvania. For the moment he lives in Philadelphia and is a gardener and freelance writer by trade.

Matt's free time is devoted to traipsing through forests, angling in creeks, and hunting for rare plants and mushrooms. He's got a soft spot for reading Steinbeck while in the outdoors and is quickly becoming a die-hard hammock camper.

Matt is fueled almost entirely by beer and hot sauce.

Email - Personal Website

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How To Make A Campfire The Right Way

A campfire is an iconic symbol we associate with overnighting in the great outdoors. However, it can be a fickle master! Learn all the practicalities to build a campfire, the right way.
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Nordhouse Dunes, Michigan: Hiking Trail Guide

Make your trip to Nordhouse Dunes more complete by reading our in-depth guide to get the low-down of what to bring, when to go & what to expect.
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Rae Lakes Loop Backpacking Trail Guide

The backpacking loop trail around Rae Lakes is one of California’s most popular outdoor destinations with good reason: it’s gonna blow your mind. Immersed in everything the High Sierras have to offer, from sub-alpine ridges to meadows in the mountain, it's an amazing experience. Let us help you take you there with our backpacking guide!
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Clouds Rest Hiking & Backpacking Guide

Clouds Rest sits just shy of 10,000 feet and offers incredible 360 views of Yosemite park and it's more well-known brother making it a worthy 6-mile hike.
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Backcountry Skills: How to Whittle

If you like to work with your hands, you’re guaranteed to find something worthwhile when learning how to whittle. It’s a great past time in the outdoors, so read on and grab a knife, some wood, and let’s get to work.
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Dining on Creepy Crawlies: Finding & Preparing Edible Bugs

If more than 2 billion people globally are eating bugs, it may not be as weird or gross as it seems. Edible bugs are packed with nutrition and could help you survive during an emergency in the wild, or diversify your meals on your next hiking trip. Find out which bugs are edible and how to prepare them in our guide.
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12 Essential Camping Knots (With Pictures!)

Every good scout knows their basic camping knots! But if you weren’t paying attention we've got you covered in our comprehensive guide on how and when to use them.
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How to Use Bear Spray: The Canister That Could Save Your Life

In this guide, we’ll teach you all you need to know about bear spray, including how to use it, how to store it, how long it lasts, and why it’s better than other bear deterrents.