Meet the Amateurs Behind the Adventure
Hi! We’re Laura and Ryan — two outdoor enthusiasts who prefer fresh air and winding trails, even if we don’t always know what we’re doing. Our hiking gear is mismatched, our bikes are probably making noise and we love a good snack. Also joining us is Matilda, our tiny dachshund mix with big opinions and little patience for poor navigation.
After years of hiking and biking, the occasional adventure race and trying like hell to learn about gear, we decided it was time to start documenting it all. Thus, Pack the Land was born: an outdoor adventure blog about being in nature, getting things wrong, and loving it all anyway.
What Pack the Land Is (And Isn’t)
This isn’t a guide for experts. We don’t have ultralight packs, elite training schedules, or tips for shaving two ounces off your sleep system. What we do have is a whole lot of honesty, some comical fails and an appreciation for learning the hard way.
We’ll share:
- Trail-tested, amateur-approved gear reviews
- Honest recaps of our races, hikes, and mishaps
- Quick tips we’ve picked up along the way
- The occasional Matilda-approved trail rating
One of Many Trail Fails
It was our second Chisholm Trail 8-Hour Adventure Race. Our kayak broke. We lost our clue sheet. Ryan’s phone sunk in the river. And it was 100 degrees.
Cue: a day of Laura melting down (literally), sitting out the kayak legs, the last time Ryan would ever keep track of a clue sheet and the realization that maybe writing this stuff down wasn’t such a bad idea.
Gear We Actually Liked This Week
This week was a week for:
- REI Sahara Sun Hoodie — Let’s face it, we both burn pretty easily. This is lightweight, comfortable and still manages to stay cooler in the heat of the summer.
- Specialized Recon 2.0 — No more struggling to clip in when the light turns green. Clip in and out like a pro (but we’re still amateurs, obviously). Makes you faster too – can’t confirm, but pretty sure.
- Alta Superior E-Quattro — Life. Changing. No worrying if the extension rack will snap off on bad roads. Load four bikes easily and open the rear doors with ease.
We’ll be posting quick takes over on Instagram in our Gear Drop series — so check that out if you want the highlight reel.
So… Why Follow Along?
Because someone has to be the cautionary tale.
We’re not here to crush PRs or hike 14ers before sunrise (well, maybe Ryan). We’re here to hike, ride, camp, test snacks, laugh, and maybe get a little lost along the way. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, welcome to Pack the Land.
Follow us on Instagram @packtheland and stay tuned for gear drops, trail highlights, and Matilda moments. You bring the snacks, we’ll bring the stories.