Timeless Adventures

In celebration of 50 years of trail beta and inspiration, we look back on our favorite spots through the moments we chose to capture.

- EMMA VEIDT

Believe it or not, our most beloved trails and backcountry sites have changed a lot in the past fi ve decades. In the 1970s, hiking paths were poorly maintained, the only “influencer” was Smokey Bear, and litter and vandalism were common. (Leave No Trace principles didn’t take shape until the ’90s.) In the February 1976 issue of this magazine, we reported that there were only 100,000 miles of hiking trails in the U.S. That was less than 1 yard available per citizen—if everybody in the country hiked at the same time, they could hold hands. Now, we have double that on federal lands alone. As hiking has become more accessible, it’s not just the trails that are different; it’s also the hikers themselves. Back in the ’70s, it was mostly jort- and flannel-clad men. Since then, the hiking community has evolved to include a diverse mix of genders, races, abilities, body types, and backgrounds. After all those changes, however, one thing still bonds adventurers across generations: an unrelenting adoration for the trails, our tramily, and the natural beauty that surrounds it all.

In 2019, a super bloom hit California’s central valley. Thousands of Lasthenia glabrata, Leptosyne calliopsidea, and Caulanthus anceps blossomed in the state’s Carrizo Plain, which is home to more endangered species than anywhere else in California.

Photo: Chuck Graham

In 1983, you didn’t need any permits to reach the cables at Half Dome. Here, a hiker takes the Mist Trail to Little Yosemite Valley to camp for the night before tackling the Half Dome summit the next morning.

Photo: Kirkendall-Spring Photographers