Backpacker (magazine)

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Backpacker Magazine is an American publication whose mission is to provide readers with practical information on wilderness hiking and adventure. With 2006 marking its 33rd year of publication, Backpacker magazine is published by Rodale Press and is based in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

[edit] History

The first issue of Backpacker appeared in the spring of 1973. The editor's note written by founding editor William Kemsley explains, "It took us three years to put together the first issue of Backpacker. In that time we debated some serious questions among ourselves." The note describes the founding editors' worries that America in the early 1970s did not contain a backpacking community large enough to support a magazine. It also expresses Kemsley's goal to support the magazine primarily through subscriptions rather than advertising.

Backpacker was owned first by CBS Magazine and then by Ziff Davis Publishing. In the late 1980s, it was bought by Rodale Press, which also publishes Men’s Health, Bicycling, and Runner’s World.

[edit] Current status

Starting in 2004 Backpacker began publishing regional editions of the magazine that include map cards for local trails. The regional concept developed from survey results that showed the magazine’s readers were interested in hikes near where they lived.

Backpacker publishes nine issues per year, which includes an annual gear guide in March. Combined issues are published for January-February, July-August, and November-December. The magazine is divided into the service-centric Basecamp section (which won a National Magazine Award for 2005), a feature well, a gear review section, and concludes with maps of local trails corresponding to six regional editions. Every April Backpacker presents its "Editors Choice" awards to highlight the best gear of the year.

In November 2006 Backpacker began posting podcasts and videos on its website to complement the content that appears in the magazine issues. Additional videos appear on Backpacker's YouTube channel.

Backpacker's editor-in-chief is Jonathan Dorn, and its primary competitor magazines include Outside, National Geographic Adventure", and Men's Journal.