Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Every once in a while, the internet serves up a delightful surprise—a community or page so rich with nostalgia and character that it feels like discovering an entirely different civilization. The Facebook group Vintage Backpacking Through the 1970s is exactly such a treasure. With over 30,000 members, it’s a hive of activity where hiking enthusiasts share stunning photos from six decades ago, a golden age of trekking and outdoor exploration.

The images are a mix of breathtaking landscapes, rugged trails, and retro gear that makes you wonder how anyone carried it all. The posts often include tales of adventures with rain-soaked campsites, wildlife encounters, and the occasional ad for what passed as high-tech at the time.


In the captions of the stunning images are tales of hikes with beloved parents, first adventures with future spouses, and the occasional tale of skinny-dipping in icy mountain rivers. Threaded through all of it is a sense of adventure and nostalgia that is hard to resist. Like many of the trails in the images, this group presents the real risk of getting lost among the stunning scenery.

Hiking in the 1970s: a cultural movement

A group of people hike a snowy summit in the 1970s.A group of hikers in the 1970s traversing a snowy mountain summit, wearing rugged retro outdoor gear. Ross Prather

These images capture more than individual adventures—they reflect the broader hiking culture of the 1970s. It was a decade when environmental awareness was blossoming, with Earth Day (founded in 1970) inspiring a generation to cherish and protect the natural world. Hiking became more accessible thanks to advancements in gear technology, the rise of outdoor publications like Backpacker Magazine, and a wave of federal legislation that protected trails and wilderness areas.

An image of the cover of Back Packer magizine. A vintage cover of Backpacker Magazine from the 1970s, reflecting the era's burgeoning hiking culture. Gary Brady

For many, hiking wasn’t just a hobby but an expression of counterculture ideals. Youthful enthusiasm for simplicity, self-reliance, and a deeper connection to nature aligned perfectly with the act of hitting the trail. Vintage Backpacking’s images perfectly encapsulate this ethos: the triumph of summiting a peak, the camaraderie of sharing a meal cooked on a portable stove, and the satisfaction of carrying everything you needed on your back.

"Hell, I knew the way all along ... no matter how much bushwhacking we had to do."

— William Brown III

Three hikers swim in a frozen mountain stream. "Brrrrrrr..." These three brave souls enjoy an icy dip during a hike in the 1970s. Allen Woodstock

Scrolling through the group’s feed, you can almost feel the sense of freedom and simplicity that defined hiking in the ’70s. There are no GPS devices, no ultralight gear, and certainly no Instagram influencers. Just people with a map, a pack, and a love for the outdoors.

"By 1980, we figured out the lighter we got the farther we went."

— Joe Kisner

The group isn’t just about nostalgia. Members actively discuss vintage gear, swap stories, and even share tips for finding and restoring classic equipment. The comments section is a mix of admiration, humor, and a shared appreciation for the simplicity of hiking in decades past. It’s a reminder that while technology has changed the way we explore, the core of hiking—walking through nature with a sense of wonder—remains the same.

A JCPenny ad showing a hiking boot. Only $51.97The gear of the time was rugged and simple by modern standards.Kevin Yost

One of the best parts of the group is its community spirit. Members are eager to help newcomers understand the quirks of old-school gear or explain why certain trails in the photos look different now. Whether you’re a veteran hiker or someone new to the trail, the group offers inspiration and a sense of belonging.

Three hikers standing on a simple wooden bridge in the woods, a snapshot of early national trail infrastructure in the 1970s.In the early days of the national trail system bridges were often little more than logs that had fallen in the right place.Tom Schleif

"We were lucky to have a dad that got us out into the backcountry often."

— Brian Murdock

If you’re a fan of hiking or just love a good internet rabbit hole, the Vintage Backpacking Facebook group is worth checking out. The photos might just inspire you to lace up your boots, leave your gadgets behind, and hit the trail in search of that old-school spirit of adventure. The trails are still out there... calling.

More For You

Nasa's Crew-8 finally lands but can’t sit comfortably. Here’s why.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts from right to left NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, Matthew Dominick, and Michael Barratt, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenki.

Nasa's Crew-8 finally lands but can’t sit comfortably. Here’s why.

In late October 2024, SpaceX Crew-8 completed NASA’s latest commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station with a splashdown near Pensacola. But rather than an easy transition back to normal life, three of the returning astronauts landed briefly in the hospital. Once discharged, they faced reporters and described the unexpected difficulties of reacclimating to Earth after 235 days in space.

Photographers at NASA capture the night sky Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, on a beach near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.Photo by NASA/Glenn Benson via KSC

Keep ReadingShow less
A hotel room door, ajar.

Representative Image: It's important to keep safety in mind when checking into a hotel.

This viral post exposes a scary hotel security flaw, but there’s a simple way to stay safe

A TikTok video once raised alarms about hotel room security after demonstrating a device that could open doors from the outside. User braccozz posted a clip showing how a simple twisted wire could be inserted under a door, looped around the handle, and pulled to open the door. The video gained over 13.4 million views before being deleted, but not before sparking widespread concern.

"If you ever see this come under the door, run IMMEDIATELY."

— @braccozz

One woman’s real-life encounter with the hotel door hack

Before the original video disappeared, it reached TikTok user josiebowers10, who shared a terrifying experience from her teenage years. Bowers, from Canada, recalled how someone tried to break into her hotel room using the same method when she was 15 years old and on vacation in Ocean City, Maryland.

Keep ReadingShow less
woman reading book in tent

Ah, reading!

Photo by Lê Tân on Unsplash

People share the 46 books that helped them get through really hard times

Books have the power to heal. Reading stories that expand your mind and introduce new ideas can be a powerful tool to help you overcome hard times in life. So when a woman struggling opened up to complete strangers for book recommendations to help her through, they delivered.

"Looking for a book that can help me through a really hard time in life right now," she shared. "I’m going though a lot of changes and grief in my life right now. Getting very depressed and it’s hard for me to keep positive. I’m looking for a book that changed your life? Something that helps with perspective and makes you think." These are 46 of the best books that have helped people get through hard times.

Keep ReadingShow less
wedding, wedding surprise, wedding speech

Bride surprises husband with student messages at wedding reception.

Euphoria Films/Instagram

Bride surprises groom with sweet recorded messages from his students at their wedding reception

Wedding reception speeches are always tearjerkers. And for Australian newlyweds Ryan and Chelsea Cox, their reception speech had the entire wedding crying. In a touching Instagram video shared by Euphoria Films, bride Chelsea surprises her new groom Ryan with a heartwarming surprise from his students.

"You are exactly in the career you're meant to be. Making a real difference. You should be so proud of the love, the care and support you bring to their lives," Chelsea says in the beginning of the speech. "I know how much you wanted them here today, so I'm just sharing a little love from your Class 5 Red."

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman’s job interview takes a turn when she shares her love for sci-fi
Cover image source: Pexels | Pixabay; Reddit

Woman’s job interview takes a turn when she shares her love for sci-fi

Job interviews are nerve-wracking experiences, and even the most prepared candidates can face rejection for unexpected reasons. While some employers turn applicants away for valid concerns, others seem to base their decisions on trivial factors. One Reddit user, u/Alikona_05, shared a frustrating hiring experience where a highly qualified candidate was rejected simply because of her hobbies.

The post, which has received over 1.9K upvotes and 211 comments, described how their boss was looking for a temporary employee to fill in during a medical leave. Since the boss had a scheduling conflict, the Reddit user was asked to sit in on the interview alongside a senior coworker—whom they described as a "boomer."

Keep ReadingShow less