Be kind to a stranger today.

Even if it's just by giving someone a smile.

It will probably do more good than you think.

Now, on to the ideas and advice I have for you this week:

1. Some common sense advice on how to lighten the weight of your backpacking pack‍

Backpackers are always looking for tips, tricks, and hacks that will lighten their packs.

A lot of advice you will hear on reducing your pack weight is impractical or makes negligible difference.

Most of this advice is clickbait aimed at selling ultralight products and will waste your time and money.

This is some truly practical, simple advice that every backpacker can use to make a significant reduction in pack weight.

‍2. A powerful gallery highlighting the victims of Earth's sixth mass extinction‍

Last week was Colorado Endangered Species week, which is intended to bring awareness and action to the problem of biodiversity loss.

I thought I’d share this really cool visual gallery where you can learn about species that have recently gone extinct and others that are on the brink of extinction.

We are currently in the midst of our planet’s sixth mass extinction event. Five others have occurred over the course of life on Earth’s 3.5 billion year history. 

A mass extinction is when at least 75% of species on Earth go extinct in a short amount of geologic time - less than 2.8 million years.

The last time one occurred was when the dinosaurs were killed by an asteroid, 65 million years ago. 

The mass extinction we are currently living through is the first on Earth not caused by a catastrophic natural event. This one has been caused by humans.

‍3. How to find dispersed camping in Colorado‍

This weekend is Memorial Day and that means that campground reservations are going to be nearly impossible get if you don't have one already.

If you want to go camping this weekend but don't have a site reserved, dispersed camping is the way to go.

I prefer dispersed camping to established campgrounds for a variety of reasons.

It allows you to camp in more remote places with fewer people, no reservations are required, and it’s free.

The only minor challenges with dispersed camping is that there are no amenities (like bathrooms or water) and you have to be entirely self-sufficient. 

This short guide will give you the rundown on what dispersed camping is, and how to find dispersed camping.

There are 11 National Forests in Colorado - all allow dispersed camping in certain areas. BLM land allows dispersed camping as well.

I’d recommend using this interactive map from the US Forest Service to find legal places (along with rules and regulations) for dispersed camping in Colorado.

Have a wonderful long weekend and talk to you next week, friends.

Meredith