Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Brendan Leonard Wants You To Get Outdoors and Do It, Whatever Your ‘It’ Is

Brendan Leonard, seasoned outdoorsman and author of the forthcoming book, The Art of Getting Lost, has done it all, give or take a bit. He mountain-bikes. He climbs sheer cliffs. He spent a month rafting through the Grand Canyon. And so on. But, surprisingly, for all his accomplishments and his many years spent out in the wilderness, Leonard doesn’t consider himself a top-level expert at any particular outdoor activity.

Brendan Leonard

That’s kind of the point. You don’t have to be an expert to get out there and have an adventure, either. And you don’t need the fanciest gear, a wealth of free time, or, well, wealth.

“Maybe we don’t think we can take the time off of work, but getting outdoors really doesn’t need to take much time.”

When asked about the barriers people perceive as holding them back from getting out there and enjoying the wilderness, Leonard responds, “People think they have to have the skills to do something, that they shouldn’t just try it. But you can get out and do a day hike without much, just a water bottle and some general knowledge of the area so you don’t get lost. And there are guide services available for everything you want to do. You can rent a bike; you can get gear to test out something before you spend three or four thousand bucks on a full kit.”

“Maybe we don’t think we can take the time off of work, but getting outdoors really doesn’t need to take much time. We’re inefficient at life. We think, ‘Where did all my time go?’ but then you realize, ‘Oh, I spent two hours on social media, looking at my phone, just killing time,” he adds.

Brendan Leonard

Brendan Leonard has been climbing, hiking, biking, and generally being out there since moving to Montana for graduate school at age 23. But you don’t need to spend 28 days rafting down the Colorado River or climbing granite cliffs or walls of sheer ice to enjoy nature, you “just have to make some time for your adventure,” Leonard urges. “We think we have to take two weeks off and make a big deal of something, but listen, you can go camping on a Wednesday night and not even miss work. You just go do it, head out in the afternoon, sleep in a tent, drive back early.” And, chances are, you’ll enjoy and remember that Wednesday a lot more than the one you spent scrolling through Reddit or Instagram.

“You’re never too old, you’re not too out of shape, you don’t need too much money.”

Time is perhaps the biggest perceived barrier to people getting out into the field, but the misconception that outdoor adventure is inaccessible is another issue. It was on a Monday when I spoke to Brendan Leonard, and at one point he says, “You’re never too old, you’re not too out of shape, you don’t need too much money — if you do some googling, you’ll find a clinic at an REI where guides can help you try something and provide the gear and all.”

Brendan Leonard

As it happened, two days later I was out on a hike with REI. A gentleman named Gregory Kanter led our group, which included several other writers and some REI staff in from their West Coast headquarters, along with Karin DeYoung-Wood, the lead designer of the company’s brand new Wallace Lake collection. I relayed the spirit of the conversation from earlier in the week and was met with knowing nods from the REI folks. They’re there to get you out there, whether you want to climb, hike, bike, learn to read a map and use a compass, or finally go camping.

Now me? I have way too much hiking/camping/climbing/kayaking gear to justify. But you? As long as you show up to an REI clinic dressed in clothing, they’ll take care of you from there. Just go to their Classes and Events page, punch in your ZIP code, and see all the outdoor excellence at your fingertips. Near my home base, recent classes included an evening photography session, backpacking basics, learning the ropes of using climbing anchors, and practicing survival skills like navigation and cold weather safety. While most REI classes are affordable, many are actually free. So that’s one more barrier to outdoor adventure removed.

Editors' Recommendations

Steven John
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven John is a writer and journalist living just outside New York City, by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, by way of…
All 2023-2024 Burton snowboards are now available – here’s everything you need to know
We're all for Burton's deep-space designs
2024 Burton Blossom

2024 Burton Blossom Nate Swanner / The Manual

Burton has released its 2024 snowboard lineup. On the Burton website, you can now find all its latest snowboards for sale. Men’s, women’s, and the Family Tree lineup are now available.

Read more
How to adjust ski bindings in 10 easy steps
Your ski bindings are the link between you and the snow, so set them once and set them right
Ski boot clipping into binding from behind.

When you’re riding the chairlift or gondola up your favorite ski mountain and picturing the next great run down the ski trail, there’s a good chance you’re not specifically thinking about your ski bindings. However, once you get to the top of the mountain and plant your skis in the snow so you can clip your boots in and start cutting the trail down the ski slope, you’ll certainly be reminded of how crucial ski bindings are to the whole skiing experience.
After all, ski bindings are what attach your ski boots to your skis and allow you to stay connected and control your skis. Therefore, having properly adjusted ski bindings ensures you can ski safely and comfortably without risking injury to yourself or others by accidentally losing control due to an equipment failure.
Adjusting your ski bindings isn’t particularly complicated, but it’s clearly important that it’s done correctly -- especially if you're participating in the Winter Olympics skiing event! With that in mind, we will have you set for the best ski season yet with our guide to how to properly adjust ski bindings.

Can you adjust your own ski bindings?
Your local ski shop or the ski rental shop at the mountain can certainly adjust your ski bindings for you, but it will cost money, and if it’s their busy season, you may have to wait a while for them to get the job done. The good news is that you can adjust your own ski bindings with little more than a screwdriver, a few pieces of information about the skier (yourself or whomever you’re healing), and the basic know-how.

Read more
In Yellowstone National Park, one woman was sent running after yet another too-close encounter with a bison
Here's why you should NEVER get in front of a wild bison, kids
Closeup of large black bison starting at camera from a grassy field.

In the past few years, tourists have started visiting the best U.S. National Parks in record numbers. More people means more animal encounters — specifically wild animal encounters. It should go without saying that wild animals are, well, wild. That means they can be unpredictable, aggressive, and even dangerous when they feel threatened. Can you blame them? But that hasn't stopped some people from putting their safety, even their lives, at risk just to snag "the perfect selfie." Case in point: Yet another tourist who couldn't resist getting an all-too-close "ussie" with a wild bison, and nearly found herself the victim of another Yellowstone National Park bison attack.

Instagram user yesitisjen captured this brief video snippet of the encounter:

Read more