As an amputee, successful hiking is all about choosing the right gear, protecting your residual limb, and building up gradually so you can enjoy the trail instead of fighting it.

It's possible to hike well on a budget if you understand why prices rose and how to work with the new reality.

You’ve probably noticed it too. Gear that used to be a solid deal now makes your wallet hurt. A two-person tent that once ran about $150? You’re lucky to find one under $350 these days. And that’s before you get to poles, pads, or first aid kits. Even after factoring in inflation, the numbers still don’t add up. Something bigger’s going on— it’s as if the whole hiking scene itself changed.