Rae Donovan
Backcountry + photography
Based in Jackson, Wyoming
Rae handles deep-backcountry trips and shoots most of our destination photography. She's the reason a trail report from us mentions whether the route gets cell service halfway up. Gear obsession: ultralight tarps and the perfect sub-2lb cook system.
4 published articles · most recent April 26, 2026
Rae handles deep-backcountry trips and shoots most of our destination photography. She's the reason a trail report from us mentions whether the route gets cell service halfway up. Gear obsession: ultralight tarps and the perfect sub-2lb cook system.
Most of the rim-to-rim, point-to-point, and rarely-walked-routes content comes from Rae.
Articles by Rae Donovan
- When Shoulder Season Becomes Winter (and How to Notice in Time)Half of the “rescued in the backcountry” stories you read involve someone hiking in October who got winter weather. The five signals to read.
- The Enchantments in a Single Day: Why You Probably Shouldn't (and How to If You Must)Rae did the Enchantments through-hike in a single day in 2024 — 18 miles, 4,500 ft, no permit. The unflinching numbers and what we'd redo.
- Cold-Soaking on Trail: When It's Worth It and When It's Just SadSkipping the stove saves weight, time, and gas canisters. It also costs you a hot meal at the end of a long day. The honest tradeoffs.
- How We Drew a Wonderland Trail Permit (and Three Things Most Guides Skip)The lottery is competitive, but it's not the only way through. Three permit strategies that actually worked for us.
