Alan Dixon Bio

Founder & Gear Editor

Ultralight gear savant Alan Dixon (AKA Adventure Alan) grew up in Northern California and spent his formative years mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada. He carried his first backpack into the Yosemite backcountry at the age of five. In the ensuing years, he’s hiked, climbed, and adventured all over North America, South America, Europe, and many other places.

Somewhere along the way, he became a part of the early ultralight backpacking movement. Alan co-founded BackpackingLight, is the co-author of Lightweight Backpacking and Camping: A Field Guide to Wilderness Equipment, as well as numerous reviews and technical articles.

A jack of all trades, Alan is a writer, photographer, and hiking guide. He is also a nationally competitive masters triathlete and competed in an Olympic qualifier for kayaking in 2008.

Over the past two decades, Alan focused much of his outdoor passion on high routes, canyoneering, mountaineering, and pack rafting. Alongside his partner, Don Wilson, Alan pioneered the Wind River High Route, the South Sierra High Route (an extension of the more famous Sierra High Route), and an extended version of the Escalante Overland Route.

Learn more about Alan’s gear preferences in his famous 9 Pound Ultralight Gear List, or his 5 Pound Super Ultralight Fastpacking Gear List.

Alan took a step back from website management in 2023, but is still involved in Adventure Alan & Co as a gear editor and technical advisor. Alan lives with his wife, Alison, in Berkeley, CA.