5 Honest Truths About Our Beginner Hiking Guides
Welcome to the official story about Fama. Let’s be honest: the outdoor world can often feel like an exclusive club.
If you scroll through social media or walk into a specialized gear shop, it seems like everyone was born knowing how to read a topographic map, layer merino wool, and scale a mountain before breakfast.
It’s intimidating. When we started learning about Fama and our own trail journey, my friends and I felt the exact same way.
How This Started
Two years ago, after spending over eight years exploring backcountry routes and testing mountain trails across Southern California, I realized a frustrating truth: the outdoor world is full of intimidating gatekeeping, and almost nobody writes practical, down-to-earth guides for actual beginners.
One of us bought a $30 backpack from Target, filled it with three water bottles, and headed to what an app called an “easy” trail. Forty-five minutes in, her shoulders were screaming, she’d drunk all her water, and she had no idea if she was halfway done or barely started.
My other friend spent $140 on stiff, heavy boots because reviews said they were “great for technical trails”. She left with massive blisters.
And me? I spent three hours researching what to wear for a simple two-hour walk, overthought the whole thing, and still showed up in jeans.
We realized the problem wasn’t us. The problem was that nobody writes for actual beginners—people who need to know that “800 feet of elevation gain” means your legs will hurt, or that bringing six snacks for a short hike is totally normal.
So, we created Fama. Everything about Fama was born out of those early trail mistakes.
Who We Are: Oliver Fall & The Fama Team
We are three outdoor enthusiasts who test gear, walk trails, and share our mistakes so you don’t have to make them.
I’m Oliver. I have over 8 years of trail and backcountry hiking experience across Southern California, field-testing gear, pacing steep climbs, and navigating mountain routes. Two years ago, I founded Fama with my two best friends to build the beginner-friendly guide we wish had existed when we first started. My two best friends (and co-adventurers) are constantly out on the trails with me, testing backpacks, snapping photos, and reporting back on what actually works and what doesn’t.
Together, we’re building the resource we wish we had when we stood in that first trailhead parking lot wondering if we were doing it wrong.
What You Will Find on Fama: Beginner Hiking Guides & Reviews
This is a zero-judgment zone for absolute beginners. You won’t find any gatekeeping or confusing jargon here. If you want to walk a flat, two-mile dirt path in your running shoes, that is a hike, and you belong here.
At Fama, you will find comprehensive beginner resources across our four core hubs:
- Plain-English Gear Guides: We test and review the basics—like budget-friendly daypacks and comfortable footwear—so you don’t overspend on gear you don’t actually need.
- Getting Started Basics: Practical answers to beginner hiking questions you might feel silly asking (like “What does that painted stripe on the tree mean?” or “Who moves out of the way on a narrow trail?”).
- No-BS Safety & Tips: Simple, actionable advice on what to pack, hydration planning, and how to layer your clothes so you stay warm, dry, and safe.
- Beginner Local Trails: Practical guides to finding easy scenic routes, understanding difficulty ratings, and pacing yourself on elevation gains.
Why “Fama”?
It’s Latin for “reputation” or “what people say.” We liked the idea that learning about Fama shouldn’t be about what hardcore alpine experts say—it should be about real people sharing what actually worked in the real world.
We also follow standard outdoor preservation principles from American Hiking Society and the global Leave No Trace initiative to keep trails accessible and clean for all hikers.
Our 5 Core Promises to You
- We keep it practical. You’re not here to read essays about finding yourself in nature. You’re here because you have a specific question, and we’re going to answer it directly.
- We’ll never hide the downsides. Every piece of gear has trade-offs. We’ll tell you the truth, even if it means saying “this popular item everyone raves about actually kind of sucks for beginners”.
- No gatekeeping, ever. Hiking is just walking outside. That’s it.
- Honest, unsponsored recommendations. Everything written about Fama and our gear roundups reflects hands-on testing.
- Community-focused support. We’re always here to answer your trail questions directly.
If you’ve been putting off your first hike because you’re worried you’ll look stupid or do it wrong, here’s the truth: everyone’s first hike is a little awkward. You’ll bring too much stuff. You’ll wonder if you’re walking too slow.
But you’ll also probably have a great time. And the second hike is way easier than the first.
We’re just here to help you get to that second hike. If you ever want to learn more about Fama or want to suggest a trail, feel free to contact our team.
See you on the trail,
Oliver Fall (and the Fama Team)