I've been a subscriber for a few years now, fwiw I suspect they are so focused on the Rockies/Western states because they are based in Boulder, CO.

If you take it on its namesake, backpacking, I think they do a good job of giving you trip information in every issue, along with recipes and medical/gear tips.

Personally I read the annual survival issue with a chuckle; I think folks who get all their survival information from it weren't going to get anything else on their own initiative anyways, so I hope it helps them.

Photography tends to be nice too.