Most recently updated June 9th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 6.8 minutes
So you want to plan a hiking trip.
Great! Like any other event outside of your normal daily routine – hosting a party, having a night out, or even creating a special meal – it starts with planning and research.
Don’t know where to start? I’ll help.
Let’s begin by figuring out what your perfect trip would look like….
Most recently updated March 21st, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
These days, it’s more important than ever to maintain good health and fitness, no matter what your age.
But you’re busy, and can’t possibly squeeze in time for fitness training around your demanding job, family and household duties. I get it.
Inundated with things that we have to do, it’s easy to put off optional activities – including taking better care of ourselves physically.
But if you (like me and many other older adults) want to enjoy bucket list adventures that include active travel and hiking in remote places, it’s time to start training!
Each year, starting January, I do an 8-week hike training program to get ready for upcoming Spring hikes – and beyond!
It’s really to get fit for outdoor adventures in any month after weeks of Winter hibernating and celebrating 🙂
Read on to learn how you can personalize your training, with our without my 8 week plan, to help you get ready for adventure at any age!
Continue reading How to Get Fit for Active Retirement – Your Bucket List Training Plan
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Camping is not everyone’s cup of tea.
It could be due to health considerations, or maybe you don’t enjoy all of the setup and planning – or you could just really appreciate modern conveniences on your vacation.
Whatever the reason for your preference, there are some good options to camping available, even in more remote places.
Some people think that you always have to camp out if you want to do any really interesting hiking.
That’s really only true for some very wild or undeveloped areas, where you need to backpack for more than a day to get to your final destination.
My recent hike on the W Trek in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine national park is one example where there were few alternatives to camping if you wanted to go deep into the park.
There are similar longer remote stretches on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail, where you may have to camp for a night or two because you’re so far away from civilization – which is kind of the point for those kinds of trips 🙂
That said, there are a wide variety of beautiful and interesting day hikes – in and out in the same day – that may be found both in the US and internationally, with opportunities for lodging other than camping out.
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Have you suddenly become a home-schooler and/or a remote worker because of the new social distancing requirements?
Hopefully, this won’t last forever.
Meanwhile, you could take the kids outdoors for a hike to make it feel a little less oppressive.
In spite of my asthma, I’ve always been an active person.
Becoming a mother didn’t change that, or my desire to be outdoors in Nature.
But it did change how I could participate if I wanted (or needed) to include little ones.
Here’s how I did it!
When I first discovered recreational hiking, I was working at a full-time tech job, a single mother of a toddler with few babysitters around, and my closest family was 1500 miles away.
So most of my activities (outside of work) included the company of my little Mini-Me, and hiking was no exception.
Continue reading Starting Small – How to Hike with Kids in Tow
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Going for a hike in a park or Nature Reserve could be a solitary pursuit or an activity you engage in with other people (as on a group hike).
I’ve listed below some basic Hiking Etiquette 101. You should follow these simple rules of the trail to keep from being stalked by Rangers and irritating others on the trail.
I’ve also included some peeves that are my experienced-hiker version of “Get off my lawn!”
If these things annoy me they probably annoy other people too. Continue reading Trail Etiquette – Do’s, Dont’s and My List of Peeves
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes
It’s already been a full week since I made the 30+ hour return trip back home from my multi-day hiking and camping trip in Patagonia, at Chile’s famous Torres del Paine National Park.
I had the advantage of making the trip with the wonderful people at G Adventures – and they handled all of the details and the heavy lifting. All I had to do was show up with the right gear, and in good enough shape to make the trek.
NOTE: I finally completed the whole trip report, with advice on what to pack, difficulty level, etc. See the full story here.
Continue reading View from the Bottom of the World – Back from Patagonia
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
Everyone should do some research before trying a new physical activity – and prepping for a hike is no different.
For asthmatics, failing to prepare properly for a hike can have results ranging from mildly unpleasant to catastrophic.
Be prepared, but don’t be so nervous that you don’t go out at all – walking is a natural exercise for us.
Most of us have been doing it since we were very young.
That said, in all of my posts I’m only speaking from my own experiences dealing with lifelong chronic severe asthma, including exercise induced asthma.
I’ve come up with methods, including modifying my diet and taking vitamins, that enable me to be very physically active in spite of it – maybe they will work for you, too. Continue reading Hiking With Asthma! A 3-Step Plan for Success
Most recently updated July 30th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 8.5 minutes
Umstead State Park has been my go-to hiking place for at least the past ten years. I hike in the forest, or with the forest as a starting place, at least twice per week.
Sometimes I hike on my own, sometimes as a hike leader for Raleigh Recreational Hikers or I’d Rather Walk meetups.
Umstead State Park has a long history: initially a wild hardwood-forested area inhabited with bison, bobcats and elk, it later became the site for indigenous peoples homes and trade, was part of a land grant for farms in 1774.
Finally, in 1934 – through a joint effort of Federal and State agencies – 5,000 acres were purchased to create a public recreation area.
The Civilian Conservation Corp and the Works Progress Administration helped with construction, and the park was open to the public in 1937.
There are so many reasons to love this park, it’s hard to fit them all into a single post. So I’ll just start with my Top 3.
Continue reading Top 3 Reasons William B. Umstead State Park is my Favorite Forest
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
Hiking is exercise, but its also much more than that – it’s a great way for introverts to do something with people with out really having to interact too much.
Hiking is really a multi-tasking activity: you can burn calories, work on your fitness, hike for weight loss, get green exercise, and all of the health benefits of spending time in the sunshine.
Hiking is not like belonging to a sports league or a doing a sport like tennis where you really can’t play on your own.
You can do it whenever and where ever suits your personal interests and schedule.
And you only have to hike with a group if you really want to. And especially fun for non-conformists, you don’t ever have to wear a uniform.
There are hikers of all ages, sexes, nationalities, fitness levels and personalities – and they may all show up for the same group hike!
Solo hiking (hiking on your own) might be the best option for you – for a number of reasons.
Both solo hiking and group hiking come with their own set of challenges and benefits, so it really comes down to what works the best for you.
Continue reading Why Hiking is the Best Exercise for Non-Conformists and Introverts
Most recently updated January 18th, 2022
Estimated Reading Time: 4.3 minutes
When I first began hiking as a hobby, I was working at a fulltime tech job, was a single mom of a toddler with few babysitters available, and my closest family was 1500 miles away.
Of necessity, most of my activities (outside of work) included the company of my Mini-Me, and hiking was no exception.
My daughter loved the adventure, seeing new things, and being an intrepid explorer with her Mama!
We explored local parks and greenways, both on foot and on bikes and rollerblades.
Then, when she was old enough, we were able to visit a lot of State Parks, and go on longer unpaved trails with more varied terrain.
Continue reading Simple Ways to Start Hiking – With Kids or On Your Own
