GUEST POST: In Praise of “Cowgirl Camping” by Ted Adamski
Camping can be the greatest expression of free will, personal independence, innate ability, and resourcefulness possible today in our industrialized, urbanized existence. Anne LaBastille I met Ted Adamski on the John Muir Trail in 2012. He is an ultramarathoner, clocking elite finishing times in the Western States, Leadville 100 and The Fellsman, a race near his home in the UK that he’s run over forty times (and me, exactly once) Ali was excited to tell…
GUEST POST: Meet supergirl harpist-hiker Emily Granger
Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common. Sarah Dessen I met Emily Granger a bit by accident while nosing around instagram. The minute I saw this accomplished musician who doubles as a hiking fiend, I messaged her that she’s my absolute heroine. She wrote right back to remind me that I’d reviewed her in the Harp Column and we were…
GUEST POST: The Healing Power of Hiking by Kieran James Cunningham
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. Rachel Carson Kieran James Cunningham is a climber, mountaineer and writer for My Open Country based in the Italian Alps. He’s climbed a handful of 6000ers in the Himalayas, 4000ers in the Alps and loves nothing more than a good long-distance wander in the wilderness. He climbs when he should be writing,…
GUEST POST: Every Journey Starts with a First Step by Vicky Duran
The one thing you learn is when you can step out of your comfort zone and be uncomfortable, you see what you’re made of and who you are. Sue Bird I met Vicky Duran at a rehearsal for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Orchestra. I was narrating a new piece and her daughter, Charity, was playing violin. We hit it off immediately, sharing a love for her beautiful home state, Washington, as well as how…
GUEST POST: “walks everywhere” by Ann Juergens
The pandemic and its shelter-at-home mandates are pushing people to walk as never before in memory.
GUEST POST: 10 Ways to Stay Sane & Active While Social Distancing by Julie Singh
To stay sane during a pandemic, find ways to stay active says a very active person herself under quarantine restrictions.
GUEST POST: Staying Positive by Lonnie Dupre
Lonnie Dupre knows grueling expeditions that need planning to implement and says surviving Covid is a lot the same.
GUEST POST: On Hiking Slowly by Myra “Wonder” Kincaid
The benefit of pacing a long distance thru-hike more slowly is to be able to increase bliss.
GUEST POST: The Pee Rag by Stacia Bennett
A pee rag enables a female hiker to get the job done and focus on being her badass self.
GUEST POST: Making it to Day 4 by Alison Heebsh
On backpacking trips, day two always sucks and pretty much for the same reasons.
GUEST POST: Your Own El Capitan by Billie Jo Konze
Free soloing mountain climber Alex Honnold has a lot to teach about conquering out biggest goals.
GUEST POST: The Yellow School Bus by Joyce Morehouse
My mother makes an appearance sharing a tiny vignette, a clue to my hiking passion.
GUEST POST: Avoiding Ticks When Hiking
The Tick and Mosquito Project teaches us how to NOT get Lyme Disease this season.
GUEST POST: Five Beautiful Treks in Ladakh by Ondrej Svestka
A tantalizing taste of glorious hikes on the roof of the world.
GUEST POST: Hiking in Slovenia by Tadej Kožar
Slovenia is one of greenest countries in Europe with 10,000 marked hiking trails.
GUEST POST: Music for a Hike by Marc Reigel
Mahler’s music evokes emotions ranging from joy to anger to peace to alarm to ecstasy to despair.
There are eleven National Scenic Trails in the US, and this gal walked ALL of the them…
After hiking nearly 18,000 miles, “Apple Pie” shares advice and humor about long distance backpacking.