Hulda Crooks put on her 25-pound backpack and headed out in the early morning to climb Mt. Whitney, a mountain reaching 14,505 feet (4421 m). She had climbed it 23 times before. According to reports, Hulda also claimed many other … Continue reading
Category Archives: Blogs
Trail Etiquette For Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking
I spend my winters regularly exploring trails around the Canadian Rockies. I’ve learned that just because there’s a snowy trail, doesn’t mean it’s a snowshoe trail or that it’s appropriate for winter hiking. I enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and … Continue reading
The Literal Leave No Trace of Snowshoeing
While snowshoeing this winter, several times I thought of the ethic that permeates many of our minds when out on the trail: Leave No Trace. Aside from possibly unintentionally dropping a snack wrapper or whatever, snowshoeing really does exactly … Continue reading
Play Ball! On Snowshoes
Bases were loaded. One more kick into the outfield and their team could gain some home runs. Excitement mounted as a young woman slammed a large beach-ball with her snowshoe, landing it beyond 2nd base and into centerfield. Two players … Continue reading
Snowshoeing In Your Own Backyard: Snowshoe Options Close To Home
Participating in any outdoor activity, snowshoeing included, we often wonder where to go in terms of the best terrain, distance and travel time.
When the snow arrives, these questions are much easier to answer than one would think. The need … Continue reading
Tree Identification While Snowshoeing: Pines Aren’t The Only Evergreens
Have you been like me and for every green tree that you see in the winter you call it a pine tree? If so, this article is for you. Why? Because all of those evergreen trees you see aren’t just … Continue reading
Suicide Rock, Idyllwild, CA
Suicide Rock is a popular 7.5 mile moderate-to-strenuous hike/snowshoe in Idyllwild, CA. Elevation gain is approximately 1800 feet. The hike begins at Deer Springs trailhead along Highway 243, about a mile north of town. The trail is open year-round, with … Continue reading
Letterboxing: A Good Old-Fashioned Treasure Hunt
Letterboxing has its roots in England, starting back in the mid 1800’s. James Perrot, a popular Dartmoor guide, placed a bottle with his calling card along the banks of Cranmere Pool. New and veteran hikers could contact him and record … Continue reading
Snowshoeing Through 25 Years
“Putting on my snowshoes for the first time each winter is like a rebirth. Having done so before many times, the experience still seems new and fresh. I had that feeling again today as I headed out on my … Continue reading
Sunrise Hiking Mount Quandary in Colorado with MSR’s New DynaLock Explore Backcountry Poles
The conversation started with something like “We’ll leave at midnight, make it to the trail head by 3am, and reach the summit for sunrise.”
My response: “Sounds crazy, lets do it.”
That’s how my experience of hiking Mount Quandary started, … Continue reading
Old Guys Surprise – Shoein’ in the Porkies
While sitting on chairs around an old wooden table, a warm wood fire slowly burned in a stove, and a gas lantern lit up the small cabin room as two friends and I discussed our snowshoe hiking plans for the … Continue reading
Your Brain on Nature: A Book Review of “The Nature Fix”
“The Nature Fix” by Florence Williams, published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2017, provides the most compelling argument to date for people to spend more time outdoors in nature, based on an increasing amount of biological, psychological and medicinal … Continue reading
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