I relish experiences where my daughter is encouraged to move out of her comfort zone. It is character building and a confidence booster. I like to think I walk a good balance between creating a safe environment in the outdoors and allowing space for natural consequences that create learning opportunities. There are some aspects of … Continue reading Hiking and Camping with Kids: Safety
I strive to offer my daughter a balance between the technology that rules our lives in 2018 and the natural world. I want to nurture every ounce of her enthusiasm for the outdoors for as long as possible and I also want to give her time for other interests like video games. It is my … Continue reading Hiking and Camping with Kids: Getting Kids who are Reluctant into the Outdoors
I put my boots on the Appalachian Trail knowing that the trail would be hard. I wanted the trail to be hard. I went in with the right mindset, knowing I would succeed with mind over body. I am proud of what I accomplished. I will use my experience as a stepping stone to further … Continue reading Appalachian Trail: The end is the new beginning (day 7)
We hiked down a long descent yesterday afternoon before arriving at our shelter for the night. It seemed to go on and on and I wondered if it would ever end. I have concluded that I much more prefer ascends to descends. Gravity wants to pull me down the mountain and I need to work … Continue reading Appalachian Trail: The Trail is a Magical Place (day 6)
I had a dream overnight where I was wondering the halls at my old junior high. I was fuming for some unknown reason. Being upset was a regular feeling during my teenage years. I opened a door to a classroom and when I walked in, my current co-workers were sitting around watching soccer on the … Continue reading Appalachian Trail: Missing Life Back Home (day 5)
Our hiking group today went from four active hikers to two. After waking early and making us coffee, Joslyn drove us all to Washington State Monument. From there, I continued north with my friend while the other two shuttled back to Dahlgren campsite to spend two days, shuttling in and out to local tourists spots. … Continue reading Appalachian Trail: Sleepy Day (day 4)
I awoke in the morning to see a text from my friend saying that she needed a day off the trail to rest and start antibiotics. We were welcome to stay with Karen and her family. Hitch hiking was one thing but I felt more vulnerable being in someone's house. I will walk into the … Continue reading Appalachian Trail: Above and Beyond Trail Angel (day 3)
The heat and humidity today was higher than yesterday. Our original plan was to wake early and hike early but with the late arrival to camp last night, we decided to sleep in. Keeping morale high was a priority and no one is at their best when sleep deprived. The "green tunnel" became more sparse … Continue reading Appalachian Trail: Humidity and Hospital (day 2)
We started off with a walk through Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. The town is rich with civil war history and I felt like I was in a museum instead of a real place where people live, work, and play.Upon leaving Harper's Ferry, we followed a nature trail out of town and saw countless cyclists out … Continue reading Appalachian Trail: Harper’s Ferry and Bear Poles (day one)
I read a blog post written by someone who had been left alone on a hiking trip during a lightning storm. It struck a cord with me and I could feel the fear that the writer was experiencing. She was hiking with a group to summit Mount Whitney, which towers 14,494 feet above sea level. … Continue reading When things don’t go well with group hiking
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