I have been doing the 365 Mile Challenge for a few years now and feel like I have reached a standpoint where I can tackle backpacking. I knew it would require a certain level of physical fitness and, just as importantly, a confident mindset. So I am going for it! But...
Hiking
Latest Stories
Maybe I Can?
Have you ever thought about doing something new and just thought, “I can’t do that!”? I think all of us have talked ourselves out of a new experience because it seems daunting or you just don’t know where to start. Two years ago, I learned about the Keystone Trails...
Pushing Your Limits and Knowing When to Stop Pushing
The summer of 2019 was a big hiking season for me. I was hiking at least once a week and was pushing myself to do longer hikes with bigger elevation gains, and I did most of these hikes with my 30+ pound toddler on my back. In June of that summer we headed up to...
Limits? We don’t need no stinking limits…
Do you see that picture? That was my pack for my first backpacking trip in 28 years. It weighed in at 70+ pounds - which is approximately 45 pounds heavier than my pack when I left to hike the Appalachian Trail years later. It was probably those 5! pairs of jeans that...
Like an Onion – Learning About Layers
It’s hard for me to get motivated to get outside when the weather is cold. I stand in my nice warm house looking through the window thinking it just looks COLD out there. Then I look down at my dog and she is so excited to go outside that I know I must go. I lived...
Replacing Old Friends – How to Find New Hiking Shoes
I had to retire my hiking boots recently. They had hundreds of miles on them and they developed a crack on the side - which ended any hope of keeping the water out. Waterproof shoes are really essential for hiking in Pennsylvania because you will probably encounter...