Blog
Californians blame influx of Washingtonians for Trail Crowding
Throughout the Golden State from the Redwoods to the Sierra to the Mojave Desert, Californians are growing tired of the influx of out-of-staters, particularly folks from Washington State on their trails. In fact, increasing numbers of Californians are blaming many of the state’s trail problems and park incidents on these out-of-staters. “They compete with us…
Read MoreRunning in L.A.
“Walking in L.A. Nobody walks in L.A.,” Dale Bozzio of Missing Persons repeatedly belts out in their hit 1980s anthem. Yes, America’s second largest city is a sprawling megalopolis that favors cars over pedestrians. But if you’re wondering if people do in fact walk in L.A, just check out Griffith Park on any given day.…
Read MoreDown but not out in the Desert
Life happens. I’ve been looking forward to the Mesa Marathon in Mesa Arizona for months. Its fast downhill start and generally flat course along with its excellent support and vibes had me hooked. I trained hard and felt confident that Mesa would be my fastest marathon in sometime. Possibly even a Boston Qualifier. It turned…
Read More2,321.1 miles!
Last year was a good year for me on the trail! I ended up amassing more than 2300 running and hiking miles which included some pretty memorable experiences. While I got hit with Covid (who hasn’t at this point?) in May, I thankfully was able to recover fairly fast and get back on the trail.…
Read MoreThree Great Outdoors Books—that I didn’t write!
Christmas is almost here. Last night of Hanukkah and Boxing Day closing in closely behind. If you celebrate Orthodox Christmas you have some time! So, if you are still looking for some good gift ideas for the hikers and outdoorspeople in your life, may I suggest these three great new books? The Disabled Hiker’s Guide…
Read MoreHappy Halloween! Looking for a hiking haunt to set the mood?
Thank the Ancient Celts for giving us this holiday—Irish and Scottish immigrants for bringing it to America—and Madison Avenue for helping to make it so bloody commercial! What used to be day of general mischief, scary tales, and warding off evil spirits has since been replaced with an excuse for adults to tap into an…
Read MoreWant Peace and Quiet at the Grand Canyon? Be Part of the One Percent!
With more than 5 million annual visitors, the Grand Canyon is our 4th most visited national park. And if you’ve ever experienced the grandeur of this amazing landmark, it’s not hard to understand why. Folks come from all over the country and world to see this stunning geological feature on the Colorado Plateau. The canyon…
Read More351.6 Miles Hiked and Run and More than $11,000 Raised
It was my most successful Hike-a-thon, ever! Wow! I am still catching up on my rest and trying to catch up with my work after an amazing August. Since 2012 I have participated in the Washington Trails Association’s annual Hike-a-thon as a way to have a little fun and help give back to the trails…
Read MoreBug bites bite! But they don’t have to itch!
If you’re like me you probably just grudgingly accept that part of being in the great outdoors is sharing it with a slew of annoying and biting insects. I detest insect repellents (I don’t like applying toxic substances to my body and I hate being sticky afterward),so I try my hardest not to use them—which…
Read MoreNot Your Typical Guidebook
Nice review of Hiking Washington’s History, which I co-authored with Judy Bentley in the Cascadia Daily News. If you love history and hiking, and want to get so much more out of your hikes in the Evergreen State, then this book should be in your pack. And if you don’t get out on the trail…
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