tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9417342988959725592026-04-25T14:58:16.146-04:00Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.comBlogger384125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-42073025685817676852021-09-19T20:17:00.002-04:002021-09-19T20:17:42.307-04:00

When you're preparing for an extended backpacking trip, or even for an overnight outing, heading out with the right trip partners can be as important as choosing your gear. The right mix of people, even if there are only two of you, can make a huge difference in the enjoyability of any outing. We can all use help making sure we're not only looking for the best trip partners, but we're acting like

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-82931265972031293352020-03-09T08:00:00.000-04:002020-03-09T11:40:03.045-04:00

If you've been backpacking for a while, odds are you've been on more than one trip where you brought things you didn't need. I shared a list of things not to bring a few years ago, and as I started thinking about preparing for a trip in April, a few more things came to mind. Every ounce counts when you're walking up a giant hill like this! Basic essentials may not change from trip to trip,

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-59465233571570719862020-03-01T12:45:00.000-05:002020-03-01T13:15:22.897-05:00

If you're anything like me, when you see clear blue skies in the forecast for the weekend, the first thing you think about doing is being outside. Specifically, planning a hike. And if you are me, the second thing you do is to pull up an ever growing list of hikes within two hours from home and pick one. The third? Find a friend willing to come with you. Culver Fire Tower, my friend and her

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-15267104420313835332020-02-23T20:01:00.000-05:002020-02-23T20:01:12.947-05:00

On a recent search for hikes within two to two and a half hours from Philadelphia, I stumbled upon a description for one long loop that, in part, read, "this trail is seldom done." And that's all I needed to add it to my to-do list. The promise of some solitude within close driving distance of two of the largest cities in the country - Philadelphia and New York City - sounded too good to be true.

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-4099826675255742112020-02-10T09:00:00.000-05:002020-02-10T12:51:26.138-05:00

Thinking about how much there is to see in this world can be overwhelming. If you're anything like me, you have a list of places you'd like to visit in your head or on paper. And a lot of places on my list are far away, meaning it's going to take some time to get to half of them! But even if I can't get to every place I want to visit right this second, one thing I can do is to explore more in my

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-45114908283471656302020-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:002020-01-24T14:31:31.419-05:00

There's something so special about visiting our nation's most popular outdoor places in the off season. If you're anything like me, you relish in the few quiet moments you'll have on a normally busy trail when there's no one else around. And that's precisely why my husband and I chose to visit Zion National Park in January. In addition to trails being exponentially less crowded, the park is

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-49851833332286108202019-08-28T07:00:00.000-04:002020-01-23T17:45:09.772-05:00

Imagine you've spent the first few days of a trip to an island off the coast of mainland Canada day hiking to a beautiful cascade and backpacking a wet, muddy wilderness route dotted with ponds and giant boulders. Then, as you're on your way to your next destination, the road abruptly turns a corner and begins winding through a landscape that looks more like Mars than the forested terrain

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-87166744567863218362019-08-25T20:28:00.001-04:002019-08-26T08:38:32.292-04:00

When my husband and I saw photos of Gros Morne National Park, we knew we had to make a trip there. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to some absolutely incredible landscapes, and also home to what would turn out to be one of the hardest, if not the hardest, backpacking route I've ever done. Hiking toward the cliffs we'd climb up from Western Brook Pond. (PC: D. Herscovitch) I wrote

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-41615929226252679492019-08-25T13:05:00.000-04:002019-08-25T13:05:31.148-04:00

This spot in this photo is 90% of the reason my husband and I planned a trip to Gros Morne National Park. The ancient landscape, shaped by grinding glaciers and continents colliding, looked absolutely irresistible to both of us. But this spot, as it turns out, isn't easy to get to, as is the case with most places worth going. Above the Western Brook Pond Fjord, celebrating finishing

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-68485910791589683182019-08-18T19:41:00.000-04:002019-08-18T19:41:06.007-04:00

Soaring fjords, sandy beaches, barren cliffs, boggy tundra, thick forests, and the Earth, naked. That's Gros Morne National Park. Though our trip to the 1,805 square km of wilderness on Newfoundland’s west coast didn't start coming together until about five months ago, it's been much longer in the making. Getting to Gros Morne National Park Gros Morne became a national park in 1970, and in

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-55830291449467421402019-08-13T21:47:00.000-04:002019-09-25T10:23:52.946-04:00

Aside from deciding how many pairs of clean socks I really, truly need on a backpacking trip, I find figuring out meals to be one of the hardest parts of trip planning.  I like to eat foods similar to what I'd eat at home, that taste amazing after a long day on the trail, and that don't weigh a ton or take up too much space. That means looking for options with high protein content, and

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-40188452420397537742019-07-30T15:21:00.001-04:002019-08-13T21:48:45.373-04:00

After finding myself with two completely free weeks in the middle of the summer to spend however I'd like, I did what any normal person would do - booked a Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike. That is what any normal person would do, right? Potentially not, but I'm sure glad I did. It was also the first time I chose to do a guided backpacking trip. I had a small window before those two free weeks to

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-68819572900527786742019-06-18T07:00:00.000-04:002019-06-18T07:00:00.669-04:00

The 30-mile West Rim Trail's been on my Pennsylvania backpacking to do list for a while now almost entirely because it skirts the edge of what's referred to as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Traversing terrain in the Tioga State Forest, Pine Creek Gorge Natural Area, and Colton Point State Park, the West Rim Trail (mostly) follows a path along the deep, steep Pine Creek Gorge, offering

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-81308112153677370702019-06-13T08:00:00.000-04:002019-06-13T15:28:53.637-04:00

If I look upset, it's because I was! The little dot above my eyebrow is the offending tick. On a recent backpacking trip, my husband and I were well on our way through our second day's mileage when we stopped for lunch. He noticed a speck of what he thought was dirt on my face, and went to brush it off. When it didn't come off, he looked more closely, and determined it was, in fact not dirt.

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-56174927250471657552019-06-10T07:00:00.000-04:002019-06-10T13:37:37.342-04:00

Welcome to the second and final installment in my "I should've known hiking in North Carolina was this great" series. On a recent trip south, my husband and I had two days to spend in the Pisgah National Forest. (Also, technically, an additional full afternoon, during which which visited the Linville Gorge.) Our first day included a challenging, but rewarding hike to Shining Rock

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-7144475858145266952019-06-06T08:00:00.000-04:002019-06-06T10:48:39.920-04:00

When you're looking for energy bars, meal replacement bars, or any sort of wrapped rectangular shaped food, it can be tough to tell the difference between all of the options out there. So many bar companies claim theirs are the healthiest, the most filling, the best to take on your next adventure. But when Anna Sullivan and her husband Sean realized the bars they were eating didn't cut it

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-89020306831330223012019-05-28T17:09:00.000-04:002019-05-28T17:09:43.134-04:00

From Old Butt Knob (5,522'). I'd like to start off by apologizing for failing to give hiking in North Carolina a chance prior to this weekend.  My default long weekend driving destinations are usually north, but when our Memorial Day weekend plans to go to Maine fell through, my husband and I had a decision to make. Where else could we get in the same amount of drive time (ten hours

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-42695651043563146582019-05-07T09:31:00.000-04:002019-05-07T09:33:52.628-04:00

When it comes to hiking in the beautiful Adirondack region of New York State, the High Peaks typically get all of the attention. But in recent years, I've learned that some of the shorter mountains in different parts of the Adirondacks are just as much fun to experience, including Buck Mountain (2,330'). It might not be one of the taller peaks in the Adirondacks, but Buck Mountain is

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-27259898789991264422019-04-23T09:44:00.001-04:002019-05-02T11:47:36.449-04:00

Camping can be a perfect way to disconnect, commune with nature, and enjoy the outdoors. Though summer not quite here yet, there’s still plenty of time to plan a camping trip. If you’re new to camping, it can seem overwhelming to plan, prepare for, and go on a camping trip. But if you use this short list of lessons to get you started, you’ll be well on your way to a great adventure. Choose the

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-6209432635951219622019-04-10T08:00:00.000-04:002019-04-17T09:30:56.343-04:00

Spring is here! And there's nothing better to do on a warm spring day than having an adventure around cool, cascading waterfalls. And you don’t have to go far from Philadelphia or hike deep into the woods to find four of Eastern Pennsylvania’s best spots. Though all boast similarly stunning views, each is uniquely beautiful, and all are impressive no matter the season. Ricketts Glen State Park

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-55914342290941675932019-04-03T16:04:00.000-04:002019-04-03T16:05:52.074-04:00

I was lucky to have the good fortune of growing up in the Fingerlakes region of New York. With gorges, waterfalls, forests, and more readily available in close proximity to just about anywhere you go, it’s a hiker’s paradise. Every time I think about my hometown (Ithaca), that becomes completely obvious all over again. And if hiking isn't your thing, some of my favorite state parks have plenty

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-80351431303693742322019-02-26T08:00:00.000-05:002019-02-26T08:00:02.585-05:00

On a (relatively) recent trip through Ontario, I couldn't get enough of Gatineau Park in nearby Quebec. We have an incredible outdoor resource in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia where I live, but the fact that people living in Canada's capital city can access kilometer after kilometer of groomed cross country ski trails, snowshoe trails, and stunning wild scenery in 20-30 minutes blew my mind

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-31718498233918675262019-02-19T08:00:00.000-05:002019-02-19T08:00:02.411-05:00

Hanging out in Algonquin Park. (PC: D. Herscovitch) When you're layering for cooler weather, sometimes it's a pain to think about taking an entire extra shirt or jacket just to keep your core warmer. And sometimes, adding another full shirt or jacket makes you overheat. That's where vests come in handy. But not all vests are created equal, and the team at Outdoor Research designed the

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-86800237545038085642019-01-22T08:00:00.000-05:002019-01-22T13:16:49.105-05:00

Taking a break from cross country skiing. (PC: D. Herscovitch) "You Don't Change The Words To A #1 Hit Song." While investigating specs for this review, that's the first full sentence I saw (at the time this review was published) on Outdoor Research's page about the Women's Ferrosi Hooded Jacket. In short, it's a name most folks familiar with Outdoor Research's products will

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941734298895972559.post-4927142859994421282019-01-09T08:00:00.000-05:002019-01-09T14:03:19.831-05:00

One section of our route along trail #73 in Gatineau Park. In an effort to see as many family and friends as possible over the holidays, my husband and I went on what I dubbed the Great Ontario Road Trip. We covered 1,500 miles driving from Philadelphia to Canandaigua, NY, crossing the Rainbow Bridge through Niagara Falls to London, Ontario, on to Toronto, Dwight, and Ottawa, and then back

Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05155290515501207564noreply@blogger.com0