by Paty | Jun 24, 2020 | Tahoe Rim Trail, Trail Journals, West Coast
June 23, 2020 Start – Echo summit trailhead (mile 0.0)End – Trail Junction to Hwy. 89 (mile 18)Daily Mileage – 18 miles I prefer to feel productive on my first day on trail. That usually means a getting to the trailhead bright and early so I can...
by Paty | Jun 20, 2020 | Day Hikes, Grand Canyon, Southwest US
Ask any American to name a natural wonder of the world, and chances are, the first thing that rolls off their tongue is the Grand Canyon. It is often parodied as just “a giant hole in the ground, ” but the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon is bigger than...
by Paty | Jun 13, 2020 | Southwest US, US High Points
Order of Visit: High Point #19 Date Visited: June 11, 2020 Route Taken: Humphreys Trail (No. 151) from the Arizona Snowbowl – 10.7 miles round-trip Type of Terrain: A challenging, rocky trail with more than 3,600 feet of elevation gain over...
by Paty | Jun 9, 2020 | Hiking, The Great Outdoors
Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.- Verna Myers Right now we are grappling with huge problems in America, from income inequality to police brutality. It seems Americans are finally waking up and taking to the streets to demand...
by Paty | Apr 2, 2020 | Hiking
It’s official. My 2020 hiking season is a wash. Unlike last year, my personal plans didn’t involve completing another thru-hike of one the big three trails (PCT, CDT, AT). I really hoped to tackle several medium-distance trails in the US and abroad instead. And the...
by Paty | Mar 13, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
How do I get to and from the trailhead? That’s often one of the very first questions hikers have to resolve when planning a thru-hike. Sometimes you get lucky. Perhaps there’s a trail organization operating a local shuttle service to/from the trail for a...
by Paty | Mar 9, 2020 | Southwest US, US High Points
Order of Visit: High Point #18 Date Visited: March 9, 2020 Route Taken: Guadalupe Peak Trail from Pine Springs Campground – 8.4 miles roundtrip Type of Terrain: A challenging, but well-defined trail that gains 3,000 feet in 4.2 miles. The...
by Paty | Feb 27, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
Let’s be real. I don’t particularly enjoy the challenges of hiking in snow, mud, or freezing cold temperatures. I have a hard enough time avoiding roots and rocks in the best conditions. And, I’m certainly not eager to slip off any wet or icy rocks...
by Paty | Feb 21, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
Looking for the best itinerary for your upcoming Trans-Catalina Trail (TCT) hike? Well look no further. I have plenty of great ideas that will let you see all that Catalina Island has to offer! Whether you want a longer family-friendly camping trip or you hope to...
by Paty | Feb 13, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
You can look at pretty pictures on Instagram. Or read a bunch of glossy articles in a hiking magazine. But few of these resources prepare you to hike a particular trail. They just whet your appetite to get outdoors. So if you’re planning to hike...
