Book review: Becoming Odyssa, Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail
This is the first book review on The Active Explorer, and I couldn’t have had an easier one to write — I absolutely loved this book! ~ Erika I felt brave the first time I stepped onto the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) solo. Let’s face it — it’s different for a chick on the trail than for a guy. …
Six Things to See and Do in Eastern Glacier National Park
Information overload. That’s the typical response when visitors arrive on the eastern side of Glacier National Park, Montana. When a friend asked what he should see during his one-day visit, I was stumped. “One day?” I confirmed in awe, “but there’s so much to see!” Once I wrapped my head around his question, I suggested mixing sightseeing, with a sampling …
Blown away: Glacier National Park’s Cracker Lake Trail
I wrote this post as part of my MatadorU writing course. Our assignment was to flash-back from today to a memorable event. The trail to Cracker Lake was one of the most memorable I’ve ever hiked, especially since it was the windiest – at least 40 mph, maybe more. Enjoy. My coffee is hot enough to be a little painful …
Hosteling for the first time: Lessons learned
The clerk at Brownies’ Bakery and Hostel handed me a padlock key from across the counter, and pointed toward a set of worn, painted stairs to the second story of the log building. Upstairs, I found my way through the dim living room, decorated in style that can only be described as early-American-garage-sale, to my room down the hall. It …
Small town frustrations
During a recent trip, I became briefly frustrated by the small town where I was staying. As I began venting on paper, it hit me just how hospitable these sometimes-isolated hamlets are. By the end of the page, I felt downright silly, and now that I’ve been home for over a month, I’m aching to return. Do you enjoy staying …
A backpacking trip, or a personal journey?
For the past month, I’ve been locked in a vacation state of mind. My heart is still on the trail, but my brain and body are hard at work writing, and making a dollar at my day job. The Appalachian Trail has a way of keeping your heart. Each time I return to the trail it takes longer to pull …
Backpacking logistics part 2: Planning and resupply
Planning a backpacking trip can be confusing… How many miles should you plan to hike each day? How will you re-supply food and fuel? These questions are interrelated and can be tough to answer if you haven’t had much experience with backpacking or adventure travel. Daily mileage impacts food planning, but as a new backpacker you won’t know your pace. …
Backpacking and hiking logistics, part 1: Transportation
“You wanna go where lady?” Is what I expected on the other end of the phone-line when I started calling around for a ride to the trailhead while planning to backpack a section of the AT. Instead, the reply was, “Sure! I drive backpackers up there all the time.” My adventure planning was off to a good start. Sometimes the …