The first thirty miles of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) north of Springer Mountain acts as a shake down for many hikers. Even as an experienced backpacker, with well broken-in boots, I lost a couple of toenails thanks to this section. At Neels Gap, the trail literally passes through Mountain Crossings, an outfitter that has made its reputation helping A.T. hikers …
Photos of the day: Paddling the Chattooga River
Over the last 11 years, I’ve rafted, kayaked and backpacked along the Chattooga River in northern Georgia and South Carolina. The Chattooga is known for its whitewater and for its role in the movie Deliverance filmed along the river in the 1970s. In 1974, the 57-mile Chattooga River was declared a National Wild and Scenic River. No motorized vehicles are …
Tahoe hiking: Bay View to Azure Lake
A little background before I launch into this post. I was raised an only child by a pair of VERY adventurous parents. I knew since I was 11 years old that I had a half-sister (that the last time I’ll use the “half” part) somewhere but I had never met her. About a year ago, Laura found us and it …
Combating stereotypes: Why I’m no ‘proper’ lady
Two personal posts in a month, this is a first. However, I received some very nice feedback from the last one so I guess you don’t mind them too much. Bear with me for a little rant. prop·er adj. 1. Characterized by appropriateness or suitability; fitting: the proper knife for cutting bread; not a proper moment for a joke. 2. …
Learning to enjoy a slower pace on Elbow Cay, Bahamas
Sometimes I’m a little too energetic for a destination. I can’t just lay by a pool or sun on the beach. I’m more like a shark; I need to move, so when I visited Elbow Cay, I had to learn to slow down. It took a day, a few drinks, and a stunning sunset before I managed to relax. If …
Photo essay: Tarpon Springs, Florida
As many of you know, I get restless when I’m not traveling so I frequently look for a dose of culture near home to tide me over between trips. This January, I decided to do a photo project on Tarpon Springs, Florida. Tarpon Springs is notable for having the largest concentration of Greek-Americans in the US (based on 2004 census …
Photo of the day: Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park
When I returned recently from three weeks of traveling, preceded by two other trips to Mexico, a friend posted on my Facebook wall that it must be nice to be home. I didn’t reply because I’m not one to be negative, but I wasn’t happy. I wanted to keep going. Don’t get me wrong, I looooved the places I visited, …
Canoe camping on the Lower Wisconsin River
I love camping and paddling, but until last month, I had never combined the two sports. The Wisconsin River was the perfect introduction to canoe camping. After about a 3.5-hour drive from Chicago, we were greeted warmly at Wisconsin River Outings in Boscobel, which provided our canoe and transport. We piled our gear into their shuttle and headed to the …
No time? Un-pause your life and hit play
Instead of a literal journey, in this post I share a little about my personal journey. Many people think they can’t have adventure or travel in their lives, or let it go for some reason. I used to be one of them. Perhaps my story will inspire at least one person. I’ve skipped most of the details on how I …
GEIGERRIG hydration pack & filter giveaway – CLOSED
Proper hydration can mean the difference between a successful adventure and a painful failure. I’ve written on this topic many times, most recently as a featured contributor to the Hydration Summit: Hydration at the Extremes: It’s Not Just a Heat Issue Hydration Considerations for Adventurers Over Fifty During the summit, I became familiar with GEIGERRIG, a hydration pack …