Hiking Etiquette – Listening to nature

I was MORTIFIED the other day when hiking with a regular hiking group. We started at Muir Woods and I wanted to go ahead to warm up before our climb.  Plus, the quiet of Muir Woods early in the morning is magical.  I passed a gentleman and his son experiencing the wonder of this national […]

Trail Tip: Sudden Stops are Dangerous and Inconsiderate

Do you have hiking buddies who stop suddenly in the trail? A favorite hiking buddy of mine has a delightful childlike sense of wonder when outdoors –  she is a joy to hike with – EXCEPT when I’m directly behind her.  She stops suddenly to admire this or to adjust that.  Sudden stops on narrow […]

Two Poles or NOT Two Poles ~ There is NO question

Learning to use trekking poles for hiking is a skill that all hikers will, at some point, appreciate.  Whether you’re 30 or 90, optimal use of poles provides significant benefits on the trail.  (click on any photo to enlarge). In this post we’ll discuss Why Poles? Why Optimal Use? Benefits of Optimal Use of Poles […]

Danger on the Trail – Dogs, Horses, Poles and Etiquette

Yesterday a friend and I were horse-back riding in a popular riding area.  We saw a dog off leash (an absolute no-no in this area), then around the bend saw the owner walking with poles.  We called immediately to ask her to leash her dog.  Her dog came towards us growling and the horses spooked.     […]