MyHikingVacations

The Appalachian Trial in Vermont

2011-11-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

Sure, many hikers dream of tackling the entire Appalachian Trial from Georgia to Maine, but some of us just do a little at a time.

I completed the state of Vermont this summer _ 150 miles in 10 days from the Massachusetts border to Hanover, New Hampshire.

I've been remiss about posting on the trip in this blog, but better late than never. And, since pictures are worth thousands of words, the best way to do it is to lead you to my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150257055603632.342337.592008631&type=1

Enjoy the photos. It was truly a great experience.

Happy Trails,
Joseph

Hiking Turned Upside-down _ Another Orienteering Odyssey

2010-10-29T15:02:00.000-07:00

Fall, of course, is the perfect hiking season. And, if you want to take it up a notch, it's also the perfect season to try the wonderful sport called orienteering.

Orienteering is essentially what you always wanted to do as a kid: run through the woods with reckless abandon. OK, not reckless abandon, but it is quite a blast negotiating trees, trails, swamps and creeks with a map as you work your way to the finish.

The local orienteering club in the D.C. area is top-notch _ the Quantico Orienteering Club. They put on a full slate of meets with courses ranging from easy to expert.
The photos above are from a meet at Prince William Forest Park earlier this month. I took a group of Boy Scouts, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My college-age son and I tried a moderate-to-difficult course, and he beat me for the first time. He finished in 14th place; I was 17th. (Oh, the humiliation!)

Here's the QOC website. Check 'em out: http://qocweb.org

Orienteering is also popular in Europe. In fact, if you sign up for our 12-day hiking trip to Switzerland, you can give it a try during one of your free days.

Learn more about our hiking adventure to the Alps _ July 12-22, 2011 _ by visiting our website at http://myhikingvacations.com

Happy Hiking _ and Orienteering,
Joseph

Signal Knob

2010-10-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

There's nothin' better than fall hiking in Virginia. (Well, OK, I'm also partial to summer hiking in Switzerland, but we'll save that for next summer.) Our group of 13 _ plus a wonderful dog named Tara _ tackled this hike on Saturday. We had a nice lunch with a view overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. Ah, what a way to spend a day.

Interested in hiking the Alps with us next summer? Check out our website.

Happy Hiking,
Joseph
http://myhikingvacations.com

Facebook Sale!

2010-09-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

As we prepare for next summer's hiking trip to Switzerland, some of you have asked: "Why don't you do something special for your Facebook fans?"

You mean, like, a sale or something?

Oh, sure, why not? We therefore present our first My Hiking Vacations Facebook Sale. If you're a fan of our Facebook page, you get a 10% discount if you sign up for our vacation in the Alps next summer. That's a savings of $200 or more! This is good for September only, so you have 30 full days to mull over this great deal!

Or, as they on TV: "Limited time offer!" "Void where prohibited!" (I don't think it's prohibited anywhere, but just in case ...)

If you're not already a fan, become one by visiting our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/MyHikingVacations/147404999999?ref=ts

See you in the Alps!
Joseph
http://myhikingvacations.com

A Lodge in Switzerland

2010-08-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

I've just booked the place we'll be staying next summer during the first leg of our hiking trip to Switzerland. It called the Gemmi Lodge, a wonderful spot next to the Kander River and right up against the Alps in Kandersteg.

Check out the photo on the home page of its website (http://www.gemmi-lodge.com). It looks more like a grand hotel than a hostel, but that's the norm for Switzerland. Swiss hostels are among the best in the world, cleaner and friendlier than many regular hotels I've seen in the U.S.

I stopped by the Gemmi Lodge last year and was excited to see that a new High Ropes Park had opened across the street. It has zip lines, rope bridges and all sorts of high-in-the-air thrills. (See the photo above, or visit http://www.kandersteg.ch/english/sport/seilpark.htm.) Looks like an exciting way for some of you more adventurous folks to spend some free time during the trip!

Learn more about our trip _ and sign up now. Visit us at http://myhikingvacations.com. As many trips as I've led over the years, it's always a thrill to make that first booking ...

Happy hiking,
Joseph

Switzerland in 2006, 2009

2010-08-13T06:58:00.001-07:00

Some of you who are interested in going on our hiking trip to Switzerland have asked about the trips I led with the Boy Scouts in 2006 and 2009 _ and whether there are pictures from those trips on the Internet.

Of course, there are! Thanks to Scoutmaster Doug Donnell of Troop 1018, there are plenty. Take a look at these links. They provide you with a great sense of the spectacular scenery in the Kandersteg area.

http://troop1018.org/Past_Activities/Events2009/0907_Kandersteg/0907_Kandersteg-Index.htm

http://troop1018.org/Past_Activities/Events2006/07_Kandersteg/0607_Kandersteg.htm

Naturally, our itinerary won't be the same as the one for the Scouts, but we will be doing some of the same hikes. If this whets your appetite, go to http://myhikingvacations.com
and sign up for your trek to the Alps with us in July 2011.

Happy Hiking,
Joseph

Boy Scouts, hiking and Switzerland

2010-08-09T17:36:00.000-07:00

OK, so you may have heard that this is the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. They did the celebration up big, with a parade down Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., and then welcomed tens of thousands of scouts to their Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia.

But what you may not know is that the scouting movement is older than that. Scouting was founded in 1907 in England by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, and he was wise enough to choose Switzerland as the site for his ideal permanent Scout camp _ a place where Scouts from around the world would be welcomed for all kinds of fellowship and adventure.

The Kandersteg International Scout Centre is located in the beautiful village of Kandersteg, Switzerland, which just happens to be one of our destinations in the hiking trip I'm leading next summer. The hiking is magnificent in that area, and the scenery is spectacular.

We're now in full swing in the planning for our return to the Alps on 12-22, 2011. We're sure you'd love to join us for the vacation of a lifetime! Visit our website
http://myhikingvacations.com for details.

Happy Hiking (and Happy Birthday to the Scouts!)
Joseph
http://myhikingvacations.com

Can You Canoe?

2010-08-07T15:33:00.001-07:00

Hard as it is to believe, not all great vacations revolve around hiking. I've just returned from 9 days canoeing in the remote, endless and unspoiled lakes, ponds and streams of southern Ontario (Quetico Provincial Park) and southern Minnesota (the Boundary Waters).

It was a fabulous trip. We camped on islands, watched bald eagles soar, heard the loons give a concert and saw centuries-old pictographs left by native North Americans. Quite a bit of preparation goes into a trip like this (and the mosquitos are everywhere!), but I highly recommend it to all you outdoors adventurers.

If you'd like to know more _ or, as always, if you're looking for the perfect hiking trip _ check out my website http://myhikingvacations.com. We're now planning our summer hiking trip to Switzerland, set for July 2011.

Happy hiking (and canoeing),
Joseph

Hiking in Vancouver, Vegas and Switzerland

2010-03-06T19:16:00.000-08:00

I'm back from the Winter Olympics. Can't beat Vancouver as an outdoors place to go. I spent a day hiking in the mountains, where I walked along a small part of the Baden Powell and Trans-Canada trails. I was hoping to do the infamous "Grouse Grind" _ it's supposed to be nature's version of stair-master _ but it is off-limits in winter.
(That said, it didn't feel like winter in Vancouver. We joked that it was the Spring Olympics.) Definitely a hiking tour to British Columbia will go on the calendar in future years.

For many more photos of my Vancouver experience, check out our My Hiking Vacations page on Facebook.

Coming up, I have a hiking trip to Nevada. Lots of great places to explore, not far from Las Vegas. This will be my first visit to the state, and I have a friend there who is itching to show me all the beautiful spots.

Of course, the big trip on the horizon is our hiking tour of Switzerland, July 13-23. Still plenty of spaces available, so check out our Website http://myhikingvacations.com and sign up now. We're going to have a great time exploring the Alps.

Happy hiking,
Joseph

I'm Ready to Host the Winter Olympics. In Virginia.

2010-02-08T15:16:00.001-08:00

It makes no sense. I'm supposed to leave in two days for the Winter Olympics, being held in a Canadian city (Vancouver) that's short on snow.

Yet here in Virginia? You bet. Two feet on the ground and more on the way. If I had known about this, I would have scheduled a glacier hiking workshop!

I haven't seen this much ice since I actually went glacier hiking in Switzerland last summer. If you'd like to see those glaciers for yourself (the ones in the Alps, not the ones in my front yard), then join us for our hiking trip this summer.

Happy Hiking (Or snowshoeing. Or cross-country skiing. Whatever.)
Joseph
http://myhikingvacations.com

A Swiss gem of a town, and it carries a "toon"

2010-01-29T20:02:00.000-08:00

Now that we're well into 2010, it's time to start making those definitive plans for your summer vacation, so I thought I'd entice you with some photos from one of the most charming places you'll ever see. It's a city called Thun, whose first novelty for us English-speakers is its pronunciation: "toon". It's one of the places we'll visit when we take our hiking tour of the Swiss Alps this July, a spot to soak up some Swiss city atmosphere in between our treks in the mountains.

My last visit to Thun was in July 2009, and it happened to be the weekend the city hosted the international barrel organ festival. I'll have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect from a barrel organ festival, but it was wonderfully surreal: hundreds of barrel organs lining the streets, playing "tunes" (pun intended) on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We ate at an outdoor cafe, toured the Thun Castle (built in 1195!!!) while others in our group rode on the largest ferris wheel in Switzerland. We didn't have time to book a boat ride out onto the gorgeous lake _ definitely something to consider for next time. I can't overstate what a great day it was.

So, there, are you sold yet? I make this pitch because if you wait too long to book your spot on our July 13-23 trip to Switzerland, it might be too late. We're only taking 14 people, and there's still room for you now. (Plus, it gives you a head start for planning some of the logistics, such as making sure you have an up-to-date passport.)

So visit our Web site http://myhikingvacations.com and give us a shout. I'm eager to see Thun again, and I'm eager to let you enjoy the place for yourself!

Happy Hiking,
Joseph

Orienteering _ A Crazier Way to Hike (or Run) Through the Woods

2010-01-23T15:32:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite sports has a mouthful of a name and will never be in the Olympics. It's a way to turn exploration of the outdoors into a fun game for all ages. Call it competitive hiking, if you will. I prefer to think of it as a chance to relive my childhood ways in Bertie County when I would run with abandon through the woods, not caring if I got lost because it was always a fun adventure trying to find my way back home.

I'm referring to orienteering, a sport that's known worldwide and a must-try (at least once) for any fan of the outdoors. You use a map and compass to navigate your way to various checkpoints in the woods, seeing how fast you can get from start to finish without getting hopelessly off course.

If you've never been to a real orienteering meet, it's a blast. Most groups these days use an electronic keypunch attached to your finger to keep track of your time, so when you get home you can look on the Internet and see how you did. (That's pretty cool!) Courses at most meets range from easy to super-difficult, so 7-year-olds can have as much fan as elite athletes. Of course, most people aren't there to try to win _ they're just there to have a good time and see how well they do. Orienteering is popular among Boy Scouts because it's a requirement to advance to the rank of First Class; there's also an Orienteering Merit Badge.

I mention orienteering because that's what I'm doing tomorrow afternoon. I'm headed to the southern part of Fairfax County to take part in a meet sponsored by the Quantico Orienteering Club. I'm lucky to live in an area where the sport is popular, and the QOC is a great club. (They have meets throughout the year. Check out their Web site: qoc.nova.org)

Orienteering is also popular in Europe. The area in Switzerland where I'll be leading a hiking tour this July has several courses. (Go to http://myhikingvacations.com to learn more about the trip.)

So, if you've done your share of camping and hiking and biking and want to try something different outdoors, give orienteering a try. Worried about getting lost? Bring a partner. And a whistle!

I'm sure you'll have fun.

Happy Hiking (and Orienteering)
Joseph

A "4-blister" Hike

2010-01-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

I guess it's possible to get into a hiking rut from doing the same trails with the same people in the same seasons every year. While I've never had that feeling personally _ and I have way too much fun when I'm hiking to think I ever will _ it's good to be proactive by seeking out new groups and new hikes.

For 2010, I'm doing some hikes with a local DC-area group called Wandering Soles. They took part in the New Year's Day hike along the C&O Canal, and this Saturday they will be doing a hike in Catoctin Park and Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland.

Wandering Soles has a "blister" rating for all of their hikes. "Easy" is less than 2 blisters, "moderate" is 2 to 3.5 blisters, and "difficult" is greater than 3.5 blisters. According to the scale, one blister equals about 5 miles or about 2,500 feet in elevation gain. That's a good way to gauge what you're getting into.

The hike this Saturday is a 4-blister hike _ hitting several of the high points in the parks at a moderate-to-fast pace over 9.5 miles with more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain. The tricky part could be the ice _ we still have remnants of recent snowfalls in these parts _ but the guide tells me she's already plotted an alternative route around dicier parts of the trail, if necessary.

Several people have asked me if the hiking trip to Switzerland I'm offering this summer will feel more like winter hiking in the U.S. because of the elevation of the Alps. Actually, summer in Switzerland is more like fall in the mid-Atlantic U.S., with warm days and cool nights and some rain thrown in. I have seen a snowfall on one July hike near a glacier, but for the most part you're wearing shorts and soaking up sunshine.

You can learn more about the trip by taking a peak at our "Your Questions Answered" page on our Web site: http://myhikingvacations.com/faq.php. Or just go to the main page and start from there. http://myhikingvacations.com.

Regardless of where you decide to hike this year, I hope you do try some new places and meet some new people. That's half the fun!

Happy Hiking,
Joseph

Ear Plugs _ A Requirement for a Hiking Tour?

2010-01-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

Today I took part in the 36th annual New Year's Day hike along the C&O Canal in Washington, D.C., an 10-mile leisurely trek sponsored by the Sierra Club and supported by other hiking groups in the area. The weather was good _ compared to the wintry days we've had recently _ and I got to meet a lot of interesting people with interesting hiking stories. A great way to start 2010!

During the hike, the topic turned to problems that one might encounter while taking part in a hiking vacation. I was keenly interested _ mainly because I'll be leading an 11-day hiking tour of Switzerland in July. (Go to http://myhikingvacations.com/ for more information.)

One of the hikers mentioned ear plugs as an essential packing item. She said she's encountered roommates on hiking trips who snored without end _ making it difficult to sleep and sapping the energy needed to go on a hike the next day. I also pointed out that some people need ear plugs to cope with the change in air pressure while flying in an airplane.

It made me think: Should ear plugs be an essential item? Or an optional item? On the packing list page of my Web site (http://myhikingvacations.com/packing.php), I list ear plugs under "Optional Stuff" _ along with items such as binoculars, camera and pocket knife.

Based on my conversation with my fellow hiker, I have changed the entry. I still have ear plugs listed as optional, but I've added a line suggesting why they would be useful.

It just goes to show that, no matter know many hikes you've led, there's always something new to learn. Snoring has never bothered me, and it's never come up in hiking trips I've led with the Boy Scouts and other groups in the past. So, word to the wise: Think about ear plugs if you're a light sleeper or plane-pressure sensitive.

Again, Happy New Year to All,
Joseph

A New Year's Day Hike Along the C&O

2009-12-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

You know, hiking's a good New Year's Resolution. It gets down some of the weight we all probably gained during the holidays, and it's much cheaper than joining a gym.

My usual New Year's Day routine for several years has been to take a bike ride, usually to Leesburg, Virginia, where I search for a restaurant that serves black eye peas. (Yes, you are supposed to eat black eye peas on New Year's Day. Everyone knows that tradition, right?)

This year, I plan instead to take part in the 36th annual New Year's Day hike along the C&O Canal, starting in Washington, D.C. It's sponsored by the Sierra Club and looks like a lot of fun. They don't mention black eye peas in the promotional material, but maybe I'll bring my own ...

If you live in the D.C. area and are interested, the hike starts at 9:30 a.m. at Wisconsin Ave. at the canal, south of M St. in Georgetown. It's a 10-mile hike. Go to
http://sierrapotomac.org/events.htm for more information.

January is also when a lot of people settle on a destination for a summer vacation. We're hoping you consider our July hiking trip to Switzerland. We'd love to have you! Check us out at http://myhikingvacations.com/

Happy Hiking Year!
Joseph

Igloo!!! (And, yes, Merry Christmas, while we're at it ...)

2009-12-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to build an igloo. Not just a tiny hole in some snow, but one big enough to sit in and relax while drinking some hot chocolate _ and certainly big enough to throw down a sleeping bag to spend the night. While growing up in North Carolina and later living in London and Virginia, I was always a bit envious of those people up north who got to build snowhuts and big ice sculptures in the front yard every winter.

Well, we finally got a major dumping of the white stuff on Saturday _ 20 inches at our house. It took a while, but I managed to build an igloo that held five people sitting comfortably on an ice bench. We crawled in at night holding a candle. It was sooooooo cool _ in every sense of the word. It doesn't look like much from the outside _ and I probably didn't follow the standard igloo-building procedures _ but I can say I did it.

I was tempted to spend the night inside. In retrospect, I wish I had. My winter sleeping bag would have been a perfect fit.

I had houseguests from North Carolina over the weekend, and they'd never seen so much snow. I still have to walk 50 feet just to get to my car. The ground will definitely stay white through Christmas _ and maybe into the New Year.

I just checked a live webcam in Kandersteg, Switzerland, where I'll be leading a hike next summer. Yep, snow on the ground there, too. And a simple Christmas tree lighting up the dark night.

I'm off to North Carolina to see family for Christmas. My Dad is 97; my Mom is 92. God bless 'em both. I really love this time of year. It's the only time I love to shop _ and that's because I'm thinking about the people I love as I do it.

So, on this beautiful night in Virginia _ as the lights from my outdoor tree twinkle through the window near my keyboard _ I get a romantic twinge as I think about the few people out there in the Internet world who might actually read this little blog. I am so fortunate. I have a happy life, good friends and a great family. How I so wish that feeling for each of you. And for everyone. May your world have lots of love. May this tired old world experience more peace in 2010. If you are alone this Christmas, please accept a cyber-hug from me. I wish I could do more.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Joseph
http://myhikingvacations.com/

Google Hiking Searches ... (key word: underwear?)

2009-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

"hiking underwear you dont have to wash"

I'm always intrigued to see how people end up visiting my hiking Web site. My wish/hope is that they're looking for the ideal hiking vacation _ particularly in the Swiss Alps _ and therefore have typed something like "hiking vacations Switzerland." Then, of course, they click on http://myhikingvacations.com/, examine the Web site and maybe even sign up.

Ah, but that's too straightforward. We live in a convoluted world. The phrase I typed above _ "hiking underwear you dont have to wash" _ is an actual phrase that someone typed into a Google search that led to a visit to my Web site. I just typed it in myself, and the "What to Pack" page of my Web site came up No. 4 on the results list. How about that!

I'm afraid the searcher might have been disappointed. I'm sure he/she found me because I list underwear on the packing list for the July 2010 hiking trip we're offering to Switzerland. I say nothing about whether the underwear should be washable or not. Hmmm. Maybe I should.

Anyway, for the Web-curious among you, here's a list of some other search strings used to find my Web site. Some make sense; some don't. For instance, I have no clue how "cottage rental va 20194" made the cut.

cost of hiking in alps
cottage rental va 20194
guided hiking in the alps
herndon
hiking
swiss guided hiking
swiss hiking vacation
switzerland vacations hut overnight
what clothes to take on hiking vacation
what to bring when going to the alps
what was your favorite hiking vacation in europe

Anyway, feel free to visit the Web site any way you please. Happy Googling ...

Joseph

C&O Snow Hike _ And Snowcream!!

2009-12-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here's the first snowman of the year! A little creation I construction this morning on the C&O Canal in Maryland during a 6-mile hike. We knew the weather was going to be dicey _ thus we altered our previous plans to drive to the Blue Ridge and hike at Wildcat Mountain _ but the white stuff came down even quicker than we expected. What a winter wonderland! As they say: "There's no business like snow business."

And, by the way, in case you were wondering: "You don't have to be a star to be in my snow."

And, yes, in the spirit of the season, I believe I was heard singing the classic Christmas song: "Do You Snow What I Snow?"

This snow is great packing snow _ perfect for snowballs, snowmen and snowcream.

Snowcream? Don't tell me you've never eaten snowcream! It's the greatest winter treat ever!

OK, you snowcream novices: Here's the recipe, straight from wonderful More-With-Less Cookbook:

_ 2 1/2 quarts clean snow (Skimming it off a car is best. Obviously, if you live in a high pollution area _ near a factory, for example, you probably don't want to try this.)
_ 1/2 cup milk
_ 1 teaspoon vanilla
_ 1 cup sugar

Mix and eat right away.

I personally like to add sliced banana or a cup of blueberries to make it fruity. My Mom used to stir in an egg, but you should do that only if you're comfortable eating raw eggs.

I guess I should add this disclaimer: Some people say that our air is so polluted everywhere that snowcream isn't safe to eat anymore. I'll only point out this: It happens to be the same air you're inhaling into your lungs a zillion times a day.

One final word of kudos: Because I was on my hike, I was able to defend my title in the annual Skyhaven Court Snowman Competition, awarded to the person who builds the first snowman of the season on my street. I came home to find one in front of my neighbor's house, the one where the two daughters live. Good going, girls!

Happy Hiking,
Joseph
http://myhikingvacations.com/

December Hike to Wildcat Mountain

2009-12-01T15:57:00.001-08:00

I love hiking in December. The air is brisk. The trails aren't as crowded. Everyone's in a good mood because Christmas is near. One catch: Make sure to start early _ because it'll be dark by 5.

I'm going to a new place this week: the Wildcat Mountain Natural Area in Farquier County, along the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Someone else picked the hike, so I'm more or less tagging along for this one. It's good not always being the leader _ I get a chance to see how other people handle a group hike and maybe pick up some pointers. Plus, I get to soak in the sights and sounds a bit more while concentrating less on pacing and morale.

We're expecting about 8 people for the hike, 4 adults and 4 kids. I'll let you know how it goes ...

Happy Hiking,
Joseph
http://myhikingvacations.com/

Montague Miles

2009-11-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, for one of the few times in recent memory, I took a ride on Montague Miles.

What's that, you say? You've never heard of Montague Miles? Alas, I suppose that's due to a signage failure by the otherwise reliable North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Montague Miles is the 38-mile stretch of Interstate 95 from Exit 107 in Kenley to Exit 145 in Gold Rock. It opened in 1979 and was promptly named for John Merle Montague, salutatorian of the Bertie High School Class of 1978. John's one of the finest fellows I've ever known, and it's always puzzled me that NCDOT still hasn't found time to put up the signs.

To help give John his due, I emailed him a few years back and asked for his thoughts on the stretch of highway that bears his name. Here was his reply, verbatim:

"I have been told by travelers that Montague Miles ranks as the most boring stretch of interstate between Maine and Miami…and that's saying a lot considering it outranks I-95 in South Carolina. Feel free to use that quote!! Really, I’d like to thank all the little people who made that breathtaking stretch of freeway possible. I am happy that it represented one of the final links of I-95 in North Carolina."

I don't get much of a chance to enjoy the stark pavement of Montague Miles anymore. As a hiker and outdoors guy, I'm more partial to scenic backroads, but my son and I found ourselves on that very highway on the way back from visiting family in North Carolina at Thanksgiving. Maybe next I'll find time to ride on other great NC highways, including the Cherry-Constable Freeway near Wilson. (Or is it the Constable-Cherry Freeway?)

As this is a hiking blog, one that helps promote hiking tours to Switzerland, I suppose I need to work in a hiking reference. (Before that, however, for you Montague Miles fans reading this blog for the first time, here's the shameless plug for the Website: http://myhikingvacations.com/). I'll make the connection by pointing out that North Carolina is where you'll find a village called Little Switzerland. I remember going there as a kid and seeing the sign that listed the population as the "square root of negative 1." Wonder if that sign is still there.

Happy Hiking. And, with all due respect to John, my fullest sympathies if you're having to spend a lot of time on Montague Miles during the busy holiday travel period ...

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a Thanksgiving Day hike, unless you count the leisurely walks through the woods we sometimes do when my family gets together in our little village of Gatlinsville in rural eastern North Carolina. Instead, we usually work off the big meal with the traditional front-yard touch football game. I'm sure we'll do that again tomorrow. Look out for the bird bath when going out for a pass!

I love family holidays, so this is definitely one of my favorite times of year. As much as I enjoy traveling in Europe, I always felt a twinge of sadness if I couldn't be home on Thanksgiving Day. I'd try to find somewhere to have a turkey dinner, but it's just not the same.

Wherever you are, Happy Thanksgiving. And Happy Hiking.

That photo on your right ...

2009-11-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

I've been asked quite a few times where the photo that accompanies this blog was taken. It was at sunset at a Swiss mountain hut called Fründenhütte, at the end of one of the greatest hikes in the world. You spend the entire hike rising about this pristine Alpine lake, with spectacular views at every turn. Eventually you're above the tree line, and it seems as if you'll never reach your destination as the trail gets steeper and steeper.

But then you turn a corner _ and there it is! A welcome mountain hut ready to serve you a great pasta dinner and give you a place to spend the night at 2,562 meters above sea level! The prices are reasonable, the people are friendly, and there's a huge glacier right behind the hut. The place is so isolated that it can only be serviced by helicopter. (In other words, clean your plate! Those leftovers are expensive for the hut's owners _ because the flying garbage service charges by the pound.)

The hike is about 2 1/2 hours from the lake (called Oeschinensee) if you're a Swiss juggernaut. Most Americans, even the ones in good shape, need about 3 1/2 to 4 hours because they are unused to the steep terrain and the altitude. It's best to take your time, anyway. Don't race up the mountain _ take plenty of breaks, break out the camera and soak it all in.

Fründenhütte is the on the list of hikes for our July 2010 trip to Switzerland with http://myhikingvacations.com/. We'd love to have you along ...

A Hike Under the Stars ... Well, Almost

2009-11-15T19:52:00.000-08:00

Light pollution is a major bummer here in Northern Virginia, and I got a fresh reminder of how bad it is this weekend when I took a group for a short stroll Saturday night around 9 o'clock, out to a big field near the area where we were camping at Dennis Farm.

Essentially, we were celebrating the fact that the clouds had finally disappeared after five straight days of rain in the area, so we figured we would to do some stargazing. Yet even among the woods and fields of Dennis Farm, the stars were no competition for the intrusion of light from nearby Leesburg. We could barely make out the Little Dipper, and parts of the southern sky had only one or two stars visible.

That's too bad. The stars have wonderful stories to tell through their shapes and colors. An hour or so looking at the heavens with good company on a clear night beats watching television anytime, but our cities and towns and houses waste light (and therefore money!) like nobody's business. There's even a group called the International Dark Sky Association (darksky.org, if you're interested) that does all it can to promote more efficient lighting for roads, houses and other buildings. Maybe one day we'll get our nighttime back!

Of course, much of my hiking has been done in Switzerland, which begs the obvious question: "How's the stargazing over there?" While the Swiss are more efficient with their lighting, they can't do anything about the big problem: Those big mountains block the view of much of the sky! That said, if you're at a mountain hut on a perfect summer night _ and you don't mind staying up late _ the view of the stars can be tremendous. We hope to have some nights like that when we do our next guided hike to Switzerland next July. Go to our Website (http://myhikingvacations.com/) to find out more.

Happy hiking!

Happy Friday the 13th Birthday

2009-11-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday the 13th birthday to Lou Ann, who was actually born on Friday the 13th. Lou Ann is a good friend of MyHikingVacations (http://myhikingvacations.com/) and was in a group we took to Switzerland in 2006.

Happy trails, Lou Ann.

Return to Dennis Farm

2009-11-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

While Switzerland is my favorite place to explore (and I'll gladly direct you to http://myhikingvacations.com/ for more info if you wish to go with us to the Alps next summer), I'm always thrilled whenever there's an invitation for a good hike or camping trip.

This weekend, I'm headed to a place called Dennis Farm, a spot near Leesburg, Virginia, that has a wonderful story behind it. It's a gorgeous spread of forest and farm that overlooks the Potomac River, privately owned by the Dennis family. They could make millions many times over in an instant if they sold it to developers in rapidly growing Loudoun County, but they have remained steadfast in their desire to keep the land in its wonderful, natural state. They allow Boy Scout troops to camp there for free _ because the Scouts know how to take care of the land _ so I'll be there to help as an adult leader with Troop 1018 from Dranesville.

Mr. Dennis passed away recently. Very sad news. He would always walk down to visit us at the campsite. I can't wait to see Mrs. Dennis again. I feel for her loss, but, knowing her, I bet her spirit remains strong.

Salmon and Sauerkraut Pizza

2009-11-10T15:30:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how many great hiking stories revolve around food _ and
thus I present to you the true tale of the Salmon and Sauerkraut Pizza.

It was 2007 in Colorado Springs. I was helping lead a group of Boy
Scouts on a backpacking trip to New Mexico. I never like to eat at fast food restaurants or any sort of familiar chain when I'm on a trip _ no
use traveling that far to have an eating experience that I could've had
back home _ so I took the group to a place called Giuseppe's Depot
Restaurant. It's a great spot, an old railway depot turned into a nice but not-too-over-the-top restaurant near the heart of downtown.

The menu was excited and varied. There must have been 25 different
pizza toppings! A Scout named Quinn and I decided to be adventurous, so we picked a topping twosome that, we're quite sure, had never
existed on a pizza before. That's right: salmon and sauerkraut.

The rest of the group cringed, but Quinn and I enjoyed our treat. (And, yes, a few of the others had a bite, too.) The salmon was salty; the
sauerkraut was chilled. Truly and unusual combination of flavors.

When I got home, I Googled the phrase "salmon and sauerkraut
pizza." No matches found. Surely, therefore, I had played a part in
creating a new food. Just before I wrote this blog entry, I checked
again: No exact matches found for the phrase "salmon and sauerkraut pizza."

Of course, now that I've finished writing this blog and hit the
"Publish" button, that will change. Salmon and sauerkraut pizza will
have Internet immortality. I wonder if the people at Giuseppe's realize
what they started ...

Next year, I'm leading hiking trips to Switzerland. (Go to

http://myhikingvacations.com

for details.) You're invited to join us, but I'm afraid our Colorado
Springs dining experience won't be replicated there. Just thinking,
though: Maybe we can order a fondue with those two ingredients ....

Happy hiking!

"Honey, Should I Bring an Umbrella?"

2009-11-09T04:40:00.000-08:00

One of the toughest decisions on the eve of any vacation: "Should I pack this or not?" From my experience, most people overpack when they travel -- yet those same people still manage to leave behind many of the essentials.

Packing for a hiking vacation can be just as challenging. You'll hear experts telling you to "pack light," but they'll also implore you to "pack everything you need."

So what's on the list and what's not? You can find the list we've compiled on the following link, which takes you to the "What to Pack" page of our Web site, MyHikingVacations.com. This will be the packing guide we give people who go hiking with us to Switzerland next year.

http://myhikingvacations.com/packing.php

Notice anything you think is missing from the list? Anything you don't think is necessary? Drop us a line. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be tempted to join us for our trip to the Alps.

And, no, you don't need the umbrella ...

MyHikingVacations.com Goes Live!

2009-11-08T04:23:00.000-08:00

It's quite a landmark day. After months of hard work, years in the making, the Web site MyHikingVacations.com went live in the early hours of this morning. My Web friend, Will Donnell, has been burning the midnight oil to make sure everything is up to scratch. Please take a visit, tell your friends. Better yet, think about signing up for our inaugural hike, July 13-23 in Kandersteg and Grindelwald, Switzerland.

I'll be using the blog in the upcoming days to take about various details about the trip, along with the kinds of adventures we're bound to encounter. We hope to see you on the trails with us in 2010!

Return to the Scene of a Swiss mini-golf disaster ...

2009-11-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

The Web site is only days away from going live. Meanwhile, I've been busy researching some of the hikes and hostels that will make up our inaugural My Hiking Vacations trip to Switzerland in July 2009. I'm especially excited to return to Grindelwald, a special little Swiss town (aren't they all special?) south of Interlaken and not too far from the Jungfrau.

Odd as it seems, I'm looking forward to revisiting a miniature golf course in that area. In Switzerland, mini-golf is often played on a cement-like surface rather than fake green grass. It's a difficult change-of-pace for us Americans, and it threw me for a loop. There was one hole I never was able to complete because the ball kept rolling away from the cup. It was too embarrassing for words. I want to get back to that course and finally get the ball in. Then I'll probably vow never to pick up a putter in Switzerland again _ and stick to the hiking trails instead.

Writing a Web site

2009-10-11T15:01:00.001-07:00

Just finished turning in the info for my Web site to my good friend Will, who is putting it all together for the world to see. Even though I have been a professional writer for 16 years, the effort was more work than I had anticipated. Nothing like trying to sell yourself link-by-link. Picking out the photos, however, was much more fun.

In less than 3 weeks, you should be able to see if for yourselves _ MyHikingVacations.com. Meanwhile, I'm doing more research and planning for the great debut trip, next July in Kandersteg and Grindelwald, Switzerland. Get your hiking shoes on and join us!

The Start of New Adventures to Come

2009-10-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hello to the Hiking World,

It's an exciting time in the White household. We're not far away from launching our new hiking guide venture _ MyHikingVacations.com _ offering a spectacular 11-day hiking trip to Switzerland in July 2010. After leading Scouts and other groups on hikes for the better part of the decade, we're anxious to share our experiences with as many people as possible. If the July hike fills up quickly, we'll also offer one in June 2010 as well.

Lots of last-minute things to finish up. Got to make final additions to the Web site before it goes live in a few weeks. Many details have already been sorted out_ accommodations, price, train itineraries. It's a lot of work, but also a lot of fun, imagining the feeling 10 months from now, when we're leading our group to the beautiful lake known as Oescheninsee, where we'll have a nice picnic lunch before heading up to our mountain hut in the Swiss Alps to spend the night.

We'd love to see you there. ...