The "Great Eastern Trail"? What's That?

Even casual hikers have heard of the great Appalachian Trail that runs from Georgia to Maine, but what about the "Great Eastern Trail"?

Never heard of it? Well, it exists. Sort of. It goes from Alabama to New York, a little west of the AT. It's not fully formed like the AT and doesn't have all the support mechanisms in place for which the AT is renowned (shelters, cabins, "trail magic", etc.)

But people are always looking for new hiking adventures. The AT is well-trodden. If you hike on it, you're one of many. Those looking for something different are starting to look at the GET as a place to get away.

Read more about the GET here, from blogger Jim Foster.

Meanwhile, out West, there's a state senator hiking the entire state of Idaho. Wonder if he wishes he represented Rhode Island instead. Read about him here.

If the GET is a bit much for you, and Idaho isn't your thing, visit our website and join us for hiking trips next year to Switzerland, Virginia, Nevada and Vermont.

See you on the trails.

Joseph

An Adventure Race through the Streets of D.C.

Ah, the thought of running wild through downtown D.C., wreaking havoc upon our nation's capital in search of the next clue that will lead you to the million dollar prize.

Well, first price isn't a million bucks, but we can all dream, right?

The annual D.C. Adventure Race (or CitySolve Urban Race, to use the official title) is coming to my neck of the woods Sept. 14. Seen the TV show "The Amazing Race"? It's kinda like that. Teams of two hustling from place to place, doing all sorts of wacky things and trying to finish first.

I bring this up because I'm in need of a teammate. My previous partner moved to Minnesota last year, leaving me solo. That won't do. So, take a look at CitySolve's website and see if you're interested: http://www.citysolveurbanrace.com/how-it-works/.

For good measure, here's a first-person account I wrote after running in the 2008 D.C. race:
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/sep/28/sports/sp-dograce28

So, if you live in the D.C. area _ or plan to be here on Sept. 14 _ and want to give it a try, shoot me an email (joseph@myhikingvacations.com). It'll be loads of fun.

CitySolve isn't just a D.C. thing. There are races in major cities across the country. It's the brainchild of Jason Hofsess, a man with an idea who had the get-up-and-go and business sense to make it happen. I like stories like that.

If adventure racing isn't your thing _ this is a hiking blog, for heaven's sake _ then check out our website (http://myhikingvacations.com/) for a hiking adventure. We're going to Switzerland, Vermont, Nevada and the Blue Ridge in 2014.

See you on the trails. (Or, perhaps, running along the streets of D.C.)

Joseph

Nature vs. Technology _ and Google Maps Goes Hiking

Two very diverse readings for you today on the hiking blog, stuff that's sure to generate lots of discussion.

First we have a blog from Jacqueline Keating, who works as an interpreter at one of my favorite parks in the world, Arches National Park in Utah. Jacqueline eloquently revives the nature vs. technology dilemma, one that I grapple with all the time.

When I'm hiking on the trail with friends, I find myself wishing that all of life could be so simple and enjoyable. I know people who wrap themselves completely in technology, as if they inhabit an artificial world. Oh, how I'd love to take them camping for a weekend with a map and a compass, away from the smartphones and GPSs of the world.

Yet I am typing this to you today on my desktop computer. I am a hiking guide who uses a website to invite you to go on hiking trips. I use Facebook and Twitter. I don't own a GPS, but I will sometimes use Mapquest or Google Maps to locate an address. I am an astronomy nut who wishes I could board a tourist spaceship to visit Mars, like, tomorrow.

So, yes, I'm a child of technology. Like anything else, it has its good and bad. The key, I think, is knowing when to put it aside.

Anyway, here's Jacqueline's excellent column, called "Hovercraft Hiking." Please give it a read:
http://followme.thesca.org/jacqueline-keating/hovercraft-hiking

Speaking of Google Maps, here's something new for hikers: Street View on hiking trails. They're doing it in Hawaii. Hmmm. Wonder if I can volunteer to do the Appalachian Trail. I sure would be noticeable, wearing that funny camera above my head:
http://blog.sfgate.com/hawaii/2013/06/27/google-goes-hawaiian-street-view-to-start-mapping-island-trails/

No funny cameras are required for our hiking vacations next year to Switzerland, Vermont, Nevada and Virginia. Learn more at our website (Technology rules!) at http://myhikingvacations.com/.

See you on the trails.

Joseph

Hiking the Grand Canyon _ and Hiking for a Cause

When I first visited the Grand Canyon with my son, we made a beeline for the North Rim. Yeah, it's harder to get to, but it's less crowded and the views are just as spectacular. You can pitch a tent on the campground about 100 yards or so from the edge. In fact, we played a pickup game of whiffleball, and I was concerned someone might knock an irretrievable home run! Great stuff. (Unless, of course, you're the type who goes for long walks in your sleep. In that case, don't camp near the edge.)

Truth is, no matter which rim, which road, which means of transport or accommodation, the Grand Canyon lives up to its name and its hype. Can't say that about many places. It is truly a breathtaking sight.

So today we're posting a story from Richard Irwin of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, giving his first-person account of hiking the canyon. Give it a read:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/lifestyle/20130826/hiking-on-the-rim-of-the-grand-canyon

Also, here's a brief item about a hiker who decided to make his trek on the Pacific Coast Trail a worthwhile benefit for others:
http://b-townblog.com/2013/08/26/burien-man-will-be-hiking-it-forward-on-pacific-crest-trail-for-local-charities/

And while you're in the clicking mood, be sure to visit our website (http://myhikingvacations.com/) to learn about our upcoming hiking vacations for 2014.

See you on the trails.

Joseph

College Credit for Hiking the AT? What a deal!

I'm posting only one item today on the hiking blog because this one blew me away. 

Hikers such as myself often pine for the time off from our day jobs _ or our busy lives in general _ to do the great, long hikes, such as the 2,000-plus mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. 

So whoever thought you could hike the trail and get college credit for it? It turns out that Emory & Henry College in southwestern Virginia has a program called Semester-A-Trail.

It's right there in the college's course catalog: "The Semester-A-Trail Program offers students the opportunity to build independent studies and projects with broadened field-based implications. Student hikers have developed imaginative projects across the curriculum in ecotourism, human physiology, water quality, wellness, and photography."

Who knew? Well, those of us who have hiked parts of the AT knew. It truly is an educational experience on many levels. 

Please read the entire story here, from Joe Tennis of the Bristol Herald Courier:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/2177011-12/college-credits-offered-for-hiking-appalachian-trail.html

And also visit our webpage (http://myhikingvacations.com/) for info about our hiking trips in 2014. We aren't doing the AT, but there's lots of fun _ and education  _ to be had in Switzerland, Vermont, Nevada and the Blue Ridge.

See you on the trails.
Joseph

Part of the "Croo" in the White Mountains of New Hampshire; Fancy Threads for Hikers in Korea

You want diversity? We got diversity on the hiking blog today. These two stories are worlds apart. Or at least half-a-world.

First, an item on what it's like to be a member of the working "croo" in one of those wonderful huts you'll find in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The huts are a lifeline for hikers along the Appalachian Trail, and they're also a welcome spot for day and overnight hikers in those rugged mountains. 

Read all about it here:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20130814/NEWS/308149978/1312

Not sure what to make of this next one. It seems many hikers in Korea are a bit overly concerned about how they look when they're hiking. Don't know about you, but I generally don't try to make a fashion statement when I'm on the trail.
http://news.insing.com/feature/haute-couture-hiking-in-south-korea/id-572d3101

Never been hiking in Korea. Maybe I need to add it to the list.

Our list next year includes Switzerland, Virginia, Vegas and Vemont. Visit our website and come join us: 
http://myhikingvacations.com/

See you on the trails.

Joseph

More Photos from the "Candlelight" Hike; Family Friendly Hikes in Utah

A few days ago I posted some photos from a "Candlelight Dinner" hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, an enjoyable outing we had with the people from the Wandering Soles hiking group.

Others on the hike have now posted photos of their own, and they're pretty good, so I thought I'd share them. This was a hike that took us to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain and included appetizers at an overlook, a candlelight dinner at sunset, and a hike down in the dark. (I love the photo of our headlamps on the trail _ almost makes the group look like a constellation in the sky.)

Enjoy the photos here: 
https://picasaweb.google.com/113258319599232463581/Hawksbill2013#slideshow/5913568954207131410

And here:
http://www.meetup.com/WanderingSoles/photos/16785672/#272960772

Also today, we have an item from Utah. Suggestions for 5 "family friendly" hikes in that beautiful hiking state:
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1010&sid=26521691

And, of course, we invite you to please visit our website for information about our 2014 hiking trips to Switzerland, Virginia, Vegas and Vermont. http://myhikingvacations.com/

See you on the trails.

Joseph

A Record Hike _ and a Visit to Hatcher Pass in Alaska

I usually don't race up the mountain when I hike. Sure, I can be competitive _ try to play me in a board game _ but I like to savor the walking experience. I admire the views, take photographs and try not to get so tired that I'm not enjoying myself anymore. Of course, it all depends on the group I'm leading. If they want fast, then it's fast. 

That said, I truly admire the speed hikers who set records. Today on the hiking blog we present a story about Josh Garrett, a 30-year-old cross-country coach at Santa Monica College. Josh hiked the Pacific Coast Trail _ from Mexico to Canada, 2,660 miles _ in just 59 days, 8 hours and 14 minutes, battling heat exhaustion along the way.

Read Josh's compelling story here, as told by Tom Stienstra of the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Josh-Garrett-finishes-PCT-in-record-time-4741079.php#page-1

Also today we have a first-person account of the Hatcher Pass hike in Alaska, written by Shawn Lyons. 
http://www.adn.com/2013/08/20/3033494/minding-the-weather.html

After you dream of Alaska, I'll remind you that next year we're going back to Switzerland, and also to Vermont, Nevada and Virginia. Learn more here: http://myhikingvacations.com/  

See you on the trails.

Joseph

Young Girls Save Mom on a Hike; Good Hiking News for Cincinnati

There's hiking news somewhere in the world every day, some of it quite fascinating, so we're going to start using the blog to tell some of those stories.

Today, for example, there's a happy-endings tale from Oregon about two young daughters who saved their mother's life during a hike. The mom is asthmatic but decided not to bring her inhaler, figuring she wouldn't need it. When she had an attack, the girls ran some 2 miles to find a ranger.

Lesson learned, naturally. Never go on a hike without the essentials you need. If you think it's not going to rain and you leave your poncho behind, then those thunderclouds are sure to form in a hurry. If you have a medical condition, plan accordingly. Of course, it's fabulous that these two girls were so accustomed to the outdoors that they were able to save the day without panicking or getting lost themselves. This had a chance to turn into tragedy on many levels. Thankfully, it didn't.

Here's the link with the full story:
http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/young-daughters-save-mother-s-life-during-hike-in-oregon-182508187.html

Also, for those of you in the Cincinnati area, there's good news about the city's hiking and biking trails. You can read that here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/08/19/health-foundation-to-announce-new.html

Want to go hiking yourself? Visit our website (http://myhikingvacations.com/) and sign up!

See you on the trails.

Joseph

A "Candlelight Dinner" Atop Hawksbill Mountain

A superb day for a hike in the Blue Ridge

The invitation sounded cool right from the start. A hike that included a "candlelight dinner" at the summit _ complete with tablecloth. Who could turn that down?

So, on Saturday, we joined Mike Darzi and his wonderfully named hiking group _ Wandering Soles _ for a sojourn to the top of Hawksbill Mountain, near the Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Near the summit

Part of the hike was on the Appalachian Trial, and we must have stopped at a half-dozen overlooks, taking endless photos. At one such stop we broke out the "appetizers," with each hiker contributing something from his/her native area. (Being from rural North Carolina, I brought black-eyed peas and hominy corn. Not as exciting nor as delicious as the Polish crepes.)

It was windy at the summit, so it was hard to keep the candle lit. And it was too cloudy to see a sunset. But we put down the tablecloth and enjoyed a great feast and plenty of good company.  We hiked down in the dark, using our headlamps to find the way, and we stopped at the Skyland resort for a well-deserved hot chocolate. (It was quite cool for August.)

Since I'm always telling you to visit my website (http://myhikingvacations.com), I should do a good turn in return and tell you to click onto Wandering Soles (http://www.meetup.com/WanderingSoles). Mike is very good at cooking up adventure, pardon the pun.  


You can see more photos on our Facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/MyHikingVacations/147404999999

See you on the trails. 
Joseph

Lots of great views of the Shenandoah Valley.