Notes From The Trail

Winter time isn’t easy on hikers and campers. Getting to trailheads can be super dangerous, and a lot of proper preparation and gear is required to make the most of a winter adventure. That said, it’s still entirely possible and can be worthwhile for views that aren’t available year round. One of the best ways to experience that is via snowshoeing, and today we’ll break down why you should give it a shot and how to get started. 

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Our favorite lakes may be frozen over, and favorite trails fallen with layers of powder, but that won’t stop us from gearing up for clear weather adventures. With the holiday season in full swing, there’s no better time to hook up the adventurers in our lives (including yourself) with the best gear to make the most of any outdoor expedition. Check out some of our favorite picks for this year’s hiker’s gift guide. 

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As the sun starts to set earlier, the leaves start to change colors and paint the landscape with vibrant fiery hues. It’s got us recounting all of the sublime memories made during this past summer. It’s not all rain and clouds, though. This turn of the season is ripe with opportunities to watch blazing autumn colors dominate foliage and landscape, especially in your favorite national parks and forests. The following five national parks are just a handful of ones for you to get your fix of fall colors:
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This is my tale of hiking in the 100-Mile Wilderness and up (and then down, because, well, once at the summit, you have to go somewhere!) Katahdin.


I have been section hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) in small bites since 2010. I was a latecomer to the hiking party. I am a 23-year retired Air Force pilot who then flew for an airline, so big chunks of time were hard to come by. Even though I grew up in Virginia, I had zero knowledge of the AT until my son started skipping class to go hiking while he was at VA Tech in his senior year, 2006. Being the straight-A student he was, my wife and I didn't yell at him and I thought, "How cool." So the seed was planted in my brain, but as I was just starting my airline career, the time wasn't right.

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