August 16, The landmark we had approached for two days was now underfoot. Rounding the ridge of Tillamook Head we heard a wondrous sound. Here, from within the cathedral of spruce and fir, a chorus of sea lions resonated! Ocean and forest meet! As we climbed the forest path of Tillamook Head, generously and thoughtfully …
Category Archives: Trails
Oregon Coast Trail: Underway
August 14, 2019 Our first three miles of the Oregon Coast Trail is a shakedown for the rest of the trip. The Fort Stevens State Park staff who registered us for the Hiker Biker Site said we could park our van there for the extent of our trip! They are really supporting us as hikers, …
Oregon Coast Trail: First Day
August 15, 2019 I walked all day along the beach and didn’t have to turn back. Last Spring, while walking on the beach in San Diego, I wondered what it would be like to just keep walking along the coast, all the way to Washington. Today, on our first full day on the coast of …
Journey to the Oregon Coast Starts Today!
August 10, 2019 We’re headed to Oregon! Today, John and I will wrap things up in Ohio and begin our cross-country drive to Oregon. John has been researching the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT), learning that it’s quite different from the Eastern US trails we’ve walked! It’s relatively level It goes through or near towns frequently …
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Thruhiker Celebrity?
“Thruhikers are celebrities!” I read that in a women’s hiking group and chuckled. I don’t feel special! I walked the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia within a year’s time, so I am a thruhiker. As a thruhiker, how I know about myself is that I fulfilled my dream of being able to say, “I …
Maps for the Appalachian Trail near Springer Mtn., GA
I received a text message from a friend: “My sister and I want to begin a hike at Springer Mountain in mid-July. Do you have maps we can borrow or recommend the best maps?” My maps are in storage in Virginia while I work out in California! Besides, once you step on the Appalachian Trail, …
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Katahdin Anniversary
June 27, 2016 Today is my nine-year anniversay of my first summit of Mt Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, in Maine! What a day that was! I was astounded at the arduous terrain of the mountain, surprised at the boulder climbing and the 10-hour trek to get up – and down! Now …
Important Details
A dreaming Pacific Crest Trail hiker posed this question in a women’s hiking forum: “When & where will you start? how long have you been planning? Would you share some of your plans/knowlege… I’m so nervous I feel I will leave some important detail out.” She’s touching on one of the Five Essentials in the …
Winter Walk In Pennsylvania
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail January 2 – 22, 2014 What a lovely walk John and I had for 6 days in the snowy mountains of Pennsylvania! Enjoy this 5-minute slide show featuring Barbara Hotz singing “Wild Wind” and a few words of explanation from me! Highlights of this walk included: Super Trail Angel help from …
Let’s Meet at the Next Trailhead
The journey that I’m on now has a name – Journey to the HeartLand – for its significance in my life. I thought that this one would be different than other trail walks I have done. Wouldn’t an off-trail journey be different than a month on the Benton MacKaye Trail or on the Appalachian Trail? What I’m discovering is that this journey has …