trail community
It seems like everyone wants to get outdoors for the Gram, but no one wants to put in the work to create a sustainable relationship with the land they inhabit. We live on land, work on land, play on land, eat, love, and die on land: everything but really get to know our land.
If you’re interested in engaging with nature, it’s important to understand land stewardship, and what goes into building and maintaining trails.
For both Natives and allies, land acknowledgement is a wonderful tool to be more intentional about your adventures and beyond. It is a way to learn about the history of an area, including the Indigenous peoples and cultures that helped shape the landscape. If you’re completely new to land acknowledgments, here are some easy steps to get started:
Welcome to Hiking 101: Getting into Hiking. Class is in session. Hiking; the word itself conjures imagery of mountain passes, alpine meadows full of wildflowers, fresh air, granola bars, spandex, and epic social media posts. For many people, hiking is almost an abstract concept. What is hiking, actually? How accessible is this mysterious activity? Is it leisure, or sport?
It’s not every day that we think about the condition of our insoles inside of our hiking footwear. However, after miles-upon-miles of time on trail, the foam can get compressed down and thinner in areas of the insole. Therefore, you won’t be getting those cushioning benefits that the footbed had originally.
I’ve joined the trail conditioning Facebook groups, where I see my peers averaging 15-20+ mile days daily, summiting multiple peaks, doing so as if they were out for a walk in the park. Meanwhile, I find myself having to mentally prepare for the physical and emotional requirements needed to get to the top of a new summit. If this resonates with you, I hope you continue reading and partake in my journey to train for and summit my 7th Adirondack high peak.
The temperature is dropping like a stone, and ice and snow are piling up in the great outdoors. Some people hide. Others get out there. If you are one of the adventurous soles (sic), choosing the right pair of winter boots is not an easy feat. Many manufacturers tout a temperature rating. -40ᵒ F. Really? You mean if I go outside in -40ᵒ, my toes won’t freeze and fall off if I’m wearing those boots? Wait, are we on the southern-most continent observing penguins? Not sure how accurate those temperature ratings are.
The towering spires, alpine lakes, wildflowers, and beautiful Rifugios seemed like a far away dream. The 75-mile point-to-point trail lived in the back of my mind. Finally, after a winter and spring of hiking constantly, starting a new job where I was happier, with colleagues who were understanding of my love for the outdoors, I began to plan to make my dream a reality.
In May of 2025, Traveling Jackie, Oboz Footwear, and Osprey Packs hosted a massive giveaway to award one lucky winner a spot on Jackie's group trip to Peru this fall. Oboz and Osprey also provided gear for participants of the trip, and in September of 2025…
