Sat, 11 Apr 2020 17:18:47 -0700WeeblyMon, 21 Mar 2016 16:52:40 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/spring-sort-ofNow that we are celebrating the first days of official spring, and I say this knowing that there is a snowstorm marching across the mid-section of the country right now, our days of trail longing are finally coming to an end.  Early spring hiking brings with it a handful of challenges that proper planning will minimize.

1. When you head out onto the early spring trails, remember that many of these will be mud filled and some completely covered in water. That makes footwork and footwear a very important aspect on your early hikes.  Wearing something with additional traction, including and up to removable shoe claws will help to prevent twisted ankles or a wet, muddy, bottom. Additionally, a good waterproofed boot and an extra pair of socks are must haves this time of year.
2. Make sure to keep your bearings if you need to detour around a section of washed out trail. If you are not paying attention, your hour or two hiking excursion can end up an overnight survival immersion course. Study the trail map and surrounding areas, and ask those responsible for trail management just prior to your trip for up to date trail conditions.
3. Weather can change on a dime, especially in spring. The warm, sunny day can quickly turn into cloud cover, gale winds, and a 20 degree temperature drop.  Check the forecast and then plan to bring raingear and appropriate dress for conditions about 20-30 degrees colder than what is being predicted.
4. Energy bars should be brought and eaten at a rate of one for every 4 hours you will be outside. It may seem excessive, but the warm weather in early spring can be deceiving. You will still be bleeding off body heat at a good rate and your body will need the energy and carbs to compensate. Take a bar of chocolate with you as well for a quick burst of energy.
5. Hydration! Don’t skimp on the water because it is not hot. You will still need quite a bit of water for hiking, especially if the humidity is very low or in windy conditions.

In following these simple guidelines you will have a safe and more enjoyable spring hike. So, pack up and get out there. 
]]>Thu, 20 Mar 2014 02:40:22 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/quick-update-housekeepingAhh....spring has arrived, and the hiking itch that we all want to scratch will soon bring relief. This will be a quick post to kick off the 2014 season.

First, for those in or traveling to Wisconsin, the Wisconsin DNR has released a very thorough map listing of all public areas in Wisconsin. Visit their website at: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/PAL/ for more information.

Second, some changes will be coming soon. I plan on adding a photo gallery, and am also planning an interactive hiking planning guide that will encompass the Pacific, Texas, and upper Midwest regions.
]]>Wed, 04 Sep 2013 00:02:50 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/almost-time-for-autumn-hiking As summer begins its steady withdrawal, making way for the coming fall, the most exciting season for hiking is now comes into view. Hiking in the autumn brings with it everything that Mother Nature has to offer…it is her “Grand Finale”. I am feeling very connected to the autumn this year, as work and family have largely kept me off the trails this year.

The morning air is crisp and bites at your skin as you swallow the last of your warm beverage before grabbing your pack and blaze orange vest, then easing onto the trail. The sky and trees are filled with the calls of birds that are anxiously waiting to begin their southerly treks to their wintering areas. Geese call from all directions as they take flight like so many planes from a busy airfield, joining and maintaining formation in an attempt to cover a few extra miles to move closer to their warmer southern winter homes.

On the ground the crunch of newly fallen leaves fills the air with each step. The trees are painted with the colors of the sun; leaves in bright red, orange, and yellow colors. Squirrels and chipmunks scamper every which way, almost in unison to the bird songs that serenade you from above. On occasion, a chickadee or blue jay streaks through your sightline as it heads toward a newly discovered feeding place. Under some trees, late blooming flowers add scattered color in the midst of the brightly colored leaves that have detached from their parent trees, having glided gently to the ground, ready to become part of nature’s renewal in spring.

No mosquitos or horse flies to buzz annoyingly in your ear; just the occasional fly will happen to scoot by. The smells of the forest change from the heavy, humid smell of summer to a crisp, clean, sweet smell only occasionally interrupted by the smell of a leaf or wood fire. The thinning ground cover allows one to see a handful of deer making their way to a nearby stream, or the wayward moose that happens to cross your path. Stay sharp for the scat of bears on the trail; one does not want to interrupt a hike by startling a grazing black bear.

If you are out early enough you may catch a glimpse of Orion’s belt hanging just above the western horizon, a sight that to me signals winter’s arrival is close at hand. A cloud of breath is an expected companion while on an early morning hike in autumn. Seeing your breath is a much better feeling than being covered in sweat already, isn’t it?

Yes, there is no better season to explore your wilderness than autumn. The crisp, clean air and the flurry of last minute winter readiness activity already have my boots quivering in anticipation.

]]>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:59:25 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/season-openerThe summer hiking opened officially this past Saturday, June 1st, as the country celebrated National Trails Day. Although true that there is not really an “official” hiking season opening day, I like to refer to this date as being so in my mind at least.

It makes perfect sense really. National Trails Day is always the weekend after Memorial Day...after the outdoor grilling season starts, and about the time that many schools have finished for the year. It is its own holiday…its own time. In most years the weather is near perfect…the summer heat and humidity have not yet set it, but you will not need to pack very warm clothes. Flowers and leaves are in full effect; not yet wilted by time or the end of spring rains. Bugs are still pretty minimal, and the birds are still very active regardless of time of day.

Finally, one last reason why I consider this the true season opener for the summer hiking season: this is the one weekend of the summer season that has the least going on. Festivals and family picnics have not started, and the beach is not drawing people to its sunlit sands in force. This is the most relaxed, unplanned, and therefore the easiest weekend to hit the trail without any plans buzzing in ones ear…though I wouldn’t discount there being a mosquito buzzing around your ear instead.

]]>Fri, 03 May 2013 01:38:01 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/hiking-is-healingI read an article recently in Backpacker magazine which spoke of the benefits that hiking, and just getting outdoors, has on veterans that have returned home from combat areas. The article told the story of John Rivera and his 2,663 mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail, during which he aimed to better clear his mind of the memories of war. The article was written by an Army buddy of his, who joined Rivera on the last leg of his journey. The author, Brian Mockenhaupt, paints a vivid picture of what he saw on the trail, the mindset of his friend Rivera, and what all veterans face when they return from war.

The therapeutic benefits of a good hike were made evident…and no, you do not have to hike 2,000 plus miles before you can feel and see the results of the time in nature. Getting out into nature, whether it be a half mile guided nature loop at a local park, or one of the thousands of hiking trails within our national parks system, creates a connection between yourself and nature and refreshes the body, mind, and spirit connections.

It is so easy to live in the moment when out on the trail…the splendor of nature around you just soaks away the pains of the past and the worries of the future. Ever stand in the woods, hearing only the sounds of the forest, and closed your eyes while looking up? What did you feel when standing there in that moment? What, if anything, were you thinking? Study the sound your foot makes when it steps on a twig, gravel, dirt, or bark chips. What is that bird call…ever heard anything like it before?

This is a small sample of what the hiking experience will bring. That brings me back to the article. There is a new program kicking off called “Walk Off The War” (http://warriorhike.com/) that aims to hiking and its benefits to veterans. Another organization, “Veterans Expeditions” (http://vetexpeditions.com/), is for those that do not have the time or ability to participate in a hike, but want to get outdoors.  You don’t need to be a vet to help; volunteers and donations are welcome by any and all that wish to help.

Get out there and hike…and talk about it. You never know who will be inspired by your stories to hike, and heal, out on the trail.

]]>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:33:50 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/april-24th-2013 I hope that title line caught your attention…an alert on invasive species is in full effect, and most of you reading this, including yours truly, are probably guilty of contributing to the spread of at least one invasive species. It is not something to be ashamed of or fearful of if proper precautions are taken when out on the trails.

The primary culprits are of course our equipment, especially footwear. When out on the trail, be aware of where you are. If on a localized trail system, clean your boots before leaving the trailhead for home or for the next trail. If doing an extended hike that may cross multiple ecosystems, carry either an alternative pair of footwear to be worn prior to entering in an area, or simply take a five minute breather and thoroughly remove any plant or soil matter that may have stuck to your footwear, as well as insects or scat, both in the tread and topside.

Check your outer wear as well…especially when you are moving through dense brush or have rubbed against braches. For most shells, this is a simple task that you and your hiking partners can perform on each other. Just as with your footwear, make sure that any insects, vegetation, or soil that becomes attached to your clothing is removed before leaving the trailhead for home, or when entering into a new ecosystem area.

Tools and equipment, especially anything used to cut brush or wood, anything used for digging, and most importantly anything that ends up on the ground, like a tent or sleeping pad, are fully cleaned after each use.

In addition to checking your clothes, equipment, and footwear when leaving an area, complete an additional check once you get home, and of course, always start your trip with the same checks. Remember that you can bring invasive species from home to the trail as well.

These simple tasks take very small amounts of time to complete, and will help to keep your favorite hiking spots, as well as the area around your home alive, vibrant, and invasive free.

]]>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:06:38 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/earth-day-2013 Earth Day and hiking go hand in hand, but it is easy to be overwhelmed by t he choices in activities that the many great, wonderful nature centers, environmental groups, and hiking groups all have planned this coming weekend. Finding something to do is very easy thanks to social networking. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, the use of Meetup has made finding like minded people to do like minded activities and events such a snap that it is often a head spinning, confusing effort to decide which event or activity you wish to participate in.

For the hikers out there, you can go in many directions. Take a break from hiking and do a water or lot cleanup event or planting? Perhaps remove some invasives? Most of the activities out there can easily be integrated into any hike you undertake, guided or unguided, solo or with a  group. Want to clear out invasives? Arm yourself and each member of your hiking party with a large, recyclable, plastic bag and a set of photos to show what it is you are after. Plant a tree? Take a few native seedlings out with you and a trowel for easy planting. Cleanup? Take two plastic bags with you, one for recyclables and one for non-recyclables. Of course, this only works well if taking a shorter hike.

For longer or overnight hikes, mark on a map the places on the trail where you find invasives, and turn the map in to a local nature center, environmental management office, or trail maintenance office. On these hikes, you can still take along the native seedlings for planting and a trowel, but plant them early in your journey for a more relaxed hike the remainder of your journey.  

These are but a small sample of ideas that I hope helps you to get the ideas flowing for this weekend. Whatever it is that you decide to do for Mother Earth, be safe and be at peace with yourself and your surroundings. 

]]>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 02:19:13 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/new-toysThe wonderful new toys of the year...how to use them, when to use them, and just plain making a reason to use them. We all have at least one of these new toys, whether it was received from Santa or from the clearance rack at your local outdoor store matters not. What matters is finding a way to use the new toy, or toys, but in a safe and proper manner. My new toys for this season are my new, high powered binoculars and a fancy set of micro spikes. I'm not sure which one I am more excited about; being able to see wildlife and scenery from afar more vividly or not falling on my behind in mud, wet leaves, or snow covered trails.

The micro spikes work pretty awesome. Kahtoola (http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php) makes a great one size fits all product that is easy to put on and does not add much weight to your pack. These make for a great way to gain traction in almost any hiking environment. You may be saying to yourself that your balance and footing are impeccable, but it only takes one slight slip to turn an ankle, and turn a hike into a medical emergency. Sure footed, or not so sure, these make all the difference in the world.

My fancy new set of Bushnell's (http://bushnell.premiumstore.com/details/8140/bushnell-17-5010.html) give me an amazing, clear view of most anything I look at. The only bad thing I can really say about this pair is that they are somewhat fuzzy at close range, which for me is not a big deal, but for those of your with poor eyesight, this may be a consideration.

What sort of toys have you to try out? Email me and I'll post my favorite answers.

]]>Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:50:49 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/hiking-groupsNow is the time to get ready to go hiking. New challenges are planned, equipment is being checked, and trips are being planned. Sometimes though, even the most elaborate and well thought out hiking outings or vacations can be thrown by the wayside. The birth of a child, loss of a job, an unforeseen drain to your finances or time, can leave the best laid plans and intentions laying crumpled up in a ball on the floor. Does this mean you should call it a season? Absolutely not.

Looking for a new adventure on the trails, new people to hike and learn with, or just a need to stay close to home with minimal expense? Check out hiking clubs. I had this thought fairly recently...like five minutes ago recently to be exact. A vision flashed into my mind of the many solo hikers I have seen on the trails, as well as my own solo hiking trips.

Sometimes we all want to just be alone with nature, but other times we want to be among other hikers. Perhaps your spouse has their own thing going on, or is just not interested in hiking. Your best friend recently had a child, and cannot hit the trails as often. Or perhaps it is a broadening of horizons...hitting the trail with a new group of people can give you a fresh perspective on trails you have hiked dozens of times, or give you tidbits on trails that you had no idea even existed, and are only a mile from your home.  

Hiking clubs are a great way to go, and are very easy to find in our age of social media. For example, Meetup.com has a page (http://hiking.meetup.com/) that allows you to very simply and easily find a hiking group in your area. There are over 3,000 such groups at the time of this writing, boasting a total of 1.7 million hikers. To quote the great Yoda, "alone, you are not." This can be a great help if for instance you are on an extended sales trip and desperately need a dose of Mother Nature to feel grounded again.

Hiking clubs can be great for learning new aspects of the sport, for networking and expanding your social circle. There are hiking groups fir singles and for couples, for retirees and for high school students. Beginners, or weeklong 250 miles backpack seasoned odyssey seekers. There are groups to match most any need, interest, or perspective that you are seeking.

If for one reason or another you cannot find a group, start one. The American Hiking Association has some great guidelines on its website for starting your own hiking group. The guidelines for this can be found here: http://www.americanhiking.org/HikingReources/HikingClub/.

Between friends, family, and the millions of hikers that are a part of hiking groups throughout the world, there is no reason for you to ever have a problem in finding a person or people to share in the hiking experience. A little effort and looking around can lead to some great new hiking adventures with some phenomenal, nature loving people. Remember: to hike is to play, and what better way to play than to hike. 

]]>Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:38:29 GMThttp://www.hikeforplay.com/trail-blog/winter-hiking-anyone How addicting is hiking? Well....I'm sitting here in Wisconsin enjoying yet another near zero degree day while thinking back to a recent issue of Backpacker magazine, longing to head into the mountains for some alpine, winter, freezing my tail off but having a blast doing it hiking. Maybe it is the set of foot claws that I received as a gift this past Christmas, but I am getting incredibly antsy to head off into nature for a long, rewarding, playful winter hike.

Winter hiking is an amazing activity to experience. The air is cold, but the crisp, clean smell of it takes you to another place and time almost instantly. The crunching of snow under your boots, and you had better be wearing a good pair of these, is at times the only sound you will hear. The hills around you are layered in unbroken white snow, which is gently and warmly reflecting the suns dim rays. Occasionally the sudden call of a bird breaks the steady crunch-crunch noise of your footsteps.

Pause for a moment and look around. What do you see? What do you hear? Can you imagine what the now bare trees or forest floor must look like in July? Can you believe how small, or maybe how large, this forest or meadow appears to you know versus when everything is in full bloom? Check out how differently the sound travels around you - whether it be a squirrel running up a tree, a bird chirping, or how the wind sounds as it whips through the empty branches or dry grasses around you.

Notice how different the sun's light looks as the sun is still relatively low on the southern horizon. The lack of intensity, though robbing you of its heat, as a very calm and gentle effect on the world around you, illuminating the natural serenity with an inviting, peaceful, glow. 

Close your eyes and take a nice, slow, deep breath. As that cold, clean winter air enters your lungs, notice how quickly it warms inside of you? Can you feel the connection with nature that you have just made? Can you think of the problems that are waiting for you at home? I would wager a "no" for your answer.

Need something to do on your day off, or for an hour or two on the weekend? Read the above, grab your boots, bundle up and head out to nature.

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