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Winter Hiking Checklist
My husband suggested I create a hiking checklist for myself, since I have a loooong history of forgetting important items when setting out on my adventures. Like the microspikes I forgot to bring on our recent hike in the snowy Whites. Or my wallet, which I left at home while traveling to Vermont for hiking research. Lists have become my life-line, because my brain is not always functioning like that of a full-grown adult. If you’re anything like me, I hope this hiking hack h
Nov 202 min read


Tuckerman Ravine Trail, White Mountains
Follow this popular route partway or all the way to the summit of Mount Washington. Hermit Lake and Tuckerman Ravine. Photo credit: Henry McMahon Options are a beautiful thing. I love a trail that offers a variety of lengths and levels of challenge, and Tuckerman’s certainly does. This hike features an additional bonus: it brings you to an iconic backcountry ski destination where you can watch brave souls trek up an insanely steep bowl with skis on their packs, to enjoy a thr
Nov 114 min read


Connecting Teens Outdoors: A Salve for Turbulent Times
A newsletter about hiking can feel trivial at a time when people are fighting for their human rights and basic needs. But then I have an experience like last weekend - watching 100 high school students start hiking at 5:00 am to share a spectacular sunrise from Mt. Battie in Camden. I’m reminded that disconnecting from the chaos to spend time outdoors ignites the motivation to continue valuing, fighting for, and finding refuge in our messy and beautiful world. Hiking is one o
Oct 293 min read


Long Mountain Trail, Bethel
I've done this hike with groups several times and can confidently say it's an ideal adventure for a range of ages, abilities, and dogs....
Oct 122 min read


Neptune Woods, Brunswick
Calling all mountain bikers! This gorgeous 64-acre parcel includes up to 4 miles of beginner-friendly trails winding through mixed forest...
Sep 202 min read


Deer Leap Overlook Trail, Killington, VT
This was my second hike up Deer Leap and my fourth trip to Vermont in less than a year, thanks to the trail guide I’m working on. Living...
Jul 73 min read


Piazza Rock via Appalachian Trail
Me below Piazza Rock. Photo by Jaime Gagnon. The jaw-dropping reward at the outer end of this hike evokes wonder for nature’s majestic...
Jun 222 min read


Silver Lake Trail, Vermont
If you've never heard a dog scream, watch a 120-pounder, who can't swim, fall in a lake. Lucky for Romy, I was able to pull her out by...
Jun 163 min read


Mill Trail to Bingham Falls, Vermont
A must-see waterfall if you're in Stowe! Less than 5 miles from the Sterling Pond Trail , which I shared details on last week, is an easy...
Jun 12 min read


Ocean Lookout Loop at Camden Hills State Park
A moderate, 3-mile loop featuring grand views, cascading streams and stone stairs. Just outside of downtown Camden in Midcoast Maine, the...
Jun 14 min read


Megunticook Cabin at Camden Hills State Park
Last weekend, I joined eleven women in a large cabin heated by wood stove, and there was no cell phone service. It was the perfect reset...
Apr 82 min read


South Moat Mountain, Conway, NH
This shorter day hike offers an exposed summit with 360-degree views, including a clear shot of Mount Washington. For that wide-open...
Mar 243 min read


Boulder Loop Trail near Conway, NH
Photo by Henry McMahon This moderate 3.5-mile loop is located off the Kancamagus Highway near Conway, NH. The trail begins with a walk...
Mar 164 min read


Cross-country skiing, sledding, and skating at Riverside Golf Course in Portland
With all the fresh snow we've had this past week, I feel like a kid in a candy shop! Finally, winter has arrived, along with all the...
Feb 112 min read


Blue Spruce Trail, Westbrook
After renewing my annual Portland Trails membership, I received an updated 5th edition PT paper map and was excited to find several new...
Feb 22 min read


Are frozen turtles under ice OK?
Maybe I was a strange child, but I had a pet cemetery under a tree in the backyard of my childhood home. It wasn't for our family pets...
Jan 213 min read


Buck's Ledge Community Forest, Bryant Pond
Located just 15 minutes from Sunday River Ski Resort, Buck's Ledge is a quick hike to open views of Mount Abram, The Mahoosuc Range, and...
Jan 122 min read


Emmons Preserve, Kennebunkport
Emmons Preserve is located at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust's headquarters, surrounded by trails, woods, and the Batson River. One...
Dec 15, 20243 min read


Pleasant Mountain via Bald Peak to North Ridge Trail (Sue's Way)
This post was written in April 2022. I learned three things today: 1. Adventures in large groups can be fun - as long as you're...
Nov 19, 20244 min read


Mount Major, NH
Mount Major is the easternmost peak of the Belknap Range, located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, just south of the White Mountains...
Oct 29, 20243 min read
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