“Everyone you meet always asks if you have a career, are married or own a house; as if life was some kind of grocery list. But nobody ever asks if you are happy.” – Heath Ledger Two weeks ago Ken and I returned to Pennsylvania for a weekend trip on the Appalachian Trail to work … More Getting in and out of my own head: PA 443 to Peters Mountain Road
“If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way.” – Napoleon Hill Happy Thanksgiving readers! The approaching end of the year always makes me look over my “Uber List,” which is essentially the combination of a bucket list for the year with a smidge of resolution. One of my goals was … More 22 miles to round out 2022: Peters Mountain Road to Sherwood Drive
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” – Mary Anne Radmacher November tends to be a tough month for me, between the dwindling daylight, the approaching holidays and teaching students whose angst seems exaggerated by the changing conditions as well. … More 24 + 12 Does Not Equal 30 … Oops – Woodrow Road to Sherwood Road
“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson After an internal debate, I decided that we would head out to do our small section hike last Friday. Charlie and I had been sick, but not so much so that we were unable to do a light backpacking … More Some Rocky Roads in Quartzylvania – Woodrow Road to Caledonia State Park
Two of the four of us are slightly under the weather today, but that’s not stopping me for preparing for our weekend backpacking trip. Bringing the kids along with us as we section hike the Appalachian Trail creates more logistics and also more expenses. They each got backpacking sleeping bags, long underwear and sleeping mats. … More The Little Camelbak Who Could
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis The remnants of Hurricane Ian are slowly making their way over the midwest and the air is damp and chilly. The prior weekend we were out in Shenandoah and the weather was cool … More Blooms from Decay: Smith Roach Gap to Skyland
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau I know the calendar year is what most adults consider “a year,” but for me, my years are counted by the academic calendar. About this time last year I was getting back from Harpers Ferry from my … More Unfinished Business in Connecticut : Backpacking with kids
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill The kids, Ken and I headed to Connecticut to kick off summer break on Monday, June 20th. I met my parents (who live in the state) and gave them the kids while we hiked a section … More Mini Milestones and Some Etiquette in Connecticut
“The mountains are calling me. I must go. My spiritual guide is my compass during my journey of life. I must find my path and overcome obstacles so I may rise high and stand tall and proud. My path leads me towards the mountains and the skies.” -Unknown My spring break took me from the … More Short (Earth) Day Hike Along the AT
“Nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for … More 30/-1 Between Comfort and Survival
Found in the Forest 