c/hiking-trails

Group hikes? Overrated, I said. Then my company did a trail day and I ate my words.

Unpopular opinion: The social trails around Lake Serene are causing real damage

Last weekend on the Lake Serene loop, I saw many new paths made by hikers going off trail. This breaks down the soil and hurts plants that keep the hillside stable. How do we get people to stick to the main trail without sounding preachy?

A goat ate my sketchpad on the Pine Ridge Trail

I was trying to draw the view, but the goat seemed to think my art supplies were a snack. Had to finish from memory, which looks nothing like the actual trail.

PSA: My arrogant dismissal of rain gear resulted in a soaked and slapstick summit attempt

I used to scoff at carrying waterproof layers, believing a little drizzle never hurt anyone, but last month on the Misty Peak route, nature handed me a hilarious reality check! A sudden cloudburst turned the path into a slippery mudslide, and while trying to jog to cover, I performed an unintentional ballet move, landing squarely in a puddle that soaked me to the bone. My hiking buddies couldn't stop giggling as I squelched along for the next hour, with my 'quick-dry' pants clinging like a wet sack. That absurd moment completely shifted my view; I now understand that rain gear isn't about avoiding discomfort, it's about maintaining dignity and safety when the weather laughs at your plans. I invested in a lightweight shell that packs down tiny, and I've become that person who cheerfully warns others at the trailhead. Honestly, getting drenched was the best lesson in humility and preparedness I've ever had on a hike!

Showerthought: My dawn hike skepticism vanished after that foggy ridge

I used to roll my eyes at folks who raved about early starts, preferring the comfort of a midday hike. After catching a silent, fog-draped valley from a summit at dawn... I finally got it - the peace is unmatched. What's one hiking habit you've completely reversed after a single experience?