Backpacking

Campfire on the water near a pier at sunset

Leave No Trace

I've just received my instructor certification from Leave No Trace! And I'm excited to share the 7 Principles and why they matter to me. As I learned about these during the training and as I consider how I try to live them in my wilderness (and not so wilderness) experiences, I find that they are far less about following a rule and much more about being respectful and participating in outdoor activities with an ethic of care. I also find that they often translate nicely as me

1 day ago4 min read

Lea Appleton hiking in the High Sierra mountain range.

Keep Going

Many people with OA worry that staying active will speed or cause damage to the joints, but research does not support that.

Apr 145 min read

Two shakes with striped straws sitting on a wooden table with the ocean and blue sky in the background.

Take a Gear Test Hike

Before you set out on your longer backpacking adventure, find a place to try out all your gear before you are too far out in the backcountry to change anything! Recently, I went on an overnight with a friend new to backpacking to test out her gear and see what adjustments she might want to make before she heads out with her daughter in the High Sierra. Afterwards, we enjoyed the view from the Shake Shack! On a gear test hike you are gauging a few things, but most especially h

Oct 6, 20255 min read

Lea standing the steps in front of the General Store in Kennedy Meadows.

The Story of My Hip

And how I had to learn some patience. Three and a half months after my total hip replacement surgery I found myself at the General Store in Kennedy Meadows, CA, a resupply place along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the High Sierra mountain range in California. My first backpacking trip post-hip replacement surgery. While most everyone we met along the trail were headed to their next stop along the PCT, my husband I were hiking five miles and calling it a day. I was a little

Sep 4, 20253 min read

Two women in bright colors wearing daypacks hiking up a dirt path with trees overhanging the pathway.

Beginner Backpacking!

Get started with a weekend get-away.

Jul 3, 20254 min read

Lea Appleton looking out over Los Angeles from the top of a local mountain. She is wearing a hat and a blue backpack. Dirt and desert plants are in the foreground.

The 10 Essentials

What every hiker needs on the trail! Basics vs. Essentials—what’s the difference? When you think of what’s essential for a hike you might think good shoes and a daypack. Those are some of the basics for being comfortable on the trail along with clothing and socks that wick moisture. In addition to the basics for a good experience, the essentials are meant to keep you safe in the outdoors. What in the past was a list of 10 specific items to bring along, the list of the 10 Es