Walking

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

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

An introduction to mindful walking. I’ve been thinking about walking and wayfinding for a few years now. I wrote a book about mindful walking (Walking & Wayfinding: Create Your Own Mindful Practice, One Step at a Time ISBN #979-8990113404) and I have been contemplating what that means on most of my walks since then! What I think is great about walking mindfully, is that I don’t believe it needs to be far, for a really long time, or even has to be in nature. Mindful walking ca

Some books for you as we head into 2026. This post contains links where I am an affiliate. Clicking on the link and making a purchase means I receive a payment that supports this blog. I love to read about walking (almost) as much as I like walking itself. Here is a wide ranging list of 10 walking books for the new year—something for nearly everyone, really. If you are looking for walking books to read this year, these are some I've found that are cool, interesting, inspiring

The best part of my (mostly) daily walks is getting outside. When I go out for a walk I am outside of my small office, which sometimes feels confining, and into a much larger, open expanse. Clouds, a breeze, trees, and sidewalks often feel more welcoming than my desk! Without walls and a roof, my walks themselves become the containers for my experience, finite in time and infinite in possibility. I imagine them like the Mason jars my mom and gramma used to make jam...they get

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

The Silver Lake stairs are known for their brightly painted steps! Step back in time as you explore the staircases that were created when streetcars took people to and from work. The stairs in Silver Lake were built to help commuters navigate the hilly neighborhood in this area northeast of the Los Angeles city center as they made their way to catch the streetcars to downtown. Many of the stairs are open to the public and are regularly maintained by neighbors, keeping their b

As I begin to pack for my pilgrimage, Lea's backpack and hiking poles ready for the trip! I realize already that I have too much stuff. My body won't like it if my backpack is too heavy. I'd really like to bring the small one but I am having trouble making everything fit. I've heard this is a problem for people going on a pilgrimage--they bring too much stuff. They prepare for the life they are used to living at home and want to bring these amenities with them. Or, they want