After enjoying far too much beer at Brewology at the Pacific Science Center (by far the best beer festival I’ve ever been to), I needed to stretch my legs and burn some calories. I’m still suffering whiplash from the car crash I was in two weeks ago, so have been going stir-crazy not exercising. I finally […]
Month: February 2017
Backpack, backpack
Choosing a hiking pack is like choosing a car. In car shopping, safety is likely a huge factor–in pack shopping, fit is more important than anything. One problem with being a somewhat-more-casual hiker is that I don’t have the need to be trying new gear out constantly–I buy quality stuff and use it gently, so my […]
My Cinderella Moment at REI
It bears repeating–I am not a thru-hiker or a backpacker. My longest hike ever was 11 miles, but I typically do 4-6 miles for hikes. Because of this, I have always used hiking shoes–I love my North Face Hedgehog GTX XCR IIIs that I’ve had for years. The terrain on hikes I do is rarely rocky […]
The Best-Laid Plans…
I had dreams of hiking last Sunday. Partly for the sunshine, partly for some non-gear related blogging. I wanted to get some pics of my pack for what I said would be my next post. However, the best laid plans most certainly went awry.
Why You Shouldn’t Borrow Just Anyone’s Pack
Zooey Deschanel’s character on New Girl, Jessica Day, once called a bra ‘boob jail.’ Personally, I find an ill-fitting pack to be far more imprisoning than any bra–look at me in the picture below! Behind that bright red face I am clearly hiding some pain. If money is tight or you only hike once or […]
Urban Hikes: Myth or Real?
Winters in Seattle can run the gamut from snow to frigidly dry cold to rain to clouds (all in the same week, to boot). However, in the mountains around us, all of that weather translates to snow by the foot, making many popular hikes out of the question. While some paths are great for snowshoeing, and […]
Thirst on-the-Go
It’s easy to stay hydrated when you are wearing a hydration pack on your back, but on the days between hikes, it’s not as simple. I hate spending money on bottled water when in the PNW our water is as delicious straight from the tap as it comes. So, like so many other eco-friendly outdoorsy folks, […]