HIKE DETAILS LENGTH 20 milesDIFFICULTY mostly flat and paved, with dirt options and a few hillsDATE HIKED October 4, 2020MAIN FEATURES Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, Theodore Wirth Park, Chain of Lakes. Start location – 2601 Theodore Wirth Parkway: Sunset Park Last week, some friends and I backpacked the 35ish mile Sioux Hustler Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It … Continue reading Hiking Merit Badge 20 Miler | Minneapolis Parks
This week, a friend asked “what’s the difference between a walk and a hike?” I’ve heard this question before, but even now…when things seem to be changing on the daily…the answer is still the same “Well, that’s up to you…” When I signed up for my first 52 Hike Challenge, in 2017, my personal definition … Continue reading How to Plan a Hike…and what is a hike anyway?
Look what came in the mail yesterday! If you have been following along here, you will know that after finishing the Superior Hiking Trail in long sections last year, I was looking for a new adventure. 2020 was going to be all about the North Country Trail and exploring Minnesota’s most remote and rugged trails … Continue reading The North Country Trail 100 Mile Challenge
Spring is the time of year when everything returns to life (and gets real muddy). Even though I like to hike year round, I need a little reboot when the snow thaws. This post covers some of the ways I physically and mentally prepare myself for hiking and backpacking. Be sure you get the green … Continue reading 5 Training Tips for Your Next Hiking or Backpacking Trip!
It’s been a full week in Wandering Pine World and I wanted to give an update and check in to see how you are all doing. I was supposed to be backpacking the Kekekabic Trail last weekend and officially cancelled my Memorial Day Sioux Hustler Trail Boundary Waters Trip. It was a personal decision, but … Continue reading The SHT Blooper Video is LIVE – and other things happening this week.
This two part post covers foot care tips for hiking, backpacking and off the trail. Check out Part 1 for pre-hike foot care tips. Topics covered in part two: my journey to finding the right footwear, daily foot prep, foot first aid kit and a list of my favorite foot gear. Our feet can take us wonderful places, but without proper care, they can be a real pain. So let’s start with some things I learned the hard way, so hopefully you don’t have to!
“GO OUTSIDE WITH THE REST OF THE WILD ANIMALS!!” -Mom Time to Hike! Last month at our “Unpacking Your Hiking Hesitations” Clinic at Midwest Mountaineering, Ruth and I were asked a question: “How do you make time for hiking?” I responded almost automatically: “you make time for the things you love”. But the minute those words … Continue reading Go Outside! How to Get Out and Stay Out
TRIP DETAILS LENGTH 10 miles DIFFICULTY Easy but very icy today (bring ice traction) DATE March 24, 2018 MAIN FEATURES 53 ft Minnehaha Falls and Pike Island My 18th hike of the 2018 52 Hike Challenge started at Minnehaha Falls Regional Park. One of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks features a majestic 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs, and river … Continue reading Minnehaha Falls to Pike Island, Fort Snelling State Park
TRIP DETAILS LENGTH 17 miles of trails, we did 11.5 DIFFICULTY Easy, flat, sandy soil DATE July 7, 2018 MAIN FEATURES Horse trails, sunny prairies, forest, lake and river views. I’m experimenting with posting from my phone (via backyard hammock) for the first time so we’ll see how this goes. Today’s hike started early at Crow Hassan Regional Park … Continue reading Crow Hassan Regional Park Group Hike
Happy 4th Birthday to Wandering Pine! It’s always fun to look back to see how things have changed and recap the highlights of the year. The Saturday mornings that I used to dedicate to writing have been spent walking outside, working in the garden and quietly wedged into my reading chair with the dog. I … Continue reading 2020 Year in Review
As promised, here is the follow up post to Part 1 with a few helpful tips on how we prepared physically for our trip! Our training locations were based the following: Sturdy trail, able to withstand a large group hiking on it Nearby for easy access Accessible to all levels since we would be focusing on distance and … Continue reading Isle Royale Part 2: Training Hikes
trip DETAILS LENGTH 20 miles DIFFICULTY easy, mostly paved, some dirt DATE HIKED August 27, 2016 MAIN FEATURES Wirth Beach, Chain of Lakes, Ice Cream! Last week was the 26.5 mile hike on the Superior Hiking Trail to raise money for Children’s cancer research. So….of course, I signed up to take the Scouts on a 20 mile urban hike … Continue reading Urban Hike – Luce Line + Sebastian Joe’s
TRIP DETAILS LENGTH 1-9 miles DIFFICULTY Easy and accessible for all abilities DATE Many times MAIN FEATURES Medicine Lake, night time winter hiking, epic playground CLIFTON E. FRENCH REGIONAL PARK, or “French Park” is my go to park if I am limited on time and just want to get outside. We fell in love with it when the kids were little … Continue reading Hiking Clifton E. French Regional Park
trip DETAILS LENGTH 20 miles DIFFICULTY easy, mostly paved, some dirt DATE HIKED NOVEMBER 12, 2016 MAIN FEATURES Grand Rounds, Eloise Butler Butterfly Garden, Lake Harriet We had one more 20 miler to do this year and this fall and unseasonably warm. We knew this would probably be our last weekend before the snowfall and decided to go for … Continue reading Urban Hike 2.0 Theodore Wirth + Chain of Lakes
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do. … Continue reading CureSearch Ultimate Hike – Superior Hiking Trail
Winter is here and it’s the perfect time to think about staying outside and extending the hiking season! Snowshoeing is my favorite winter activity and has been a game changer when it comes to my attitude during the colder months. So, when Minnesota Monthly Magazine contacted me to do a quick story and photo shoot on the sport, I practically did a cartwheel.
Snowshoeing is my favorite winter activity because of the access it brings. Unlike hiking or skiing, I can walk right off the trail, alone into the woods and feel strong and confident. I don’t feel this same desire to venture off trail in the summer when the woods are thick, shaded and full of obstacles. I also don’t hike at night in the warmer months, but a moonlit snowshoe stomp is one of my favorite things. I feel a unique combination of safety and freedom when I am snowshoeing in the open woods, on an empty trail bathed in winter’s blue light.
