wanderingpine Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails, Training

5 Training Tips for Your Next Hiking or Backpacking Trip!

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!

wanderingpine Scouts, Skills, Training

Happy Feet! Foot Care on the Trail Part 2

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!

wanderingpine Scouts, Skills, Training

WRFA/CPR/AED-Wilderness First Aid and Rule #1 for Staying Safe in the Wild.

Wilderness and Remote First Aid/CPR/AED certification is 18 hours of intense training packed into two or three days. As a leader of High Adventure Treks with Scouts and as a Women Who Hike Ambassador, I am required to take it every two years. Last weekend was my 4th time going through the course and I … Continue reading WRFA/CPR/AED-Wilderness First Aid and Rule #1 for Staying Safe in the Wild.

wanderingpine About, Superior Hiking Trail, Training

Update on Hikers Rash and More Thru Hike Prep

The last two weeks have been busy, balancing work, family, making new gear, dehydrating food and a final thru-hike shakedown on the Superior Hiking Trail with an amazing group of women. I plan to post on our trip prep soon, but am starting with an update on my previous post about Hiker's rash.  It's neck and … Continue reading Update on Hikers Rash and More Thru Hike Prep

wanderingpine 52 Hike Challenge, Day Hikes, Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails, Training

Stillwater Stair Challenge + The Stillwater Bridge

TRIP DETAILS  LENGTH 3-8 miles DIFFICULTY 500 + Steep stairs with lots of flat paved sections in between. DATE  May 19, 2018 MAIN FEATURES  Historic town of Stillwater with beautiful views of the St Croix River. My 26th hike of the 2018 52 Hike Challenge started at 6am at the base of the Chilkoot Stairs on Main Street in … Continue reading Stillwater Stair Challenge + The Stillwater Bridge

wanderingpine 52 Hike Challenge, Backpacking, Gear, Minnesota Hiking Club, Minnesota State Parks, Superior Hiking Trail, Training

Backpacking and Day Hiking on the North Shore – Part 2: Split Rock, Palisade Head and George Crosby Manitou State Park.

How do you describe the beauty of a place where heaven and earth join seamlessly?   Or the mind trap of telling yourself over and over again that this massive body is not the ocean or an endless sea?  Or the magnetic-siren-pull of her waters that make you want to jump in and crash like … Continue reading Backpacking and Day Hiking on the North Shore – Part 2: Split Rock, Palisade Head and George Crosby Manitou State Park.

wanderingpine Backpacking, Gear, Minnesota State Parks, Superior Hiking Trail, Training, Winter, Winter Camping

Backpacking on the North Shore – Part 1: Testing My New Pack and SHT Packing List!

I'm still mentally and spiritually unpacking my trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior.   It was so beautiful, I'm at a bit of a loss for words, but they will eventually come.  So, lucky for you, this will be a two part post! One of the first things I did when I decided … Continue reading Backpacking on the North Shore – Part 1: Testing My New Pack and SHT Packing List!

wanderingpine Isle Royale, Minnesota Hiking Club, Minnesota State Parks, National Parks, Scouts, Training

Isle Royale Part 2: Training Hikes

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