Archive
Let me give you the honest version of this answer rather than the one designed to make you feel good about a hobby you’d already enjoy anyway. Hiking burns a meaningful number of calories — more than walking, less than running. The exact number depends on your body weight, the terrain, how long you hike, […]
The fear of getting lost is one of the biggest reasons beginner women hesitate to hike alone — or hike at all. It’s a completely reasonable fear. But the truth is, learning how to use a compass and map isn’t nearly as complicated as it looks, and it’s one of the fastest ways to feel […]
The first hiking boots I bought were expensive, stiff, and took three painful hikes to break in. I didn’t know what I was looking for. I just picked the ones that looked the most outdoorsy. Here’s what I should have known: as a beginner woman, you don’t need the most technical boot on the shelf. […]
There’s a particular kind of frustration that comes from being two miles into a hike and realising you’ve forgotten something important. I’ve turned back for a forgotten water bottle. I’ve arrived at a trailhead without downloading the map. I’ve reached a summit in freezing wind without a warm layer because the morning looked sunny. A […]
My first hike almost put me off hiking for good. I chose a trail that was too long, started too late in the day, wore the wrong shoes, and ran out of water with two miles still to go. I made it back fine — but barely, and only because a kind couple on the […]
The first time I packed for a hike as a woman, I brought way too much of the wrong things and not nearly enough of the right ones. A full change of clothes, three different snacks that all came in heavy glass jars, a book for the summit, and no proper navigation beyond my phone […]
