To continue our series on extreme hiking I thought I’d talk a little about spelunking (or caving). A friend recently mentioned that caving was really just hiking in 3D which I thought was a good explanation, though I would add it’s hiking in 3D with no weather or sun! I’m a bit of a mapping enthusiast when I hike but I can’t even imagine how you could start to map a cave unless you had some sort of box-shaped mapping device. Forget about using a GPS either - those will stop working at the mouth of the caves.

The other thing I’ve noticed about spelunking is just how dark it is inside caves. Obviously you need to be prepared whenever you enter a cave (the rule of thumb is to bring 3 light sources) but most of us don’t have a real concept of total darkness until we enter a cave. This also makes caving much more dangerous than a typical above-ground hike and I highly recommend going with an experienced guide and bringing safety equipment like helmets and ropes.

I’ve been in a few caves over the years and perhaps my favorite is Cumberland Caverns in central Tennessee. As a Boy Scout our group went on the “wild tour” where we were forced to crawl on our bellies and squeeze through narrow passages and muddy paths. More recently I made it out to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico where a friend and I went on the standard walking tour of the cave, though we were disappointed to find out advanced reservations are necessary to go on their version of the “wild tour.” Carlsbad Caverns is amazing for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that millions of bats live in the cave during daylight hours. If small spaces don’t freak you out, seeing all these bats will!

Yep, caving really is hiking in 3D and I’d say that qualifies it as an extreme way to hike. Just be safe on your 3D hike - that extra dimension can be tough to get used to!

The Louisiana state Wildlife and Fisheries department will be hosting a workshop called “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” March 20-22 and registration for the 125 slots is currently open. We’ve heard about plenty of outdoor programs geared toward introducing women to things like hiking, camping, and even rock climbing but this program also covers topics such as “bucks and does, shotgun, rifle, archery, (and) fly-fishing.” Additional topics covered by the workshop include canoeing, camping, archery, horseback riding, fishing, boating/trailering, map and compass skills, outdoor photography and camp cooking.

Somehow I suspect this course was designed by men looking to get their wives interested in outdoor activities and not by women trying to help each other out (though I could be completely wrong). My wife was involved in a program she enjoyed called Girls Adventure Out (now know as simply Adventure Out) in the San Francisco bay area that organized clinics on surfing and mountain biking in addition to the regular outdoor stuff like camping and hiking. Learning outdoor skills with a group of women can be less intimidating for some so check your local area for similar programs.

I read on the Panama Travels blog about beach camping at Isla Iguana and I gotta say the idea of camping on the beach never sounded better (though the fact that it’s late January and raining outside might have something to do with the feeling ). The author laments the fact there is no running water for showers or drinking and an outhouse is the only restroom - but that seems like a small price to pay for such amazing beauty and tranquility.

I’ve only camped on (near) the beach once in my life but it was an amazing experience to say the least. Our group stayed at Edisto Beach State Park on Edisto Island, SC. As I recall it rained at least one night we were out but it really didn’t matter - the warm salt breeze and sound of rustling palmettos seemed to take me away to another place entirely. The beach was nearly deserted except for our fellow campers and the natural beauty of the place was unlike any that of any beach vacation spot I had been to.

If you’re looking for a beach vacation to escape the winter blues try a search on tripleblaze.com for beach campgrounds where you’ll find spots from Virginia to Florida to the coast of California. Just don’t forget to clean the sand out of your tent when you get back!

Several years ago I was fortunate enough to make it to northern Greenland on a “business trip” and while I was there I got to do a couple extreme hikes. The first hike was to the top of a 600-700 foot rock formation called “Dundas” that overlooks a small bay. The hike itself started off pretty easy but we quickly found ourselves ankle deep in shifting shale and sand. We were told there is an unofficial speed record for climbing Dundas that’s somewhere around 10 minutes - our hike took about 25 minutes.

The slope of Dundas is pretty consistent most of the way up (steep!) but the final 50 feet of elevation is nearly vertical and requires the use of fixed ropes to ascend. On top the views of the iceberg-filled bay were incredible and left me wondering what this place would look like in the dead of winter (dark and snow covered for sure!).

My favorite hike in Greenland was a short jaunt on one of the glaciers (or was it part of the snow cap?). We got onto the glacier using a gravel ramp built decades ago by a military expedition and saw a few abandoned sleds still on top of the ice. It was summer at the time and there were small creeks of icy blue water running over the top of the glacier. The ice underfoot crunched and upon closer inspection we realized the ice was actually dotted with small black particles (rock and dust) that caused ice around them to melt (see photo).

Just last week I watched Man vs. Wild and Bear Grylls was in the Yukon where he traversed a glacier like the one I hiked in Greenland. I honestly didn’t consider the danger of hiking on a glacier until I saw that episode and realized there can be deep crevaces lurking underfoot on glaciers - hikers beware! Luckily our group stayed safe but if I go back I will certainly be much more cautious.

Sometimes hiking isn’t about following a trail - it’s more about putting your feet on new ground. Glacier hiking in Greenland was certainly new ground for me - I can’t wait to get back to the Arctic!

Every now and then we like to share weight-saving tips for backpacking here on the blog and today’s tip is a pretty simple one: ditch your bowls and plates. You may be tempted to bring a lightweight plastic bowl and plate or even a fancy collapsable silicon bowl on your overnight backpacking trip but if you think about it you don’t really need a bowl or plate at all.

When you cook in a metal pot on the trail it’s a no-brainer to just eat your food right out of the pot (I usually can’t wait anyway!). Many backpacking meals are single serving anyway so I like to use the single pot rule for all my meals. It cuts down on gear but also means fewer things to clean up after I eat.

Some backpacking meals like MREs can be prepared in their own pouch by simply adding hot water. These meals are the best because you don’t even need a pot - a small water kettle will do just fine - and there’s nothing to clean up!

When you’re on the trail it’s important to cut out weight wherever you can and tossing the plates and bowls not only saves weight but also saves time. We don’t expect you to be fancy while backpacking anyway

In case you didn’t know, Tripleblaze has its own page on the Facebook and we’d love to have you become a fan! Just search for “camping and hiking reviews” on Facebook or click this link to check us out. Daily blog posts are displayed on our page and we’d love to have you share some of your camping or hiking photos or post on our wall. Aren’t on Facebook yet? What are you waiting for?

Speaking of Facebook we also developed a Facebook application called “My Hikes” that lets you select and share the hiking trails you’ve completed. It’s still in “beta” mode mostly because the “invite” functionality doesn’t work for some reason. You won’t be able to invite your friends to use “My Hikes” yet but if you want to be one of the first in your group to use “My Hikes” you can get started now. Post on the “My Hikes” wall if you have any questions or problems…

The LA Times published a good article about the non-profit group Wilderness Volunteers that organizes inexpensive outdoor vacation adventures for travelers who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Wilderness Volunteers has been organizing work trips to US public lands (National Parks, National Forests, etc.) since 1997 and past projects have included trail maintenance, painting, and building fences.

The cost of the 5-7 day trips is $259 per person which includes food and commissary equipment. Volunteers need to provide their own camping equipment and transportation to and from the trailhead but other than that everything is taken care of! Opportunities are available from Hawaii to Oregon to Utah - check the Wilderness Volunteers website for more details.

This kind of vacation is really right up my alley. I’m not a big fan of beach-type vacations where the main activity is sitting in a chair - I need to be more active than that which is why I love hiking and backpacking I suppose. I also get a real sense of pride from accomplishing something like an epic hike or even finishing a big home improvement project - an outdoor volunteer vacation could kill two birds with one stone! Plus it’s inexpensive… not a bad thing in this economy.

The author posing in front of a not-so-real volcano

Over at the Not So Serious blog James Blewitt writes about his hike to the top of a volcano in Guatemala called Santa Maria. James has some great photos from the trip and tells about the difficulty trekking up the steep slope leading to the crater. Hiking up to the top of a volcano seems like one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that every hiker should aspire to add to their hiking resumé.

The cool thing about hiking to the top of a volcano is that it’s pretty accessible to most folks - unlike climbing Everest or McKinley. The next time you’re in Hawaii you can head to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to get a glimpse of hot lava while hiking across hardened lava floes. You can also make the 11-mile Crater Rim trail which circles Kilauea’s summit caldera and includes views of the active volcano.

Hiking is all about exploring our planet and viewing an active volcano can be a great reason to lace up the hiking boots. Over the next few weeks I’ll be blogging about some other extreme hiking environments - stay tuned!

Two-day hiking trip with figure 8 loop at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Tom Steinstra recently wrote about his four favorite hiking trails in the San Francisco bay area and he started the article by noting one thing all four hikes have in common: they’re all loops. If you’re a hiker like me you already know that hiking loops (figure 8s included) are simply more interesting and offer a greater sense of accomplishment than boring out-and-back trips where you plod over the same trail twice.

To me there has always been something special about loop trails, I guess because there’s always a sense of adventure in anticipating what’s around the next bend. And when hiking trail loops have a “recommended” direction of travel that means you’re less likely to encounter other hikers unless you’re overtaking them on the trail. Solitude and adventure - now those are good reasons to go hiking!

Unfortunately a couple of societal trends are working against the good old trail loop. For one, folks are becoming used to instant gratification so trails that lead to scenic spots (like waterfalls) are often direct out-and-back trails to minimize trail time. Even hiking loops with a waterfall, say 1/3 of the way around the loop, will see much more impact on the first third of the loop since many will choose to go out and back on the short side of the loop.

Loop trails also tend to be more of a commitment than out and back trails. On a hiking loop you’re committing to moving forward the whole time and completing a circuit. On an out and back trail it’s easy to decide you’ve had enough and turn around before reaching a dead end. Out and back trails can also be dangerous for those who don’t gauge their own stamina or remaining daylight properly, leading to a dark or painful walk out.

As a teenager I once went mountain biking with some friends on an out-and-back trail and we all felt great riding to the end of the 6 mile trail. On the way back, however, it was clear one of our friends just didn’t have the endurance to make it back on his own and after carrying him to the (now dark) parking lot he was rushed to the hospital due to dehydration. The lesson here is that you may feel great going out but remember you’ll end up hiking double the distance by the time you’re done.

Loop trails will always be my favorites for hiking and biking since I never know what I’ll see next!

The Peabody Mill Environmental Center and the Amherst Recreational Department in New Hampshire are hosting a series of twilight hikes over the next few months. The hikes are designed to give hikers a chance to view both full and new moons during the clear winter nights.

The idea of a winter hike is probably new to most folks but it’s a great way to add a new dimension to familiar trails. Trails look completely different by the light of a flashlight or headlamp and your sense of speed and distance will be completely changed. Limited vision on the trail means your other senses will be heightened, allowing you to hear, smell, and feel things you never noticed before.

Night hikes also reveal things like stars that you just won’t see during a daytime trip. Many forest animals are nocturnal meaning they’re snoozing during the day when most hikers are on the trail. Go out at night and you can catch glimpses of animals like raccoons while avoiding others like snakes that prefer the mid-day sun.

Hiking at night is not without its risks and it’s a good idea to hike trails you’re familiar with to start out. Make sure you have multiple light sources in case one gives out and be aware of potentially dangerous wildlife that may be out at night.

Night hiking can be a fun way to experience a familiar trail in an entirely different light - give it a try and see what you think!

It’s not every day that you see a new piece of backpacking gear and think - I’ve never seen that before. I mean sure, every year backpacking gear is getting lighter, more compact, and more durable (not to mention more expensive!) but there doesn’t seem to be a ton of real innovation.

Here’s a perfect example: the idea of a collapsable cup (or bowl) has been around for quite some time and for years these things were made of cheap, hard plastic. On a recent trip to REI I came across an update on the concept that replaces the plastic with flexible silicon. Don’t get me wrong - the silicon collapsable bowl is a wonderful update and solves a number of problems with the plastic versions (no seams between rings, heat resistant, lightweight) - but it just doesn’t get me as excited as the first time I saw a collapsable bowl.

Anyway, all of this is a long intro to a product I found online today: the Syncpack from Frontpack Systems. The Syncpack is worn on your chest to balance out the weight of a heavy backpack on your back and gives you convenient access to important gear.

I’m a young guy (just turned 30 last year) but I have to admit on a backpacking trip a couple years ago I found myself experiencing some severe pain in my shoulders toward the end of the hike. The pain got so bad that I literally had to remove the shoulder straps on my bag and balance the entire pack on my waist belt. Although I haven’t tried a Syncpack myself I suspect having one could have eliminated my shoulder problem before it even got started.

I’m also a big fan of having convenient access to important pieces of gear without having to use a friend or take my pack off when I need something. Just think about all the things you could access while hiking - water, snacks, GPS, maps, flashlight, camera - without having to stop!

Unfortunately the Syncpack isn’t cheap and at $99 it costs close to the same as a nice overnight backpack. You probably won’t win any fashion awards wearing one of these around either but it’s all about function, right? You can purchase the Syncpack online via thesyncpack.com.

Webcitytravel.com posted an article on their blog about flashpacking - basically backpacking with money and tech toys. Flashpacking doesn’t typically refer to the outdoor type of backpacking - more of the “touring-Europe-and-staying-in-hostels” style of “backpacking” but it’s an interesting idea for outdoor enthusiasts nonetheless. It got me thinking about the concept in terms of flash-hiking and how it’s becoming more and more common (minus the money part of course - what good is money in the great outdoors?).

So what makes a hiker a flash-hiker? It’s really all about the gadgets you bring with you on the trail and probably the most common electronic item you’ll find people using on the trail is a digital camera. Bringing along a digital camera on your hikes is a great idea because you never know what you’ll encounter and these days they’re making cameras smaller and more compact meaning they won’t weigh you down on the trail. I always make room for a camera on day hikes and especially multi-day backpacking trips so I can share trail photos with friends and online here at tripleblaze.com.

The second item most flash-hikers rarely leave home without is a GPS unit of some sort. A GPS unit can keep you on the right path when hiking but honestly for me it’s also about entertainment (I’m a real data geek at heart). Bringing a GPS along for the hike is also a great way to document your trip and when paired with your digital camera you can do some interesting things with geo-tagged photos when you get home to your computer. Marking landmarks and finds along the trail with GPS waypoints is the digital equivalent of staking your country’s flag at the North Pole.

Some flash-hikers might choose to bring along other electronics like MP3 players or - *gasp* - portable DVD players but old school hikers will argue these items are antithetical to the natural experience. In many ways I have to agree - being outdoors is about immersing ourselves in the sights and sounds around us and an MP3 player or video device blocks our senses. Teenagers may disagree and it seems like the younger generation has truly mastered multi-tasking such that they probably can pay attention to birds singing AND John Mayer singing at the same time.

The next time you head out the door for a hike, consider packing the digital camera and a GPS unit to help document your adventure. Then head back here to tripleblaze.com and share your trails with the world!

Ultralight backpacking gear is usually anything but ultracheap but we found a video that shows you how to make your own ultralight backpacking stove using stuff you’d find in your kitchen garbage! Watch the video below or keep reading for a quick description of the steps.

Hobo Stove - Ultralight Backpacking - Build It In 3 Minutes!

First, pick out an empty tuna can (for some reason the video uses an empty can of clams - who buys canned clams anyway?). Mark two lines around the can - the first line should be about 3/4″ from the bottom of the can, the second line is about half an inch above that. Now, punch holes about every 1/4″ around the can along the bottom line. Continue punching holes along the top line of the can but make these punches a bit closer together to get more holes along the top line.

Now - you’re done. Fill the can to the bottom line with denatured alcohol and light it with a match. After allowing the “stove” to prime itself for a minute or so, you’re ready to cook! In the video the author got water boiling in 4 minutes which ain’t bad but there’s no way to regulate the temperature on this stove (what did you expect for free?).

One thing this video didn’t mention enough is safety - I wouldn’t recommend trying out your stove indoors as this video appears to show. Also heed the warning in the video itself to set your stove on a stable surface so your flaming alcohol doesn’t spill fire onto the forest floor.

Sometimes the best things in backpacking are free - you just need to use the internet to find them!

Via smallworldtreks.net.

The Outdoor Federation recently released its Outdoor Recreation Participation Report and it’s a bit of good-news / bad-news. The good news: 50% of Americans participated in outdoor recreation activities in 2007 and racked up an impressive 11.35 billion outdoor excursions in 2007. The participation numbers represent a 3% increase over 2006 numbers meaning more Americans are enjoying the great outdoors.

Now for the bad news: young Americans’ (ages 6-12) participation in outdoor activities actually dropped 11% in 2007.  According to surveys young people are introduced to the outdoors by parents, friends, and family so it’s a little surprising the increase in overall outdoor activities didn’t influence younger Americans.

It’s not difficult to imagine the reasons for the decline in outdoor participation among children when there are so many entertainment options these days (video games, internet, television, etc.). The survey found the #1 reason children participate in outdoor activities is for fun so it seems to me we need to find new ways to make the outdoors exciting and engaging for the younger generation. New outdoor activities like mountain unicycling, geocaching, and mountain boarding can help but it’s up to adults to encourage young folks to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors!

I’ve often romanticized the thought of completing a through hike of one of the major hiking trails in the US - the Appalachian, Continental Divide, or Pacific Crest trail - but I’ve never really gotten past the day-dreaming stage. For a select group, however, completing a through hike of a major hiking trail isn’t enough - they have to do all three! And that’s just what John and Dawn Cicanese have done, and the Sarasota Herald Tribune has a good write up on the couple’s hiking accomplishments.

Hiking all three major American hiking routes is known in hiking and backpacking circles as “The Triple Crown” and there are probably less than 200 people who have completed the journey. The Cicanese’s have some interesting insight into what it takes to complete a through hike and for them it means lots of junk food, ultralight backpacking equipment, and jogging shoes instead of hiking boots. They also share some of the differences between the three trails: The Appalachian Trail is the most social of the three hikes with plenty of fellow hikers encountered along the way; the Continental Divide trail has the most wildlife; and the Pacific Crest trail has the best views. Surprisingly the couple also says the Appalachian trail is the toughest trail with the most ups and downs.

The Cicanese’s are involved in their local Appalachian Trail Club in Sarasota - who knew Florida even had Appalachian Trail clubs? Hiking clubs can be a great way to meet other hikers and to share tips for the trail and I imagine if they have clubs in Florida they have them just about everywhere!

So set an audacious hiking or backpacking goal in 2009 and get connected with local hikers who can help you make it happen - you might just be surprised at what you can accomplish this year!

Photo from Barefoot Hiker’s Journal.

The other day I stumbled upon the Barefoot Hikers Journal blog and I found it interesting to say the least. Apparently the author met a barefoot Appalachian Trail through-hiker back in the early 1990s and recently decided to give barefoot hiking a try. On his blog the barefoot hiker talks about the hikes he takes, mostly sticking to the trails near his home (which, as far as I can tell, is in the southeast).

The whole idea of barefoot hiking is pretty new to me but I can certainly see some of the merits. First, by hiking barefoot the hiker is better able to physically connect with nature, feeling every root, rock, and blade of grass beneath his or her feet. Who doesn’t enjoy taking their shoes off and walking on the beach or on a nice green summer lawn? Of course everything a barefoot hiker will encounter on the trail isn’t quite so pleasant so I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

In the running world I’ve heard from some who swear humans weren’t designed to wear shoes and that by running (or hiking) barefoot we’re actually taking better care of our feet somehow. I personally don’t buy this argument but it is true that running or hiking barefoot will change the way you move which can (positively) affect things like posture, gait, etc.

Finally, hiking barefoot might just be better for the natural environment. Instead of tromping down the trail with stiff, knobby hiking boots, barefoot hiking is much lower impact on the trails and minimizes erosion. Barefoot hikers are also leaving a smaller carbon footprint (no pun intended) by avoiding hiking boots that have been manufactured and shipped halfway around the world.

Sure, barefoot hiking may not be for everyone but it’s an interesting thing to consider the next time you’re out on the trail. Just don’t forget to bring a pair of boot in case it snows!

Three blazes on a hiking trail signifies the beginning and end points of the trail.

Hikers in Duluth, MN are asking for better trail markings on the Kekekabic Trail to keep hikers from becoming lost on the sometimes confusing and winding 42 mile trail. A burned out area in one section makes the trail even more difficult to follow and just last fall 2 hikers were lost in the area for 3 days before being rescued.

Normally Superior National Forest officials would have no problem improving trail markings and signage but much of the Kekekabic Trail lies in wilderness areas where man made objects, particularly signs, are prohibited. Proponents of the signage argue that massive rescue efforts with helicopters and search groups like the one undertaken last fall actually have a much greater impact on the wilderness area than a few strategically placed signs. Officials from the forest service say they’re willing to consider additional trail markings and for now it seems there is little opposition.

What do you think? Should trail signs and/or markings be allowed in wilderness areas? Are trails in and of themselves evidence of human activity in wilderness areas?

Just a quick note that Tripleblaze t-shirts are now available in 8 colors and sizes up to 3XL! Show your support for the outdoors and let people know where to find the most detailed hiking and camping information online. The t-shirts are high quality, 100% pre-shrunk cotton, and “standard fit” meaning you should order your normal t-shirt size for the best fit. Get yours today!

Click here for more information and to purchase your Tripleblaze t-shirt.

Ocala National Forest trails near the city of Ocala, Florida.

Get your backpacking gear out of storage: the best time of year to backpack in Ocala National Forest is February, according to an article in Senior Times Magazine. The Florida National Scenic Trail winds 71 miles through the Ocala National Forest just south of Gainesville and north of Orlando and roughly follows the abandoned cross-Florida barge canal project started in the 1930s. Recreational areas with camping facilities are located every 10-12 miles making the trail well suited to multi-day backpacking trips.

The Ocala National Forest trails also make great day hikes and there’s plenty to see and do along the way. Check out the massive berms and dikes from the canal project now overtaken with scrub pine and palm trees. Plenty of lakes and waterways dot the forest as well meaning you never quite know what to expect around the next turn!

I had the opportunity to mountain bike about 40 miles of the trails in Ocala National Forest in March of last year and was really impressed with the trailhead facilities available to all trail users. The scenery was incredible, the weather ideal, and the trail literally seemed to go on forever. If you’re looking for a winter time hiking or backpacking escape, check into the Ocala National Forest in Florida - now is the best time of year to experience it!

The LA Times has an article about how hiking can be a great addition to your fitness routine and with New Years resolutions fresh in our minds the idea of hiking for fitness is a timely concept to consider. Fitness instructor Keli Roberts says hiking over uneven terrain works out the core while improving balance - something a walk around the neighborhood just won’t do for you. Hiking in the mountains is great for muscles and the cardiovascular system, though sadly not all of us live close enough to steep terrain to make this a regular part of our routines.

In high school gym class our final examination consisted of building a 30 day fitness plan using a menu of sports and activities designed to build both strength and endurance. I built my plan with realistic activities I enjoyed including running, cycling, and hiking but in the end my instructor didn’t see the choices as practical enough and I received a failing grade on the final. Fortunately I was the best runner in the class which meant I ended up with a B in the class despite the failing grade on the exam but that ended up being my only B in four years of high school. But I digress…

The point is that it really isn’t so unrealistic (despite what Coach Smith told me) to incorporate hiking into your fitness routine, no matter where you live or how close the nearest trail may be from you home. A Saturday hike can be a great daytrip for you and your family and can be a great addition to walking, running, or even yoga during the week. We’re lucky enough to have a short, quarter mile wooded hiking loop in our fairly urban neighborhood and we try to walk the dog there at least once or twice a week. There’s even a medium-sized log crossing a creek in the area that my dog and I enjoy hiking across - talk about balance training!

Make a commitment to getting fit and enjoying yourself in the outdoors in 2009! It doesn’t cost much but the benefits to your health and mental well being are tremendous!