Petra
Austin Mountain and Furnace Mountain Loop
The Austin Mountain and Furnace Mountain Loop offers a great hiking experience through the scenic Shenandoah National Park. This 9-mile loop takes you through forests, across streams, and up to breathtaking viewpoints. Trail Overview Trailhead and Access: Starting at the Browns Gap parking lot at mile marker 83 on Skyline Drive, you’ll begin with hiking…
Walnut Creek Park in Albemarle County, Virginia
Looking for a fun outdoor escape near Charlottesville? Check out Walnut Creek Park! There are fifteen miles of trails, throughout the entire area, provide the perfect opportunity for mountain biking, running, and hiking. It’s a great alternative for when you can get up to Skyline Drive or Blue Ridge Parkway in the winter and the…
Riprap trail via Wildcat Ridge
RipRap trail is a fan favorite around here and quite popular and for the last few weeks, I have been thinking about adding this one of my achievements. My only hesitation was that it was going through a few water crossings and I wasn’t interested in getting my feet wet in December. Due to the…
Setting Hiking Goals for 2024 with ideas for inspiration
I’ve been sorting out my hiking goals for 2024 because know that when you have direction you can stay more focused and motivated for creating your adventure. When I started hiking in early 2023, I began because I knew this was the way to my well-being – physically and mentally. More specifically I started hiking…
The Beauty of Blackrock Summit
I came across Blackrock Summit on a previous hike and wanted to approach this from a different angle. And since my dog Zina isn’t quite ready for the longer hikes this made it a good choice to visit it again. The trail itself isn’t too challenging and makes this a fairly easy trail. Trail Overview…
Camping At The Beach Vacation
I love camping in the mountains but this year our annual friend’s vacation was camping at the beach. And I can tell you, while we couldn’t see the ocean, we could hear the waves crashing on the shore. Destination Spotlight Location and Accessibility Located just south of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet, Huntington Beach State…
The Humpback Rocks Trail
The Humpback Rocks Trail is quite a popular hiking spot for people, and I decided to go early on a Thursday. So if after reading this post you think you would want to do this trail, then I suggest getting there early even if you’re heading out during the week! Trail Overview Located along the…
Dobie Mountain Trail Hike
Dobie Mountain Trail via the Appalachian Trail won’t have much parking on a holiday or the weekend as the parking lot is often filled with people who hike up to the Humpback Rocks Summit, so be prepare to go early. Trail Overview and Access This 6.2-mile hike includes an overlook, a great AT overnight hut,…
Conquer the Heights in North Carolina
This past weekend I had the honor to be part of the wedding vow renewal of dear friends and I was able to conquer the heights in North Carolina. My favorite part about this experience is that they have chosen Hanging Rock State Park to do so which allowed me the opportunity to hike some…
Leave No Trace: Hike Responsible
Leave No Trace Principles is a simple concept often ignored. I’ve gone on hikes where I have seen no trash or hikes where I have seen a ton of trash left behind. And here’s the thin when you leave behind your trash you not only hurting the environment, you are putting animals lives in danger….
Snacks for a full day hiking trip
I often think about my snacks in advance before heading out for a hiking adventure. I am planning a 9 to 11 miles which will require water and food to sustain. I thought today I would share what that looks like before I tackle a challenging mountain trail or enjoy a leisurely hike in the…
Doyles River Loop via Appalachian Trail
I recently hiked the Doyles River Loop via Appalachian Trail and it’s a beautiful hiking trail in Shenandoah National Park. This 7.5-mile trail takes you through forests, alongside streams, and past cascading waterfalls. Trail Overview This trail is rated as moderate in difficulty with a few steep sections that have you scrambling a bit, but…