I am hiking next week with a friend whom I have known since elementary school, 40 years or so. As we talked about hikes she would go on, I learned we have both rules to what kind of hikes we will do. How could've I not known this about my long time friend. I was shocked she experiences similar symptoms at the top of the mountain, although the hike scenarios are slightly different, the symptoms are not. It got me to thinking all day... What are your hiking rules?

Wide trails, no hugging the side of the mountain, no rocky outcrops staring down at a small village, has to have lots of trees around but I need a challenge, she tells me. It's not a laughing matter and nothing to be embarrassed about...it is a phobia and we all have them.

I have this phobia all the time. I'm not a fan of climbing tree roots, or crawling up open rocky areas, steep goat trails with rocky surfaces or century old boulder fields but what I've learned I have to get off the mountain so I it's mind over matter and That's how I get myself down. Other than my love for doing this, it's the reason for my site. I want to help you find a hike that you feel comfortable doing and to know that if you have a panic attack or trembling legs, to just breathe and to put one foot in front of the other. You can do it! 

Will I do risky, scary hikes in the future? Not likely...I will do the hike and when I don't feel comfortable anymore during the climb, I'll wait for my group or turn around. I've accepted this phobia and I'm ok with it.

As  always, happy & safe trails...

Lori Pederson

I have been noticing lots of garbage on the trails. Yes it could have fallen from your bag and you just didn't notice it or maybe you just don't care? And worse, I'm noticing a new trend... lots of people's dog waste bags on the edge of the trail. Maybe you intend on picking it up on the way out or because it reads bio-degradable you think it's okay for it to sit on the side of the trail. Garbage & dog waste bags on the trail/mountains disturbs me greatly. In some areas our mountains are sensitive to this. I'm  sure that's the reason why dogs are not allowed on certain mountains. 

We are just not being kind to our Earth! I can't change the way people think but I CAN do one thing so I started picking up others people garbage as I Visit all these beautiful places. I bring a bag with me and put the garbage in it, its not hard. It's a small sacrifice I can make.This year I'm going to pick up the dog waste bags as well. My dad has been picking up garbage on our beautiful mountains for years. I guess that's who I learned it from.
 
I'm not trying to be a hero, it just makes me sad to see litter scattered everywhere when it doesn't need to be. If we all do just one thing, we can make a difference! So find your one thing and make a difference!

Happy, safe and clean trails!


Lori Pederson

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