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Join us for a Hiking 101 Webinar

Don’t let the dog days of August get you down. Cool weather will return sooner or later, and we fervently hope that it will be sooner. If you’re thinking about some fall hikes or if you’re new to hiking and have questions about the where, what, how and when, join us for a Hiking 101 webinar on Wednesday, September 2nd from 6:00 - 7:15 pm. You can register here. Once registered, you’ll receive an email prior to the event with a link and password to join the webinar. And all participants will receive a $10 Whole Earth Coupon!

Whole Earthlings Sean, Shannon and Heather are back and will be sharing their hiking know-how. Sean’s been hiking on a couple of continents and at least one very large island. Shannon has explored trails in national parks and public lands throughout the west, often in the company of her four-footed companion Abby. Heather’s also a multi-continent hiker and is prepared for any kind of trail thanks to her well-stocked gear closet. Together the Earthlings will help you plan and prepare for fall hiking. 

Step one is planning. What are the possibilities? State and local parks? National parks, public lands and national forests? What about distance, terrain and season? The Earthlings will discuss the importance of maps for planning a route and for the actual hike (good news - most parks have maps we can print out at home) and the logistics for longer hikes. 

Next, what’s essential gear for a hike? A daypack for sure. Should we wear hiking shoes, boots or sandals? What about socks? And then there are items like a water bottle, a small first aid kit, a map and snacks. What about trekking poles and how are they used? What are the best clothes for hiking and layering? Rain gear? A sun hat and other sun protection?

And onward to the trail! How do we set a pace? That depends. What’s the difficulty of the trail? A rating of 5 or under is considered to be easy; 5 to 10 is moderate, and anything over 10 is considered strenuous. How far are we going? The weather forecast? Our level of fitness? Weighing these factors, we can choose a proper pace. What navigation skills are needed to translate a map and into the terrain? How often should we take breaks? And don’t forget trail etiquette and staying hydrated!

Finally, what are the principles of Leave No Trace and why are they important? And how do we take care of our gear once we’re back home? We hope you’ll join Sean, Shannon and Heather for answers to these and other questions. There will be photographs from favorite hikes, and a question and answer session at the end of the presentation. Spaces are limited so register today!