HikerLiz Member

Thank you for the great suggestions!

I too hike in Washington state, usually in the Cascade mountains. So that means mossy fir forests, waterfalls, glacial tarns, wildflowers, Mount Rainier in the distance, other Cascade peaks all around... I love hiking in the Redwoods too. I was fortunate enough to go hiking in Kings Canyon/Sequoia last year, and the big…

Wow, gorgeous! What a beautiful day yesterday was. I especially liked the snowmen/snow dogs picture. Thanks for sharing!

Wow! So beautiful - love the changing leaf colors against the dark sky...

Hikergirl, I'm very good at enabling - I mean persuading - others that they need more hiking equipment. So if you're ever in need of someone to convince you to buy, say, a new backpack, I can help you out. It's a gift. :smile:

My husband calls me a Gearhead. I'm pretty sure it's a term of affection. :smile:

Hmmm - 2 large packs, 3 daypacks, 1 fanny pack, 1 messenger-style (1 shoulder) pack. I'm only answering this because I have fewer than you do. :wink: Please don't ask about my Camelbak (bottles and pouches) collection.

Thanks for posting these - those tree roots are what made me turn around! Maybe I'll try again on the new trail...:smile:

I love calypso orchids, and this is a great shot of the short subtle flowers. John Muir called them "The Hiders of the North," and it's always a thrill to see them in the spring!

Well, I don't do technical mountain climbing, but if it's a walk-up, I usually train by hiking and backpacking. Look at the "altitude preparation" thread for suggestions on dealing with altitude. I just looked at the hike - looks like you gain a little less than 1,000 feet per mile. That's on the steep side. If I were you,…

We were just climbing around Haleakala on Maui earlier in the week, and I realized I forgot two other things - rest steps and pressure breathing. For me at altitude, they help a lot. You don't always have to do a full rest step - you can just hike more slowly than you think you need to. :) And pressure breathing is just…

You are welcome!

Oh, you'll have such a great time! Kilimanjaro is a beautiful mountain! Someone asked about climbing Kili about a month ago, and I responded to her post. I'm copying it here since it deals specifically with Kilimanjaro. Coincidentally, a friend of mine is climbing Mt Kenya right now. That mountain is on my "to-do" list…

I've read that you can't truly prepare for altitude, that not only does everyone respond differently, but you can have different reactions at different times... But with that as a disclaimer, to prepare for altitude I hike, as often as I can, and also do anything that increases my aerobic capacity. I try to get up as high…

I've done Chinook Pass to White Pass, and a couple of years later, Steven's Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. The Chinook/White trip was 3 days, I think, and it poured the entire trip. The second trip was 72 miles, and I think my husband and I did it in 8 days. I had four friends who did it in 72 hours ("72 in 72") last summer.…

Is that the loop you were telling me about? Sounds like a great hike - what a wonderful day to be outdoors. I (foolishly) tried to go to Little Si for a quick hike yesterday - couldn't believe all the cars. Then tried Rattlesnake - same story. Fortunately Cedar Butte parking lot was open and the trail was relatively empty.…

I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2008. We went with International Mountain Guides, a local company here in Washington, and went up the Machame route. 5 days up, 2 days down. I would highly recommend IMG. We were lucky enough to climb with Phil Ershler and his team of three local guides. Actually, even if you've chosen another…

Oh, REI, always sends me the tempting sale mail too! And so does Sierra Trading Post, and Columbia and... To add to the hiking list, I also would take a whistle (my daypack has one built into the chest strap). And when I hike alone, I usually text my husband from the parking lot, and then again at the summit (if possible),…

Wow that's beautiful!

Thanks for posting the rescue pictures and telling the story. I'm guilty of this too - especially on Tiger Mountain - it's so busy and so close to I90 - but I have gotten turned around on some of the lesser used trails out there.

We hiked Wallace Falls last week. Looks like some of the snow has melted off the trees. It's so beautiful this time of year, when the leaves are off the maples and the river is running high. Congratulation on getting out of the fog-shrouded lowlands!

Sounds like a great hike! I've been intrigued by the AT for a while now...I love reading about hikes on it. I probably won't ever thru-hike it, but like to read books by people who have. I've hiked sections of the PCT, and one of my goals is to hike all of it (not necesarily all at once).

I find myself buying more backpacking food at the grocery store these days. Dehydrated hummous is a good snack, and dehydrated refried beans are tasty (usually in the health food section - Fantastic is one brand). We usually bring tortillas and a small container of salsa for bean burritos. And of course there's always the…

Hope you find lots of great stuff on sale! Thanks for the comment about the picture - it's from a great hiking trip to Bryce Canyon. Amazing place! I live in the Pacific Northwest, so it was very different from where I live too. About this time of year I start dreaming about blue skies and sunshine...

I agree with the above information, and would add...zippers! Base layer/long underwear tops with a half-zip neck - a lot of companies make these (REI, Columbia, Ibex, Smartwool). Great for adjusting when you go from "I'm freezing!" to "get me out of this turtleneck!" Outer jacket with armpit-zips, again to control airflow.…