The Hiker Mama

trail of the cedars, north cascades national park, old growth, hikes for kids, newhalem

Happy New Year! 2018

winter, salmon-ridge sno-park, nooksack river, kid-friendly snowshoes,
Frost on alder catkins

The New Year has come, and we are a week into it. Have you been out for any hikes yet? We had our third annual Magical Twilight Snowshoe Adventure (sounds like someone’s been watching too much My Little Pony episodes….) at Gold Creek Pond on New Year’s Eve. This hike is turning into a neat way to end the year and celebrate the winter. I’ll put a short TR up eventually, as well as another hike I did in the fall. I still need to tally up my hiking mileage for 2017. It will me much lower than previous years, but I’m still curious.

You may have noticed that I have not been as active on this blog in the past several months. Or maybe you didn’t notice. At any rate, there are a few reasons for this. I’ve been battling some health issues, and haven’t been getting out as much. So it isn’t very exciting to write. Additionally, I think I just needed a break from the responsibility of keeping up with all the aspects of running a blog and creating a website. I’ve been blogging since the dark ages of blogs (probably 10 years?) and writing the same things over and over, just with different weather and growing kids.

trail of the cedars, north cascades national park, old growth, hikes for kids, newhalem
This Tree is One Kid Wide

But after taking some time off, and with the re-evaluations that come along with the New Year, I’ve come up with some different ideas for how to liven up my blog. In January and February, I’ll be running a series of posts to help new families get into hiking. I think experienced families will find value and interesting stories, as well. I have a couple of exciting interviews lined up, some tips and tricks for gear and food, and I’ll be going over a few good books you’ll want to have on your shelves.

I’m really interested in building more connections with others in the hiking community, and look forward to introducing you to some cool people and groups. I’m also considering how I can be more real and open about overcoming adversity on the trail, and encourage people to stop and really notice the beauty around them.

One thing I wanted to mention, even though I’m going to be writing about it in the next week or so, is a mileage challenge that I’m going to be joining. The Hike Like a Woman 365 Mile Challenge has already started, but it’s not too late to join in! You’re not too far behind! A mile a day is all it takes, plus some longer hikes throughout the year to make up for days you miss. Most able-bodied folks can walk a mile in about 20 minutes on a flat surface. Having toddlers or preschoolers along increases the time, but it’s still a reachable goal for many families. Check out their website, and let me know here or on my Facebook page if you are going to join in!


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