Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
On July 22, 2017, Paul “Mags” Magnanti and I became hiking guidebook authors (woohoo!). Specifically we released the first two books in the Quick and Dirty Hiking Guide series. They are titled, 12 Classic Hikes in Colorado and 12 Classic Read More …
On December 29, 2012, I finished the longest journey of my hiking life. A 14,342 mi (23,081 km), almost eighteen-month odyssey called the 12 Long Walks. I had planned to end my trip at the Appalachian Trail’s southern terminus of Read More …
Stretching almost the entire length of the “Sunshine State”, the Florida Trail (FT) winds its way more than 1000 miles from Pensacola beach in the north to Big Cypress National Preserve in the south. Along the way it passes through Read More …
July 2, 2011 to December 28, 2012……………..14,302 miles, 29 states, 4 provinces, 28 pairs of shoes…………..I originally planned on having the 12 Long Walks overview map ready in June……………2011……………timing never was my strong suit. Big thanks to Brian “Beardoh” Ristola Read More …
Start: Loop Road, Big Cypress National Forest Finish: Southernmost point in the USA, Key West Distance: 188 miles (302.6 km) Time: 5 days (January 16-20, 2012) Daily Average: 37.6 miles (60.5 km) Total Distance: 1325.6 miles ( 2133 km) Highlights: Sunrises Read More …
Start: John Stretch Park Finish: Loop Road Distance: 95.2 miles (153.2 km) Time: 3.5 days (January 12-15, 2012) Daily Average: 27.2 miles (43.8 km) Total Distance: 1137.6 miles (1830.4 km) Highlights: Big Cypress National Preserve: From I-75 down to Loop Rd., the trail consisted Read More …
Start: SR 78 Finish: John Stretch Park Distance: 55.5 miles (89.3 km) Time: 1.5 days (January 10-12, 2012) Daily Average: 37 miles (59.5 km) Total Distance: 1042.4 miles (1677.2 km) Highlights: Sunrise and sunset over Lake Okeechobee. Loads of alligators in the Read More …
Start: CR 523 Finish: SR 78 Distance: 104.6 miles (168.3 km) Time: 3.5 days (January 7-10, 2012) Daily Average: 29.9 miles (48.1 km) Total Distance: 986.9 miles (1588 km) Highlights: Three Lakes WMA: Alligators, wild hogs, whooping cranes, gorgeous sunset and a Read More …
Start: The 88 Store, Ocala National Forest Finish: CR 523 Distance: 231.2 miles (372 km) Time: 7.5 days (December 30, 2011 – January 6, 2012) Daily Average: 30.8 miles (49.6 km – including a zero day for New Years with friends in Orlando) Total Read More …
Start: Winquepin St./CR 255 Finish: The 88 Store, Ocala National Forest Distance: 217.4 miles (349.9 km) Time: 7 days (December 24-30, 2011) Daily Average: 31.1 miles (50 km) Total Distance: 651.1 miles (1047.7 km) Highlights: Suwannee River: Despite the low water Read More …
Start: Apalachicola River Finish: Winquepin St./CR 255 Distance: 198.6 miles (319.6 km) Time: 6.5 days ( December 17-23, 2011) Daily Average: 30.6 miles (49.2 km) Total Distance: 433.7 miles (697.8 km) Highlights: St Mark’s Wildlife Refuge: Founded in 1931, St Mark’s was one Read More …
Start: Harold Finish: Apalachicola River Distance: 175.1 miles (281.8 km) Time: 5 days (December 12-16, 2011) Daily Average: 35 miles (56.3 km) Total Distance: 235.1 miles (378.3 km) Highlights: Ecofina creek: In particularly a very welcome afternoon swim at the Read More …
Start: Fort Pickens Finish: Harold Time: 2 days (December 10-11, 2011) Distance: 60 miles (97 km) Daily Average: 30 miles (48.5 km) Highlights: Fort Pickens Historical Site: Built between 1829 and 1834, this scenically set garrison was one of only four forts which Read More …