BLOG #99 WINTER HIKING

There are amongst us, those that don’t hike year round.
Or even get out in the Winter to enjoy the Winter Wonderland.
And that’s mildly okay. But you are missing out on some incredible beauty.
So as Winter approaches, I have a suggestion.

Being prepared for next Springs hiking season, is easy and very informative.
You could go from being a couch potato to an enthusiast, on your own couch.
Below are ideas, on our website that will teach you things that you may not know, or you may find interesting.

WRITINGS
First, I would suggest you go to MORE…then to WRITINGS, in the drop down menu.
Over the last seven years of building our site, I came upon many Nature quotes, Adages, Essays, Notes, Writings, Stories, and included some of my personal writings.
They may inspire you to visit Nature.
Unlike many websites, we don’t explain the Trail foot by foot.
Experiencing Nature, as you come upon it is a great part of going on a hike.

OUR TRAIL STATS
When you read the distance and elevation gain or loss, they are not from personal GPS unit, unless I state that or you see the word “about”, before the numbers.
 On a hike, if several people have GPS units, none of them will match each other. DO NOT RELY ONLY ON THEM.
 
THEY ARE NOT A MAP AND COMPASS, HENCE THEY ARE JUST A TOOL TO HELP.
Also, a GPS unit has batteries that can die, leaving you without a reliable source of where you are, and how you can get back to the trailhead.
But if you see them without “about”, they are from the U.S.F.S.
The F.S. has high end gear, and their numbers are accurate. 
 
TAKE A MAP & COMPASS, AND KNOW HOW TO USE THEM
Please take a map and compass on every hike in the mountains you do.
By map, I mean a Forest Map of the forest you are hiking in, and a Topo map of the specific area you are visiting.
But more importantly, learn how to use them.
If you are unfamiliar, take a look at the below url.
https://www.ewoc.org
This local organization can teach you all you need to know.
Even some of the members of the Spokane Mountaineers, have gone thru their courses. The more you know, the safer and more enjoyable, your hikes can be.

 DO YOUR RESEARCH
What do you think, is the most important thing you can take with you, into the mountains?
It isn’t necessarily, extra clothes or food.   Or even your GPS unit.

IT’S KNOWLEDGE.
Having said that, when you read the information in our Resources, Hints, Medical Information, Trail Etiquette, or the Weather, Thunderstorms and Lightning sections, they are areas that you should research more thoroughly.

TO GET ENTHUSED
 To get you enthused, go to HIKE, in the drop down menu.
Choose an area, and skip the write up for the hikes, and go to the PHOTO GALLERY at the bottom of each write up.
When you look at the images, use them as a Travelog.
They can inspire you to get ready for Spring, Summer, and Autumn, hiking.
Altho we don’t describe the trails, foot by foot, the images that David and I have posted, are in order of what we saw as we hiked the trails.
An old adage says, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Our goal in creating our website, is to show you the beauty you can find, all around us.

SCIENCE 
Science has proved that even a five minute hike on a trail, (not  concrete or pavement) will improve your state of mind, work your muscles, and improve your spirit and well being.

REAL DANGERS
I would be remiss if I didn’t say there are real dangers in the mountains. 
But with proper research and learning how to behave, you too can see the wonders of Nature, first hand.
That’s why we do what we do.

Thank You All, for reading and using our local website.
​
Chic      David


https://www.inlandnwroutes.com