During a phone visit with Kyle Kellams of KUAF, I mentioned how hiking and writing about trails go together for me. I couldn’t imagine doing one without the other. He said, “So, in addition to being a thru-hiker, you’re a ‘thru-writer.'” I thought, what a cool trail name that would be!
An extension to writing about trails is speaking about them. Writing Five Star Trails: The Ozarks has opened many opportunities to share.
Last weekend, I presented to a group of 68 folks at Hobbs State Park, close to Beaver Lake in Rogers, Arkansas. The group was diverse and included several trail runners, a few experienced thru-hikers, many day hikers, and a 99-year old who’d hiked many miles. She asked a good question about water availability on the John Muir Trail.
This coming Friday at 7 p.m., I’ll be sharing at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center. I catch myself wondering what questions they will have. Here are a few often asked.
- Have you seen a bear? Two in Arkansas, both moving away from me. Several out west.
- How heavy is your pack? Depends on the season. Getting lighter the older I get…
- Do you worry about snakes? I like seeing snakes but avoid stepping on or irritating them.
- How’s Hiker-dog? I enjoy giving updates on Hike-dog’s adventures.
- How do you do “number 2” out there? I added this question because it’s the one I used to want to ask of distance hikers, but never would. If I’m asked in a group setting, I’ll dodge the specifics by saying it depends on the type of environment and rules for the trail you’re hiking. A whole book has been written on this subject.
Looking forward to questions and conversations with other souls who love hiking and the outdoors! If you need a presenter for a group, I’ll jump at the chance to share. All I need is a darkened room for viewing photos and a power outlet. Contact me through the Feedback tab at the top of the page.
Sharing with 68 folks at Hobbs State Park – “Pack this, not that: a few lessons from the JMT.”
Here’s a pdf of the flier if you’d like to print or forward and share for this Friday’s session. Five Star Trails Poster 092917 Springfield Nat Center
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