Skip to content

Guest Blog

Mom’s Camping 101

If you are starting from scratch and need gear, don’t fall for the myth that you need a ton of specialized gear to have a great time enjoying the outdoors. Most of what you need is already in your home. Think about what you need to keep your children happy at home and ask yourself if they will need it when you camp. No need to pack up your entire kitchen, or break the bank on specialized equipment.

A Weekend in Cook Forest

The Forest Cathedral, brings back memories of childhood camping in the Sierras.  The Cathedral, found in the heart of Cook Forest State Park, is Pennsylvania’s largest and is a registered national natural landmark. Multiple different species of trees reside here, reaching 150 years old.

Winter Wonderland: Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia

Lizard seeker Eriks Perkons recently completed an overnight winter backpacking trip in Dollys Sods Wilderness Area, West Virginia. This was his first time exploring this area. Even though winter clouds and an oncoming winter storm blocked the vistas, he still had a great time! Read about his trip below.

Mountain biking at Herrington Manor State Park, Deep Creek MD

Mountain biking at Herrington Manor State Park in western Maryland feels like pedaling through a postcard. The seasons change and the trails “are just so beautiful today”... everyday. The appeal of riding here is how forgiving the terrain can be for beginners yet still fun for regulars; it’s perfect for a mixed crew to ride together and finish the day smiling. The trail system at Herrington Manor is our go-to for welcoming rides that are an absolute blast. It’s flowy singletrack with a few roots and rocks and perfect for the women’s ride vibe. You can scale it up or keep it mellow but it’s always a good time.

Chasing Lizards: How to Plan a Spontaneous Family Outing

Every trip has its ups and downs, no matter how much planning you put into it, so why not take advantage of an unexpected opportunity to get outside with your kiddos! No matter what lizard they choose, there will always be lessons learned and memories made. 

Beat The Heat: Six Ways to Stay Cool On Summer Hikes

Summer can get pretty darn hot these days, and here in the Mid-Atlantic Region keeping the basics in mind when playing outside in the summer has become an absolute necessity.  

Trip Report: Spring In Pine Creek Pennsylvania

Having the Purple Lizard Map of Pine Creek really did allow us to plan and make our own adventure in Pine Creek. Even though we only had three days and got to explore a small portion of what Pine Creek has to offer.

Gearing Up - to Hike with Kids

In an age of seemingly perpetual “screen-time,” I find it more and more important to make time to introduce my son to nature.  I am so lucky to have parents who made sure I lived a life rich with outdoor experience, (although back in my day, electronics weren’t such a big deal), and now more than ever, I want that for my son too.  

Last One to the Top Wins: Musings of a Slow, Asthmatic Hiker

The novelty and adrenaline of running my first major race unfolded before me and I suddenly realized that, in many ways, I was getting a lot more out of this than they were.

Loyalsock Trail - Finding Trust

I held my breath with each up and down, stopping every so often to let out some tears. The creek was rushing and beautiful this morning. The sun was bright, the sky was clear, and the temperature was perfect. Approaching the finish, I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. Before the last climb, I took one more glance at the water and smelled the pine that surrounded me. I will always belong out here. The forest took care of me this week, I will forever be thankful.

FKT on the SST with Keith Querry

Is this something you usually do alone, or do you have some other people to trail run with?     Most of my training is done alone, I really enjoy the solitude. At the same time I love the race day atmosphere. Being able to run with friends on the trail and being able to hang out with everyone before and after is the greatest.

Finding Sanity - On Two Wheels

Our family and friends found sanity from the pandemic on our bikes, from buttery singletrack to family-friendly Rail Trails to snowy forest roads. Here are some of our favorite sanity-inducing locales this year...
Back to top