Throughout the Golden State from the Redwoods to the Sierra to the Mojave Desert, Californians are growing tired of the influx of out-of-staters, particularly folks from Washington State on their trails. In fact increasing numbers of Californians are blaming many of the state’s trail problems and park incidents on these out-of-staters. “They compete with us for backcountry camping permits,” states longtime High Sierra trail hiker Mia Bakyord. “They come down here in their OR jackets and $50 water bottles and think they own our national park and forest lands,” she added.

Washington is flush with trails and public lands, leading many Californians perplexed as to why they want to come hike in their home state. “Sure we have something like nine national parks, the John Muir Trail, 10,000-foot peaks minutes away from L.A., huge wilderness areas especially in our deserts, and lovely hikes in our wine country,” says Sal Fichhyker. “Those darn Northwesterners just need to stay in their own lane and keep their lattes off our trails,” he angrily retorted.

In fact many Golden State hikers are at their breaking point when it comes to Washingtonians on their trails. They hike too slow, don’t know how to merge at trail junctions, and don’t know how to park their Subarus, Priuses and Teslas at the trailheads contend many local hikers. “And worse of all they come here for our weather,” adds Al Waisunny. “Don’t come down here in February enjoying our sunny and warm trails and beaches,” he implores. “Stay home and play in all of your rain.”

There has been so much disgruntlement over Washingtonians coming to California for better weather that many locals believe that a radical hiking organization is behind the massive amount of rain and lousy weather that has hit California over the past several months. “Wouldn’t surprise me if it isn’t somehow the works of the gate keeping hiking group, Stay off our Public Lands,” shrugs Parla Doxil. “Wouldn’t surprise me too if this isn’t one big April Fool’s joke!”

The post Californians blame influx of Washingtonians for Trail Crowding appeared first on Craig Romano.

“Walking in L.A. Nobody walks in L.A.,” Dale Bozzio of Missing Persons repeatedly belts out in their hit 1980s anthem. Yes, America’s second largest city is a sprawling megalopolis that favors cars over pedestrians. But if you’re wondering if people do in fact walk in L.A, just check out Griffith Park on any given day. And when it comes to running however, holy moly do people run in L.A.! On March 19^th at 6:30 am I stood among 22,000 folks at Dodger Stadium ready to run the 38^th annual Los Angeles Marathon! And run we did—26.2 pulsating miles through some of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods and down some of the most famous roads in America.

If you‘ve ever wanted to get a good feel for a city. Feel its pulse. Tap into its energy. Run it! I’ve run very few big city marathons, favoring smaller events in more rural and natural environments. I ran the Boston Marathon many years ago and the Calgary Stampede Marathon in the past—pretty much my resume when it comes to big city marathons. But in both of those events I had the amazing experience of getting to know and appreciate those cities—and to collectively tap into their pulse with thousands of fellow enthusiastic runners. Boston especially. There’s nothing like it. The entire course is lined from start to finish with screaming, enthusiastic supporters.

The Los Angeles Marathon however gives Boston, well, a run for your money! From the moment I attended the huge pre-race expo I quickly realized how grand this event was not only to the running community, but to L.A. itself. It’s a huge charity fundraiser bringing the city together. The city prides itself on this run which traces its origin to the 1984 Summer Olympics. It was in those games that Joan Benoit took home the gold for America in the Woman’s Marathon. The first L.A. Marathon was established two years later and its course has since been tweaked to its current manifestation starting at Dodger Stadium and ending at Century City. Today the L.A. Marathon ranks among the 10 largest marathons in the country drawing more than 20,000 participants.

At 7:00 am under overcast skies with a little humidity (more like the Northwest or Northeast than Southern California); and just after the newly elected mayor, Karen Bass gave her words of encouragement, we were off from Dodger stadium. I had joined my friend, fellow Washingtonian, ultra-runner and marathoner Grady Olson at the race. It was him who got me interested in this race after he told me about it during one of our ultra-trail runs last summer. And it was through the support of his L.A. based family members that I was able to have such a hassle free race day.

We started fast and downhill. I have been nursing a small calf injury and I held back not wanting to agitate it. Grady and I were in the third seeded corral putting us over the start line in just a minute. Being away from the masses behind us allowed us to run our paces and at no time were we crowded and dodging fellow runners. Yes, 22,000 is a large number. But the entire course was on wide 5 and 6 lane closed to traffic roads giving you plenty of room to breathe.

Many runners like to plug in when they’re running. I opted instead to put a playlist together in my head. For the first several miles “L.A. Women” by the Doors (one of my absolute favorite bands) was my earworm. And the course even passes by the Whisky a Go Go which helped the launched the Doors into stardom. We headed into Chinatown where we got our first big energy boost thanks to a riveting drum ensemble and dragon dancers. It felt surreal.

We next looped around and ran through downtown passing the historic 32-story art-deco city hall and towers of steel and glass. Being Sunday morning, aside from the runners and spectators the downtown streets were deserted—except for the homeless. This city of incredible wealth and opportunity contains the country’s largest population of unhoused people. We passed several proselytizers among them belting out on PA systems from overheads and sidewalks to repent or go to hell. Running a marathon can feel like hell at times. But for many of us it is spiritual event perhaps bringing us closer to our creators and redeeming us.  

After a good hill (the course is not flat with a cumulative elevation gain of more than 900 feet) we set into the groove on one of the most famous streets in America, Sunset Boulevard. We passed through Hollywood. Breaking my concentration I occasionally glanced up at the sign above in the hills and down at the celebrity stars along the sidewalks. We passed famous landmarks too like Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. No red carpet out front mind you; just a road of sweat, tossed cups, and discarded energy gel wrappers.

West Hollywood was next up. Its large LGBTQ community definitely added flair to the cheering sessions. By this point my leg was agitating me so I needed to stay focused on finishing and diverted from my discomfort. Confetti fell gently upon me as I ran through a tunnel of cheering and screaming spectators. And some spectators were blasting “Walking in L.A.” giving me a boost! We next entered opulent Beverly Hills and ran down Rodeo Drive to the opulent Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel, offering a sobering juxtaposition to the scenes of downtown LA.

As we exited Santa Monica Boulevard for the final out and back stretch in the Brentwood section of L.A., the crowds, noises and smells around me intensified. There was so much positive energy around and so much crowd support. And so much diversity in both the running field and the spectators. People from so many ethnic backgrounds and so many places. And for this moment we were all unified—all one sharing a common interest, love, and goal. If only the world could come together like this.

I pushed through my discomfort; focused on more drums banging, a riveting rock group, the scents of hot tamales being cooked along the streets. A runner came upon me and in Spanish asked me about my “papas” shirt. I was wearing my Team Potato shirt which always gets some recognition in my runs. And I was thinking about scarfing a bunch of potatoes after the race in the form of In-N-Out’s (when in California) French fries. The potassium and carbs will be a welcome after all of the calories (more than 3200) I burned on this run. But in the meanwhile, folks were handing out oranges, water, energy drinks and gels—one group was even handing out small cups of beer! Folks were running out on the course offering to spray Biofreeze on aching legs. I took advantage of that and saved my beer sipping for the finish line.

I counted the miles down in my head and by the time I hit 25 a familiar rejuvenating mantra swept me: “Oh my God I only have 1.2 miles left to go! Push through it. Get er done! Cross that line!” And cross it I did where total strangers hugged, high-fived and congratulated each other. We were all winners no matter our finishing time—a group of dedicated folks who accomplished running a marathon. By this time my mental playlist was on Sheryl Crow’s “All I wanna do.” It captured my feelings perfectly for the day. “This is LA… All I wanna do is have some fun until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard and I have a feeling I am not the only one!” Yep. I had 22,000 runners celebrating with me!

Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states. I started my journey last year with marathons in Washington (my home) and New Hampshire (my home state). California makes state number 4. I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way.

The post <strong>Running in LA</strong> appeared first on Craig Romano.

The glow of finishing overpowers the pain and discomfort of the previous four and a half hours on the road.

Life happens. I’ve been looking forward to the Mesa Marathon in Mesa Arizona for months. Its fast downhill start and generally flat course along with its excellent support and vibes had me hooked. I trained hard and felt confident that Mesa would be my fastest marathon in sometime. Possibly even a Boston Qualifier. It turned out to be my slowest marathon—ever.

To say that I’m bummed is an understatement. Two days before the start of the marathon I came down with a cold. No! I had been so good at avoiding crowds, sleeping and eating well and wearing a mask at the airport and at a recent concert. But as we all know by now viruses have a way of getting to you and messing up your life.

I was drained the day before the race and was having a hard time getting pumped at the packet pickup at the Chicago Cubs’ spring training stadium at Sloan Park. There was so much energy and excitement around me as I worked my way through hundreds of volunteers and anxious participants while I picked up my race bib and pre-race goodies. My demeanor however was more subdued as I worried how I was going to feel race day morning.

And race day morning came early—way too early. I was up at 2.45 am gulping down coffee and fueling up on some calories including a breakfast burrito with potatoes. A runner knows how important potassium is to muscle performance and two of the best and easiest sources for that mineral are potatoes and bananas. They’re almost always part of my pre and post race meals. As I fueled up on calories and caffeine I kept hoping that my cold would be mild.  I was congested, warm and not feeling very energetic.

Feeling pretty wiped out at the finish

I made it to the staging area at 4:00 am and joined my 2200 fellow marathoners by hopping onto a bus that dumped us off in the desert 26.2 miles away from the finish line in Riverview Park near the stadium area. It was dark and chilly, but heat lamps, space blankets and layers ready to be tossed by start kept us warm. And at 6.30 in dawn’s emerging light we were off! It was a fast start indeed down a dark desert park road. The Superstition Mountains slowly came into view while the silhouettes of saguaro and cholla cactuses slowly revealed their prickly details. You definitely didn’t want to leave the road here where every plant doubles as a lethal weapon!

I started at a good pace but by mile three I knew I was in trouble as I was already overheating. Running a marathon is hard on a body. Colds are hard on a body. And running a marathon with a cold is really hard on a body. At mile 5 after a long uphill stretch I was hurting. And once the course eased I realized I was not going to have a strong finish. I actually doubted at times that I would finish at all. But I’ve spent years training my body for discomfort to achieve endurance challenges. Nothing satisfying in life is achieved without a lot of effort and a little pain.

By the half marathon mark I made peace with myself and accepted that this was going to be a slow and painful run. I began to thwart my negative thoughts into positive ones. Hey, even if I have to walk a little, that’s okay—I ‘m going to complete this run. I’m part of a large collective of folks pushing their bodies and limits and all of whom have had their share of pain and disappointment. Life happens and sometimes you just have to roll with it. Make the adjustments and persevere. Marathoning has taught me much about life and it has made it so much easier for me to face and accept setbacks in my day to day living. No matter how hard you plan and prepare, sometimes—many times, forces beyond your control get the last word—and if we’re going to stay in the race—be it the marathon or life—we have to accept, adjust and carry on.

Arizona-state number three in my quest to run 26.2 in all 50

At about mile 20 or so I passed a homeless person pushing his possessions in a cart in the 70-plus degree sun. My race day suffering and setbacks were quickly put into perspective. I have the means to live healthy and to travel to a distant state to participate in an event with other fortunate folks. Any disappointment and discomfort I feel today does not diminish my dignity and disposition nor leave me in a state of destitute and despair. There is a lot of real suffering out there and sometimes we need to hurt a little to notice it, feel empathy and perhaps feel motivated to help assuage it.

I made it to that finish, and as with all marathons my anguish slowly transformed into elation. And while I was not content with my time, I was with my accomplishment. And as I grow older and have now dealt with an auto-immune disorder for more than two years—the sense of accomplishment means much more to me than ever before. There is something about not letting age and ailments from keeping you from getting the most out of life. I slowly tapped into all of the surrounding feelings of joy from my fellow marathoners reveling in their own victories. Everyone runs for their own reasons. And there were many setbacks overcome, limits pushed, self-doubts discarded and self-affirmations made that day

Recovering from a marathon is always a slow process. And while my body may ache and feel the distance, my soul glows. Good rest and nutrition will help bring the body back. And the glow will last for some time—and eventually lead me to my next marathon. I already have it on my calendar and I am ready to overcome the setbacks of this one. Just like in life, we’re often given another chance. So I’m going to take it!

A Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I’m proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement capabilities of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states. I started my journey last year with marathons in Washington (my home) and New Hampshire (my home state). Arizona was state number 3. I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way!

The post Down but not out in the Desert appeared first on Craig Romano.

Suffering over the finish line.

Life happens. I have been looking forward to running in the Mesa Marathon in Mesa Arizona for months. Its fast downhill start and generally flat course along with its excellent support and vibes had me hooked. I trained hard and felt confident that Mesa would be my fastest marathon in sometime. Turned out to be my slowest—ever.

To say that I am bummed is an understatement. Two days before the start of the marathon I came down with a cold. No! I had been so good at avoiding crowds, sleeping and eating well and wearing a mask at the airport and at a recent concert. But as we all know by now viruses have a way of getting to you and messing up your life.

I was drained the day before the race and was having a hard time getting pumped at the packet pickup at the Chicago Cubs’ spring training stadium at Sloan Park. There was so much pent up energy and excitement around me as I worked my way through hundreds of volunteers and anxious participants while I picked up my race bib and pre-race goodies. My demeanor however was more subdued as I worried how I was going to feel race day morning.

And race day morning came early—way too early. I was up at 2.45 am sucking down coffee and fueling up on some calories and hoping that my cold would be a mild one. I made it to the staging area at 4:00 am and joined my 2200 fellow marathoners by hopping onto a bus dumping us off in the desert 26.2 miles away from the finish line in Riverview Park near the stadium area.

It was dark and chilly, but heat lamps, space blankets and layers ready to be tossed by start kept us warm. And at 6.30 in dawn’s emerging light we were off! It was a fast start indeed down a dark desert park road. The Superstition Mountains slowly came into view while the silhouettes of saguaro and cholla cactuses slowly revealed more details. You definitely didn’t want to leave the road here where every plant doubles as a lethal weapon!

I started at a good pace but by mile three I knew I was in trouble as I was already overheating. Running a marathon is hard on a body. Colds are hard on a body. And running a marathon with a cold is really hard on a body. At mile 5 after a long uphill I was hurting. And once the course eased I realized I was not going to have a strong finish. I actually doubted at times that I would finish at all. But I have spent years training my body for discomfort to achieve endurance challenges. Nothing satisfying in life is achieved without effort and a little pain.

By the half marathon mark I made peace with myself and accepted that this was going to be a slow and painful run. I began to thwart my negative thoughts into positive ones. Hey, even if I have to walk a little, that’s okay—I am going to complete this run. I’m part of a large collective of folks pushing their bodies and limits and all of whom have had their share of pain and disappointment. Life happens and sometimes you just have to roll with it. Make the adjustments and preserver. Marathoning has taught me much about life and it has made it so much easier for me to face and accept setbacks in my day to day living. No matter how hard you plan and prepare, sometimes—many times, forces beyond your control get the last word—and if we are going to stay in the race—be it the marathon or life—we have to accept, adjust and carry on.

At about mile 20 or so I passed a homeless person pushing his possessions in a cart in the 70-plus degree sun. My race day suffering and setbacks were quickly put into perspective. I have the means to live healthy and to travel to a distant state to participate in an event with other fortunate folks. Any disappointment and discomfort I feel today does not diminish my dignity and disposition nor leave me in a state of destitute and despair. There is a lot of real suffering out there and sometime we need to hurt a little to notice it, feel empathy and perhaps feel motivated to help assuage it.

Didn’t take long after finishing to start glowing!

I made it to that finish, and as with all marathons my anguish slowly transformed into elation. And while I was not content with my time, I was with my accomplishment. And as I grow older and have now dealt with an auto-immune disorder for more than two years—the sense of accomplishment means much more to me. There is something about not letting age and ailments from keeping you from getting the most out of life. I slowly tapped into all of the surrounding feelings of joy from my fellow marathoners reveling in their own victories. Everyone runs for their own reasons. And there were many setbacks overcome, limits pushed, self-doubts discarded and self-affirmations made that day

Recovering from a marathon is always a slow process. And while my body may ache and feel the distance, my soul glows. Good rest and nutrition will help bring the body back. And the glow will last for some time—and eventually lead me to my next marathon. I already have it on my calendar and I am ready to overcome the setbacks of this one. Just like in life, we are often given another chance. So I’m going to take it!

Big Thanks to the Washington State Potato Commission for sponsoring me. I am proud to be a member of Team Potato and to showcase the nutritional value and performance enhancement of potatoes as I attempt to run a marathon in all 50 states. I started my journey last year with marathons in Washington (my home) and New Hampshire (my home state). Arizona was state number 3. I’ve got a long journey and many miles to go—and lots of potatoes to consume along the way.

The post Down but not out in the Desert appeared first on Craig Romano.

Life is good in BC’s Glacier National Park

Last year was a good year for me on the trail! I ended up amassing more than 2300 running and hiking miles which included some pretty memorable experiences. While I got hit with Covid (who hasn’t at this point?) in May, I thankfully was able to recover fairly fast and get back on the trail. I continue to reduce my prednisone dosage with the intent of putting my auto-immune condition Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) into remission. I had a couple of minor flair-ups but nothing that stopped me from running and hiking hard—well at least as hard as I can at this stage in my life!

I am welcoming my 60s as a time to go for it! And with that I have gotten back into marathon running and ultra-racing. I completed 4 marathons (Covid robbed me of number 5) and four 50Ks last year—something I was not capable of doing in my 20s. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t count my blessings that my body is allowing me to do these types of events. I participated in a grueling 50K –the Backcountry Rise at Mount St Helens in which I was just one of 6 over 60 to complete it!

Representing Team Potato in the Bellingham Bay Marathon!

Most of this year I will be focusing hard on my running with three goals I wish to attain. I hope to once again qualify for the Boston Marathon. I ran it in my 20s and would love to recapture the magic in my 60s. My fasted marathon last year was in Manchester NH in which I ran a 4.07-so I still have some work to do to run a sub 3.50—something I haven’t done since my 40s. My other goals are to run my first 100K-since I will turn 62-might as well run 62 miles—and to continue on my journey to run a marathon in all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces (I’ve got two new marathon states coming up!). Can’t think of a better way to see North America! And with Team Potato sponsoring me I hope to bring lots of Washington Potato love on the run! Carb up-refuel and run!

Heading down the South Kaibab Trail in one of the most incredible landscapes anywhere-the Grand Canyon!

My biggest hiking highlights this past year included hiking undeveloped barrier islands in Mississippi and Florida, hiking in BC’s Glacier National Park and California’s Joshua Tree National Park (one of my favorite national parks), doing Mount Rainier’s Northern Loop in a day (okay that was mostly a run), setting a personal hike-a-thon record for the month of August by doing 352 miles and doing some incredible hikes in Arizona including the state’s highest summit Humphreys Peak and hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and out in a day!

I got to spend some great time on trails in BC, WA, OR, CA, AL, MS, FL, VT, NH, ME, MA and CT! And I got to do some kayaking in Alabama in bayou country, I don’t do enough paddling and I plan on doing more in 2023 as well as hiking and running my culo off like there is no tomorrow—because life truly is too short and you have to seize as much as you possibly can! And of course I will have my family along on many of my hikes and runs, because spending time with them is as precious as the time I get to spend outdoors.

In 2023 I am going for it!

I hope you are too!

The post 2,321.1 miles! appeared first on Craig Romano.

Christmas is almost here. Last night of Hanukkah and Boxing Day closing in closely behind. If you celebrate Orthodox Christmas you have some time! So, if you are still looking for some good gift ideas for the hikers and outdoorspeople in your life, may I suggest these three great new books?

The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon:

Outdoor Adventures Accessible by Car, Wheelchair, and on Foot (Falcon Guides)

By Syren Nagakyrie

 Finally there’s a well-researched and reliable guide specifically written for disabled hikers for western Washington and Oregon. And what makes this book stand out among similar books that have been written in the past, is the author’s understanding of the diverse needs of disabled people in the outdoors. Nagakyrie is the founder of Disabled Hikers, an entirely Disabled-led nonprofit organization and has worked with many parks and organizations to improve access and inclusion for disabled people.

The book uses The Spoon Rating System as a way to identify how much effort a trail might take. The system is based in an understanding of Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino (a metaphor for the energy rationing that many disabled and chronically ill people have to do).  The rating offers a representation of the trail’s accessibility, the effort needed to embark on it, and how replenishing the experience may be. In essence it combines accessibility, difficulty and overall quality rating.

The book includes ADA paths, foot trails suitable for disabled hikers and drive up experiences such as the wildlife auto road in southwest Washington’s Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. In all there are 46 destinations ranging from Mount Baker, Portland and Seattle metro areas, to southwestern Oregon. The book is by no means comprehensive of the trails available to disabled hikers in the region. A Seattle or Portland based hiker looking for something more thorough for their region may be a little disappointed. But if you’re looking for a wide array of trails in some wonderful outdoor destination throughout the region (think travel getaways) then this book will more than satisfy and provide all of the information you need for a fulfilling outdoors experience.

Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors  (Chronicle Books)

By Rue Mapp

Nature Swagger is a celebration of Black people in the outdoors and a testament to the powerful healing and revitalizing powers of nature for all people. Mapp chronicles her own journey discovering the therapeutic powers of nature through time at her father’s small ranch in rural Lake County California. As a college student she describes having a capstone experience mountaineering and summiting peals in the High Sierra with Outward Bound as the only Black woman in her group. The trip helped her understand the power of nature, but also accented her isolation being with a group who shared different cultural experiences. It would be the impetus to eventually lead her to find Outdoor Afro in 2009—first as a blog-and then as the nation’s leading organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.

But Nature Swagger goes far beyond Mapp’s discovery of nature and her creation of Outdoor Afro. It shares stories from a wide array of Black Outdoors voices celebrating Nature and all its healing and inspiring attributes; and seeks to inspire others to connect with nature and each other. The collection of voices in this book is meant to inspire Black communities to reclaim their place in the natural world of hikers, urban farmers, fishers/hunters, surfers, beekeepers, campers, birdwatchers, kayakers, equestrians, and more.

Interspersed throughout this book of personal stories, and profiles, are essays from Mapp on the rich the rich history of Black involvement in the outdoors, activism, and conservation. This hardbound book is meant to empower Black people to rebuild their relationship with nature, highlight visual representations of Black people outdoors, and celebrate the rich history of Blackness in the outdoors. It’s also an inspirational and informative read to all people regardless of their ethnic background, and a testament that the outdoors belongs to all of us and that we can all share in its positive attributes and become part of a shared culture that covets a life outdoors.

52 Ways to Nature Washington:

Your Seasonal Guide to a Wilder Year (Mountaineers Books)

By Lauren Braden

 If you ever wondered what to do outdoors in the off season, this wonderful book will not only provide you with plenty of activities—but also quickly dispel any thoughts that there is an off season. Outdoors writer Braden who founded the local trip-planning website Northwest TripFinder has put together the perfect book to keep you and your family active outdoors all year-round. And she has found 52 ways to do it—one for every week of the year allowing for a lot of discovery and adventure along the way.

This book is organized by season and with each activity she introduces to you she provides plenty of natural and cultural history. She suggests places to partake in the introduced activities that collectively cover the entire state—therefore also introducing you to Washington’s diverse landscapes and historical, cultural and natural offerings. And the book encourages experiential learning promoting immersion activities that connect you with nature. While anyone of any age and background will find this book engaging and encouraging, it’s especially well-suited for families with children. The book has ample space throughout to add your own notes and observations.

The book is ideal for anyone new to the state, but also for those who have lived here for years—prompting them to discover a new activity and area. Go animal tracking, ice skating, camp in a yurt, gather wild edibles, bicycle on an island, go river rafting, explore a tide pool, drop a crab pot, hike to a glacier, saddle up a horse, be a lighthouse keeper, try geocaching, and so much more with this great book as your companion and prompt.

And of course, all of my books make great gifts, too! Thanks for supporting my works and the works of other hard working fine outdoors authors!

The post Three Great Outdoors Books—that I didn’t write! appeared first on Craig Romano.

On my way to Pumpkin Rock!

Thank the Ancient Celts for giving us this holiday—Irish and Scottish immigrants for bringing it to America—and Madison Avenue for helping to make it so bloody commercial! What used to be day of general mischief, scary tales, and warding off evil spirits has since been replaced with an excuse for adults to tap into an alter ego, kids to over consume sugar, and the neighborhood Griswolds to deck the house like it’s a twisted Christmas Season. No longer the scary holiday it once was (Election Day has now become our scariest holiday), Halloween still clings to some of its origins and roots. So why not seek out a trail to a place that harkens the darker side of Halloween. Yep, no Superheroes or sexy nurses (not that there is anything wrong with them) here-just good ole fashioned demons, goblins and the macabre.

Skull Rock

So if you’re looking for a hike to help burn off some of that excess sugar you’ve been or will soon be consuming—how about considering one of these with its sort of Halloween theme. Okay-there really aren’t too many true Halloween themed hikes out there, but there are enough with names and images to help set the mood of the spooky holiday. But let’s look beyond the usual suggested hikes that often involve ghost towns, old graveyard sites, massacre and murder scenes, and sites of supernatural convergences! I’ve put together a slew of suggested hikes that have names or destinations that make them festive for the time! Your job is to set out on them and let your imagination and chill factor take over. And if you want to hike them as a super hero or sexy nurse, power to you!

California

Joshua Tree National Park’s Skull Rock is perhaps one of the spookiest natural landmarks anywhere.

Pumpkin Rock, okay this large boulder on a ridge in Riverside County’s Norco, has been enhanced-but it does the trick and looks like it’s straight out of a Tim Burton movie.

Bumpass Hell- this geothermal area in Lassen National Park was a living hell for a Mr. Bumpass

Arizona

Skelton Point, no bones about it, this spot in the Grand Canyon will bring to life the most deadened soul

Pumpkin Trail- This lightly used trail carves a delightful route up Kendrick Mountain

Washington

Mesahchie Ridge- Take a hike on Easy Pass to view Mesachie Ridge, a Chinook Jargon that means wicked or evil, and the views are wicked amazing!

Deadmans Lake- This subalpine lake survived the blast of 1980 but must harbor a tale of demise somewhere along the line

Diablo Lake, hell of a nice hike, especially in the fall

Goblins Gate- hike to this spot in Olympic National Park, a portal on the Elwha River and beyond

Oregon

Devils Rest-and it rises above Angels Rest

Seven Devil Hills-take to this rugged stretch of the Oregon Coast for a hell of a hike

New Hampshire

Devils Hopyard, a rugged and remote ravine not far from a former WW II prisoner of war camp

Devils Slide- Not too far from his hopyard is his slide in his own state forest in a town named Stark!

Frankenstein Cliffs-not a monster of a hike, and not named for the monster, but a German immigrant artist

With more than 5 million annual visitors, the Grand Canyon is our 4^th most visited national park. And if you’ve ever experienced the grandeur of this amazing landmark, it’s not hard to understand why. Folks come from all over the country and world to see this stunning geological feature on the Colorado Plateau. The canyon is 278 miles long, 18 miles wide in spots and up to 6,000 feet deep. The National Park Service manages more than 1.2 million acres of the canyon. But most of those 5 million visitors never venture out on more than a couple hundred of those acres. And only 1% of them—about 50,000, hike or ride a mule to the bottom of the canyon. Most visitors don’t step foot at all into the canyon.

I recently returned from an October weekend trip to Grand Canyon National Park, and except for my short visit to the Visitors Center and Geology Museum, crowds were not an issue. I hiked down the South Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch at canyon’s bottom and enjoyed prolonged periods of solitude. I hiked out via the Bright Angel Trail and mainly shared it with a few handfuls of rim-to-rim hikers and a couple of backpackers. The trail got a little busier beyond Indian Gardens to the Rim, but it was never crowded.

And I had the same experience on the 13 mile long Rim Trail that runs from Hermit’s Point to the South Kaibab Trailhead. This is a great easy paved in places trail that runs along the rim passing amazing viewpoints. Except for the 2 mile stretch in Grand Canyon Village, you can roam it without crowds. Again most visitors don’t venture far from the easily accessible Mather Point. Some will take the shuttle to Hermits Rest and just get out at the viewpoints, take a few pictures and hop back on the bus. We took the shuttle all the way to Hermits Rest and hiked 9 miles back to the village and enjoyed long stretches of trail where we were alone.

Yes, our trails and national parks are experiencing record visitation. But peace and quiet is still possible. Go that extra mile, seek out that quiet stretch of trail and let the huddled masses continue to congregate at the easily accessible and popular spots. The Grand Canyon is a massive place, yet most of its millions of visitors don’t venture on more than a miniscule fraction of this amazing place. I can’t wait for a return visit. I have several trails new to me planned—and I am pretty much guaranteed that those trails will provide me with plenty of solitude even if another million visitors find their way to the Grand Canyon in the near future.

It was my most successful Hike-a-thon, ever!

Wow! I am still catching up on my rest and trying to catch up with my work after an amazing August. Since 2012 I have participated in the Washington Trails Association’s annual Hike-a-thon as a way to have a little fun and help give back to the trails that have enhanced my life. And trails have not only helped me with my livelihood as a guidebook author and outdoors writer, but as a refuge from the pandemic, political rancor, despair, and my own personal challenges.

Since being diagnosed with PMR in 2020 during a time when I was questioning if my best days were over—I have been managing my condition (through medication, diet, and intense physical activity) as best I can and trying to do as much as I can realizing that tomorrow may bring an end. This year I really pushed myself physically beating my monthly mileage record by 1 mile. I hiked or ran on the trail everyday but one in August and did three 30 mile days!

And you my wonderful friends and readers outdid yourselves again with donations that will directly benefit our trails and enhance our outdoors lifestyles! I am overwhelmed by your generosity-especially during the last two days of Hike a thon when $1700 came in helping me far exceed my fundraising goal of $10,000 by more than $1,000. Thanks so much to the 126 of you who made a donation! You all rock!

This whole process has once again recharged me and has given me reasons to stay hopeful while the outside world remains gloomy. I empathize with my fellow hikers and runners who are stressed, anxious, and depressed. These are indeed difficult times. Consider setting some goals for a greater good for yourself and community. It will help you stay positive and focused. We will persevere —and I believe that ultimately it will make many of us better people.

So a big thanks to all of you who donated to my hike-a-thon, accompanied me on the trail, and provided support. And big thanks once again Oboz Footwear, Browns Outdoors in Port Angeles, Green Trails Maps and From the Ground Up Socks for your generous donations of great gear that I was able to give away to help motivate you all to donate!.

Thanks again and see you on the trail!!

If you’re like me you probably just grudgingly accept that part of being in the great outdoors is sharing it with a slew of annoying and biting insects. I detest insect repellents (I don’t like applying toxic substances to my body and I hate being sticky afterward),so I try my hardest not to use them—which usually means I head into a run when I encounter an exceptionally buggy patch of wilderness. But what do you if a bunch of the buggers get to you and leave you with welts, bumps, and red dots that scream to be scratched!?

Well, you usually just give in and scratch which only provides temporary relief and often makes things worse. Fortunately I don’t react too badly to bug bites so I have never paid much attention to the various insect bite relief products that are on the market. When I was first made aware of a pair of new products—the Don’t Scratch that Pen and Don’t Scratch that Patches from the All Better Company I didn’t pay too much attention.

But then I read more deeply about these products using plant based products and thought-what the heck, let’s give it a try. Besides, these products were founded by two Moms who came up with this relief formula for their outdoor playing children.

This year in Northwest Washington was a good year to put these products to the test as we were having an exceptional outbreak of floodwater mosquitoes. After an afternoon being subjected to their constant attacks, I took the convenient Don’t Scratch That Pen (which fits easily in your pack or pocket) and applied the formula consisting of CBD, oat kernel, jojoba, and coconut oil to my bites. This combo of ingredients was designed to help reduce inflammation, ease itching, promote healing, and rehydrate the skin. And to my surprise I immediately felt relief. This stuff works! And I especially like that it is so easy to apply and so convenient to tote around and leaves no stickiness or odor on my skin.

For the patches, I summoned my Mother who is exceptionally sensitive to insect bites to give them a try. After a day on the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire she had amassed a good collection of welts. We applied the patches (which weren’t quite as easy to apply as the cream) on the bug bites and to her surprise, the formula of the patches which includes tea tree oil provided instant relief and hastened healing. The patches are touted for when you need a little extra strength for relief and they came through.

I now carry the Don’t Scratch that Pen in my pack when hiking in buggy terrain and its minimal dimensions adds virtually no weight to my pack nor does it take up much space. If you have tried other insect bite relief products or none at all and have resigned yourself to the fact that you are going to be itchy and scratching for a while after a bad bug encounter; I encourage you to check these excellent products out and give them a try. For more information, visit allbetterco.com

Nice review of Hiking Washington’s History, which I co-authored with Judy Bentley in the Cascadia Daily News. If you love history and hiking, and want to get so  much more out of your hikes in the Evergreen State, then this book should be in your pack. And if you don’t get out on the trail as much these days, this book makes a wonderful read by the fireplace as well. And if you missed Judy and my shoot on King 5 Evening on Hiking Washington’s History, check it out here! Hope it gets you interested in looking at our trails from a whole new perspective..

Approaching Mount Washington on a beautiful May Day-best birthday ever!

While Covid-19 ebbed and flowed and then raged on, 2021 wasn’t too bad of a year for me when it came to running and hiking! The year started out rough as I battled some heath issues that turned out to be an auto-immune condition called Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). Years of stress and anxiety at taken its toll on me despite my lifestyle of intense physical fitness. I began medication in late February with the hope of putting my condition into remission. The medication allowed me to once again to enjoy full range of motion in my arms, legs, and neck and to run and hike generally pain free.

With this rebirth, I modified my diet and decided to ramp up my activity and do as much as I can—for time is short and my new condition, life during this pandemic and turning 60 in May all reminded me so. The result? I hiked and ran my culo off tallying just under 2300 miles for the year. I began ultra-running again after taking a break from it and have found a new love for endurance hiking and running. And in general I had a blast hitting the trail and moving!

My biggest highlights of the year were doing the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire’s White Mountains on my 60^th birthday—19.5 miles and 8,700 vertical feet over 7 rocky peaks in a day—and in August running around Mount Hood on the Timberline Trail-41 miles and 10,000 vertical feet in a day! I also won my first race- a half marathon cross country trail run- and at age 60! I spent some great time on the trail with family and friends and deeply cherish their company and companionship.

Besides spending a lot of great trail time in Washington’s Cascades, I hit the trail in Oregon, California, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. I went back to California’s Humboldt County—one of my favorite places on the West Coast-after a long absence from running and hiking in the redwoods. And I returned to an area of Vermont where I once lived and knew well and left with much emotional pain 32 years ago. Returning there was cathartic and healing. Instead of remorse and pain I felt nostalgia and contentment. I look forward to returning again—and I look forward to a wonderful 2022. I am ready to face the challenges and obstacles that life will throw at me and continue to hike and run my culo off like there is no tomorrow!

Hope you have a great year, too!

Raging glacial melt wasn’t going to stop me from circumnavigating Mount Hood! Bring it on!

In February of 2021 I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), an auto-immune disease. I am determined to put it into remission and keep living an active lifestyle including hiking more than 2,000 miles a year and participating in 50K trail running events.

Terry Wood of the Seattle Times wrote a feature on how I am dealing with this condition. I hope my story inspires others with auto-immune disorders to stay positive and try to live a healthy life.

Read the Full Story Here.

350.9 Miles Hiked and More than $10,200 Raised

It was my successful Hike-a-thon, ever!

Wow! I am still catching up on my rest and trying to catch up with my work after an amazing August. Since 2012 I have participated in the Washington Trails Association’s annual Hike-a-thon as a way to have a little fun and help give back to the trails that have enhanced my life. And trails have not only helped me with my livelihood as a guidebook author and outdoors writer, but as a refuge from the pandemic, political rancor, despair, and my own personal challenges.

And this year was especially challenging with my recent PMR diagnosis. I am managing my condition as best I can and pushed myself farther and harder than ever before. And you my wonderful friends and readers outdid yourselves with donations that will directly benefit our trails and enhance our outdoors lifestyles! Thanks!

For this Hike-a-thon I set three goals for myself. Three goals that I knew would have me working hard this to achieve. They were:

• Raise $8,000 (beating my previous best)
• Hike or run every day on a trail in the month of August (taking no days off)
• And tally more than 325 miles for the month (to beating my previous best of 325 miles)

And I am ecstatic to announce that I met and/or exceeded every one of my goals! As of this writing because of the generosity of 118 of you (my record amount of donors to date) I have raised more than $10,200!

I did indeed hike or run a trail every day of the month alternating easy “rest” days on some of my local trails with hardcore mileage days in the backcountry. And I not only exceeded my 325 mile goal for the month-I exceeded it big time by completing 350.9 miles. This included a kick off day of 41 miles on the trail (my second longest day on the trail ever) and a grand finale on the trail with a 27.6 mile day! I did a handful of 20 milers in the mix too! This all averaged out to 11.3 miles a day. I’m beat!

While all of this was incredibly satisfying, one of my underlying motivators was trying to live my life to the maximum with my new health condition. I was in severe discomfort with limited range of motion just 8 months ago and thought that I would never be able to do high intensity days on the trail anymore. This summer and Hike-a-thon has helped recharged me and continue my path to trying to put my condition into remission.

And with the Pandemic still raging and all of the social unrest, political madness, natural disasters, and awful news–It was refreshing and recharging to become totally absorbed in my Hike-a-thon and so deeply satisfying to challenge myself—and exceed my expectations—and have such positive results to show afterward.

This whole process has recharged me and has given me reasons to stay hopeful while the outside world remains gloomy. I empathize with my fellow hikers and runners who are stressed, anxious, and depressed. These are indeed difficult times. Consider setting some goals for a greater good for yourself and community. It will help you stay positive and focused. We will persevere —and I believe that ultimately it will make many of us better people.

So a big thanks to all of you who donated to my hike-a-thon, accompanied me on the trail, and provided support. My hike-a-thon would not have been as successful without all of you. And if you donated, stay tuned for September 7^th when I announce the winners of the Oboz Footwear hiking shoes (Thanks once again Oboz for donating them) and the Osprey Talon 11 Backpack (Big thanks to Brown’s Outdoor in Port Angeles for their donation).

And if you haven’t donated, you still have a few days to do so. You will automatically be entered into the Oboz drawing and become a WTA member. Just click here and make your donation! And to all Happy Hiking as we move into my favorite time of year to hit the trail!

And if you need some great suggestions to find excellent autumn hiking destinations, my books are packed with detailed info—including on many trails less traveled!

Check them out and Happy Hiking!

I am coming for you Mount Hood! Looking forward to experiencing your full grandeur in one long kick-butt journey!

It’s that time again!

I am once again participating in the annual Hike-a-Thon for the Washington Trails Association! Last year we raised more than $7700 for our trails! WOW! If you were among my donors-a big thanks once again for your generosity! If you weren’t, please consider helping out this year! And of course if you were a donor, I hope I can count on you once again.

This year I’d like to top last year’s total and raise $8000 for our trails. And as of today on the eve of the start of Hike-a-thon, due to an overwhelming amount of support from y’all, we are at more than $7000! We are on track not only to beat $8,000 but to have an amazing record fundraising event. So please keep up the momentum!

And I will be hiking and running my culo off during the month of August. Last year I tallied 325 miles for the month, spreading the good word about WTA and raising money for our trails. It was my best month ever! This year, despite some new health challenges I am going to try to beat that number (hey, won’t let a little auto immune disease get in my way!). I will be kicking off the event tomorrow with an easy day–then on August 2nd, I along with friend Peter Clitherow will be attempting to complete the 40 mile Timberline Trail around Mount Hood in ONE DAY! If we are successful, it will be my second longest day on the trail. I have been training hard and not letting my polymyalgia rheumatica (which I was diagnosed with this past winter) stop me.

You know how important trails are to our healthy outdoor lives-and you know how underfunded our trails are. And now more than ever during this time of COVID-19 we need trails and open spaces for our mental and spiritual health as well as our physical health. The Washington Trails Association (WTA) is responsible for keeping so many of our trails open and in excellent shape. I am proud to support them, and I hope you are, too.

And I want to REWARD you for helping me—so I am in the process of lining up several opportunities for you to WIN some great PRIZES! Thanks to the great folks at Mountaineers Books, Green Trails Maps, Oboz Footwear, and Browns Outdoor in Port Angeles, I have some great hiker-essential products to give away! And I am working on securing some more prizes-so hang around-details to come.  Anyone who makes a donation of $50 or more automatically becomes a member of WTA.

Fifty dollars definitely goes far in this campaign- but every dollar counts and no donation is too small. All are appreciated! Everyone who makes a donation will be entered into a random drawing to win either a pair of Oboz hiking shoes (valued at up to $200) or an Osprey Talon 11 Backpack (Value $120).

I thank you all in advance for your support. Just click this link and make your donation. It’s quick, easy and tax deductible. The process is fast, easy and secure. Thank you so much for your support… and please don’t forget to send this page to any friends you think might be interested in donating!

Me taking a break above the Great Gulf. Peaks in distance left to right, Mounts Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison.

I celebrated my 60^th birthday last month by hiking New Hampshire’s famed Presidential Range in one day. It was one of my toughest day hikes—one I am not so sure I could have done in my 20s—and all the more satisfying to do at age 60. Why the Prezies for this birthday milestone? For my 50^th birthday I ran the White River 50 Mile Trail Race near Mount Rainier. For my 60^th I initially had my heart set on doing my first 100K run—62 miles—close enough to 60! But life has a way of usurping our plans.

Last fall I started developing some symptoms of fatigue, chronic pain and decreased mobility that only grew worse. By February I was in pain in both arms, shoulders, upper thighs in the groin area and I couldn’t turn my neck. Sleeping was painful as I could only sleep on my back. I couldn’t push myself up and it was a challenge putting on my clothes. Getting in and out of a car was a struggle. I was miserable and scared. Wow, 59 years old and always have been in top shape and now I felt like I was well into my 90s.

Follow the cairns over rock, rock, and more rock. This is from Mount Madison looking at Mount Washington (l) and Mount Adams (r).

After seeing my physician and having several tests I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), an auto immune inflammatory disease. More than likely a lifetime full of bouts of depression and anxiety led me there. Life during the Pandemic only exacerbated my stress coupled with the loss of a pet and other challenges that finally triggered my immune system to do what it did. The disease is for life—there is no cure—but there are good chances of putting it into remission. I was immediately put on prednisone and within a day I was feeling better. Within a few days I was pain free and felt born again. I took off for 4 days of hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and never felt so good to be on the trail.

Hiking across more rock at Thunderstorm junction between Mounts Adam and Jefferson. Mount Washington as always forms the dramatic backdrop.

Being on prednisone of course comes with all kinds of challenges and I fear its possible side effects. The plan is to gradually keep reducing dosages to eventually get off of it and put the PMR into transmission. If I am lucky it can take a year and a half. If not, it can take years. One of my biggest fears of the medication is the possibility of weight gain. But since I am determined to kick my PMR and get healthy again, I radically changed my diet eliminating excess sugar and salt and shying processed foods as much as I can. I reduced my alcohol content too (not that I drank much—but more sugar to eliminate) and cut my carb intake replaced with more protein and lots of salads. I have actually lost 8 pounds since last year and feel great.

A month ago I ran a marathon (26 mile) trail run with friend Grady Olson, and never felt better. I could have run farther, but Grady talked some sense into me. I do not want to overdo it as while exercise is good for my recovery (and it is my life) I need to allow my body to heal and not put too much stress on it. I opted to postpone my 100K run—perhaps in a year or two-hey birthday 62 would be perfect. But I still wanted to do something special for my birthday—especially one as momentous as turning 60.

Crossing a snowfield on the Crawford Path (AT) heading to lakes of the Clouds and Mount Monroe.

I decided I wanted to spend that time with my family back in New Hampshire, the state I grew up in and was responsible for shaping me into the person I am today—a lover of the outdoors and the natural world. What could I do back there that would be momentous and memorable? Certainly a hike in my beloved White Mountains—the mountains that got me into hiking 40 years ago. I have a long history with the Whites and during my time studying forestry at the White Mountains Community College (then New Hampshire Vocational Technical College) in Berlin I spent a summer as a backcountry ranger in the Whites. The crazy thought of doing the entire Presidential Traverse in a day came to me. I decided to go for it!

The wildcard would be the snow levels and the weather. In late May when I planned to do this hike, snow can still be deep and weather can be treacherous. It turned out to be a low snow pack this year and on the day we made the traverse, the weather could not have been better. It was sunny and in the 70s (80s in the valley) with very little wind. Not bad for a place that touts being home to the world’s worst weather! My extra gear I packed, I never needed. I hiked in shorts and short sleeves the entire way and went through quite a bit of sunscreen on the near entirely above tree line route.

My two brothers Doug and Jeff (who also writes guidebooks) accompanied me as did Jeff’s son Anthony and his college roommate Ben. We started from the Appalachia Trailhead at 5:40 in the morning. Up the Valley Way to Mount Madison—then the Gulfside Trail with summit trips to Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson—sub summit Mount Clay (Reagan) and on to Mount Washington. The first half of this trek was brutal. The elevation is one thing, more than 7,600 feet to that point. But it’s the nonstop clambering over rock, talus and ledge that tires you and beats you up.

Seven summits in one day-clockwise: Mount Madison, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Pierce, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Washington, and Mount Monroe at the center.

From New Hampshire’s highest summit (I was hoping to meet the new Mount Washington Weather Observatory kitty Nimbus—but he is still being acclimated to his new environment and was not out and about) we headed down the Crawford Path to the Lakes of the Clouds where we spent a leisurely break refilling water bottles from the mostly frozen lakes. The usually mobbed lakes were quiet. The AMC huts were still closed. In fact the entire way was quiet. Other than the summit of Washington which entertained visitors arriving via the historic Cog Railway; and a few other summit hikers—our route was pretty empty. We passed a total of a dozen people along the way outside of Washington. I have never seen so few people on the Prezies. The early season weekday timing and the still copious snow on the approaches evidently kept many a hiker away.

We continued on up and over Mount Monroe—then to sub peak Franklin. Next was Eisenhower and then finally Pierce. Initially we had contemplated going all the way to Jackson (which is not named for a president but for a geologist) and Webster, but time was not on our side—nor was the necessary energy warranted among a few of us. So we headed down a snow covered Crawford Path, content on doing all of the actual Presidential Peaks. We finished at Crawford Notch at 7:40 pm after hiking 19.5 miles and 8,600 vertical feet over 7 summits and 2 sub-summits all above treeline and all on rock, ledge and talus. It was one my hardest hikes ever!

Back in October before my PMR symptoms were really kicking in, I ran 55K (34 miles) on a rail trail in a little over 7 hours. This hike a fraction of that distance took me 14 hours! We were thrilled and happy with our accomplishment joining a handful of crazies every year who can lay claim to doing the famed and brutal Presidential Traverse in one day. And all of this—as I fight my PMR and enter my 7^th decade made this birthday one of my best ever. I have no idea where I will be in a year or how I will feel. The pandemic, turning 60—and developing an auto immune disease has all led me to reassess my life and to accelerate my timeline to do as much as I possibly can now, because the future has never been so uncertain. Live on and seize every day!

Scientists have recently revealed that Asian Giant Hornets, lovingly referred to by many as Murder hornets are attracted to loud music. There have been several incidents over the past year where hikers were viciously attacked and repeatedly stung by the insects. The one thing that every one of these hikers and groups of hikers had in common was that they were playing loud music on the trail. The hornets seemed to be particularly drawn to techno, rap, and whatever most modern music can be classified as.

Rangers have begun putting up warnings at popular trailheads about the dangers of blasting loud music where the giant hornets have been sighted. Some hikers however welcome the news that the hornets deliberately seek out the music blasting hikers. “I had put traps up for the murder hornets,” states Saul Sicothenoiz. “But now I’m thinking that these hornets might not be that bad after all,” he added.

“I was worried about the honey bees which the hornets have a penchant for,” said Ima Fedup. “But I ‘m more concerned about my favorite places in the woods being invaded by clueless louts destroying the serenity,” said Fedup. “These hornets just might be a Godsend,” she added. Many other concerned hikers voiced similar thoughts. One things is for sure is that Fish and Wildlife officials and scientists are in a conundrum. This was summed up by Doctor Norma Racket, “Well, I welcome the wasps if we can save the honey bees and get rid of the son of a bees!”

And yes this is an April Fools Day report! Now all you hikers blasting loud music on the trail, be like the wasps and buzz off!

It’s been a long past 12 months. But on this First day of Spring 2021, the sun is finally shining a little bit brighter on us. I spent a lot of time on the trail this past year doing a lot of thinking about us as a society, our relationships with the land, and what public spaces mean to us as a society. This piece originally appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Mountaineers Magazine. Give it a read and feel free to leave a comment below. And here’s to a healthy, and kinder and gentler 2021.

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The emptiness of Northeastern Washington’s Salmo-Priest Wilderness has never felt more comforting. I stand alone on a ridge gazing out over waves of emerald ridges, shadowed by processions of white puffy clouds. Soft, warm breezes whistle through silver snags, prompting boughs of bear grass to delicately sway. I haven’t encountered another human all day; out in all of that wildness before me, some of Washington’s last grizzlies still roam. I finally feel safe and relieved from the ravages of the pandemic sweeping the world outside my wilderness.

The irony doesn’t escape me. Hiking in grizzly country usually has me slightly on edge. But here I am feeling totally at ease. For months, I have been wrestling with anxiety and bouts of depression, but on this bluebird August day – the first day in many – I once again feel carefree and at peace. I can’t get sick here. No one can harm me here. And I am living in the moment, not agonizing over the past or fretting over the future.

REALITY REVEALED

This has been a hell of a year for me and so many millions of my brothers and sisters. Life as we knew it has been completely ripped asunder by a novel contagion. The ineptitude of many of our elected officials in helping to contain it is just maddening. And if that wasn’t enough to set many of us on edge – add a summer of civil unrest and a growing economic divide, leaving many folks teetering on the edge of poverty.

While this year has certainly taken its toll on my nerves, I count myself fortunate. I have a safety net, secure housing, and strong support from family and friends. I have had the freedom to spend many days and miles on the trails, and almost all of my trail time has been far removed from the crowding so prevalent on many of our trails. I have been able to roam the backcountry and reflect – a lot – on where we are today as a society.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought front and center to the American people many of the shortcomings seething in our society. It has clearly shown us how dangerously close we are to losing our middle class and having a two-tiered society where a small group of people controls huge amounts of wealth, while millions live in or on the edge of poverty. Tens of millions of us lack jobs or jobs paying living wages, adequate health care, childcare, access to mental healthcare, shelter, and retirement security.

PUBLIC LANDS SHORTCOMINGS

The pandemic has revealed many shortcoming in our public lands and trail systems as well. This year our public lands and trails have seen record levels of use, owing mainly to a huge influx of new recreationists because so many other pursuits have been closed or severely limited. And while we should be celebrating that folks of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds are recreating in our public lands, this new influx is alarming in that we are not prepared to properly handle it.

Our parks, trails, and public lands have never been properly funded or staffed, and this became even more evident with this year’s influx of new visitors. Many trails and parks were downright crowded this year – a threat to public health and safety, and to the sustainability of our natural resources. Infrastructure in our parks and forests has been crumbling and in need of updating and expansion even before this year’s record number of users. If ever we questioned how significantly our parks, public lands, and trails rank in our lives, this summer soundly assured us that the answer is “extremely important.” Americans truly value and need these places for their mental, physical, and spiritual health, and we need these places to ensure adequate habitat for the myriad species we share the planet with; for clean water and air, and to mitigate the effects of climate change.

We must properly invest in our public lands for all Americans today and for the millions yet to come. Our elected officials need to be leaders, properly funding and caring for our public lands. We the citizenry need to hold them accountable to this and pledge to be the best possible stewards of our lands.

LET’S FIGHT FOR CHANGE

I’ve had a lot of time this year to think while I have been on the trail, and this is what I have been thinking about: as we move forward, I want to see the following initiatives come from our elected officials, and I want to see my fellow Americans demand and commit to them. I want to see environmental education instituted at all levels, and not just in formal teaching settings – also through public service announcements and campaigns. I want to see our public lands adequately funded to properly maintain and expand our trails, access roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor centers, ranger stations, and park housing. And I want to see these places fully staffed with rangers, trail crews, conservation officers, educators, and researchers.

I want to see our public lands expanded to include more urban parks and greenbelts connecting urban areas to backcountry areas. I want our public lands to be accessible to all. Underserved communities especially need parks, trails, and environmental education centers. We need to expand our public transportation systems, allowing urban dwellers to easily head to parks and preserves without being beholden to owning vehicles. We need more trails to help disperse crowding. We need more campgrounds too.

Now is the perfect time to institute a new Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) providing economic relief for many folks and allowing them to be part of building and expanding our natural heritage to leave a legacy. We can instill a new patriotism based on loving and caring for our land and having it accessible to all. In time, this program will do more than just provide economic relief – it will stimulate the economy as more folks choose to spend more time and money recreating outdoors.

The non-economic dividends will be great too, from leaving a smaller footprint on the planet by encouraging participation in non-consumptive outdoors activities to helping folks connect to the natural world for healthier and more meaningful lives. During these divisive times, the outdoors can act as a great unifier, bringing Americans of all persuasions together over our shared love for the outdoors.

The pandemic has revealed how the outdoors has become a saving grace for so many people suffering from economic and emotional turmoil. We clearly see how a pursuit as simple as taking a walk in nature is essential to our day-to-day functioning. As we prepare for the impending mental health crisis spawned by this pandemic, those walks will become more important than ever. We need to ensure that people have unfettered access to the outdoors.

CRAIG AND SON GIOVANNI AT BARNUM POINT, CAMANO ISLAND. PHOTO BY HEATHER ROMANO.

This has been a difficult and trying year, yet COVID-19 gives us the opportunity to begin a new trajectory. We can come out of this with a new way of doing things and begin correcting the shortcomings and inequalities that have long reigned in our society. We have the opportunity now to instill real greatness through our public lands. I’m ready to welcome a new era in which our public lands are adamantly cherished and cared for by all. I hope you are too.

Craig Romano is an award winning author who has written more than 25 books including Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd edition, Urban Trails Vancouver WA, and 100 Classic Hikes Washington (Mountaineers Books).

This article originally appeared in our Winter 2021 issue of Mountaineer Magazine. To view the original article in magazine form and read more stories from our publication, visit our magazine archive.

MAIN PHOTO: CRAIG ON AMPHITHEATER MOUNTAIN IN THE PASAYTEN WILDERNESS. PHOTO BY TED EVANS.

An Olympic marmot, Washington’s official endemic mammal!

Happy Groundhog Day! Today marks the 135th Anniversary of this Holiday being celebrated in the United States.  The tradition of Groundhog Day in America started with Pennsylvania Germans. The custom of the groundhog predicting weather goes back to ancient Europe where a badger was actually used for the prediction. There are very few badgers in Pennsylvania—but plenty of woodchucks (groundhogs)—close enough!  Here are Five Things you probably don’t know about groundhogs—for many of us hikers—our favorite rodent.

1. Groundhogs are marmots; rodents belonging to the genus Marmota. There are 15 species worldwide living in mountainous, wooded, and prairie steppe environments throughout North America, mountainous and steppe regions of Europe and in the Himalayas and Siberia of Asia.

2. There are six species of marmots in North America. The woodchuck is the most widely distributed; living throughout Eastern and Central US and Canada. Washington is home to three species: yellow-bellied, hoary, and Olympic (endemic to the Olympic Mountains). The Vancouver Island Marmot is found only on BC’s Vancouver Island. It is a species-at-risk in danger of extinction. The Alaska Marmot lives only in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska.

3. Alaskans celebrate Marmot Day on Feb 2. The holiday was established in 2009 (replacing Groundhog Day) upon Governor Sarah Palin’s signature. The holiday is meant to celebrate Alaska’s marmots and Alaskan culture.

4. In 2009, the same year Alaska declared its marmot independence; Washington declared the Olympic Marmot its official state endemic mammal. Hurricane Ridge is one of the best places to see this species. Coyotes are the Olympic Marmot’s main predator.

5. The Vancouver Island Marmot is making a slow recovery (thanks to captive breeding) after near extinction. One of the official mascots of the 2010 Winter Olympics held in British Columbia was a marmot named Mukmuk. Mukmuk’s name is derived from the Chinook jargon word Muckamuck-which means to eat (which marmots do frequently). Washington has a Muckamuck Mountain (in the Tiffany Highlands) home to a few mukmuks! 

Happy Groundhog Day everyone whether winter persists or subsides!

Looking for a great hike to spot a marmot or two? Consult one of my excellent hiking guidebooks to help you locate them!

I was deeply honored to be portrayed in my alumni magazine.

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