Category Archives: Uncategorized

Day One:  5 Night Miles to the Decker Shelter and 19 Miles to Rt. 30/Walat’s When Claudio hit me up to join him on a complete hike of the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT), I smiled. Just like him, I had the LHHT on my list of must-hike Pennsylvania trails. I had also beenContinue reading “The LHHT: Four Days, 70 Miles, Several Beers, and One Wilderness First Aid Evac on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail”

I don’t usually spend a lot of time planning gear and food for a three-four day trip because my gear list is pretty set and dependable. I want to get the weight and selection right on this, though. Usually summer trips in the mid-Atlantic are straightforward and this one, 70+ miles in Pennsylvania on theContinue reading “Trip Prep for the 70-Mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail”

While I haven’t been updating this feature weekly, I certainly have been keeping up my reading! I won’t lie, it’s been a real positive aspect to the COVID-19 era for me. Combined with going through the New Yorker weekly, the Atlantic monthly, and the newspaper daily, reading the written word on real paper has meantContinue reading “What I’m Reading, July 5 – July 11”

This was a fun trip to plan.  Sharon, Karan, and I looked closely at maps of the Mid State Trail (MST) and Standing Stone Trail (SST) confluence in Rothrock State Forest a few weeks back and designed a loop with no car-shuttling required to make for an epic little return to one of our favorite hiking areas of Pennsylvania. Continue reading “DC UL Backpacking Trip Report By Yours Truly”

Week two of this little feature. Not going to make the progress this week I’ve been accustomed to this spring thanks to being back in physically at work in the office and also taking Friday night and Saturday for a little backpacking adventure. Oh, and newspapers and magazines vying for attention. Category 1: Non-Fiction. [Finished OrlandoContinue reading “What I’m Reading, June 7 – June 13”

For me, the urge to protest began on Thursday. Reading about demonstrations and nationwide movements by newspaper, I looked out my window at the serene cityscape of Old Town Alexandria. Why wasn’t there anything happening here? I wondered. I did an admittedly cursory search of social media and Google to find any events to joinContinue reading “Saturday Afternoon Protesting”

It’s time. Recent events have taken my social media fixation — addiction? — and forced me to recognize the impact and the limits of the medium. On one hand, the allure of breaking news and video seemingly direct from people and sources makes a compelling case that to be in the know means being activelyContinue reading “Turning to Paper. Away From Social Media.”

I posted the image of my slate of books on Instagram. It’s probably better to categorize and describe them here. This helps keep me on top of it. It also helps me make the most of what I’m reading. Category 1: Non-Fiction. For this we have Orlando Figes’ The Europeans. I tend to read oneContinue reading “What I’m Reading, May 31-June 6”