It’s not the bears I am most afraid of out here. Lightning on an exposed ridge scares me more. And even more than that, I am concerned about forest fires. I don’t go around in constant fear of them, but I am more wary of them than I am of bears. I keep an eye…

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I am continuously struggling not to compare myself to others out here. Most everyone I meet can outhike me. Sometimes I attribute it to the fact that I am usually more than double their age. But I know there are people my age who are in better shape. If I compare myself to others I…

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I decided I must really be a writer when, soon after hitting a deer on the highway, I was overcome with an intense need to write about it. I couldn’t wait to let the words come. I had to pull over and write. While pondering why that is I came to these conclusions: Writing helps…

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Going over a blowdown is a bit like dealing with life’s difficulties. First I assess the situation. Then I look at how others have approached it before me. I take one small step at a time, watching for pointy pitfalls along the way, always mindful of keeping my balance. When approaching one, I first slow…

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I smelled him before I saw him. I wasn’t totally surprised. I’d been seeing signs he left behind for the last hour or so. But when I rounded the corner and saw him, my heart skipped a beat. Grizzly, for sure. He had the telltale nose and back. I assume it was a male because…

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By Mary Anderson I am a legend out here. At least that is what they tell me. A group of hikers pass me and ask, “Are you Mary Badass? We’ve heard about you.” I ask what they have heard, and they say that I am “killing it.” I am walking down a remote dirt road…

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