Category: Hiking Safety

Stair Climbing Exercise For Trail Fitness

March 10, 2021

Stair Climbing Is A No-Cost Fitness Activity For Heart And Lower Body

Wherever you find steps, use them to your advantage. Stairways are pretty much everywhere: your home, a local park, a city street.

You won’t need a gym membership, so you can practice all you want for free. Your workload is determined by the number of steps, the incline, weather conditions, and optional added weight.

TEST YOUR SKILLS

  • Snow, or ice on an outdoor stairway will test your agility and balance.
  • Use the stairs in both directions to test your skills on the incline and decline.
  • To increase the workload, wear a daypack, or adjustable ankle weights*. If added weight interferes with your ability to walk normally, use less weight. If added weight is contraindicated, don’t use it, as in the case of someone having knee or ankle problems.
  • Consider starting a total body strengthening routine to help prevent on-trail injuries.

*Adjustable ankle weights are available on Amazon in increments from 1 pound up to 10 pounds.

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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Trip Planning Resources For Hikers and Backpackers

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.  To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.  

Climbing Mt. Everest: Apa Sherpa, Nepalese Mountaineer and Climbing Guide

March 4, 2021

Apa Sherpa is a Nepalese mountaineer and guide, known for his climbing record of 21 successful summits on Mt. Everest. Apa Sherpa Foundation is his website. In this video, Apa Sherpa talks about the risks of avalanches, crevices and icefalls while climbing the world’s highest mountain, and the precautions taken to avoid injury and death. He also discusses the Puja ceremony prior to climbing, honoring the mountain known as Chomolungma, Goddess Mother of the World.

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City. To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.

Hiking Accident Prevention: New Hampshire Rise In Backcountry Search and Rescue Report October 2020

February 24, 2021

 

Growing Ranks of Unprepared Hikers Need Rescue

Outdoors.org 10/26/20 Officials: Mountain Search And Rescue Went Up As The Unprepared Went Out, By Miles Howard

Pictured left: Mt. Washington – The highest peak in New Hampshire. Elevation 6,288 Feet

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Trip Planning Resources For Hikers And Backpackers

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.  To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.  

Hiking Accidents: Avalanche Fatalities Rising In the U.S. February 2021

February 22, 2021

Fatal Mountain Accidents During The Pandemic

LINK TO ARTICLE

More News Stories

12NewsNow – February 7, 2021 – Colorado fatalities part of nation’s deadliest week for avalanches in more than century, Author: Makayla Richards

Achorage Daily News – February 9, 2021 – Avalanche carried 3 men down steep gully Tuesday and killed them, report says, Author: Tess Williams

The New York Times – February 9, 2021 – Covid Restrictions Might Factor Into Avalanche Deaths, Experts Say, By John Branch

The Washington Post – February 6, 2021 – Utah police: Avalanche killed 4 local backcountry skiers, By Lindsay Whitehurst | AP

Surrey-Now Leader – January 22, 2021 – B.C.’s busiest SAR team raises alarm after 2021 begins with fatality, multiple rescues, By Sarah Grochowski

Irene Pastore is a native New Yorker, health and fitness blogger, and personal trainer. She owns this website, and authors each blog post. To read her complete bio, visit the About Page.

Hiking Accident Prevention: Safe Trip Planning Know Before You Go

February 15, 2021

Trip Planning Resources For Hikers and Backpackers

Backcountry trip planning is crucial for your safety. Before your trip, check the weather conditions.  In some areas, typical weather patterns  may display an abrupt drop in temperature, sudden rain, or snowfall. 

FOREST TRAIL IN WINTER

Choose trails that match your health and fitness skills.  Learn about seasonal trail conditions, and crossings.

Whether you’re planning a day, an overnight trip, or longer trek, preparation is key while traveling the backcountry. Advance planning can save your life.  Learn trail survival skills before you go.

Start your trip early, in order to allow sufficient daylight for your journey. Check the weather report. If it doesn’t look good, plan an alternative trail with better conditions.

If you decide to hike in extreme weather, you’ll need to spend more time preparing for your trip. Study the trails, and check up-to-the-minute weather reports, warnings and alerts. While on your trip, if things get bad, turn around and head back. It isn’t worth risking your life. There’s always another day, and another trail. But you only have one life.

National Parks Links

NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND WEATHER

Slot canyon in Utah
SLOT CANYON UTAH

The National Park Service: A federal government website that provides information about current weather, trail conditions, warnings, alerts, and news. Safety Tips from the NPS.

U.S. Forest Service: A federal government website that provides information about visiting national forests for multiple outdoor activities.

National Weather Service: A federal government agency that provides weather forecasts, and warnings of all types of hazardous weather conditions affecting the public.

State Parks Links

This is a partial list of state websites that provide information about current weather, trail conditions, warnings, alerts, and news about parks and recreation areas. To find additional state parks websites, use the name of the state, followed by the keywords state parks.

Montana State Parks

Oregon State Parks

Vermont State Parks

Wyoming State Parks.

New York State Parks

Connecticut State Parks

Utah State Parks

Pennsylvania State Parks

Private Resources Links

StateParks.com: A non-government website to American State Parks.

Hike-NewEngland.com: A non-government website to an online trail guide for New England.

Appalachian Mountain Club: Trip planning, conservation, education, guided adventures.

Adirondack Almanack: Adirondack Explorer’s Online News Journal. Covers regional history, arts, nature, food, and news. The Adirondack Mountains are located in New York State.

Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 25 years experience teaching exercise in New York City. Visit the About Page to read her bio.