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by Diane Spicer
The best hiking resources come from hikers who have gotten wet, dirty, lost, sore - and lived to tell the tale.
That pretty much describes Hiking For Her!
But why suffer?
Shorten your learning curve as a hiker.
Saving time with these extensive hiking resources and trustworthy recommendations?
Also smart!
Resources for hikers have to go beyond the expected hiking resource information, info like:
What do you say we go way beyond that!
Because you're an adventurous hiker, right?
Jump right in with these links to tried and true Hiking For Her hiking resources in eleven categories:
Although hiking is not the most expensive sport you can enjoy, your gear list can make a ding in your hiking budget if you're not careful.
Here are the best current deals for hikers, ranging from day hiking to backpacking to car camping to adventure vacations and classes.
This resource is kept up to date and features only the best of the best deals for hikers.
Maybe you're a beginner hiker.
Or maybe you're just getting back into the wonderful sport of hiking after a lengthy absence.
Not sure why hiking is a good idea?
This first category of the best hiking resources gives you exactly what you need for the trail.
It can be tough to find reliable people to hike with.
And sometimes your schedule doesn't match up with your regular hiking partners.
Find someone to hike with using these tips.
One additional hiking resource for meeting other people who share your passion for the trail is the huge list of REI classes.
Please consider joining our Over Forty Hiker private community.
If you've been searching for a circle of women who instantly connect with your love of the trail, here are the details.
Join the Over Forty Hiker community mentioned above, where you can meet lots of women at various skill levels looking to hit the trail, or already hitting it with lots of trail wisdom to share with you.
And take the "40" with a grain of salt. We're open to younger members joining us!
What about "female only" hiking topics?
Women hikers have hygiene issues more complex than keeping the T.P. dry. {Although that's a legitimate concern!}
We also have physical limitations involving our unique hip & knee structures.
And we certainly have a different mindset about overcoming obstacles: brute force and stubbornness have their place but so does finesse and trail smarts.
Female hikers may also use the sport of hiking for a specific purpose.
You can also get to know some inspiring women who are doing great things in the world of outdoorsy women.
Who doesn't!
Enjoy 14 quotes I've collected (and written) over the years.
They keep me going, maybe they'll bring a smile or an empathetic groan to you as well!
The best hiking infographics sum up tips so you can pin them for later.
Part of the fun of these hiking resources!
Have you spent any time lately identifying and developing your hiking skills?
Feeling confident in your outdoor skills will motivate you to try bigger, longer hikes.
There are plenty of free online hiking resources out there to choose from when building and strengthening your outdoor skills.
Wouldn't it be fun to dabble a bit until you find a topic you'd really like to devote some serious time to?
And then to test out your skills in the backcountry?
Or some really incredible best hiking destinations?
Good times await! So why wait?
Always hit the trail with the very best information to motivate you to be your best self.
It's what makes a smart female hiker so... well, smart!
Use the search box at the top of the page to find the hiking topics you want to explore with reliable resources.
Feel free to ask me hiking questions and expect a detailed answer.
Or use the hiking resources mentioned in the Hiking For Her Hiking Questions Archive.
The best hiking trails are highly coveted by hikers.
But every hiker hikes her own hike, so what's best for you might not check all the boxes as a great hiking trail for me.
To find the best hiking trails for your hiking plans, think about terrain, distance, elevation gain and loss, weather, signage.
Here are general things to think about.
Take a peek (peak?) here for making sense of how to find the best hiking trails for your type of hiking.
Mount Rainier hiking is not to be missed!
Please use Leave No Trace principles to keep those trails in top shape for the next hiker.
Best books on hiking: where to start?
It depends on your level of comfort with approaching trail time.
The Hiking For Her book on day hiking tips might be the perfect place to start!
How about day hikes to Washington fire lookouts?
Here's a recent book review on a woman's journey along the Continental Divide Trail to get you started thinking about a long trail hike.
Another fascinating topic: how to explore Europe on foot, detailed in this book review.
Or read about Emma Gatewood, an AT pioneer, in this children's version of her life story (a fun way to introduce children to the trail).
Interested in hiking Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail?
Longing to hike in the Pacific Northwest?
Fascinated by birds and trees you encounter on the trail?
Wondering what Great Smoky Mountains National Park hiking is like?
Another book review to savor: 1001 Ways To Live Wild.
Ready to think about hiking destinations all over the world?
Do you want to meet over 30 seasoned hiking women?
And here are a few humble suggestions of other books which have been pivotal in my hiking career.
Don't forget hiking movies!!
Backpacking movies can
Not to mention entertain you during the months when your favorite hiking trails are inaccessible.
And they can act as wonderful hiking resources for your upcoming trips.
Here are a few of my favorites, the first about hiking the John Muir Trail, the other about the Pacific Crest Trail experience:
Mile... Mile and a Halfand this one...
Need more info on "Tell It"? Here's my full review.
And be sure to enjoy this collection of thruhiking documentaries.
Find the best hiking boots and packs, as well as women's hiking clothing with these links.
Before you purchase a big ticket item like a tent, read this hiking resource for suggestions about sizing up exactly what you need!
Or maybe you're struggling to find the perfect pair of hiking boots - use these tips on hiking boots reviews!
You can find all of my thorough hiking gear reviews here.
The reviews will help you build your day hike checklist.
Then use that checklist to generate a gear checklist that will take you on longer trips, such as overnights or backpacking trips.
And you might want to dip frequently into my best hiking tips so you can use your gear for maximal benefits.
Sometimes you don't want to have to think through every little detail about a new piece of hiking gear or athletic clothing for the trail.
That's when using this list of Hiking For Her brand recommendations will save you time, money and effort, while highlighting the best hiking footwear and clothing.
And this is the top hiking and camping gear that has won awards AND passed the Hiking For Her inspection!
If you're a backpacker, or plan to become one, you're going to need camping equipment as well as some navigation and safety gear.
A solo female hiker needs an extra level of preparation, to reassure those at home that she's in good hands - her own!
Use these tips to get started down the solo trail:
You have several good options!
Rent a private camping spot with an already set up tent and camp kitchen, plus your own private privy, from Tentrr.
Rent only the pieces of equipment you need for hiking, backpacking or camping from your REI Co-op rental department.
Try out premium outdoor brands for camping or backpacking, delivered to your door by Arrive.
Here they are!
Hint: You want to create a "best hiking gifts wish list" to leave lying around (in)conspicuously.
Here's a good start, along with this gift guide.
I also created a guide for inexpensive but highly coveted gifts for hikers.
And a gift giving guide for non-hikers! So they have no excuse about what to give the hikers in the family, and will have fun watching the happy smiles.
If you're looking for responsibly sourced green outdoor products and clothing, look no further than Hiking For Her's Sustainable Gifting Guide.
And here's a hiking gift guide focused on self care for your hard working hiker!
Those should keep you busy for awhile ;)
Magazines (that link details 11+ of them pitched at hikers and campers) are great places to get a monthly (daily??) trail fix when the weather is too nasty, or your schedule is too brutal, to get outside.
Autorenewal is the way to go if you don't want to miss an issue (and have to buy it at newstand prices).
Here are a few pitched at us outdoorsy types.
Beware the lure of the glossy ads!
Take a look at the "go to" hiking magazine published in the United States.
BackpackerAnd note that auto-renewal means no guess work about which issue(s) might be lost if you don't renew on time.
I
hate it when my subscriptions lapse and I have to pay full price for an
issue on the newsstand.
Or a more "edgy" magazine pitched at hikers who love to read about extremes and hardships:
New to hiking?
Here's a good general resource to get you started, aptly called the American Hiking Society.
Or you can read some of my essential backpacking tips for beginners here.
I sincerely hope you find this entire website a good general hiking resource, and don't forget that you can contact me with your specific questions.
Did you know that hikers have trail etiquette? Find out all the details here.
While magazines and movies are great, don't overlook hiking blogs.
What a great way to eavesdrop on other hikers' thoughts!
And when they throw in photos of their hikes, it's almost as good as being there.
My advice?
Special interests lure each of us onto the trail.
What do I mean?
Here's an example:
I've met hikers who love to hone their bushcraft skills.
Outdoor lore is the term I use to cover all of the things that fascinate me about the outdoors: botany, animal tracking, geology.
Another example of a special interest is curiosity about exploring a particular terrain.
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to hike in the opposite type of conditions from your usual hiking trails?
For me in the soggy Pacific Northwest, the opposite would be desert hiking in Arizona.
But could I really leave behind my waterproof rain gear and lighten up a little?
Would I miss the towering Douglas firs and glaciers?
Fun hiking stuff!! 'Cuz if it's not fun, why do it?
A few more fun hiking resources that I pulled together for you:
The hiking community is small, but it's mighty.
Thanks for being here.
Hiking For Her: Hiking tips you can trust!