Hiking Humor

Hiking Humor Can hikers walk and laugh at the same time? Of course! The Trailmaster shares some classic jokes.

Hiking Life Lessons

Ten Life Lessons from the Trail Grin and bear it. A not-so-serious look at what hiking really teaches us.

Our National Parks: The Next 100 Years

The National Park Service has been holding “listening sessions” across the country in order to hear what citizens believe to be the top priorities for parks in the decade approaching the 100th anniversary of the park system in 2016. Here’s The Trailmaster’s view.

The Tao of Back & Forth, Homage to Switchbacks

A celebration of the West’s greatest innovation. Switchbacking, like life itself, is not all about getting from one place to another as fast as possible; it’s about getting there the best way possible.

Lost Coast Found!

One reason the coast is "lost" is because no highways cross it. So rugged is this country, highway engineers were forced to route Highway 1 many miles inland from the coast—and the region has remained sparsely settled and unspoiled.

Mattole River, King Range National Recreation Area

The Mattole River marks the northern boundary of the Bureau of Land Management's King Range National Conservation Area.

Sinkyone State Park

The land we now call Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, located about 225 miles north of San Francisco, has long been recognized as something special.