ABC News in phoenix arizona has an excellent report on hiking in extreme temperatures. While few of us will ever have to worry about the sort of temperatures Phoenix sees in the summer, it's important to prepare for what is considered hot for your area. If you're used to hiking in mild weather, any increase can tax your system.

A couple of the tips from the article were new to me, and are key to successfully planning a hike in hot weather: Start hydrating at least 24 hours before you start hiking, and if your body stops sweating while hiking, that's an important sign that dehydration has begun.

Click the link above to read the story on the site, or watch the video. Well worth it!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post, Best Place To Hike In The US. I have to admit, there were a few I'd never thought of, but they seem really exciting. Some of the places that came up:

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• White Mountains in New Hampshire (ok, that was mine)
• Yosemite
• Big Bend
• Alaska (this one really got me thinking!)

I want to take a closer look at all of these, so over the next week or so, we'll see what kind of adventures these places and hikes offer, not only for hiking, but for other summer sports like rafting, camping, cycling and other outdoors pursuits.

Still welcome any further suggestions!!

I have a bit of a quandary, and hopefully some out there in the blogosphere can help me out. I'm looking to take a hiking vacation in the fall, likely in mid to late September. I was particularly sold on Utah, specifically MOAB, but as I look around a little more, I see some truly amazing hiking and camping spots in Colorado. Then my inner traveler points out that since I live close to the Rocky Mountains, perhaps I should spread my wings a little and try hiking elsewhere.... Virginia perhaps? New England?

If you could hike anywhere in the US or Canada, where would you go, and why. Plus, let's assume money is a bit of an issue, so maybe no spendy hiking trips to Hawaii (though I have hiked there and it was amazing).

Suggestions?

After a week of some pretty rough weather around the continent (both too hot and too rainy), thought I'd throw some link love out. Here's some of the best outdoors posts found in the blogosphere the past month or so:

sierra trading post's blog has a great read of important safety tips to consider when hiking outdoors. Even (or maybe especially) in summer, sudden weather changes can leave us in trouble, and no matter what part of the world you're hiking in, it's best to know what types of weather you might encounter. Check out Mt. Rainer Tragedy Reminds Us To Be Prepared (especially helpful is the section on being caught in a lightning storm).

Speaking of lightning, ever tried to start a campfire in the pouring rain? Mungo Says Bah! talks us through the secrets of starting a fire when the world around you is soaking wet in How To Start a Campfire in Wet Weather - and Pictures of Lightning.

From last month, but still a great read, the Camera-Trap Codger writes about what happens when your camera trap is discovered by a large, thoroughly annoyed bear. The photo of just the bear's eye is especially impressive. Camera Trap Codger: Back on the mountain

Finally, SectionHiker lists their current lineup of gear in Gear List: Long Trail Section Two. Focusing on lightweight gear, this list comes in at an astonishingly light 12.2 pounds, not counting food and water. When you see how much gear that actually entails, your jaw will drop.

The guys from Primal Quest 2008 dropped me a line a couple of weeks ago and I felt compelled to see what they were up to.

Turns out they're up to 10 days of mountain biking, climbing, trail running, paddling, orienteering, and so much more that I'm too intimidated to list them all. This takes place over 500 miles, all in the beautiful state of Montana.

Primal Quest is an annual adventure/endurance race now in its 5th year. Teams of 4 will compete to see who can complete the course first, testing their endurance, strategy and basic survival. This year the race is from June 21 to July 2.

The competition can be tracked through Spot, the GPS safety tracking device I reviewed here a couple of weeks ago.

For more info, visit the official Primal Quest site.

Between bears attacking and cougars stalking, it never really occurs to most outdoor enthusiasts there could be danger from the herbivores that co-habit the trail. The reality is, between the spring rutting season and the spring calving season, most elk are extremely sensitive to humans and protective of their young.



I'm pretty prepared for what to do if we surprise a bear on the trail, and I know the signs a cougar might be in the area, but until I read this piece in the Rocky Mountain Outlook of Canmore/Banff, Alberta, Residents urged to be on alert for elk with calves, I'd never thought about aggressive elk and what I would do.

The article includes ways to spot aggressive elk gestures (including grinding teeth, raised hair and staring), and what to look for in an elk herd (female elk with newborn calves tend to isolate themselves from the herd, so if you spot a solo female elk on the trail, odds are good there's a newborn nearby), and what to do if they charge you (climb a tree, appear big, maintain eye contact). Please take a look if you're going to be near elk herds this spring.

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Circle June 7th on your calendar and get the hiking boots and backpacks ready to rock, National Trails Day is this weekend!

Outdoor enthusiasts hardly need a reason to take off to nearby woods, mountains or canyons, but increased awareness in the American Hiking Society and the millions of miles of trails around the United States is always a good thing.

This year the AHS is bringing exhibits, workshops and dedications to a number of trails throughout the nation. Everyone from equestrian groups, to cyclists, to hiking parties are involved, and some locations will have gear demos sponsored by your favorite suppliers.

For more info, and a list of the sponsored events by state, go to the American Hiking Society's website.

And if anyone gets out to any AHS events, drop by and let us know how it went!