Some bright individual recently started a Facebook group for Anchorage locals interested in tracking trail conditions. Bravo! This is much more effective than posting to forums about trail conditions, because we're all on Facebook so much of the time anyway -- or is that just me?

Do you have a similar group in your area? If not, it might be time to start one!

What's hotter than knowing what to do if you get lost on a hike? Knowing a few things you should never do, apparently. Those are the hottest topics of the week, followed closely by Read More...

Years ago, I was able to take off for a hike pretty much any time I wanted. Nowadays, I'm lucky to get out more than once a week. I realize I'm still pretty spoiled by some standards. So I'm curious: How often do you manage to hit the trail?

Waterproof hiking boots and shoes are a mixed bag -- they do great until the waterproof membrane tears, or maybe you step into a puddle that's deeper than the boot is high. Bam, you've got a boot full of water -- which that membrane is just as good at keeping in as it usually is at keeping the stuff out.

Still, when it comes to tromping through slush or mud or low water levels, waterproof boots are where it's at. If you don't happen to have waterproof boots hanging around when you reach a wet obstacle, you can always improvise with plastic bags instead. They're free, and they fold down to almost nothing in your pack.

Photo © Lisa Maloney: Now is that a stylin' trail look or what?