We might have four more days until the official start of summer, but I bet we're all in summer mode now! This means hiking and backpacking season is here. But are you in shape for what you want to accomplish this season?

Living in Seattle, we have some hibernation issues that increase our blubber during the winter months, as the gloom and rain keep us from being as active as we would like. That means that we have to build back our strength without getting hurt before our epic summer adventures start.

Getting in shape to hit the trails this summer

Get active:

It doesn’t matter what you do. If you’re moving, you’re grooving! Walking around the neighborhood, playing basketball or tennis, swimming, or biking will strengthen your legs and provide a great foundation. Better yet, join a workout class once or twice a week. Being with others for workouts is more fun, and they keep you from bailing!

You can also create some home workout HIIT classes (Or just look them up on YouTube). In most cases, all you need is yourself and a little motivation. Pop it on the TV or phone, and you'll have a great workout in the books in 45 minutes!

In an ideal world, you'll get your heart rate up for 30-40 minutes two to three times a week. But remember to start small!

Leg exercises:

*Cue a loud groan* yes, you’re going to need strong legs. Focus on squats, lungs, and calf raises. If you don’t have a gym, do them at home and hold anything that weighs a few pounds to increase difficulty.

You can also fill up your backpack with whatever (maybe even your kid) and do hills around your neighborhood.

Hit the trails:

The best way to get into trail shape is to go hiking. Depending on your physical condition, start easy to moderate and build yourself up. Aim for hikes with 3-6 miles and less than 1000 feet of gain before tackling harder trails. (A general rule of thumb is 500 feet or less of gain per mile is easy to moderate. Above that, you'll start to really feel it!)

If you can plan at least one hike per weekend, in addition to a couple of workouts during the week, you'll be in great shape!

Need help finding hikes? Use AllTrails, blogs like mine, and state/federal websites to plan your trips!

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Gear Corner

We just got done camping in the Canadian Rockies. Here's some of the gear that we relied on:

​Primus Camp Stove (any camp stove will do in my mind)

​Ignik Gas Growler Deluxe (my favorite way to carry propane as it's refillable and much cheaper than the one-time-use items)

​ALPS Mountaineering Tent (we got dumped on and stayed dry)

​65L Cooler (these are bulky, but they keep your food cold for a while)

​Camping Chairs ​

​I don't have this yet, but I'm in need of an upgraded cook set. ​

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I Just Launched a Photo of the Day Substack!

I'm a photographer at heart, but I've felt a bit lost with social media's push towards video. I've wanted to find a way to showcase all the incredible places I've visited and photographed, and I believe I've found the right way to do it. For just $6/mo (or $60 per year), you can get a new photo with a short caption delivered to your inbox EVERY DAY! It comes out to twenty cents per day.

This venture allows me to keep freelancing and show off this amazing world we live in. It's a great way to support my work, and I'll be incredibly appreciative of all who sign up.

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