Dennis Blanchard, the author of the wonderful book about hiking the Appalachian Trail called Three Hundred Zeros (see the Hiking Lady book review of Three Hundred Zeroes) just returned from a 500 mile walk of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He and his wife Jane had an amazing experience, and Jane is going to be writing a book that I can’t wait to read!
Jane Blanchard’s new book will be focused on the women she met along the way. To give us a sneak peak, she has put together a slideshow of pictures of some of these women, clearly from all over the world, each with their own reason for making this spiritual trek. Here’s her slideshow, called Women of the Way:
Camino de Santiago translated into English means the Way of St. James, and has been a Christian pilgrimage for over 1000 years. St. James was one of Jesus’ 12 Apostles, and the story goes that his bones were shipped from Jerusalem to Northern Spain. The 500 mile walk/hike traverses the northern section of Spain, with the final destination being Santiago de Compostela. This was a very popular journey during Medieval Times, and has continued on as a spiritual trek through the present time. In 1987, it was named to be a European Cultural Route, and statistics show that over 100,000 people make the trek each year.
I’m looking forward to Jane’s upcoming book release to learn about her experiences and the other women she met along the way.
Since you are probably sitting in front of a computer right now and need some refreshing views of my favorite national park, take a moment and watch this amazing video of Yosemite.
The photographer did a time lapse collection of many of Yosemite’s remarkable features. Enjoy!
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
How many of you love seeing gorgeous wildflowers when you’re out hiking? I just read a great new book describing in vivid detail 50 of the best places to see wildflowers in the world! A few of the spots are in North America, including one of my favorites, the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve near Lancaster, California. I love walking around those trails when the flowers bloom every spring!
Check out my new book review of Wildflower Wonders, and please share any of your favorite wildflower hikes! Happy trails!
Ever wonder what it would be like to ski to the magnetic North Pole? How about doing it alone, at age 50! Helen Thayer did it, and wrote an exciting book about her adventure called Polar Dream.
Since it is 80 degrees here in Southern California today, I figured I’d share one of my new favorite sports with Hiking Lady readers.
What’s SUP?
The latest craze in the sports world is SUP, or stand-up paddle surfing. It is immensely fun, a great workout, and can be done on lakes, rivers, bays, or oceans…pretty much anywhere there is water.
When I’m not out hiking, I’ve been spending my time SUPing here in Southern California. It is very easy to do, and all you need is a little balance!
How to SUP
I started out by renting boards the local bay…this is a great way to figure out if you’re going to like it as much as me! Boards are about 32 inches wide vs. 20 inches for a regular surfboard. They are a lot longer too! Get a paddle that is 5-8 inches taller than you, and you’re ready to go. Get the board in the water, and climb on into a kneeling position. Once you are balanced and comfortable, stand up, and start paddling!
Why SUPing is so Popular
It’s fun! Stand-up paddlesurfing is a fun activity for people of all ages. You have to be outdoors on the water to do it, which makes it enjoyable! aahh, nature!
It’s a fantastic workout You stand on a board and propel yourself forward using a paddle. Since you’re balancing the entire time, it is a great core workout. The paddling motion of course works the upper body. Not that many fun workouts strengthen your legs, arms, back, shoulders, and rear all at the same time, while being low impact!
You don’t have to get wet! Unlike surfing, which involves getting soaked by waves, immense strength to paddle out and catch a wave, and getting tossed about the in water, SUPing on calm water means you won’t get wet. Ok, sure, your feet and legs will get a little wet when you climb onto the board, but unless you are SUPing in rough waters, the likelihood of wiping out is small.
Equipment and Gear
CamelBak Tahoe hydration pack, designed specifically for Stand Up Paddleboarding - Available Spring 2012
I highly recommend renting a board and paddle for awhile. SUP boards are expensive ($600+) and are heavier and bigger than traditional surfboards, so they aren’t easy to transport.
Gear I do definitely recommend getting is: a high UPF top, a convenient hydration waistpack or backpack, and lots of sunscreen!
Hydration: To stay hydrated, the best option is one of the 3 SUP specific packs from CamelBak. I have been using their brand new Tahoe pack, which is a waist pack designed for SUPers in mind. I got a chance to test one out early…they will be available for sale in outdoor stores in Spring 2012.
ExOfficio Sol Cool top - UPF 50!
UPF rated top. The new ExOfficio Sol Cool long sleeve crew neck top is my new go to layer when I’m SUPing (and hiking!). It weighs just 4 ounces, so feels super light weight on the skin, it dries quickly, and most importantly, the UPF rating of 50 makes it more protective than most others on the market.
Moisturizer for when you get home! I hate dry skin, and being out in the sun on a stand up paddleboard can do a number on my skin…I’ve been using a new all natural, plant-derived moisturizer called Trilipiderm that is great for dried out skin. This stuff is pricey, but it is non-greasy, smells good, and most importantly, it works!
