Hiking Lady

In the winter, I love to walk, hike, trail run… you name it. I have had several people ask me how I stay active in the winter, and frankly, it is pretty simple. I do exactly what I do in the summer, except with some gear adjustments.

One of my favorite winter activities is snowshoeing, but walking and hiking are definitely on my list of winter activities.

To stay safe when you’re hiking or walking in wet, icy, and snowy areas, you need to make sure you are dressed appropriately, have the appropriate footwear and attachments like YakTraks or Microspikes, and stay nourished and hydrated.

Please take a look at my article on winter hiking and walking tips. If you have other ideas and suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Please leave a comment below. Thanks!

What are you favorite spots in the California Sierra Nevadas?

Janet from the U.K. will be spending 3 months in the Sierras this summer, and she was asking me about hiking groups to join while she’s here. While I was at it, I lobbed in my advice on where she should try to hike and backpack.

Some of my favorites places to hike and backpack in the Sierras…

If she’s really adventurous, perhaps she should try a thru-hike of the John Muir Trail for a couple of weeks of her trip..

I was recently asked the question on “Ask Hiking Lady” about the most famous female hiker of all time. Who do you think I chose?

Read my answer and let me know if you have other candidates!

I have read many amazing stories about men and women who conquer the world’s greatest peaks – from the most famous American mountaineer Ed Viesturs to the blind man Erik Weinhenmayer and the Korean woman Oh Eun Sun. Most recently I read the story of Vicky Jack, the oldest British woman to climb Mt. Everest.

But for Lei Wang, her story is different. She didn’t grow up climbing mountains. She wasn’t really much of an athlete either. Plus she doesn’t have a major handicap. But her story is extremely inspiring because she is a testament of how a seemingly ordinary person can accomplish unimaginable feats. Lei Wang is just one peak away from being the first Chinese woman to reach the seven summits and the 2 poles. This spring, she’s attempting Everest!

Lei Wang grew up in China, then emigrated to the United States for college and graduate school. The first time she ever wielded an ice axe was during her MBA studies. As Lei describes it, she’s “just a normal city girl” but she’s got a “strong will and a ‘never give up’ spirit.” What she has already accomplished is far from ordinary – the 38 year old with a petite 5 foot 2 inch frame has skied to both the North and South Poles, and summitted Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Denali, Cotopaxi, Aconcagua, and Carstensz Pyramid.

I am fully confident that if the conditions are right, Lei Wang will be standing on the top of Everest this spring! Read more about Lei Wang on her website, and wish her luck in her endeavor. For those of you in the Boston area, Lei will be speaking at some upcoming events listed on her website.

It is 2010, so that means the Banff Mountain Film Festival is going on its world tour! This is an amazing film festival that captures the essence of mountain culture.

The film festival is presented locally all around the world, with hundreds of stops in Canada and the United States and many stops in Europe, South America, and Asia.

Find out where it will be near you and check it out! I saw the Radical Reels tour last year and my friend and I were amazed by the breathtaking footage and the nail biting extreme sports like base jumping and slack lining that we got to witness on the big screen.

Some examples of where the Banff Film Festival will be traveling to:

• California – Costa Mesa: March 24, 2010 at Orange Coast College Library



• California – San Francisco: March 10 – 11, 2010 at REI San Francisco
• California – Santa Monica: March 20-21, 2010 at Adventure 16
• Colorado – Boulder: March 2-3, 2010 at REI Boulder
• Colorado – Denver: March 4-5, 2010 at REI Flagship Store
• New York – New York City: March 8-9, 2010 Chestnut Mountain Productions
• Utah – Salt Lake City: February 22-24, 2010 at University of Utah

Be sure to check out their website for the festival details in your town. Have fun!