Hiking Lady » Hiking Trails & Trips

Woman Attempts to Set Appalachian Trail Hiking Record!

Hiking Lady — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:48:42 +0000

Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in 47 days!?! Jennifer Pharr Davis, an athlete, writer, and motivational speaker is setting out to do just that this summer, hiking all 2,180 miles from Maine to Georgia in record time.

She’s thru hiked over 9,000 miles of long distance trails, including the AT (twice already!), the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, and many others.

Personally I like to really enjoy the scenery when I hike, take pictures, and take the time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the wilderness…but for Jennifer her goal is hike/run an average of 47 miles a day for 47 straight days!

What do you think about Jennifer attempting to break this thru hiking record? I wonder what Bill Bryson and Dennis Blanchard would think if they encountered a distance runner on their AT hikes?

Best of luck to her this summer!

Check out the press release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hilary Hutcheson
(503) 828-7074 hilary@outsidemdia.com

Jennifer Pharr Davis Sets Sights on the Appalachian Trail’s Overall Speed Record

Jennifer Pharr Davis is attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail in 47 days!

April 7th, 2011—Asheville, NC—Jennifer Pharr Davis, current holder of the Women’s Speed Record for the fastest thru hike of the Appalachian Trail, is headed back to the AT, hoping to make history by hiking away with the overall speed record.

In June, Davis will hike from Mount Katahdin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia. Her goal is to hike the entire 2,180-mile faster than the current overall speed record of 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes.

To break the record, Davis will hike an average of 47 miles a day, camping along the trail. She will have trail support from legendary ultra-runner and former AT and Pacific Crest Trail speed record holder David Horton, as well as veteran AT expert Warren Doyle and Davis’ husband, Brew Davis. Her record-breaking fastpacking career and influence in the industry is remarkable, given that she picked up the sport just six years ago.

“Whenever I’m not on a trail, I am being pulled back to it. Hiking is not only something I enjoy, it’s my passion, my career and my calling,” says Jennifer Pharr Davis. “It’s so fulfilling that I have people I love supporting this next speed challenge. I hope to elevate awareness of the sport and the outdoors, and to get more people involved in sharing a similar passion.”

Davis wrote a memoir, Becoming Odyssa, sharing an intimate look at how thru hiking can help shape a person in many ways. The book, released in the fall of 2010, details how Davis, as an inexperienced hiker fresh out of college, tackled a steep learning curve on the Appalachian Trail, learning about herself and falling in love with the sport along the way. While Davis attempts the overall speed record this summer, Becoming Odyssa will be published in a paperback edition. The book has been applauded by seasoned thru hikers, but also inspires adventure, strength and discovery on a broader scale. Davis recently wrote two guide books, Best HikesNear Charlotte and Best Easy Day Hikes Charlotte. She is the owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company, offering coaching, guiding and public speaking services.

Davis’ AT speed record challenge is also sponsored by a number of hiking and outdoor brands including, Suunto, Salomon and Lole. Davis is available for interviews leading up to the record attempt in June. To set something up with her, contact Hilary Hutcheson at hilary@outsidemedia.com.

Jennifer Pharr Davis is an athlete, writer, motivational speaker and the current Women’s Record Holder for the fastest Thru Hike of the Appalachian Trail. She is attempting the overall AT speed record this summer. Jennifer has hiked more than 9,000 miles of long-distance trails and has trekked on six continents. In addition to the Women’s speed record on the AT, Jennifer also holds endurance records on Long Trail and Bibbulmun Track. She has also completed Ironman Florida and multiple road marathons and 50k and 50 mile trail marathons. Jennifer lives in North Carolina with her husband and hiking partner, Brew Davis. www.blueridgehikingco.com

Where is Hiking Lady?

Hiking Lady — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:36:48 +0000

Guess where Hiking Lady is in this photo!

Where is Hiking Lady?

Your guesses in the Comments below will be kept hidden until Wednesday October 13, 2010. Whoever is the first person to get it right will get a Fox 40 Sharx Whistle!

Wanna win more stuff?

Enter by 10/31 for a chance to win a copy of Backpack the Grand Canyon DVD!
Enter by 10/20 for a chance to win 12 pairs of high quality hiking and fashion socks from Goodhew!

Let the Adventuring Begin!

Hiking Lady — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:51:42 +0000

This Labor Day weekend I’ll be living the Hiking Lady motto of “Let the Adventuring Begin!”

I’m headed to South Lake, in California’s Sierra Nevadas about 20 miles southwest of the town of Bishop. I was there last year, and loved it so much that I’m going back!

Hurd Peak rising above South Lake, California Sierra Nevada Mountains

Since many of you asked about it on Facebook, I’ve posted the trail map I created using my National Geographic Sierra Nevadas Trail Explorers program.

Starting at the Bishop Pass Trailhead at South Lake, then headed to Chocolate Peak

(You can click on the image above to download a more detailed version)

I can’t wait!!

Where in the World?

Hiking Lady — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:36:48 +0000

Where in the world did I take this picture? The views are breathtaking, and the hike was quite pleasant because of the cool ocean breezes…

Guess where this is!

Leave your guess in the comments below, and the first person who gets it right will get a free packet of Starbucks new instant coffee VIA (1 serving only!), which will be convenient on your next hiking or camping trip!

Southern California Snowshoeing Spots

Hiking Lady — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:19:31 +0000

Snowshoeing in the San Bernardino Mountains, Southern CA

Despite its reputation of sunny days and balmy weather, Southern California has a lot of great places to enjoy winter activities, including snowshoeing!

Snowshoeing is how I like to hike in the winter. Taken at a slow pace, it is a wonderful way to enjoy a day in the mountains. At a faster pace, it is an amazing workout, and still lots of fun!

Want to know about some places to snowshoe in Southern CA? Here’s my list. Do you have more to add?

A great New York Times Article about K2!

Hiking Lady — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:35:44 +0000

I just finished reading the online version of this weekend’s New York Times travel section, and what did I see, but another fantastic article about K2. Many think that Everest is the most dangerous mountain in the world, and after reading Ed Viesturs’ book K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain, I sure learned how intimidating and deadly K2 really is.

I highly recommend you read the New York Times article. Why? Because it is a great reminder how alpine hiking is dangerous, and we all need to be aware of the challenges associated with climbing at altitude. The article captures the struggles of just getting to Base Camp! After hiking to the peak of Mt. Whitney last year, I have set my sights on some other challenging peaks. Not K2 or Everest, but the respective Base Camps seem reasonable (with extreme caution!)

The author of the article, Graham Bowley, traveled to K2 last June with his cousin. Their goal – to reach Base Camp and learn more for Bowley’s upcoming book called “No Way Down”. But despite their experience and research on the place, the author and his cousin still had to be helicoptered out because of altitude sickness.

Ed Viesturs does a good job in his book relaying the challenges and struggles of achieving the peak (and returning alive), but this article puts it all in perspective for someone like me whose big aspiration would be to go to Base Camp, not the top. Even then there are risks we all need to be aware of, and this article is a great reminder.

The NY Times article on K2 (plus slideshow).

Want to learn more about K2:
Here are two K2 books I’ve read and recommend – Three Cups of Tea and Ed Viesturs’ book K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain

Hiking the Appalachian Trail?

Hiking Lady — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:20:10 +0000

Have you ever thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail? I sure have!

A close hiking friend of mine insisted that I borrow her copy, and I swear I couldn’t put this book down. Obviously I am a fan of most books about hiking, but this one is truly special – Bill Bryson weaves into his humorous story loads of history and science, all while sharing the details of his adventure.

Read my full review of A Walk in the Woods here.

Hiking Trails: Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA

Hiking Lady — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:08:06 +0000

If you’re looking for some Orange County, CA hiking trails, the Caspers Wilderness Park should be on your list. It is the largest park established in Orange County, CA and has many trails to explore with views of the Cleveland National Forest. With 8,000 acres, you’ll have plenty to explore! To the north it is bordered by the Audubon Society’s Starr Ranch Sanctuary.

Summer shade at Caspers Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA

I recently visited the park in the mid-summer, so undoubtedly it was a sunny, but very hot hike. There is not a lot of shade on the trails, but when you find them the beautiful groves of Coastal Live Oaks and California Sycamores are a welcome respite from the hot sun.

My favorite part is the wildlife! Check out my picture of a baby horned lizard that I saw along the side of the trail:

A Baby Horned Lizard, Caspers Wilderness Park

Need More Information?

Caspers Wilderness Park
33401 Ortega Hwy. (P. O. Box 395)
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 923-2210
casperspark@ocparks.com