Category: The Moosilauke Letters

Quebec Run Wild Areatraining hike2015 Back to the soldiers in their ACUs (Army Combat Uniforms) in the woods.  I say, “I notice you are using map and compass.  I don’t see a single piece of electronic gear.” “You mean like GPS?” “That’s exactly what I mean.  It’s all the rage among hikers who think it… Continue reading Hooray for Maps!

The WildernessAny Time Camping Sure, we know how to start a campfire.  Just do what they do in the movies and television shows.  Rub two sticks together and in about eight seconds, that fire is just bursting at the seams. There’s also the flint and steel method.  Heck, I saw an ancient American Indian on… Continue reading Lint Rat

MurphreesboroArkansasJune  2012 So yes, after our hike at Mount Driskill, or Driskill Mountain if you prefer, the highest point in the state of Louisiana, we travel north, driving through the Pelican State, the state that handwrites its name on its license plates, Louisiana.  We cross the border into Arkansas and enter the town of Murphreesboro. … Continue reading Queen of Diamonds

Grayson HighlandsVirginiaJuly  2011 The equines here in the land below Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, are ponies.  Contrary to popular belief, ponies are not baby horses.  To wit… In comparison to horses, ponies…. endure the cold better. are stockier with shorter legs, wider bodies, shorter thicker necks and shorter heads with broader foreheads.… Continue reading Ponies

Frick ParkPittsburghOctober  2019 Am I prepared for the rain?  After decades of hiking in every kind of weather condition (except earthquake,) am I ready for the rain?  With thousands of miles of experience on the trail, what kind of question is that?  Why wouldn’t I be ready!  Of course I’m ready for the rain. Except… Continue reading When Rain Disagrees

all the time, as much as possible Walking, they tell me, is good for you. Greek philosopher Diogenes uttered the phrase Solvitur Ambulando, which means “It is solved by walking.”  Erasmus of Rotterdam, teacher and philosopher 500 years ago, recommended a walk before and after supper.  16th and 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes had an… Continue reading Walking

New MexicoNovember  2015 Less than an hour into our drive north of El Paso, we are routed onto a side lane approaching what looks like a toll booth with accompanying overhang.  There are differences.  On the way to the booth, I notice two banks of six security cameras each.  Twelve cameras flanking the lane.  How… Continue reading Border Patrol

Laurel Highlands Hiking TrailPennsylvaniaJuly  2010 One time I led a long, tough day-hike through the Pennsylvania wilderness.  One of my hikers reported that the day before, she told a co-worker that she’d be hiking 13 miles today, with some good challenging hills too.  Her office mate said, “Yeah?  Who’s making you do that?”

somewhere in West VirginiaMay  2002 A fair sized group of us were hiking through the woods on a backpacking trip when we came upon smoldering flames in a circle of rocks aside the trail.  I asked the women to go on up ahead. When they were far enough up the trail, we guys formed a… Continue reading Being a Guy

ArizonaMay  2018 1Bumper sticker on a particular Wrangler Sport… I’M THE BLACK JEEP OF THE FAMILY 2The old and suggestive rock formations of Arizona present many opportunities for us humans to engage in our ingrained and idiosyncratic habit of seeing patterns that present in random information.  This information may be in the form of numbers,… Continue reading 12 Stories from Arizona