The Trailmaster Blog

Five of us got arrested for hiking too close to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power plant during a ten-day protest in 1981. read more →

Amazing mating dance of the rattlesnake. Fellow hiker Todd Fraser captured images of a pair of rattlers mating alongside a trail. read more →

Hiking is defined by its connection to nature. A walk must be in nature in order for it to be considered a hike. I’ve been labeled both a “hiking writer” and “nature writer” and am proud to be both. read more →

Thanks to the Boy Scouts, I was introduced to hiking and the wonders of nature, gained outdoors skills and leadership ability, and was mentored by some wonderful men who helped me grow from boy to young man, from Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout. read more →

Even a small waterfall can prove deadly to the hiker deciding to approach it from the top. It’s imperative that experienced hikers share their outdoor skills and connection to nature with those who have neither. read more →

My heart goes out to the friends and family of the fallen hiker. But my head cannot comprehend the decision she and other hikers made to scale Half Dome in the rain. read more →

Asked by ABC World News to respond to the recent death of three hikers at Vernal Falls, Trailmaster John McKinney speaks from his head and heart. read more →

Yosemite’s waterfalls are world-class natural attractions and the trails leading to them offer memorable hiking for hikers from across the nation and around the world. Most hikers understand Yosemite is a National Park not a water park. Unfortunately a very … read more →

According to the event sponsor, the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day 2011 was the biggest and best yet, with 2,063 events held across the country. read more →

Trailmaster John McKinney recounts his 1,600-mile coastal hike and pioneering efforts for the California Coastal Trail in “California Forever,” a new TV documentary. read more →

“Hiking for Health” is the subject of one my talks and a cause I’ve long promoted. Recently I was delighted to learn of a couple of hospitals that sponsor hikes and tout the health benefits of hitting the trail. Pardee … read more →

“How many hiking boots have you worn-out?” a magazine editor asked Trailmaster John McKinney. It was fun to contemplate that question and to consider how many others wear their boots–on the trail and off. read more →

Is Hiking a Sport? During my long tenure as the Los Angeles Times hiking columnist, my weekly hiking columns were published in several different parts of the paper. Not in the Sports section, though; sports editors do not consider hiking a sport. read more →

LA Hikers were pleased to hear that a seven mile length of the Angeles Crest Highway closed as a result of the 2009 Station Fire finally reopened. read more →

President Barack Obama proclaimed June to be Great Outdoors Month and encouraged Americans to take a hike and reconnect with their natural heritage. read more →

By some hikers’ reckoning, Trails Days began in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains in 1969 with work on the Skyline to the Sea Trail. read more →

In support of National Trails Day, Mike Rowe, host of “Dirty Jobs,” encourages all Americans to help maintain trails and enjoy hiking them. read more →