Comments for The Trailmaster © http://www.thetrailmaster.com Hike smart, live well, go green with The Trailmaster John McKinney. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:44:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Comment on Hike With Gratitude by becky hebert http://www.thetrailmaster.com/the-trailmaster-blog/hike-with-gratitude#comment-2069 becky hebert Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:44:43 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/?p=1828#comment-2069 Thanks John for reminding us what is really simple yet really hard yet really important especially during the Holidays... I do run hike walk and live with gratitude..everyday... but it takes practice.. however, the more I take time to look and acknowledge things that bring me joy or a smile and SEE them with grateful eyes.. the more and more they show themselves to me.. it is a good habit to have.. live with gratitude. becky Thanks John for reminding us what is really simple yet really hard yet really important especially during the Holidays… I do run hike walk and live with gratitude..everyday… but it takes practice.. however, the more I take time to look and acknowledge things that bring me joy or a smile and SEE them with grateful eyes.. the more and more they show themselves to me.. it is a good habit to have..
live with gratitude.
becky

]]> Comment on John McKinney’s Guided Walks and Hikes by Cheryl http://www.thetrailmaster.com/trails/the-traveling-hiker/john-mckinney%e2%80%99s-guided-walks-and-hikes#comment-1988 Cheryl Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:14:50 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/?p=1339#comment-1988 I really enjoyed reading your blog! I love hiking in the front country of Santa Barbara. There are some excellent trails worth always going back to. Rattlesnake is my most recent-I forgot how LONG it can last! So many twists and turns if you don't pay attention it is really easy to get lost on that darn trail! I almost did, that wouldn't of been fun! I was just recently in town and had a great time hiking. Stayed at the South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com). Close to the trail head, I loved it so much! I really enjoyed reading your blog! I love hiking in the front country of Santa Barbara. There are some excellent trails worth always going back to. Rattlesnake is my most recent-I forgot how LONG it can last! So many twists and turns if you don’t pay attention it is really easy to get lost on that darn trail! I almost did, that wouldn’t of been fun! I was just recently in town and had a great time hiking. Stayed at the South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com). Close to the trail head, I loved it so much!

]]> Comment on Save Hot Springs Canyon by Florence S. http://www.thetrailmaster.com/the-trailmaster-blog/save-hot-springs-canyon#comment-1921 Florence S. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:15:06 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/?p=1765#comment-1921 I had no idea they were intending to sell the land! That would be awful if they closed this trail, it is one of the best in Santa Barbara-the views are exceptional and well worth the efforts to attempt to keep it open. It would be a shame is a land developer came along and built new spa that no one needs on this beautiful land,a disgrace really. I used to hike this trail with my kids all the time when they were younger and we were on vacation there. I had no idea they were intending to sell the land! That would be awful if they closed this trail, it is one of the best in Santa Barbara-the views are exceptional and well worth the efforts to attempt to keep it open. It would be a shame is a land developer came along and built new spa that no one needs on this beautiful land,a disgrace really. I used to hike this trail with my kids all the time when they were younger and we were on vacation there.

]]> Comment on Hiking Songs by NANCY KEEFE http://www.thetrailmaster.com/hike-smart/how-to/hiking-songs#comment-1310 NANCY KEEFE Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:04:38 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/wp-ttm/?p=121#comment-1310 THE NAME OF THE VAL DA RE SONG IS - THE HAPPY WANDERER. THE NAME OF THE VAL DA RE SONG IS – THE HAPPY WANDERER.

]]> Comment on Hike-ku: Family Fun on the Trail by Lou Sian http://www.thetrailmaster.com/hike-smart/hiking-tales-from-the-trail/family-fun#comment-863 Lou Sian Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:09:55 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/wp-ttm/?p=325#comment-863 Hi John, My husband and I have decided to hike as many redwood parks as possible, and do appreciate your articles on the State Parks websites. The trail descriptions are very helpful in relieving family arguments, ahem, concerns about unknown places. I enjoy your website, especially the hike-kus. Years ago, we did campfire haikus and I packed the notebook away in our camping gear. Every time we camp, we enjoy re-reading what we came up with on earlier camping trips, some of them written when my grown kids and nieces were quite small. Lou Sian Park Ranger Muir Woods National Monument Hi John,

My husband and I have decided to hike as many redwood parks as possible, and do appreciate your articles on the State Parks websites. The trail descriptions are very helpful in relieving family arguments, ahem, concerns about unknown places. I enjoy your website, especially the hike-kus. Years ago, we did campfire haikus and I packed the notebook away in our camping gear. Every time we camp, we enjoy re-reading what we came up with on earlier camping trips, some of them written when my grown kids and nieces were quite small.

Lou Sian
Park Ranger
Muir Woods National Monument

]]> Comment on Homage to Switchbacks by Marianne Dresser http://www.thetrailmaster.com/hike-smart/how-to/homage-to-switchbacks#comment-862 Marianne Dresser Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:52:00 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/wp-ttm/?p=151#comment-862 I too have come to greatly appreciate switchbacks, though I recall disliking them as a younger, inexperienced hiker. Just being intent on getting from Point A to Point B seems to me now to be a rather impoverished way of hiking, while relaxing into the zigzag journey that gets you up a steep hill--and often to a gorgeous vista or pristine alpine lake--allows for a lovely, contemplative hiking experience. The last thing I want to do while hiking is be bound to the everyday-world tensions, striving, hurrying, and stress! So now I say a little mantra while switchbacking up a hill: "Switchbacks are my friend, switchbacks are my friend...." I too have come to greatly appreciate switchbacks, though I recall disliking them as a younger, inexperienced hiker. Just being intent on getting from Point A to Point B seems to me now to be a rather impoverished way of hiking, while relaxing into the zigzag journey that gets you up a steep hill–and often to a gorgeous vista or pristine alpine lake–allows for a lovely, contemplative hiking experience. The last thing I want to do while hiking is be bound to the everyday-world tensions, striving, hurrying, and stress! So now I say a little mantra while switchbacking up a hill: “Switchbacks are my friend, switchbacks are my friend….”

]]> Comment on Is Hiking a Sport? by Adam http://www.thetrailmaster.com/the-trailmaster-blog/is-hiking-a-sport#comment-690 Adam Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:58:43 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/wp-ttm/?p=197#comment-690 Hiking may not be considered a competitive sport by traditional means. Yet it sure does fit the definition of the word "sport". Hiking can also be considered an extreme competitive sport by way of man made cross terrains for each team of hikers to complete in better time frames. Sports today can be traditional or plain fun energetic outdoor activities. Will there ever be a ...... "Super Terrain" for hikers to compete across? Who knows...it could be the next big thing. Sincerely, Adam Sandoval hikesport@yahoo.com Hiking may not be considered a competitive sport by traditional means. Yet it sure does fit the definition of the word “sport”. Hiking can also be considered an extreme competitive sport by way of man made cross terrains for each team of hikers to complete in better time frames. Sports today can be traditional or plain fun energetic outdoor activities. Will there ever be a …… “Super Terrain” for hikers to compete across? Who knows…it could be the next big thing.

Sincerely,
Adam Sandoval
hikesport@yahoo.com

]]> Comment on Hiking with Children: Ten Trail-Tested Tips by Rob Bignell http://www.thetrailmaster.com/hike-smart/how-to/hiking-with-children-ten-trail-tested-tips#comment-645 Rob Bignell Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:16:13 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/wp-ttm/?p=795#comment-645 Great tips, Trailmaster. I particularly like "Children prefer intimate settings, such as a little creek or a clump of boulders to those vast scenic panoramas favored by adults." This is so true - as adults we often select trails and hike that we enjoy and think kids also will like them. With different experiences and perspectives on the world than adults, kids typically are interested in something entirely different than what we adults would appreciate. Great tips, Trailmaster. I particularly like “Children prefer intimate settings, such as a little creek or a clump of boulders to those vast scenic panoramas favored by adults.” This is so true – as adults we often select trails and hike that we enjoy and think kids also will like them. With different experiences and perspectives on the world than adults, kids typically are interested in something entirely different than what we adults would appreciate.

]]> Comment on Hospitals Promote Hiking for Health by Penny and Terry Davies http://www.thetrailmaster.com/the-trailmaster-blog/hospitals-promote-hiking-for-health#comment-394 Penny and Terry Davies Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:23:44 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/?p=1418#comment-394 We hike to the Pink Beds often. Last week, we even had our annual pot luck picnic there with the Pisgah hikers. The Pink Beds is a lush meadow, full of pink flowers in the Spring. The Rangers have built a covered area here for large parties and barbecues. The forest around Brevard in Western North Carolina is full of beautiful hiking trails. I hike on Fridays and Terry hikes on both Monday and Fridays. The Monday hikers do about five+ miles, the Friday group hikes two miles. When we moved here from Southern California, we knew no one. Hiking with these groups has not only been good for our health (we’re both 77), but has introduced us to some very interesting new friends. Our daughter runs these trails in preparation for marathon runs. These trails are full of wild flowers, mushrooms, and wild life, (brown bears). This area is considered a rain forest. Spring and Autumn are magnificent in the Pisgah forest. At the top of the forest, we are rimmed by the Blue Ridge Parkway…a road that has the most beautiful views of these old old mountains. We hike to the Pink Beds often. Last week, we even had our annual pot luck picnic there with the Pisgah hikers. The Pink Beds is a lush meadow, full of pink flowers in the Spring. The Rangers have built a covered area here for large parties and barbecues. The forest around Brevard in Western North Carolina is full of beautiful hiking trails. I hike on Fridays and Terry hikes on both Monday and Fridays. The Monday hikers do about five+ miles, the Friday group hikes two miles. When we moved here from Southern California, we knew no one. Hiking with these groups has not only been good for our health (we’re both 77), but has introduced us to some very interesting new friends. Our daughter runs these trails in preparation for marathon runs. These trails are full of wild flowers, mushrooms, and wild life, (brown bears). This area is considered a rain forest. Spring and Autumn are magnificent in the Pisgah forest. At the top of the forest, we are rimmed by the Blue Ridge Parkway…a road that has the most beautiful views of these old old mountains.

]]> Comment on Hikers Battle Developer over Beverly Hills Trail by Ellen Scott http://www.thetrailmaster.com/the-trailmaster-blog/hikers-battle-developer-over-beverly-hills-trail#comment-279 Ellen Scott Tue, 03 May 2011 06:13:00 +0000 http://www.thetrailmaster.com/?p=1100#comment-279 I appreciate your coverage of efforts to save the Hastain Trail and Franklin Canyon from development. As the hiker who sat in front of the bulldozer I do want to say that Ann Simmons got it wrong in the Times when she said that "Scott politely left.." or whatever it was. I politely REFUSED to leave. I did not leave that day until long after Hadid and his workers left. Hadid was understandably, furious. Many were the times that Hadid's foreman told me that he would be happy to escort me off the mountain. That made me laugh. I run up that mountain. Did they really think I needed 'help' getting down? Mr. Hadid was at that time engaged in illegal grading. He was grading on expired permits and after being issued a stop work order, continued again. At this point he has stopped but he has, as of April 29th, applied for new permits. I appreciate your coverage of efforts to save the Hastain Trail and Franklin Canyon from development.

As the hiker who sat in front of the bulldozer I do want to say that Ann Simmons got it wrong in the Times when she said that “Scott politely left..” or whatever it was. I politely REFUSED to leave. I did not leave that day until long after Hadid and his workers left.

Hadid was understandably, furious. Many were the times that Hadid’s foreman told me that he would be happy to escort me off the mountain. That made me laugh. I run up that mountain. Did they really think I needed ‘help’ getting down? Mr. Hadid was at that time engaged in illegal grading. He was grading on expired permits and after being issued a stop work order, continued again. At this point he has stopped but he has, as of April 29th, applied for new permits.

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