Who Pays for Search and Rescue? Behind the Tricky Economics of New Hampshire SAR

Search and rescue missions in the White Mountains are on the rise—and with it costly fines. The author dives into how rescue finances work, and if it’s still a reasonable model for New Hampshire.

Monitoring the Bicknell’s Thrush in the Maine Woods

Note: This article originally appeared on outdoors.org. Most birds start singing just before sunrise, and in June, that means 4 a.m. Dave Cowan had already cleaned up his campsite and was close to the summit of Maine’s Baker Mountain when he heard a flute-like “shreee.” “It was a Bicknell’s thrush,” Cowan, a longtime volunteer for theContinue reading “Monitoring the Bicknell’s Thrush in the Maine Woods”

Trail Days Turns a Tiny Appalachian Trail Town into One Big, Sweaty Party

Join author Kelleigh Welch as she attends the 2019 Trail Days festival in Damascus, VA.

Historic Normandy: D-Day and Medieval Churches

There’s a lot more to France than just Paris (but don’t be fooled, I love Paris and could easily spend a week there exploring and still miss things). When given a limited amount of time, I recommend splitting your trip into two parts—Paris, and to one of the other regions of France. Where to goContinue reading “Historic Normandy: D-Day and Medieval Churches”

Cinque Terre: The Ultimate Urban Hike

As a college student, I visited the Cinque Terre in the heat of the late summer in 2008 for a two-day trek over the coastline cliffs, visiting each city and taking in the spectacular views. We were on a tight budget, opting to camp for free along the trail versus finding a last-minute hotel option, andContinue reading “Cinque Terre: The Ultimate Urban Hike”

‘Selfie’ Tourism and How to Hike Wisely in the White Mountains

Recently, I came across the term ‘Selfie Tourism,’ a phenomenon that has immensely affected travel industry in both a positive and negative way. It was used in a video on social media, where loggers in Costa Rica chopped down a tree to capture a sleeping sloth and sell it into the tourism trade for ignorantContinue reading “‘Selfie’ Tourism and How to Hike Wisely in the White Mountains”

Seattle: An Urban Hiker’s Paradise

Seattle, the home of 90’s grunge, Starbucks Coffee, ‘flying’ fish and plenty of rain, has become a booming metropolis that hits the top of travelers lists year after year. And how can you blame them? Seattle offers a bit of everything—from high end seafood to museums, breweries and easy access to some of the country’sContinue reading “Seattle: An Urban Hiker’s Paradise”

A Perfect Walk Through Paris

John Baxer’s ‘The Most Beautiful Walk in the World’ paints a gorgeous visual of some of his favorite neighborhoods in Paris. In each chapter, mixed with snapshot tales of his life living on the Left Bank, he captures the true wonder of experiencing this city—on foot. As an urban hiker, I’m no stranger to streetContinue reading “A Perfect Walk Through Paris”

Rainy Day Guide to Boston’s Museums

Some days, we get rain. It’s a natural cycle, but for travelers looking to get the most out of their trip, a rainy day can thwart their plans. There are some ways to plan ahead, of course—keeping an eye on the forecast is always an obvious option—but sometimes a quick storm rolls through and forcesContinue reading “Rainy Day Guide to Boston’s Museums”