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Avoid This Common Exercise Mistake — Your Knees Will Thank You!
Are you making this common exercise mistake? You might not even realize that you are! It may seem insignificant, however the positioning of your knee actually has a HUGE significance on your knee health and function; additionally it can be an indication of muscle weakness in the hip girdle. Knee awareness It’s important to pay…
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What’s in our Day Hiking Backpacks (2023 Edition)
When I first got interested in hiking and backpacking after moving back to Montana, I opened up Backpacker Magazine and started creating a list of items I needed to purchase to explore the great outdoors. Unfortunately, I ended up with boots that gave me blisters and hurt my feet, a tent that was too heavy,…
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The “The Goldilocks Approach” to Hiking Training
Finding an optimal amount of training that will safely and effectively support your hiking and fitness related goals.
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Lake McDonald Trail 2023
The lower trails of Glacier National Park are drying out quickly with this recent stint of warmer weather. Since many of the roads are closed, the list of hikes without snow is pretty small. We settled on the Lake McDonald Trail on its western shore, hiked a bit, had lunch and turned around on a…
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PAIN… a “Four-letter Word” that Does’t Belong on the Trail.
Pain. We’ve all experienced it to some degree, whether an all-out debilitating pain that sidelines you, or a nagging day-to-day discomfort that just keeps showing up. Needless to say it’s not desirable, and it definitely doesn’t enhance one’s experience on the trail. Do you suffer with knee pain or back discomfort on the trail? You…
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Apgar Lookout – Spring 2023
The forecast called for a sunny, bluebird day in the high 40s, so we packed up and decided to see how far up the Apgar Lookout Trail in Glacier National Park that we could get. Imagine our delight when we realized that there was a decent boot pack all the way to the summit and…
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“Spring” into Training
While the winter snowpack has yet to give way to dirt trails, green grass, or wildflowers (at least in NW Montana), springtime is still a wonderful time to get out and put some training miles and elevation on your legs. If you have summer plans that involve hiking, I’d encourage you to harness the excitement…
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Post Workout Soreness
Post Workout Soreness… some LOVE it, some hate it. Everybody responds to exercise differently, but experiencing some amount of post workout discomfort is normal. This is especially common for individuals who were previously inactive, or when starting a new type of workout or activity. Muscle weakness, stiffness, fatigue, discomfort, and/or soreness can occur for several…
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Fish Creek Picnic Ski
When Glacier is all locked in snow, a great place for a spring picnic on a sunny day is Fish Creek Picnic Area. You can snowshoe in, but we skied and enjoyed the beautiful views under a blue sky all while avoiding a chilly wind coming down from the mountains. We parked at the gate…
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Wearable Fitness Trackers – They’re more than a step or calorie counter!
A heart rate monitor (HRM)/fitness tracker can be a beneficial piece of exercise equipment that not only measures your cardiorespiratory fitness level, but also helps guide your workouts and allows you to train smarter. Wearable fitness trackers have come a long way since the basic step-counters (pedometer). Now, these devices commonly have features such as:…
