by Collin Stuart Chambers
THE GREAT PUMPKIN OF MAX PATCH Hey! I really like your pumpkin. Truly. That thing has character… and whoever hauled that ginormous gourd to the top of Max Patch clearly has strength and tenacity! I know this because I hauled it back down. While many of us enjoy...
by Collin Stuart Chambers
In my earlier post about our latest adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains, I mentioned my hiking partner rolled her ankle and went on to hike more than 35 miles. I thought I would elaborate and share how we assessed whether to turn back or continue with our planned...
by Collin Stuart Chambers
LEAVES OF THREE: POISON IVY AND ITS SNEAKY LOOKALIKES Wow, did I learn what poison ivy was the hard way, as so many of us do. Years ago, I was clearing English ivy vines in the wintertime, in short sleeves, in an overgrown part of my yard while living in Atlanta....
by Collin Stuart Chambers
AVOIDING THE BITEY THINGS! (A NO-PANIC GUIDE TO TICK SEASON) Every year… the posts, the warnings, the hand-wringing… “The ticks are worse than ever!” And this year? They might actually be right. The CDC reported in April 2026 that emergency room visits for...
by Collin Stuart Chambers
A LOVE LETTER TO TREKKING POLES Your third and fourth legs (and how they can save your life!) If you’ve ever watched someone glide confidently down a rocky descent while you white-knuckled your way through it like a baby giraffe on an ice rink, there’s a...
by Collin Stuart Chambers
BABY, IT’S HOT OUT THERE! HOW TO STAY COOL (AND ALIVE) WHILE WALKING IN THE SUMMER HEAT It’s July. Much of the country is melting. And somewhere out there, someone is lacing up their boots and heading for a trail in 98-degree heat because “it’ll be fine.” I have...
