The idea of writing a blog has been on my mind lately.  I read several daily; in fact they have replaced the morning news. I find the news upsetting.  Whereas the blogs I read are enlightening, stimulate discussion, inspire to me to get out on the trail and make me feel a part of a community!

I’ve been hiking in the New York State area for the better part of fifteen years and over the past five years have moved almost exclusively to backpacking.  Four years ago I became a trip leader for the NY/NJ Backpacking Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).  Becoming a backpacking leader has strengthened my outdoor skills, gets me on the trail a lot and there is always someone to go with.  Being involved with the AMC has taken me to places I have read about in magazines, the Grand Canyon, across the Great Range in the Adirondacks, the Devil’s Path in the Catskills, Winter Mountaineering School and walking through an entire state on the Appalachian Trail, to name a few – it’s my passion!

So why write a blog? Well, I have always had the desire to write but lacked a clear direction to and an audience for that matter! Ritu Ghatourey says “what you want will come to you at the right moment. Be patient”.  Funny but a few months ago I applied and was accepted to be a Trail Ambassador for Gossamer Gear, a small company that makes ultra-light and lightweight backpacking gear. As an Ambassador my task is to share the advantages, skills and gear for lightweight backpacking by being on the trail, social media and blogging. Desire meet direction…another backpacking blog is born.

I’m excited to start this project! I’ve got a lot of ambitious backpacking trips planned this year and can’t wait to write about them. My goals for this blog are to share my trip reports of all the great places to backpack in and around the New York State are, post reviews of my favorite lightweight gear and lots of other stuff that relates to being on the trail. I hope to stimulate discussion with my readers and inspire people to get on the trail and find their own passion.

What  backpacking blogs do you read each day?