HIKE IT OFF A
MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE
FOR
DAY
HIKERS
ISSUE NO. 8 FALL 2021
WHY HIKING IN COLORADO DURING THE FALL SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE'S BUCKETLIST PAGE 5
THIS IS INDIAN LAND: BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK PAGE 15
SPOOKIEST HIKES IN THE U.S. PAGE 24
ACCESSIBILITY IN THE OUTDOORS PAGE 72
Contents 4
67
EDITOR'S NOTE
TIME OF THE SEASON
5 WHY HIKING IN COLORADO DURING THE FALL SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE'S BUCKETLIST
72 ACCESSIBILITY IN THE OUTDOORS
15
85
THIS IS INDIAN LAND: BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
LETTERS TO THE LOLLYGAGGER
24 SPOOKIEST HIKES IN THE U.S.
41 WILD WOMEN IN HIKING: ERIN PARISI
52 LEAVE THE DISTRACTIONS BEHIND
57 ALPINE PARROT'S ROOTS
Editor's Note
Hike It Off was conceived a few years ago deep in the heart of the Sierra over a campfire and strong mountain cocktails. My husband, and Co-Founder Tony Purinton, and his best bud Rick Beach, always came home with much more than memories and bruises while on their many hiking trips.They are notorious for mantras and catchy sayings inspired by their biggest muse, the mountains.They would discuss putting some of their favorites on tshirts.They always wanted clothing that represented the way they felt about hiking, but could never find what they were looking for in stores. Hike It Off was always the first mantra they talked about putting on a t-shirt, but once they were back to the daily grind and distractions of life, the t-shirts never became a reality. Then something happened that would change everything for us. On June 4th, 2014 while celebrating my birthday, the universe decided to change our lives forever. While stepping over some rocks on a trail I have hiked a hundred times before, I lost my balance and in a split second shattered all three bones and dislocated my right ankle. We had no idea how much our lives were about to change, lying in the dirt waiting for help to arrive.
When you are unable to do what you love and are forced to be still and really think about your life and what is most important, your perspective changes. After two surgeries, a prognosis of a year of recovery, and an uncertain outcome, the thought of not being able to hike again was a real fear that crossed both of our minds daily. We both realized then how much hiking meant to us and even though this was the most difficult obstacle we had ever needed to overcome, we knew that the universe in its tricky little way had created an opportunity for us through this misadventure. While I was in recovery, Hike It Off was born. I was determined to bring this dream to life- both in the t-shirts Tony had always envisioned and in writing, my true gift. Now we live, breathe, eat, and sleep Hike It Off. It is our dream, medicine, and future. We are so honored to be able to share it with hikers that are just like us. Hikers who live to hike it off!
Jaime Purinton
Jaime Purinton EDITOR IN CHIEF
Why Hiking in Colorado During the Fall Should Be On Everyone's Bucketlist By: Michelle Jackson
When everyone else is excited about summer, I’m impatiently waiting for Fall. I hate being too hot, sweaty, and feeling like my skin will peel off because of the heat. Don’t get me wrong, as a Coloradan, I escape the summer heat as often as possible by exploring different hiking trails in the Rocky Mountains all summer long. There’s nothing like the experience of walking through a massive wildflower field in July. But, hiking in Colorado during the Fall should be on everyone’s bucket list, and I’m excited to share why.
Out of State Tourism Tapers Off One of the most challenging aspects of living in Colorado is its popularity. Summer visitors can often overwhelm pristine outdoor spaces while hiking in questionable shoes (such as flip flops) and creating a negative experience for hiking aficionados. Fall hiking can be better from an overall experience perspective, but you do have to consider your timing. Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredible place to hike, but Trail Ridge Road (the highest paved road in the United States) closes for the winter in October due to snow. Estes Park, the town at the base of this stunning national park, also hosts some big events during the fall that bring large crowds into the park and some of the trails and may negatively impact your overall experience. When hiking in Rocky Mountain Park, my favorite thing to do is to visit the Trail Ridge Visitors Center and make my way up Huffers Hill, a set of stairs that feel like they lead to the sky. Once you reach the top, the silence is overwhelming, the wind beats you around, and there’s always a slight chill in the air due to the extreme elevation. Once I’m done relaxing at what feels like the top of the world, I make my way down Huffers Hill, and I carefully cross the road for a high country hike. What I love about my highaltitude wanderings is how quiet and still everything is when you’re at an altitude of over 11,000 feet. Often I’ll see elk herds in the distance and the sound of bull elks bugling, which only happens during their Fall rut. Because I’m not a fool, I stay very far away from them, but it’s an incredible ritual to watch, listen to and, enjoy.
Snow and Aspens Every fall, I go to the mountains to watch the leaves change. While we don’t have maples and other trees with large leaves, we do have aspens. One of my favorite hikes last fall had a massive number of aspen trees growing in one segment. When the wind hit the leaves, they made a soft tinkling sound that I forever associate with aspen trees. That day the leaves were falling off the trees, creating a carpet of gold on the trail. Colorado weather during the fall can be incredibly unpredictable. One day it’s 90 degrees; the next, it’s snowing. I particularly love it when it begins to snow, and little patches dot the sides of the
trails. My favorite fall hikes begin with fog that burns away by the end of our day. Or, hiking doing a high altitude hike where we end up breaking through the top of the clouds. There’s absolutely nothing like that experience. But, the best part about fall in Colorado is how the snow covers the mountain peaks almost as if they’re putting on a new change of clothing.
Fire Season is Over Unfortunately, for several years Colorado has been dealing with extreme drought conditions and climate change. These conditions impact outdoor recreation in a couple of ways. In 2020 we had a record-breaking fire season. Not only did those fires impact air quality, they really changed how Coloradans and other guests experience the outdoors. My friends and I would make our way into the mountains for a fun day hike and would have to navigate through air quality alerts and the drift of smoke on the trails that we were on, even if we were miles away from an active fire. My chest would tighten, and my nerves would be shot during those moments. Fall signals an end to the ever-present threat for the potential of an out-ofcontrol wildfire.
After Hike Fun One of my favorite things to do after an epic hike is the Apres hike experience. I love wandering through the different towns that are close to the hikes that I go on.
Boulder I grew up here, and I now love to visit for hiking and happy hours. Boulder has the Pearl Street Mall, an outdoor walking mall flanked by many local shops. I also love how Boulder has blocked off part of the western end of the mall for more pedestrian access as a way to provide more outdoor access during COVID. It’s such incredible innovation, and I hope that they continue to do this when COVID is over.
Breckenridge One of my favorite mountain towns that has a wonderful vibe. I love to have coffee at the Starbucks inside a small yellow cabin or drinks and a meal at Gravity Haus, a new development that opened up a few years ago.
Crested Butte My favorite mountain town! Just pick a place on Main Street to recover and enjoy some food. For a small town there is an incredible amount of diversity in the restaurants that you can enjoy in town.
Salida and Mount Princeton Hot Springs I love Salida so much. It’s a fantastic spot to explore terrain that’s very different from the mountain ranges closer to Denver. The surrounding area is arid and dry, with vegetation that is more common to see in the desert. I love hiking in this part of Colorado because you can make your way to a hot spring afterward. Mount Princeton Hot Springs are pretty popular, so check their website on capacity levels and what to expect.
Estes Park If you’re hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, you have to visit Estes. My favorite thing to do is walk along the river walk, which is right behind the shops on Main Street. Most visitors are unaware of this and only walk up and down Main Street, which remains pretty busy even during the fall season.
Michelle Jackson runs the website and podcast Square State, where she gets to unapologetically geek out about her state of Colorado. When she's not having random conversations with new people, she can be found hiking, biking, sitting on a patio, or exploring the mountains. Her ultimate goal is to normalize POC faces in outdoor spaces and stop surprising people when she says she's from Colorado.
THIS IS INDIAN LAND: BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK BY JESSICA MEHTA
The Badlands National Park in South Dakota comprises over 244,000 acres featuring spires, buttes, and pinnacles. It holds the title of being the biggest mixed-grass prairie in what is today known as the United States. The Badlands are home to an incredible history of indigenous peoples from the time nomadic tribes migrated to the region over 10,000 years ago. The first known inhabitants of the Badlands are the PaleoAmericans (née Paleo Indians or Paleoindians), known for their incredible mammoth-hunting skills during the ice age. The next inhabitants were the Arikara, also known as Ree, circa
1500. Today, Arikara descendants are part of the “Three Affiliated Tribes” in North Dakota. Oral stories and archaeological finds reveal that the Arikara camped in valleys where they enjoyed access to year-round hunting and fresh water. Arrowheads, tools for butchering game, and remnants of campfires have recently been found in what is today called the Badlands National Park. The Cheyenne, Crow, Kiowa, Pawnee, and Lakota Native Americans moved to the region during the eighteenth century. Each of these Nations were renowned bison hunters and
they followed the natural migration of the herds to the Great Plains. The region has long been known for acutely harsh winters and tough terrain, making every Nation largely dependent on the bison for nearly every facet of their needs. Inter-National conflict was common, as was the case with many other Nations[1] around the continent. By the midnineteenth centuries, the Lakota Nation had commandeered over 80 million acres in the region that is today known as South Dakota. At this time, there were a number of interrelated Lakota Nations including the Santee, Teton, and Yankton. When the Lakotas displaced their Native competitors for the land, they dubbed the area “mako sica” which translates roughly to “badlands.” French trappers followed suit, calling the area “les mauvaises terres a
traverser.” For a short time, the Lakotas, French, and some lingering other Nations lived in relative peace in the Badlands, with the Native Americans and French-Canadians trading amongst one another. However, it did not take long for European soldiers, farmers, miners, and homesteaders to overtake the land. Previously, the Lakota Nation and its seven sub-Nations were called Sioux or the Great Sioux Nation. This is still a name that is widely used amongst some Lakotas and many non-Lakotas. However, the word “Sioux” is considered derogatory by many Lakota people, with many claiming that “Sioux” is a slur given from a rival Nation—the most common theory is that it translates to a negative connotation of “snake.” Depicting the Lakotas and every Native American tribe as
[1] The term “tribe” is largely being eschewed by Native Americans today due to its inherent colonial-based usage. “Nation” is more appropriate and increasingly being adopted as the sole correct term, as Native Americans are part of sovereign Nations. As such, “National” is used to refer to various Native American Nations.
Photo: NPS
dangerous and sneaky is, of course, not uncommon and a powerful tool for genocide and assimilation. As an influx of pioneers moved to the Badlands, more and more fights broke out between Natives and white immigrants. Homesteading brought not only families but also some of the most notorious “Wild West” legends to the area such as Jedediah Smith, Thomas Fitzpatrick, and Jim Bridger.
did start to raid neighboring settlements as they watched their land diminish and be overtaken. Six years after the Homestead Act, the Fort Laramie Treaty was established in 1868. It is just one of the 500+ treaties made and broken by the U.S. government since colonization began—and today remains one of the most controversial treaties that is still being addressed by Congress.
The Lakota’s various bands may have had somewhat friendly relations with white passersby and explorers, but they never explicitly welcomed outsiders into their land. The Homestead Act of 1862, passed by Congress, encouraged emigrants to flood the Badlands where they could “buy” 160 acres for just $18. This land was, of course, not the U.S. government’s to sell. As tensions grew between the Lakotas and non-Natives, the U.S. Army built a number of outposts around the Black Hills in an effort to decrease skirmishes, but rarely entered the core hunting grounds. However, the Lakotas
The Treaty created the “Great Sioux Reservation” and called for a permanent ceding of all land spanning from the Missouri River to the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. This Treaty affected the lands of the Lakota, Nakota, Dakota, and Arapaho Natives. In return, the U.S. government promised to provide money, clothing, and food. The Fort Laramie Treaty did prohibit nonNatives from going into the Black Hills unless there was explicit authorization. This area was termed “unceded Indian Territory” and only to be used by Natives. The Natives of the socalled “Great Sioux Reservations” were initially open to the terms of HIKE IT OFF MAGAZINE
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the Treaty and in return agreed to stop any hostility against railroad engineers and pioneers. And then gold was discovered in the Black Hills. As soon as the U.S. government found out about the gold, the initial Treaty was discarded and the boundaries were recreated. This caged the Natives of the area, whose ancestors were nomadic hunters, into such a small area they had no choice but to adopt a farming lifestyle. The Natives, of course, never agreed to this bait and switch. However, breaking the Fort
Laramie Treaty was just one means the U.S. government had in ensuring the Badlands was kept from the Natives. On May 2, 1922, Senator Peter Norbeck introduced a bill to turn the area into a national park, originally called “Wonderland National Park in the State of South Dakota.” This proposal also outlined that the Secretary of the Interior could routinely add lands that might be “donated” for such purposes. The bill promptly died for a number of reasons, largely because the automobile industry was not yet booming and there simply did not seem to be
Fort Laramie Treaty
enough draw or access to the area to create a national park. Instead, Norbeck was offered a monument instead, but he persisted in his vision of seeing his national park dream come to fruition. Support for Norbeck’s national park grew in the 1920s but was repeatedly rejected by the National Park Service. Eventually, after 16 years of debate, a national monument was established in 1939. The Badlands National Park was not designated as such until 1978. However, this was still “Indian land.” Just three years later in 1980 the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the U.S. had illegally taken the Black Hills— which was now part of the Badlands National Park. $100 million in reparations were offered, but what was known as the Sioux Nation at the time refused, stating that their land was never for sale. Today, that $100 million is worth over $1 billion. The U.S. government has kept pace with the inflation rate, to this day offering over $1 billion in reparations, but the Natives of
the Badlands have held steadfast. “We’d like to see that land back,” Rosebud’s Chief John Spotted Tail recently told the Smithsonian. The Fort Laramie Treaty, like all treaties, was meant to be an agreement between two sovereign nations. According to the U.S. Constitution, treaties are the “supreme law of the land,” but most non-Natives consider “Indian treaties” as simply Indian treaties. They do not think of them as their treaties, as everyone’s treaties. The Fort Laramie Treaty, as it was originally drafted and considered by Natives before it was broken, was meant to help ensure the survival of these Nations. Unsurprisingly, this did not unfold as it was written. It has been approximately five generations since the Fort Laramie Treaty was signed and broken, and in that time an increasing number of reservation land has been handed over to non-Native developers. Today, these Nations live on reservation islands throughout the Dakotas. HIKE IT OFF MAGAZINE
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Siŋté Glešká (Spotted Tail)
Spotted Tail explains, “From the time we signed it, we were put into poverty and to this day our people are still in poverty. We’re a third world country out there.” The Oglala Lakota County in South Dakota’s per-capita income reflects Spotted Tail’s observation. It is the poorest county in the United States today. “The United States does not honor this treaty and continues to break it,” says Spotted Tail. “But as Lakota people we honor it every day.” Today, there are a number of national parks, memorials, monuments, and other historic sites situated in the Black Hills. These include Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. The compounded interest of
Congress’ ruling of the theft of the Black Hills and Badlands continues to increase with little likelihood that the Lakotas will acquiesce to such financial reparations anytime soon. The #LandBack movement has spread in Native communities around what we call America today, and the Lakotas are a prime example of steadfastness when it comes to pushing for not just the trending “land acknowledgements” but an actual “land back” agreement. However, this will likely not occur any time soon. Should the Lakotas have their stolen land returned, this would result in a probable dismantling or otherwise drastic change to the Badlands National Park and other national “treasures.” A reparation does not inherently “repair Nations,” particularly when it is financially motivated rather than a wrong righted as it should be.
Jessica Mehta is a multi-award-winning Aniyunwiya (citizen of the Cherokee Nation) writer and artist. Born and based in Oregon, she takes advantage of her beautiful backyard of the Pacific Northwest on a daily basis. Learn more at www.thischerokeerose.com.
THE SPOOKIEST HIKES IN THE U.S. BY: COURTNEY JOHNSON, AUTHOR OF THE BEST UTAH CHILDREN'S HIKES
Whether it is the ghosts of war soldiers and old Native American legends or the cries of children and unexplained light helping to lead the way to safety, there are plenty of tales of hikers encountering the unexpected while on trails. Here are ten of the spookiest hikes to take in the U.S. if you are brave enough.
Bloody Lane Trail- Sharpsburg, Maryland The Bloody Lane Trail, located at the Antietam National Battlefield- a national monument, begins at the New York State Monument and ends near the cannon behind the visitor center. Once the site of one of the deadliest Civil War battles in 1862, the trail is an easy-rated trail at 1.6 miles long. After more than three hours of combat, 5,500 men were killed or wounded on Sunken Road (known as Bloody Lane). These soldiers are said to haunt the battlefield both in the daytime and at night. The dead soldiers, buried in unmarked graves near Burnside's Bridge, are still there, and their spirits come out at night playing drums. Visitors have smelled gunpowder and have heard gunfire, and have also heard singing. Reports of balls of blue light moving and soldiers walking down the lane and then vanishing are relatively common. Footsteps
heard at both the Pry House and the Piper House that stand on the battlefield have nobody associated with them. You can make this short hike longer by following the road to Mumma Farm and taking the Three Farms Trail, The Three Ridges Trail, and the Sherrick Farm Trail for a total of 4.6 miles and a slight elevation gain of 225 feet. An alternative hike is the figure 8 loop Burnside Bridge hike that passes the haunted bridge, hikes along Final Attack Trail, and Sherrick Farm Trail for 4.4 miles.
Chilnualna Falls Trail- Yosemite National Park, California A difficult-rated trail, this 8.4-mile trail features a steady climb with 2,300 feet in elevation gain. The trail includes three waterfalls and several cascades. Depending on what time of year you hike, you may have to cross a stream or not even reach the falls during peak runoff in the spring when the rivers are overflowing. Hikers are treated to views of the less visited Wawona area along the hike. Two Native American legends exist here. The first being about a young boy who drowned in Grouse Lake, and the second about the spirit Pohono. When the trail passes Grouse Lake, listen for the cries of a young boy (puppy-like cries) who once drowned there. According to Ahwahneechee Tribal legend, you can hear his cries for help. Anyone who jumps in the lake to save the boy will drown, the legend states. We all know that we shouldn't get too close to the edge of any canyon wall, waterfall, or steep drop-off. But, Native American legend says that those who do not listen may be pushed over the edge by the spirit of Pohono.
Ghost House Trail- Big Ridge State Park, Tennessee The name says it all about what makes this easy to moderate rated 1.2-mile hike, not for the faint of heart. In the late 1800s, life was hard for the residents of the Appalachians. Poverty and disease ran rapidly. The trail was once part of the homestead of Matson Hutchinson, where visitors have heard his daughter Mary's cries of suffering from the effects of tuberculosis. Matson, dressed in plaid, also haunts the woods where he once lived. Photos from visits to the family cemetery are said to have the shape of spirits behind the tombstones. Panting from the family dog can also be heard along this wooded trail. In addition to the Hutchinson family, Indian Rock is the site where the settler Peter Graves was scalped. His scalpless ghost has also spooked visitors. The cackles and cries of a witch hung by her father haunt the Gristmill- another haunted sight along the loop trail.
Iron Goat Trail- Skykomish, Washington This easy 5.7-mile loop off Stevens Pass in the cascades was once the site of one of the worst railroad disasters
in the U.S. In 1910, two passenger trains were derailed by an avalanche. Almost 100 lives were lost that day- their spirits said to haunt the trails and the now abandoned tracks and tunnels. With approximately 700 feet of elevation gain, hikers can peer into the tunnels along the trail from afar, but they cannot go into them. This trail is also closed at night. Visitors tell stories of hearing screams and the sounds of a train crash around the ghost town of Wellington. The first part of this looped trail is ADA accessible. Be sure not to miss the interpretive signs telling about this railroad's builders-once considered one of the best built of transcontinental railroads.
Long Path- Theills, New York The Long Path runs from the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City to John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York and covers 358 miles. It passes through state parks, preserves, and forest land. The section that connects Theills, New York, to the Letchworth Village Cemetery is something out of a movie. Letchworth was once a mental institution that opened in 1911 and closed in 1996. The T-shaped markers found at the cemetery are graves of the residents of Letchworth- mostly children represented by a number and not a grave. Experiments were performed on resident children without permission. The institution was overcrowded, leading to deplorable conditions and led to death for some residents.
For those walking this moderate stretch of Longs Path, they have seen children roaming the grounds amongst over 900 gravesites and around the 130 or so now crumbling buildings. The cries and screams of children unwillingly being experimented on for the polio vaccines and other tests have been heard along the path. Unnatural sounds from the buildings have been reported as well as tall figures standing in doorways.
Mammoth Cave National Park - Brownsville, Kentucky Some call Mammoth Cave "the most haunted natural wonder in the world." A book entitled Scary Stories of Mammoth Cave, written by park rangers Colleen O'Connor Olson and Charles Hanion, tells the tales of hundreds of documented paranormal activities that have taken place within the caves. There are over 18 miles of trails around the visitor center and on the south side. On the north side of the park, there are over 60 miles of backcountry trails. But, the real haunted activity happens within the cave walls. Tours of the caves vary by time of year, so check the website to see what tours are running when you plan to visit.
A cave explorer, Floyd Collins, once owned Crystal Cave on Flint Ridge - one of the caves part of the Mammoth Cave system. Charging for tours, Collins wanted to commercialize more caves. While exploring Sand Cave in 1925, Collins became trapped. With cave collapses and other dangers, it took several days for rescuers to get to him. When the rescue team arrived, Collins was dead. The ghost of Collins has been seen roaming the caves. His cries for help echo against the cave walls. Rocks and other objects have been thrown at people from unknown sources. Visitors have also reported feeling like they have been touched and/or pushed by unknown beings. Weird shadows have been seen via lantern light while people have been touring the caves. The caves were once used as a burial ground for local aboriginal tribes and cave explorers- many of whom died of tuberculosis. In the 1800s, there was a tuberculosis hospital on site. Coughing has been heard within the walls of the caves. The huts once used by patients can be seen if you take the Violet City Lantern Tour. Slave apparitions have also been spotted in the caves. Visitors have said to have seen the ghost of explorer, tour guide, and slave Steven Bishop who is buried nearby.
Manoa Falls- Oahu, Hawaii This 1.6-mile out and back hike in the Manoa Valley features a 150-foot waterfall. Visitors to this lush forest have told Hawaiian tales of night marchers- ghosts that march along to the beat of ancient drums. Their forms have switched between tale-tellers from Hawaiian royalty to warriors in full armor. The marchers, also known as hukai'po, often hover overhead carrying torches as they walk amongst the banyan trees. As the name would have it, these ghosts appear at night, although a few hikers have said they have heard the drumbeat during the daytime. Even though they float above, the night marchers often leave footprints along this muddy trail. Locals say that if you happen to see a marcher, do not look them in the eye. Lay down on the ground and "play dead" until the spirit(s) march by to avoid tragic consequences.
Norton Creek Trail-Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, encompasses over 816 square miles. Within the park
boundaries are more than 200 known cemeteries. The Norton Creek Trail (also referred to as the Noland Creek Trail) goes through the highest concentration of cemeteries in all the region. Begin on the north shore of Lake Fontana and take the trail six miles upstream. Along the way, the trail passes by crumbling chimneys, stone fences, and remains of old homes and buildings, all adding to the eeriness. The trail leads to the Upper and Lower Norton Cemeteries. Perhaps along your hike, you will run into the legend, Spearfinger. Her Cherokee name, U'tlun'ta, means "she had it sharp." Spearfinger is said to have a long stone finger with a knife on the end. She would wander the trails looking for children who wandered too far from their homes. Posing as a grandmother, she would rock the children to sleep. Once asleep, she would use her finger to cut out the children's livers- a favorite food of hers to eat. Can you hear the lullabies? If you get lost, do not fear. Instead, look for the light leading you to safety. It is the light of a man once killed while looking for his lost daughter in the Great Smokies. If you are courageous enough, you can even get a backcountry permit to spend a night or two at one of the campsites along the trail. Yearly, families still come out to participate in "December Days", where they come to
to decorate the graves and celebrate their loved ones who are buried there.
Transept Trail- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, you will find the out and back Transept Trail. This out and back trail is 2.0 miles one way and connects the Grand Canyon Lodge to the North Rim Campground. While the trail heads up and down the rim, it only has approximately 280 feet of elevation change but is steep in parts. As you hike past the wildflowers, listen for the sounds of the Wailing Woman. Most often seen at night, she wears a long white dress mourning the loss of her son and husband, who perished in a hiking accident. Amongst the pines and aspens, you can hear her sorrow as the trail takes you along a tributary of Bright Angel Canyon. A rustling in the trees….. was that the Wailing Woman or a mule deer, one of the common animals found along the trail? Head out to catch the sunset from this perfect vantage point. Keep your eyes open for a woman in a white dress while you listen for cries echo in the canyon as she calls out to her long lost lover.
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White Sands National Park- Alamogordo, New Mexico Along the dunes lives Pavla Blanca- the ghost of White Sands National Park. In 1540, a Spanish conquistador Hernando Luna was looking for the lost Seven Cities with an explorer Francisco Coronado. They were ambushed by Apaches and killed. Mañuela- Luna's wife, who stayed in Mexico City, was never seen again. The ghost of Mañuela is said to appear at sunset. Dressed in a wedding gown, she looks for her fiance, who perished in this now national park. She flies over the dunes taken along by nightly breezes in search of the love of her life. There is no set route for climbing the dunes, and Pavla Blanca has appeared in different areas around the park in her endless search.
Courtney Johnson is a book author, freelance writer and teacher based in Erie, CO. Most of her days are spent chasing her 7 year old daughter on the bike trails, ski runs and up climbing routes. You can follow her adventures at: https://adventureswithmylittleray.com/.
WILD WOMEN IN HIKING Meet Erin Parisi, TranSending Athlete by Jaime Purinton
Meet Erin Parisi, TranSending Athlete Thanks to a virtual introduction from my dear friend, Karla Amador, Co-Founder of the 52 Hike Challenge, I was able to meet Erin and learn about her and TranSending, a 501c3 designated non-profit dedicated to the advancement of transgender rights throughout all aspects of society by promoting athletics as a platform of transgender awareness and inclusion. With the support of TranSending, Erin has committed to their inaugural challenge of “The 7 Summits”. The goal of the challenge is for Erin to become the first transgender athlete to climb to the single highest summit on each of the seven continents. These summits are known as the "7 Summits" and include:
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa 19,341 feet Mount Kosciuszko, Australia 7,319 feet Mount Elbrus, Europe 18,510 feet Vinson Massif, Antarctica 16,050 feet Mount Aconcagua, South America 22,383 feet Mount Denali, North America 20,310 feet Mount Everest, Asia 29,050 feet So far, Erin has made it to the top of three summits- with ascents in Australia, Africa, & Europe. She battled many challenges, like food poisioning HIKE IT OFF MAGAZINE
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extreme weather, and
a crossing of the Himalayas in
unfriendly LGBTQ
Nepal, several ski
communities along the way,
mountaineering trips through
but she persevered, and
Canada & the USA, and
found success climbing the
mountain bike descents
first three summits.
across North and South America.
Erin is a lifelong athlete, and has adventured around the
She is an inspiring force and
world including heli-skiing in
sharply dedicated to sharing
Alaska, two summit
her positive message of what
completions on Kilimanjaro,
it means to be "trans".
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Jaime: What is TranSending?
opportunities. In many ways
What is the reason you
the world has failed
founded it?
communicate and create narratives of trans lives that
Erin: TranSending is a small
can be celebrated -
organization run by an three
TranSending is attempting to
person, volunteer board of
fix that by visibly supporting
directors that was founded to
and amplifying positive trans
engage the LGBTQ+
stories.
community in outdoor opportunities, and is focused
Jaime: Tell us about the 7
on working with trans and
summits and your role in the
non-binary members of the
inaugural challenge?
community. It was founded through the efforts of a few
Erin: Completing the 7
community leaders who were
Summits is mountaineering
seeking to put a system in
goal of standing on the
place to help trans people
highest summit in each
improve their lives by
continent. I spent my entire life
engaging in outdoors spaces
looking for positive narratives
and activities.
and role models of trans people in the outdoor
We believe there are
community; until recently
opportunities to break the
there were none. As a matter
historical cycle of
of fact, while about 500 people
marginalization that has been
have completed the 7
detrimental to trans people by
Summits - not one trans
facilitating positive and
person is known to have
humanizing narratives and
completed. That shows a
disturbing
opportunities to break the
underrepresentation for trans
historical cycle of
folks that’s unfortunately
marginalization that has been
endemic in many aspects of
detrimental to trans people by
life. I was recruited by
facilitating positive and
TranSending to help lift the
humanizing narratives and
trans flag to the highest point
opportunities. In many ways
in each continent. I had
the world has failed
already summited three of the
communicate and create
Seven Summits when the
narratives of trans lives that
board decided to help my
can be celebrated -
efforts. We believe there are
TranSending is attempting to fix that by visibly supporting and amplifying positive trans stories. Jaime: Why are you drawn to the mountains- especially climbing the tallest one on each continent? Erin: I have always been drawn to the mountains for several reasons - but mostly that revolves around the healing properties of being outside. Whether you are looking to grow as an individual, or looking to
explore with friends, you can
could be “trans and
find personal growth and
adventurous”, which was a big
challenge outdoors.
part of my pre-transition life. In a lot of ways I was seeking to
As far as the Seven Summits, I
reassert my freedom to explore
took them on for a few
after such a huge life change.
reasons. First, I wanted to retake and tell my narrative
The Seven Summits to me
without feeling I had to hide.
means standing up out of the
The media has long amplified
shadows, and finding a place
violence, discrimination, and
to show you are proud to be
misrepresentation on trans
yourself - I want to scream that
people. But, I never learned I
from the highest mountain. I
was taught to hide and hate
it. It not always easy, nor
myself most of my life. I’m
possible, to own your narrative.
done feeling like I should have
My best advice is to find
to hide. Plus, it give me a
someone who is supportive, or
chance to tell the haters to aim
begin to move away from
higher!
people who aren’t supportive of positive change in your life.
Jaime: How have you been
I’ve found friends and allies
changed by nature? What is
have played a huge role in my
your advice for someone
story, once I found them and
looking to make a change in
gave them a chance to support
their own life and not sure
me.
where to start? Jaime: You just recently Erin: Nature changes you each
returned from attempting
time you get out there - and
Denali, how did that go? What
the more you go, the more
did you learn from the
long term benefits you will
mountain?
gain outdoors. We all deserve the mental health and physical
Erin: Denali is a whole lot of
benefits earned through the
mountain, with severe
outdoors.
conditions, and unique climbing challenges. In the
I frequently tell people that the
lead up to Denali I watched
day they stop letting the world
nearly three dozen states
tell their story, is the day they
attempt to pass almost 250
begin to write their story the
laws restricting the trans
way they would choose to live
community in many aspects of
life. These past six months
will be next, but Denali and I
have taught me the important
aren’t done yet. Early season
of an athletes mental strength
Denali this year proved to be
to complete a huge physical
extraordinarily challenging -
challenge.
our team wasn’t afforded a summit window.
Jaime: What kind of training goes into climbing mountains
Jaime: What does “Hike It Off”
like Denali?
mean to you?
Erin: I was outside climbing up
Erin: “Hike it off” to me sums
hill with a weighted pack or
up the mental benefits and
pulling a sled 4 days a week,
safe space the outdoors
and in the gym doing more
provides. Hiking is a great way
traditional workouts 2 days a
to separate yourself from the
week, with one rest day. Covid
vigor of your day or even
added an enormous challenge
traumas in life.
to finding places to complete that work and not place myself
Jaime: If you could choose one
at risk of any long term affects
person to climb a mountain
that have been attributed to
with who would that be and
Covid.
why?
Jaime: What will be your next
Erin: Amelia Earhart. I don’t
summit attempts?
know that she loved climbing at all, but she was at the
Erin: I’m just now getting off of
forefront of a women’s
Denali, and trying not to look
adventure revolution and
too far ahead. I think Vinson
probably faced the same
polarizing bullying and
community support you?
successes I face today. Whenever I’m having a tough
Erin: - I’d encourage people to
day I think about her saying
open their climbing and
“never interrupt someone
outdoor circles to include
doing what you said couldn’t
peoplewho maybe aren’t
be done.” That keeps me
traditionally associated with
climbing - I can only imagine
the outdoors. It might mean
what other wisdom she picked
hiking a bit slower every now
up proving her trolls wrong.
and then, or being patient with someone who is new to a
Jaime: Is there anything new
mountain bike, but we all
on the horizon for you? How
benefit when more people are
can the hiking/outdoor
enjoying and advocating for
the outdoors. The best way to
Follow Erin's journey and
bring people in is to embrace
support TranSending here.
our differences and commit to finding new folks to share the trail with.
LEAVE
THE
DISTRACTIONS
BEHIND
by Christine Reed
Do
you
ever
get
bored
on
the
trail?
Boredom can feel antsy or anxious, irritating or frustrating. It’s an uncomfortable space to be. It’s the feeling that arises when you are unoccupied or uninterested in what’s happening around you. As children, we experience boredom when we’re riding in the car and grocery shopping with our mom and done with our math work before others in the class. It’s a state of discontent that comes on quickly and fills our heads with a buzzing drone. The inner sound of nothing. When the mind is not saying “look at this” and “have feelings about that,” what does it say? As adults, we often turn to screens to rescue ourselves from impending boredom. Sitting in the doctor’s office, we scroll through social media. While standing in line at the grocery store, we refresh our emails. After work, we flip on the television and plant ourselves in front of it or play video games late into the night. If screens don’t offer enough protection from boredom, we turn to shopping, alcohol, drugs—anything for a quick release of feel-good chemicals and a fuzzy sheen over the idea of self. We would rather be distracted by the external than dive within our minds.
From
—
boredom
looking
without
we
OR
can
choose
looking
two
routes,
within.
Every time I step on the trail, I find it easier to do both. Nature is my gateway to a view of something bigger than myself. The mountains, which were here before time itself. The trees, who have known many lifetimes. The rivers and lakes and their families of fish do not know me, but I visit to understand them—to know anything other than myself. I study the pink and purple of the wildflowers and the patterns of the clouds. Christine does not exist out there. I become only a pair of eyes, ears, a nose with which to sense the world. If for only a moment—I become small enough to disappear.
In
between
to
my
most
those
moments,
profound
nature
knowing
of
gives
me
access
self.
It becomes a reflection of my inner world, and I start to see myself everywhere I look. To walk quietly through an unknown place is to let the silence in. Without the screens and books and podcasts and dopamine hits—I must derive experience from within. There is nothing left to tamp down my insecurities and fears and grief and pain. On the trail is where I face myself most fully, experience my physicality with the most awareness, and think my most creatively. I must unpack the things I’ve kept hidden. For the mind to process or to create, it must wander. And the mind wanders with the feet. In Deep Work, Cal Newport explains a type of “professional activity performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that pushes your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.” He describes the feeling of boredom that may arise in this distraction-free zone and how it often comes before a breakthrough. I firmly believe that the idea of Deep Work can be applied not only to professional and creative pursuits—but to personal work as well. Processing trauma and grief is not surface. Becoming a stronger person and rooting out the source of your stories cannot be done while multi-tasking. Time must be set aside to do the work of inner exploration. Discomfort and resistance in the form of boredom will meet you along the way. The trail is a trusty key through which I unlock the door to myself. When I think about the beautiful places I have hiked, I think of who I was at that time, but more importantly, how the lack of distraction
and the presence of deep work fueled progress or growth. The trails that come most easily to mind are those on which my deepest work has been done. Indeed, there were times on those trails that I was bored. Boredom is the threshold through which I must pass. To gain access to the place where creative thought, ideas, and physical awareness bring me closer to my truth. I do not linger long there anymore—for I know what lies beyond. And one does not do well to linger in the in between space.
Christine Reed is an avid amateur outdoors woman. Her upbringing as a military brat taught her to see . everywhere and nowhere as home. She didn't start hiking until after college, when she realized she wasn't sure where her life was headed and sought out a defined path on the Appalachian Trail. Her backpacking memoir, Alone in Wonderland is a story about backpacking the Wonderland Trail around Mt Rainier. But it's also a story about defining who we are in the world and challenging ideas about who we should be. Check out Alone in Wonderland Follow her on Instagram
ALPINE PARROT'S ROOTS:
CREATING OUTDOOR CLOTHING THAT ENCOURAGES AND CELEBRATES UNDERREPRESENTED PEOPLE IN THE OUTDOORS by Raquel Vélez
I never really considered myself an “outdoorsy” person. For one, I didn’t grow up loving the outdoors. For another, I never really saw people who looked like me talking about how
great it is to be outside all the time. While all the kids my age played tag and hunted for bugs, my elementary school self preferred to be inside, living vicariously through
characters in my favorite books and movies. This was my life all through college - to be clear, I was also really athletic, playing on the varsity volleyball team in high school and taking dance classes in college. I’d go on what I like to call “nature walks” with my family - my aversion to bugs aside, I thoroughly enjoyed walking through El Yunque or climbing the Great Wall of China. But the idea of eating food out of a bag, sleeping on the ground, and being away from civilization? No, thank you. My immigrant parents didn’t work their butts off to give me a bed to sleep in and a roof over my head just so that I could pee in the woods! I met my now-husband in my mid-twenties. He grew up very differently from me; he was probably a bug-hunter as a kid and was definitely a regular attendee at Burning Man. He introduced me to nature in a really innocent
"On these walks, I discovered that I really loved being surrounded by trees." way - he asked if I wanted to take his dog for a walk in one of the nearby parks. Little did I realize that the park was more than a suburban park with a swing set and a sandbox there were trails and trees and a distinct lack of the sounds of urban life. On these walks, I discovered that I really loved being surrounded by trees. I POSTMODERN PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in especially loved looking out on oil and watercolor incredible vistas. And being away from “it all” was far more useful to my mental health than the constant grind of workaholism. But I still wouldn’t consider myself “outdoorsy.” We moved to northern California in 2013. I was so excited to live in San Francisco - I started “city hiking” just to see as much of my new city as possible, loving how simple it was to walk
from one end to the other (it’d be a long day, sure, but it was still doable)! We explored more parks, both within city limits and in the surrounding areas. I think having the excuse of two dogs needing to get out of the city was what really drove us to more trees and steeper climbs. We went to explore Lake Tahoe, only 3 hours away from SF by car. My husband wanted to learn to ski, and even
though I’d tried once and failed miserably (pro-tip: don’t let a boyfriend teach you to pizza and french fry and then leave you to figure the rest out on your own!), I was hesitant to let him go by himself, so I insisted that I join him, that we take a lesson, and that we try not to fall off the mountain and die. I put on the clothes that I had packed for the trip; I knew it might snow, but I didn’t have
any snow gear - armed with sweatpants, a hoodie, water resistant pants, and a raincoat, we headed off to the mountain. I squeezed my juicy calves into painful rental boots, bought a pair of goggles to wear over my glasses (I’ll never know why I didn’t wear my contact lenses that day), and headed off to the bunny hill with a pair of skis, poles, and a helmet. I remember it was snowing. There were several people in our lesson. The instructor was patient and passionate about the slippery metal sticks that were supposed to go on our feet. My feet hurt, and I was cold. But I loved it. I loved every minute of that lesson, especially the parts when we went downhill. My pizza (wedge) was terrible, and I was terrified to french fry (parallel ski), but the feeling of the wind on my face transformed my very being. And then we attempted a ski lift and went down a green
run, thinking that we had properly mastered the bunny hill. My husband crashed, and I couldn’t stop. I flew down the mountain, and - like a character out of Looney Toons - I crashed into a pile of snow with a little mushroom cloud. But I laughed. And laughed and laughed and laughed. I dreamed of that 4-hour experience for days. I couldn’t wait to go back. I have skied every season since then, and my pizza and french fry bunny-hill style has graduated POSTMODERN PAINTING. Stella to carving down black alternately paints in oil and watercolor diamonds. I still laugh every time I fly down the hill. I’m smiling just thinking about it now.
"My feet hurt, and I was cold. But I loved it. I loved every minute of that lesson, especially the parts when we went downhill. "
Skiing was my gateway into nature. When there wasn’t enough snow, I turned to hiking. When hiking wasn’t enough, I started camping. When I couldn’t drive out to the mountains, I started rock climbing. I think it’s safe to say I’m “outdoorsy” now. But even then, I hesitate to use that word. Because if it wasn’t for that flying-down-the-mountain joy, I doubt I would have ever discovered my love for being outside. TheHike unfortunate by reality is that as a plus size woman of color,
Trail
" I think it’s safe to say I’m “outdoorsy” now. But even then, I hesitate to use that word. " there are social and physical barriers to entry when it comes to enjoying nature: socially, it’s rare to see Black and brown people outside; physically, it’s rare to find clothes made in my size that will serve and protect me from the elements. Despite generations of POSTMODERN ancestors who have worked PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in oil and watercolor on, lived in, and served the land, American people of color have been pushed away from
nature. Whether that’s from explicit segregation, barring Black folks from entering national parks, or from the promise of the American Dream that pushes immigrants to work hard to buy a home and step out of poverty - there is an underlying cultural fear and lack of exposure. It doesn’t have to be this way, but it helps no one to deny the presence of these stigmas. And despite the fact that 68% of American women are a size 14 and up, or that the average American woman is a size 16 or 18,Hike it’s nearly by impossible to find outdoor gear in outdoor Trailthat come in sizes retail stores larger than 14. (In spring 2020, I counted less than 10% of hiking pants at a certain national chain were available in “plus sizes.”) So how do we fix this? How do we give people the gifts of fresh air and separation from overwork, when there are so many systemic barriers in place?
When I learned how to ski, I used the clothing I had available to me at the time. When I fell in love with skiing, I went looking for snow pants and a snow jacket. As a size 16, my options were limited to a pair of pants that barely fit my hips and left a massive gap in the waistband. Truly - only my love of flying gave me the
ability to forgive the regular amounts of snow that snuck down my backside with every fall. So I decided to use my background in mechanical engineering to learn to sew. I started with making a pillow, then skirts, then t-shirts. I worked my way into the depths of sewing, to the point where I learned to make my own patterns, and took classes on fashion history and brand development. I went to a factory boot camp, learning to use industrial sewing machines along with the basics of mass Hike byproduction.
Trail Through this process, I made clothes that intentionally fit my body, and I never felt so comfortable and confident. Many of us who have spent any time trying to modify our bodies to fit our clothes miss out on the epiphany that occurs when our clothes are modified to fit our bodies. Just as skiing changed my perception of the outdoors, so
too did properly fitting clothing unlock my perception of myself. The epiphany was so impactful that I desperately wanted other people to experience it too. Despite my nearly decade-long career as a software engineer and engineering manager, I decided to leave my job and start an outdoor apparel company. While it might appear extreme on the surface, the POSTMODERN reality is that I had everything PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in oil and watercolor I already needed to be successful: my deep-dive sewing hobby gave me the understanding of how to sew, make patterns, and work in a factory; I have vast experience in product development through my career in software. The only thing missing was a product. So I set out to make hiking pants. A lot like snow pants, hiking pants are cheaper and easier to make, with a far
larger audience of people. I named my company Alpine Parrot, which refers to the kea, the only alpine parrot in the world. A treasure of the Māori people, the kea lives in the Southern Alps of New Zealand and lives a life outside the stereotype. Whereas most folks might associate parrots with tropical beaches and jaunty songs, the alpine parrot plays in the snow, makes friends easily, and is one of the smartest animals on the planet. Moreover, despite its olive green exterior, its rainbow underwings are breathtakingly visible when it flies.
Alpine Parrot’s mission is to create outdoor apparel that celebrates and encourages underrepresented people in the outdoors, namely people of size and people of color. Like the alpine parrot, underrepresented people are grossly underestimated - we are out here, participating in nature and thriving. And, like the alpine parrot, when we are in our element, we really and truly shine. Nature is for all of us, whether we consider ourselves POSTMODERN “outdoorsy” or not. It’s my PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in oil and watercolor hope that by breaking down some of the physical barriers to entry, we can come together as a community to break down the social barriers as well.
Have you taken the 52 Hike Challenge?
Sign up at 52hikechallenge.com
TIME OF THE SEASON BY MONET YELSNICK
This last year required the world to sit still for a moment. It needed us to take a collective deep breath and pause. During this pause, with the usual pleasant distractions of friends, holidays, and family time out of the picture, for the most part, there was so much more time to notice the immediate world around us. I, for one, noticed the flower buds coming in spring when I usually only notice the flowers. I felt the air change, noticed a difference in the pigeons on my block. These are things that would typically never even cross my mind, but this carried over into the trail as well! Usually an escape from my busy city life, hiking was my new go-to, replacing friend and family time, replacing overtime, replacing going out dancing. I was spending so much time in the same patch of green I started to see the minor changes in the woods too. With Fall either here or approaching (depending on where you live), I invite you to notice. To soak in the rhythm around you and to let it help you understand the rhythms in your own life.
The leaves are falling, and the trees are going bare, but baby ferns and nettles are ripe for foraging, and the falling of the leaves feeds the mushrooms that drive an entire economy in my region. Death brings life, and our lives are intimately connected to the cycle of death and rebirth of the landscape around us. This new abundance of hiking has made me understand the process of changes in ways I had never seen before. Hiking is an altogether different experience in the summer than in the fall; it’s different every season. The animals you see and hear, the vegetation around you, the feel of the soil underfoot, the swell of the creeks, it’s constantly changing! This used to seem so vast and unpredictable to me, so mysterious. Still, as it has become a larger part of my life, I have learned this living ecosystem around me and become familiar with the natural cycles happening year-round. The beauty is that this has helped me recognize similar cycles within myself. Spring gets a lot of the glory when it comes to embracing change- it's a beautiful change that we can see in bright colors, cute baby animals, sunny skies, warmer weather. It's such a pleasant change that we can't help but celebrate, but it can often cause us to look down on the vital changes in fall and winter. We need temperatures to drop, leaves to decay on the ground to provide nutrients, and more access to sunlight for the small plants below their rich canopies. We need the collective deep breath of the environment around us as it gathers energy and resources to burst forth with the glory of spring and summer. We need this in ourselves as well.
This is a direct parallel in our own lives. Sometimes the gritty work, the messiness of moving, changing jobs, ending or changing relationships, digging deep, and facing the ways we hold ourselves back or are too hard on ourselves– our fall and winter seasons, if you will–are vital for us to be our own moments of spring and summer. They are natural, they are cyclical, and they can be nutrient-rich and invaluable in our lives if we let them. The nature of being human is that you can't help but learn. Every experience is stored somewhere inside of you and influences you throughout your life. If we take a moment to actively participate in the downturns and regain control of the narrative, we can use these moments to learn and propel us forward rather than be subsumed by them. We can make award-winning lemonade out of even the sourest lemons. We can't fight change, it's just the nature of our world, but it's possible to not feel like a rag doll shaken in the jaws of change. If we can step outside ourselves for a moment and remember our leaves are just falling to shine a light on plants hoping to grow, we can pull through changes feeling more in control and maybe even a little excited to see what blooms.
“Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.” — Yoko Ono
A
C
T
C
H
B Y :
E
E
S
S
O
I
U
B
T
D E N I S E
I
L
D
I
O
T
O
Y
R
I
N
S
V A S Q U E Z
My name is Denise Vasquez,
"I
USE
MY
and I am a Puerto Rican,
SHARE
Published Travel Photographer,
INSPIRE,
Artist, Author, Actress, Producer, Promoter, Content Creator, Consultant, and Founder of The Disabled
HEART
TO
COLORFUL
AND
DIVERSITY,
INCLUSION,
BECAUSE
IT
CREATE,
MOMENTS,
ADVOCATE
FOR
EQUALITY,
AND
IS
ACCESSIBILITY,
ALL
A
PART
OF
MY
BEING."
Photographer Project. I use my
writing, playing guitar,
heART to create, share Colorful
publishing and producing three
Moments, inspire, and advocate
albums featuring my music on
for diversity, equality, inclusion,
Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
and accessibility, because it is
Music, and so much more.
all a part of my being. I was born and raised in New I have done everything from
York City, but I left home at the
winning trophies in track and
age of 17 and have been
field, singing in choirs, playing
traveling the world since. My
the violin in an orchestra,
story is a long one, but a good
dancing in music videos,
one! Here’s the short
performing on stages around
version. I turned 52 this year,
the world doing my music,
and for me, age is just a
stand up comedy, improv,
reminder of where I’ve been
sketch comedy and theater,
and where I am! My experiences
acting on TV shows, movies,
of living in New York, Scotland,
writing a book, working on Wall
London, The US Virgin Islands,
Street, being a Dive
California, and traveling to
Master/Rescue Diver, wedding
places like Japan, Germany,
consultant, producer, promoter,
Italy, Ireland, Spain, Amsterdam,
host, talent booker, to singing,
Liverpool, London, Wales…have
led me to share my journey
The travel bug bit me when I
through writing, music, art &
was a child on my first plane
photography.
ride to Puerto Rico! During the summer months, my mother
People sometimes ask me
would send me to visit my
where do I consider home. If
grandparents. My grandfather
home is where the heart is,
appreciated the gifts nature
when I am outdoors, I am
offered us, and would often
home! My love for the
take me around the island to
outdoors began at a very early
the beaches where he would
age. I grew up in New York
free-dive for conch shells, the
City, and was raised by a single
mountains where he would
mother, who always found a
pick Quenepas, and his
way to take me to parks, the
favorite farmland area where
beach, and on camping trips.
he would pick up mangos that
.
fell from the biggest tree
Many people view New York
I’ve ever seen. I’ll always
City as nothing more than a
remember when he climbed up
concrete jungle, but growing
a palm tree, picked a coconut,
up there, exposed me to nature,
cut it open, and had me taste
culture, and the arts. Living in
Coconut water for the!
NYC was really beneficial when
first time. Colorful moments
it came to studying and
like these showed me how
performing dance, voice, music,
delicious nature is in every way!
acting, theater, comedy and improv.
My connection to being on trails, started during my track
My love for traveling motivated
and field years from elementary
me to move to St. John, US
school throughout college. We
Virgin Islands, in the 90’s. While
didn’t have tracks in the
living there, I became totally
schools I attended in New York
obsessed with hiking, scuba
City, except for one that I never
diving, underwater
had the chance to run on
photography and learning more
because we moved from the
about the National Park Service.
Bronx to Roosevelt Island and I
Many people don’t know it, but
changed schools. I was usually
2/3 of the island of St. John is
training on trails in parks, and I
National Park. One of my
am so glad because running,
favorite trails on St. John where
jogging, walking, and hiking,
I would hike often is called
outdoors changed my life. It
“Reef Bay trail”. The trail
introduced me to the
features tropical forests, ancient
interconnectedness of my
petroglyphs carved by the Taino
breath, my focus, my inner self,
Indians, and sugar mill ruins.
my steps, my body, and nature.
Whenever I hiked the trail, I
"WHENEVER
I
OFTEN
A
FELT
HIKED
THE
TRAIL,
DEEP
often felt a deep INTERCONNECTEDNESS
interconnectedness with myself, nature and everything
MYSELF,
NATURE
EVERYTHING
WITH
AND
AROUND
ME.
"
around me. Hiking the trail always made me feel totally at
promoting, and booking talent,
peace, inspired, and happy. I
in 6 of my “Ladies Night” Music
had a very busy life living on St.
Festivals.
John, so it was nice to find some tranquility on the trail.
After living in the US Virgin
Some might think there’s not
Islands for many years, I moved
much to do living on a small
to Los Angeles where I held
island, but on the contrary, if
many jobs, including acting,
there wasn’t an opportunity for
music, stand up comedy, and
myself and others, I found ways
promoting, producing, booking
to create it. As an actress,
talent, photographing, hosting
model, dancer,
and performing in my WO+MEN
production/casting assistant, I
4 A CAUSE and WO+MEN 4
worked both in front of and
APPLAUSE comedy and music
behind the camera on movies,
variety shows. I also worked
music videos, and commercials. professionally as an outdoor As an artist I was hired to hand photographer! I loved doing paint clothing, bottles,
photography outdoors so much,
storefront windows. As a
I decided to make a career
singer/songwriter/
move and focused my attention
guitarist I got hired to perform
on doing it full time.
at the resorts, restaurants, bars, and once I got in the door, I
When I left Los Angeles, and
included others by producing,
moved to San Diego, I found
I
another job working for a
positive things. But to make a
company as an outdoor
long story short, I went to hell
photographer.
and back, ending up with a permanent disability, Achilles
I loved my job until I got injured
tendon injury, CRPS, chronic
at work, got lost in a broken
pain, atrophy, and more.
system, and ended up being in a wheelchair for almost 3 years.
Every moment of every day, I
I don’t like revisiting every
face new challenges,
detail of what I went through, it was really traumatic for me mentally, physically and spiritually. I want to live happy life, so I’m staying present, in the moment, focused on depending on how bad the flare up or chronic pain is. I can’t sit or stand for too long. Sometimes I can walk for up to two hours, sometimes I need to take breaks after one hour and
"
I
WENT
ENDING
TO
UP
HELL
WITH
PERMANENT
ACHILLES
CRPS,
AND
A
DISABILITY,
TENDON
CHRONIC
ATROPHY,
BACK,
AND
INJURY,
PAIN,
MORE."
sit. Sometimes I use walking
prepare more, do more
sticks to help me stay balanced
research, and work harder.
because of the atrophy that
Which is nothing new to me
developed, I’m off balance.
being a Puerto Rican Woman,
Sometimes I can’t stand or walk
I’ve always had to work harder
at all, so that’s when I use my
to accomplish any of my goals!
wheelchair, which gives me access to places when I can’t
While in therapy, I also learned
walk. After years of being lost in
about mindfulness. I lost myself
the workers comp system, my
in the trauma of my
lawyer helped me get into in a
experiences over the last few
Pain Management Program
years, and mindfulness
which helped me get back on
reconnected me to my mind,
my feet. While in the program,
body and spirit! It taught me
one of my therapists asked me,
how to be aware of myself, to
“what is your dream job?” I’ve
slow down, breathe, to notice
lived a life of helping others
my thoughts, my body, what
accomplish their dreams, but I
I’m feeling, what I’m doing,
haven’t really thought about
acceptance, how to be present
my own dreams, for a long
and focused on this moment
time. I dug deep, and decided I
without any judgement, and
wanted to continue pursuing
that there’s no right or wrong
my lifelong dream of being an
way to think or feel! My
outdoor travel photographer,
photography has always been
on my own terms, at my own
about connecting with the
pace. Being disabled, does not
outdoors while capturing
mean I am not able to work, do
colorful moments as they occur,
things, or accomplish my
but I now apply mindfulness to
dreams. It just means I have to
my photography, and it has
opened me up to a new
Being disabled has changed my
approach that not only makes
life in so many ways. It’s made
doing photography fun, but it
me slow down, look at myself,
takes away a lot of the pressure,
be honest with myself, put
stress and anxiety that used to
myself first and make decisions
come with past jobs of having
based on what is best for me
to hurry up and capture those
and my health mentally and
perfect shots! By incorporating
physically. These are things I’ve
mindfulness into my
never done in my life. I’ve
photography and outdoor
always used to put everyone
sessions, I am truly happy
else first, that was until I got
because I’m aware, totally in
hurt. I used to work crazy long
the moment, and able to focus
hours on my feet, and now
on my connection with myself,
thankfully, being overworked
the person I’m photographing,
and underpaid is no longer an
and nature. I’m using my Zoom
option. Bookings that would
lens more now than ever, in a
require me to run around,
different way. Rather than get
carrying a lot of equipment, in
frustrated about not being able
high temperatures or stressful
to have access to a place I want
environments, with no water or
to photograph, I use my zoom
barely any breaks, are no longer
lens to bring the place to me.
options for me, and honestly I’m
Incorporating mindfulness into
OK with that!
my mini-photo sessions, also makes my clients more relaxed
Being disabled has also
and happier, resulting in a
changed how I get outdoors,
memorable experience
hike, and travel. I’ve been
featuring beautiful, candid,
visiting, hiking and doing
and natural photographs!
photography, in Joshua Tree
National Park since 1999, and it
Because these trails are not
wasn’t until I was in a
ADA compliant, the only option
wheelchair, that I realized how
I have, to do my photography, is
unaccessible the park really is.
to set up my tripod, camera and
Accessibility has improved a
chair in the parking lot.
little in the park over the years, but there is still so much work
Being in a wheelchair for
to be done. I have two favorite
almost three years showed me
trails, in the park where I’ve
a world that does not
gone over the years to
accommodate disabled people
photograph sunrises, sunsets
physically, mentally or
and the Milky Way, “Cap Rock”
spiritually. When venturing to
and “Cholla Cactus Garden”.
many National parks, State
Parks, and Local Parks, I noticed
focused around my
that too many trails, walkways,
photography, inclusion in the
restrooms, picnic areas,
outdoors, and accessibility in
campgrounds advertising
The National Parks. I’m using
being “Wheelchair Accessible”
my skills and my passion for
were not compliant with the
travel, to create content for
ADA Law which has been in
social media, write blogs, and
effect for over 30 years.
make YouTube videos. I’ve also been setting up meetings and
One day I had an epiphany.
consulting with some of The
Rather than sit around being
National Parks to bring
frustrated or stressed about
awareness while demonstrating
places not being accessible, I
which trails are really accessible
decided to do something about
and compliant with the ADA
it. I saw it as my opportunity to
law and which trails aren’t.
take what life has handed me,
Traveling and documenting
and use all of my creative
what is really accessible and
talents and experiences in a
what isn’t, helps bring
positive way, to not only help
awareness to not only the parks,
myself, but to be of service to
but also to disabled people like
others. I truly believe we all
me who love to hike, be
have a purpose in life, and I
outdoors and travel. Disabled
found mine. On a mission to
people like me are often
bring change, I founded The
misinformed, causing stress
Disabled Photographer Project
which causes more pain, and I
and How Accessible Is
want to help others know what
Accessible series. My recent
places are really accessible
work with The Disabled
which also helps save time and
Photographer Project has been
money when planning trips!
www.hikeitofflife.com
New Styles Just Launched!
I love hiking, being outdoors
people in the conversation.
and traveling, because I’ve
There are over one billion
learned so much by experience.
disabled people worldwide!
I’ve learned about places I've
Feature and talk to more than
never heard of, history I've
one person or organization.
never read about in books, how
When speaking about disability
cultures really lived, and about
remember that one disabled
myself! Having access to places
person’s experience is not all
allows me the opportunity to
disabled people’s experiences,
learn! We are all human beings,
and know that not all
and we all deserve the right to
disabilities are visible. Thank
have equal accessibility to the
you to all the people who have
outdoors, hiking and all aspects
been including me in
of traveling, whether it’s to
discussions, panels,
learn, to connect, to create or to
consultations, and giving me
be happy.
the opportunity to share my story and experiences in articles
Change begins with awareness,
like this! I was recently invited
communication, community,
to be a Council Member at
inclusion, diversity, equality and
Joshua Tree National Park
accessibility. Learn from
Association. If any of the
disabled people. Listen to
National Parks would like to
disabled people. Include
consult or work with me on
disabled people. Consult
their efforts to improve
disabled people. Hire disabled
accessibility, in the parks, they
people. When having
can contact me via email. I am
discussions, making decisions,
currently seeking partnerships,
writing articles, about
sponsors, grants, and
accessibility, include disabled
ambassadorships. For inquiries
contact Denise Vasquez denisevasquezphotography@g mail.com With every step I take, I Hike It Off by being present in the moment while trekking forward with purpose on the path that’s before me. To learn more about me, my photography, The Disabled Photographer Project and How Accessible Is Accessible series, please visit my Official Website Denise Vasquez Official: Instagram Twitter
Facebook Fanpage
Follow The Disabled Photographer Project online: Youtube
Blog
Denise’s photography has been published in National Geographic Yourshot, Canon Photo Plus magazine, About Town Magazines, Dreamy Magazine, Malvie Magazine, Fine Art America, and exhibited by the Southwest Environmental Center (Las Cruces, NM), Cleanwave Movement (cleanwave.org), San Diego Fair Exhibition Of Photography (San Diego, CA), Museum Of Ventura County Smith Pavillion (Ventura, CA), and more! Licenses are available at Adobestock, Shutterstock and istock by Getty Images.
LETTERS TO THE Lollygagger
GOT A BURNING QUESTION ABOUT HIKING THAT YOU JUST CAN’T SEEM TO FIND THE ANSWER TO? ASK OUR VERY OWN CHIEF LOLLYGAGGER!
LETTERS TO THE
Lollygagger Dear Chief Lollygagger, What is the best way to stay comfortable when it’s freezing balls in the mornings on the trail.? Sincerely, Freezing Balls in Baltimore. Dear Freezing Balls in Baltimore, Let me just state for the record that I love a chilly morning on the trail. The first thing that I consider when prepping and getting dressed is the terrain. A steep ascent will warm you up quickly as opposed to a flat start which may not do much for raising your core temp. I like to use a thin base layer, maybe something with a hood, and a wind blocking layer. I always bring a backup insulated jacket, beanie and set of gloves with me just in case I need to stop for a period of time and cannot utilize my aerobic energy. As far as my lower half, I am a shorts guy down to about 50 degrees. My legs always feel like they are going to catch fire if I have pants on and its not chilly. One thing I like to do if I’m starting the morning with a steep ascent is to bring a fresh shirt to change into at the top because I always get sweaty going
up. Once your body has cooled down from the climb, standing there in sweaty gear will most definitely freeze your balls. Dear Chief Lollygagger, What is your most memorable moment on the trail. Sincerely, Curious in San Diego Dear Curious in San Diego, It was during a five day trip in the Ansel Adams wilderness. Jaime, Rick Beach and I had been off trail for a few days and were camped way up in there at Shirley Lake. We took a zero day to go explore Gale lake and over the ridge to have lunch at Rainbow Lake. Most of this day we would be traveling above the tree line at about 10,000 ft. on massive granite slabs and outcroppings. Shortly after getting to Flat lake right below Rainbow Lake the weather turned. And when I say turned I mean it went from a nice day to standing in the middle up a high mountain thunder and lighting storm complete with torrential rain. Since heading back across the exposed granite would have been
LETTERS TO THE
Lollygagger insanity we headed lower into the tree line to find a lower trail that would take us back towards our camp. We hit the trail down from Rainbow and Flat Lakes which was now a full flowing stream because at this point it was raining as hard as I’ve ever seen. The ground was shaking from the thunder which was clapping about every 15 seconds and you could literally feel the electricity from the lighting in the air. At this point I think Rick ditched his metal trekking poles aka “the lightning rods” and we splashed down the mountain. To say we were in the belly of the beast was an understatement. We could barely keep up with Jaime, who fearing she
was going to get hit by lightning was zig zagging down the mountain going from tree to tree which on average were about 25 yards apart. Rick and I, ever the fools were hooting and hollering and carrying on like it was a carnival ride. This is when Jaime got her trail name “Runs with Lighting”. Thanks to Jaime setting the pace it only took us about an hour to do five miles and get back to camp. Upon arriving to camp the storm stopped and the skies cleared up just in time for dinner and a glorious evening in the beautiful Sierras. This was one of my all time favorite days in the mountains.
Got a question for Chief Lollygagger? Email us at info@hikeitoffmagazine.com
WHAT DOES HIKE IT OFF MEAN TO YOU? We asked some of our followers what Hike It Off means to them. This is what they had to say.
"Not to give up and keep going!" @therootbeerboyz
"We are all human beings seeking nothing but happiness and to be kind to each other." @hike.travel.repeat
Fall 2021 Issue Eight CEO & Chief Editor- Jaime Purinton Chief Lollygagger & Director of Vibe- Tony Purinton Writers: Michelle Jackson Jessica Mehta Christine Reed Courtney Johnson Monet Yelsnick Raquel Vélez Denise Vasquez
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