I want to start off with a quick story. In the summer of 2017, I had a hat I love taking outdoors. It is my hiking hat. On a trip to Grand Teton, I lost this hat in Jenny lake on the boat when a gust of wind took my hat. I tried in vain to have the rangers keep an eye out for it. I emailed the company I bought from, with no luck. I went to the store and had an employee search on their phone database- and found two! One, in Texas, was no longer in stock. Dang! The other, in Washington state, was available! I was asked when can I come by to pick it up. The problem was, I live on the east coast! I had the hat shipped and was reunited with my hiking hat and have used it ever since.
I tell this story to show my passion for the outdoors. I love hiking, backpacking, fishing, you name it. I love to review and photograph hikes and outdoor parks to show others what they look like. I want to get people outside, to enjoy nature as it was intended. I have an idea of creating a hiking filter on gmaps the way there is biking, transit, terrain, traffic, etc. Maybe there is one in the works? I can only hope. This filter wound allow an overlay of hiking trails in the area and allow you to plan routes, and see pictures along the way. There are some independent websites with this, but are localized. It would make sharing hikes easier, and maybe more accessible to others. I love sharing the outdoors with others, because I love being outdoors myself, and hope to get others to share the same joy for nature that I do. That is why I am passionate about maps, whether hiking, topographical, or google!
The trip reviewed here was a recent weekend in early spring in West Virginia. Just south of Wardensville, in the George Washington National Forest, is Halfmoon mountain. We hiked out bucktail trail and spent a night at one of the large campsites near the ridge summit. It was a quick, 10.6 mile loop to get us into backpacking season. It was warm, but windy! A friend an I enjoyed expansive views, hammock camping, and being away from the big cities for the weekend.
Below, taking in the view with my hiking hat!
