Rise & Wander by Karla Amador of the 52 Hike Challenge

Adventure Smart: Education and Safety for Every Hiker

In episode 13 of season four, focused on hiking basics, I explain why education is essential for safe hiking, drawing from my own learning since starting hiking in 2014 and taking courses like Sierra Club wilderness travel, snow travel, ropes, mountaineering, navigation, and more. I recommend learning through classes, books, YouTube, community groups, and resources like REI, the National Park Service, and Leave No Trace, including topics like maps and compass, the 10 essentials, AllTrails, CPR/first aid and wilderness first aid, animal and weather safety, risk management, and starting small, local, and safely whether solo or with groups. Show Links: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@52HikeChallenge [https://www.youtube.com/@52HikeChallenge] Facebook Groups: https://www.facebook.com/52hikechallenge/groups [https://www.facebook.com/52hikechallenge/groups] REI: https://rei.pxf.io/6yKVeN [https://rei.pxf.io/6yKVeN] Sierra Club: https://wildernesstravelcourse.org/ [https://wildernesstravelcourse.org/] Dr. Rob Scanlon "Surviving the Trail" Book: https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Trail-Rob-Scanlon/dp/1493090127?crid=1C7EV2MFAEAF4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jsSgVyVwP9Vw2O0KfIjXHHr-7qVXpb1-AV-dQAzA8AzOZAZSW8LK38ZOWl84-rMFQq3GuTyiCbWAXebDFYIVtB41CN3q117-vHftoM7rucBYF10KnnluguBT505btE0bKVGWHaT55vYsEiedxkZV8Ac8DVOOYr2qQOn4vgSz9U_JImyRIaW4mHVgVYdprOTt.FGgbGDcPjhEtx0BngaCIRIVFGq0GWt3vwZtWl3_ds3w&dib_tag=se&keywords=rob+scanlon&qid=1774914160&sprefix=rob+scallo%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=52hikechallen-20&linkId=7e5c2c8ec5702cad82cfe4959b4385e2&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl [https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Trail-Rob-Scanlon/dp/1493090127?crid=1C7EV2MFAEAF4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jsSgVyVwP9Vw2O0KfIjXHHr-7qVXpb1-AV-dQAzA8AzOZAZSW8LK38ZOWl84-rMFQq3GuTyiCbWAXebDFYIVtB41CN3q117-vHftoM7rucBYF10KnnluguBT505btE0bKVGWHaT55vYsEiedxkZV8Ac8DVOOYr2qQOn4vgSz9U_JImyRIaW4mHVgVYdprOTt.FGgbGDcPjhEtx0BngaCIRIVFGq0GWt3vwZtWl3_ds3w&dib_tag=se&keywords=rob+scanlon&qid=1774914160&sprefix=rob+scallo%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=52hikechallen-20&linkId=7e5c2c8ec5702cad82cfe4959b4385e2&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills Book: https://rei.pxf.io/vPAXrd [https://rei.pxf.io/vPAXrd] Bear Safety Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQR9I8dBvRs&t=4s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQR9I8dBvRs&t=4s] Leave No Trace Course: https://learn.lnt.org/courses/101 [https://learn.lnt.org/courses/101]

Navigating & Planning Your Hikes: Tools and Tips for Success

In this episode, I focus on hiking basics—especially planning and preparation—by defining what counts as a hike, encouraging people to "hike your own hike," and sharing ways to find trails through apps like AllTrails, blogs, books, friends, groups, parks, and local chapters. I explain how to assess hike difficulty using mileage, elevation gain, terrain, and altitude, and I demonstrate map-reading fundamentals like contour lines, map scales, landmarks, and AllTrails elevation profiles to avoid route misunderstandings. I also cover parking, permits, road conditions, backup hikes, public transit options, tracking progress, and taking navigation classes. Show notes: AllTrails: https://alltrails.pxf.io/KjngNx [https://alltrails.pxf.io/KjngNx] REI: https://rei.pxf.io/6yKVeN [https://rei.pxf.io/6yKVeN] REI Topo Maps: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/topo-maps-how-to-use.html [https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/topo-maps-how-to-use.html] Hikingguy: https://hikingguy.com/ [https://hikingguy.com/] Dr. Rob Scanlon "Surviving the Trail" Book: https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Trail-Rob-Scanlon/dp/1493090127?crid=1C7EV2MFAEAF4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jsSgVyVwP9Vw2O0KfIjXHHr-7qVXpb1-AV-dQAzA8AzOZAZSW8LK38ZOWl84-rMFQq3GuTyiCbWAXebDFYIVtB41CN3q117-vHftoM7rucBYF10KnnluguBT505btE0bKVGWHaT55vYsEiedxkZV8Ac8DVOOYr2qQOn4vgSz9U_JImyRIaW4mHVgVYdprOTt.FGgbGDcPjhEtx0BngaCIRIVFGq0GWt3vwZtWl3_ds3w&dib_tag=se&keywords=rob+scanlon&qid=1774914160&sprefix=rob+scallo%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=52hikechallen-20&linkId=7e5c2c8ec5702cad82cfe4959b4385e2&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl [https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Trail-Rob-Scanlon/dp/1493090127?crid=1C7EV2MFAEAF4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jsSgVyVwP9Vw2O0KfIjXHHr-7qVXpb1-AV-dQAzA8AzOZAZSW8LK38ZOWl84-rMFQq3GuTyiCbWAXebDFYIVtB41CN3q117-vHftoM7rucBYF10KnnluguBT505btE0bKVGWHaT55vYsEiedxkZV8Ac8DVOOYr2qQOn4vgSz9U_JImyRIaW4mHVgVYdprOTt.FGgbGDcPjhEtx0BngaCIRIVFGq0GWt3vwZtWl3_ds3w&dib_tag=se&keywords=rob+scanlon&qid=1774914160&sprefix=rob+scallo%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=52hikechallen-20&linkId=7e5c2c8ec5702cad82cfe4959b4385e2&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/get-local [https://www.sierraclub.org/get-local] Latino Outdoors: https://latinooutdoors.org/ [https://latinooutdoors.org/] Just Trek Podcast Episode with Corbin: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5r3yvFlYBNRkseXjV1XLZr?si=5f6ab2429b9c49ea [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5r3yvFlYBNRkseXjV1XLZr?si=5f6ab2429b9c49ea] 52 Hikes Journal: https://www.52hikechallenge.com/products/52-hike-challenge-journey-journal [https://www.52hikechallenge.com/products/52-hike-challenge-journey-journal]

Navigating Life's Journeys: A Conversation with Traveling Jackie

In this Rise and Wander Podcast episode, I interview Traveling Jackie (Jackie Nourse) about her award-winning, long-running travel podcast, her inclusive "adventure-hungry" audience, and how studying abroad and learning multiple languages launched her travel path. We discuss slow, immersive travel, practical tips for beginners (passport, choosing destinations, booking the flight), and the courage to take the first step. Jackie shares how divorce led to years of nomadic solo travel, women's retreats, and lessons on self-support, and she recounts a challenging chapter living in a truck camper during COVID before moving toward buying a home. Links: REI.com [https://rei.pxf.io/6yKVeN] for Darn tough socks, NikWax and more www.52hikechallenge.com [http://www.52hikechallenge.com] https://travelingjackie.com/ [https://travelingjackie.com/]

Stepping Into Adventure: The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Footwear

This hiking basics season episode focused on footwear with guest Scott from Oboz Footwear. Scott stresses that foot health starts with proper fit using a Brannock device (length, width, arch) measured seated and standing to account for swelling, recommend limiting try-ons to three brands, and discusses waterproof vs non-waterproof options, traction/outsoles, midsoles, and insoles (including replacing insoles around every 500 miles). We cover blister and toenail prevention, lacing techniques, sock selection (wool over cotton), gaiters, and shoe maintenance with DWR reapplication and Nikwax cleaning. Links: Obozfootwear.com [http://obozfootwear.com] REI.com [https://rei.pxf.io/6yKVeN] for Darn Tough socks, NikWax and more https://dirtygirlgaiters.com [https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/about-us] www.52hikechallenge.com [http://www.52hikechallenge.com]

Avoiding Common Hiking Perils: A Conversation with Dr. Rob Scanlon

In this Rise and Wander podcast episode, I welcome pulmonary and critical care physician Dr. Rob Scanlon, author of "Surviving the Trail." Dr. Rob explains how hiking became a way to de-stress, why preparation matters, and the most common causes of hiker deaths and rescues: dehydration, hypothermia, heat illness, drowning, falling, and getting lost. We discuss his five essential skills—hydration strategy, maintaining body temperature, fall awareness, safer water crossings, and land navigation—along with warning signs of heat illness and hypothermia, guidance for estimating water needs, risks of "fatal selfies," stream-crossing considerations, and why preventable incidents strain mountain rescue teams. Show Links: Surviving the Trail Book [https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Trail-Rob-Scanlon/dp/1493090127?crid=1C7EV2MFAEAF4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jsSgVyVwP9Vw2O0KfIjXHHr-7qVXpb1-AV-dQAzA8AzOZAZSW8LK38ZOWl84-rMFQq3GuTyiCbWAXebDFYIVtB41CN3q117-vHftoM7rucBYF10KnnluguBT505btE0bKVGWHaT55vYsEiedxkZV8Ac8DVOOYr2qQOn4vgSz9U_JImyRIaW4mHVgVYdprOTt.FGgbGDcPjhEtx0BngaCIRIVFGq0GWt3vwZtWl3_ds3w&dib_tag=se&keywords=rob+scanlon&qid=1774914160&sprefix=rob+scallo%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=52hikechallen-20&linkId=7e5c2c8ec5702cad82cfe4959b4385e2&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] Dr. Rob's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dr_robscanlon/] REI [https://rei.pxf.io/6yKVeN] 52 Hike Challenge [https://www.52HikeChallenge.com]