For some, hiking is a social event filled with chatter, shared snacks, and group photos at the summit. But for others, hiking ...

I broke through the clouds somewhere around 4,000 feet up on Zigzag Mountain, breathing heavy, only a few miles from the trailhead. The morning sun revealed purple huckleberries hiding in the brush, ...

Are you a keen solo hiker, or thinking about spending more time walking on your own? People who hike solo, or go solo backpacking, talk about many benefits, such as feeling more fully immersed in ...

What’s better, hiking alone or with other people? “Depends how many bears are involved,” is one quip. Perhaps it depends on what kind of person you are. Hiking solo is a markedly different experience ...

Just like anything we do, hiking alone involves a calculated risk—we asses the facts and take a chance. “No American bats an eye in our modern age when women shop alone, drive alone, or eat alone. But ...

I’ve heard that phrase countless times from friends, family and even strangers over 20-plus years whenever I’ve set off for a trail run or hike with just my dog as my companion. While I appreciate ...

Editor’s note: The Wild is all about featuring a variety of exciting voices from SoCal’s outdoors scene. Currently, that voice belongs to Laura Randall, a veteran journalist who has written ...

I’ve lived with major depressive disorder since I was 11. While studying abroad in college, I volunteered at a women’s prison in Ecuador amid a political uprising ...

Participants do some yoga stretching during the Yoga + Hike program at The Nature Institute in Godfrey on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Amanda Bailey of Bethalto relaxes during the Yoga + Hike program at ...