July 30, 2012
by David Ryan
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Wandering Through SW Portland, Oregon – Part 1

Last week I had the opportunity to do some wandering in Portland, Oregon.

I began the day by taking a bus to SW Portland to go on a short walk with Don Baack. Don chairs SW Trails PDX, an organization that promotes the development of Urban Walking and Bike Routes in SW Portland. Don was also the force behind the development of the popular 4T Trail in Portland. I visited Don to see some of the work being done by SW Trails PDX.

I met Don at a bus stop and we started following one of the urban routes developed by SW Trails PDX. The urban routes take advantage of sidewalks, road shoulders, trails and open space to help people get around town by foot.

SW Trails PDX performs many tasks to make these routes possible. Sometimes it is identifying a city-owned right-of-way that can be used as a trail; other times it is getting a road shoulder widened; or it could be raising the money to install a drinking fountain or providing the citizen volunteers to build a section of trail.

The urban route we were following soon left the road and entered a forest that is actually an undeveloped street right-of-way. The path took us down a volunteer-built stairway:

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July 25, 2012
by David Ryan
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Second Edition of Appalachian Trail Book – Now Available

Ten years ago I wrote Long Distance Hiking on the Appalachian Trail for the Older Adventurer. The book is an invitation to the long distance hiking experience and is designed to help those 45 and older prepare for a long distance hike. If you are looking for an amazing experience, a long distance is something to consider.

The book has been well recieved by the hiking community and has been one of the better selling Appalachian Trail books for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. But like anything, things change and it was time to bring the book up to date.

The Second Edition of Long Distance Hiking on the Appalachian Trail for the Older Adventurer is now available. The book can be purchased for $11.50 from this site, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and Amazon.com.

July 15, 2012
by David Ryan
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Wandering to the Paul Landacre Cabin

The previous post ended with my heading back to the real world by walking down a narrow street curving along the side of a wooded hill. It turned out that my wandering adventure was only just getting started and that it would be sometime before I got back to the real world.

When that road reached a junction, I took the time to glance at a map. While glancing, a lady working in her yard asked me if I needed directions. I said that I was just getting my bearings and then mentioned how beautiful her neighborhood was and how lucky she was to live there. She agreed and added that life is about “appreciating brief moments of beauty.” Wandering sets you up to discover those brief moments of beauty every time you get out.

After saying our good-byes, I continued wandering through the neighborhood. I went along residential streets, along streets that are gated and now closed to automobile traffic, foot paths, and of course I climbed several more stairways. I was letting what I saw along the way determine the direction I would take next. An element of wandering is just letting your observations and hunches determine your route. Continue Reading →