My personal wish for you is that your holidays be filled with happiness, harmony, hope, and healthy choices. 
 
As I reflect on the events of 2013, it is without a doubt one of the best years of my life!  I reached the pinnacle of adulthood and maturity, and now feel free to enter into the next chapter of my life, that no doubt, includes my well-balanced second childhood, with optimal health, wisdom, vim, vigor, and curiosity!  Age 65 is awesome!!!

 

 I shall modify my routine in 2014  

to assure I am healthy and lean,  

that I live more green,  

and fortify my faith and belief in the unseen.

   

Check out the information for the Annual Fun & Fitness New Year Resolution  hike, at Red Top Mountain. 

 

And, without hesitation, I must give a special shout out to all of you who have been taking the supplements I take (and sell). I appreciate all the positive feedback on your results. All I can say is...I told you so! 

As always, my wish for you, is that you have everlasting love, peace, and joy.

 
Love Much, Laugh Often, Live Long & Strong...

 
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Dec 28       Free African Dance Class & Kwanzaa Program
Dec 29       Kwanzaa Food, Fun & Fusion
Jan 3          Meteor Shower Hike w/REI at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Preserve
Jan 4          Annual Fun & Fitness Hike at Red Top Mountain
Jan 8          GPS Navigation Basics - Perimeter REI
Jan 11-12   Wilderness First Aid Certification Class
Jan 16        Full Mountain Hike w/REI at Stone Mountain
Jan 17- 19  Annual Cumberland Island Service Weekend
Jan 16-20   Urban Winterfest Ski Experience
Jan 22        GPS Navigation Basics - Atlanta REI
Jan 25        One Day Ski Trip - Cataloochee, NC
Jan 25        Bike & Brew Cycling Tour w/REI
Jan 25        Wilderness Survival Skills Class w/REI
Jan 31        Urban Ski Weekend
Feb 14-16  Heritage Weekend at Everglades National Park
Mar 15-16  Flint River Paddle at Montezuma Bluff
Jun 20 - 22  Tennessee Outdoor Adventure Fun Weekend
July 2014     St. Lucia Sailing Adventure, in the eastern Caribbean Sea
Sept 2014    Yosemite National Park Annual Birthday Adventure
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To inspire youth of color-and particularly African American youth-to get outside, get active, and become stewards of our wild places, the

Photos by Hudson Henry & Team Denali

National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) ran an expedition with African American participants to summit Denali, the highest peak in North America. The journey involved a group of role models in the African American outdoor community who learned and used valuable leadership skills, including expedition behavior, communication, and tolerance for adversity and uncertainty, and worked together toward achieving their common goal.  Read about the Expedition...

About the Mountain: Rising to 20,320 feet above sea level, Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the highest peak on the North American continent.  Checkout the team photos.  And, more here.

Fitness monitors can help anyone-not just the tech obsessed-get more out of exercise.  Which monitor is right for you?  Following is a list of the different types:

• Altimeter Watches (Hiking, Climbing, Skiing)  
• Pedometer (Hiking, Walking, Running) 
• Heart Rate Monitor (Walking, Running, Cycling, Gym Workouts) 
• Activity Trackers (Steps, Distance, CAlories Burned, etc.) 
• Chronograph Watches (Walking, Running, Swimming) 
• Speed & Distance Monitors (Walking, Running, Cycling) 

Get expert advice from REI.

Love much, Laugh often, Live Long & Strong!

Uphill Hiking Tips

Take small steps going uphill
Purposely taking shorter steps than usual will reduce the effort per step to push your body and pack weight upwards and will make the ascent easier.

 

Downhill Hiking Tips

When going downhill, slow down by leaning back a little and putting your weight down through your heel on each step. It all depends on the type of terrain you are descending, the main thing is to not rush.

 

Download a copy of the suggested Day Hiking Checklist from REI.  Click here to download a copy.

Layering your clothing is a tried-and-true way to maximize your comfort in the outdoors. The beauty of this simple concept is that it allows you to make quick adjustments based on your activity level and changes in the weather.  Each layer has a function.

Click Here to read the article and see the video from REI.

You never want to hike in brand new boots.  Read this article from REI on  how you should break in your new boots. 
Click Here to read the article from REI.

Your body is more than 60% water, and even light physical activity can deplete that percentage. No fluid means no function!

This loss of fluid is called dehydration. And hydrating, or adding fluids, is the key to keeping it from happening to you.

 

 Click Here to read the article from REI.

For any activity that involves more gear than you can carry in your pocket, especially for hiking, you need a daypack.

 

Daypacks may look similar at first glance but have lots of functional differences. Read the article from REI that is designed to give you some helpful tips on finding the right one  for your needs.

 

 Click Here to read the article from REI.

Want to go camping but don't have a tent or sleeping bag?  No problem... rent your equipment from REI, for a nominal fee for the weekend. You can get, based on availability:

• Tents
• Backpacks
• Sleeping Bags/Pads
• Camping Stoves 

Just call the REI store nearest you, and see what they have available.