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In our latest Campfire Conversations submission, where you can ask us anything about the outdoors, hiking, camping, traveling and more, Maria asked:

How do you build a fire for dummies? I'm an absolute beginner.

In our response, first you will hear from 52 Hike Challenge founder and seasoned camper Karla Amador on how to build a campfire safely and ethically. You will also discover her unique journey of using fire as a healing modality.

Then, you will also learn from 52 Hike Challenge content creator and nomadic camper Mandi Carozza on why a fire can make or break your experience outdoors. Hear how to recreate responsibly with fire so you don't put our forests at risk.

Spring is here, and so are the days of more sunlight and late sunsets. This means you have more time to get outside and crush your 52 Hike Challenge. That being said, there’s one spring-time obstacle that may still stand in your way.

As snow melts and spring showers pick up, you might encounter more mud on the trails. While muddy hiking trails aren’t the most desirable, these trail conditions are usually manageable. 

Don’t let a little mud stand in your way of finishing your 52 hikes. At the same time, don’t let a lot of mud become unsafe for you, your hiking buddies and the land around you.

In this blog, we teamed up with our partner Oboz Footwear to help you:

Plan and prepare for muddy trail conditions 

• Practice proper trail etiquette while hiking in the mud

• Know when to turn around instead of hiking on

• Clean muddy hiking boots and shoes

• Leave No Trace this spring season

• Learn how to prevent the spread of invasive species 

Get outside this spring and stay out longer with these helpful hiking tips.

Do you like to wake up before the sun and start your hike in the crisp morning air? Or do you prefer to snooze your alarm and hit the trails later in the day to witness a painted sky sunset and see the stars?

Both times of day have their benefits.

When you hike in the morning, you can see the sunrise and hear the birds waking up with the day. You’ll enjoy cooler temperatures, and you’ll likely encounter less crowds. This means a better chance at scoring a parking spot at populated trailheads. Plus, you’ll have more daylight to take a full day hike. 

If you hit the trail in the evening, you’ll see sunset, and if you stay out into the night, you’ll enjoy lots of solitude while you gaze at the moon and stars. This hiking time also presents weekday hiking opportunities for those who have full time jobs, making the trails more accessible for those who work from 9 to 5. 

So, which hiking time do you prefer?

We teamed up with Oboz Footwear to ask YOU - our community - which time of day makes for a better hike: in the early morning or late afternoon? 

Read the blog to find out and get hiking tips for your morning & evening hiking adventures.

Are you giving your hiking gear the care it deserves?

You're going to be using your hiking boots, shoes and other hiking gear a lot during the 52 Hike Challenge – with a full year of weekly hikes (52 to be exact), your gear will be getting a lot of love!

This means your hiking gear will naturally wear and start to lose its waterproofing. But this doesn’t mean it’s time for new gear — it simply indicates it’s time for you to give it a glow up.

When you regularly clean and re-waterproof your gear, you extend its life expectancy so you can use it on many more hiking adventures to come.

Not only will this save you the money of buying all new gear (we know how quickly it adds up), but it will also help you recreate in a sustainable way.

So, how can you keep your gear clean and maintain its optimal water repellency? 

In this new hiking blog, you will discover:

• The importance of cleaning water repellent gear 
• Tips and tricks for extending the life of your waterproof hiking gear 
• What DWR is and how it works on your technical gear
• How and when to reapply DWR to your gear
• How to use technical cleaning & waterproofing products

And more!

We heard you might be looking for a new pair of hiking boots or shoes. Good news: we partnered with Oboz Footwear to answer your questions about selecting the right hiking footwear for you.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or you’re brand new to our favorite pastime, this blog will help you understand which shoes and boots will work best for your specific hiking needs.

Get ready to learn how to select the most supportive and comfortable hiking footwear for you.

Are you the best dressed on the trail? We’re not talking about looking fashionable while hiking – we’re referring to wearing layers so that you can keep hiking in all kinds of weather.

Since the 52 Hike Challenge runs all year long, you’ll be hiking in every season. This means your layering system will vary depending on the time of year. Whenever you step foot outside for a day in the outdoors, you’ll want to ensure you’re wearing a solid system of layers. 

In this blog, we will discuss hiking clothing and how to layer strategically so you always stay comfortable on your 52 hikes. You will get hiking outfit ideas for every season, and you will learn how to layer for optimum protection from the elements.

Get ready to discover:

• The importance of layering for hiking
• The main hiking layers to wear on the trail
• Tips for layering in every season, including winter hiking layers
• Layering systems for cold weather, warm weather, wet weather and more
• Hiking clothing recommendations for every layer 

Step into nature with your four-legged hiking buddy and enjoy all the benefits!

When you bring your dog, cat, goat, hedgehog, etc. on your hikes, it can be a very special and rewarding experience for both of you. It will be difficult to tell who loves it more — you or your pet!

Have you hiked with a pet before? Do you know the dos and don’ts of bringing pets on the trail?

In order for hiking with dogs and other pets to be enjoyable, it’s important for you to be informed. In this blog, you will learn how to hike with your pet responsibly. 

Keep yourself, your pet, and others safe by learning The Dos and Don'ts of Hiking With Pets right now.

Did you know there are multiple ways to lace your hiking boots depending on your adventure?

It’s true: the way your boots are laced is just as important as how they fit. For many of us, we simply lace them up like regular shoes, knot them twice for added security, and hit the trails.

But what if we told you there are strategic ways to lace your boots so you can trek comfortably for long distances and prevent blisters and other hiking-related injuries?

In this blog, you will learn the anatomy of laces for hiking boots + discover various lacing techniques that will help you…

• Prevent heel slip
• Increase ankle support
• Reduce pressure on the top of your foot
• Keep hot spots and blisters at bay
• So much more

Whether you’re hiking a rocky mountain or traversing multiple water crossings, get ready to lace up and hit the trails for your 52 Hike Challenge.

Read on to learn all the ways to keep your feet happy during your hiking challenge!

Do you want to start hiking with kids? Do you already bring your littles on hikes with you, but you’re looking for unique ways to keep them motivated and engaged?

We’ve got you covered!

In this blog, you’ll find 10 tips to keep kids curious and excited about hitting the trails. First let’s talk about what our youth will love about spending time in the great outdoors.

Now is the perfect time to set new goals. But how often do people actually stick to their New Year’s goals and resolutions?

According to a study by Strava, roughly 80% of people fail to stick to their New Year’s Resolutions and will abandon these goals in the first couple months of the new year. Another study found that over half of New Year goals are health related.

So, how can you beat the odds and commit to your goals in order to make positive change in your life?

That’s what we’re going to talk about in this blog, and it all starts with goal setting. Discover 10 Tips to Stay Accountable to Your Goals now.

Are you looking for the perfect pair of hiking boots or shoes? Do you always end up with blisters or hot spots on your feet after hiking?

Whether you’re brand new to hiking or you’ve been hiking for a while, but you can’t seem to find the right fit, this blog on Hiking Footwear 101 will help you!

To bring you the most accurate information possible, we sat down with hiking footwear expert Krystina Beatty. Krystina is an Outreach Specialist at Oboz Footwear, a leader in hiking footwear innovation and design.

If you have questions on how to keep your feet happy while hiking, you’ll definitely want to read this.

In this blog you will learn:

• How to find the right shoe size for your hiking adventures
• How to avoid blisters and hot spots while hiking
• Which style of hiking boot or shoe is best for you
• Pro tips on waterproof vs ventilated hiking footwear
• The difference between lows and mids, and more!