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“Nature is always hinting at us.

It hints over and over again.

And suddenly we take the hint.”

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Walking in the wilderness. Everything you need in the world on your back. A master class in the joys of living simply. The teacher for this lesson is none other than Mother Nature. Occasionally harsh, though always guileless, she is the wisest of mentors. The lesson takes place in the world’s most beautiful classroom. No prerequisites needed, although preparedness, enthusiasm and an open mind are all recommended. The class begins with your first step.

The Hiking Life is a compilation of tips and advice on trip planning, lightweight backpacking techniques and improving your wilderness skill set. It contains photos and trekking notes from more than 120 of the world’s great hikes, all of which I have had the good fortune of walking since 1994.

My hopes for the website are twofold. One, that it can act as a quick reference tool for novices and experienced hikers alike, and two; that by browsing through some of the photo galleries and hike reports, at least a few people out there may be encouraged to put on a pair of shoes, grab a pack and go for a walk. Hope to see you on the trail!

- Cam Honan

12 Long Walks

15,000 miles, 30 states, 4 provinces and 35 pairs of shoes………..

On July 2, 2011, I set off from Cape Alava, Washington, on the first of what I planned would be 12 long walks through North America. As of the end of April, 2012, I am nine hikes and seven thousand miles into my journey. Assuming I have any cartilage left in my knees, I hope to be finished by Christmas this year. If you are interested in following along, you can check out my blog at www.thehikinglife.com/journal/

Revolving photos in order: 1. Kaskawulsh Glacier, Yukon, Canada, 1998; 2. Naltar Lake, Pakistan, 2008; 3. Annapurna Sanctuary sunrise, Nepal, 2008; 4. Mt.Rainier / Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington, USA, 2007; 5. Gobi Desert sunset, Mongolia, 2009.