Underestimating a mountain is never a good idea. Mount Hood in eastern Oregon is not as high as many summits in the area, nor is it as long a hike as Shasta and some of the others peaks. However, thousands of climbers attempt Mount Hood every year, many of them beginners who don't realize Mount Hood's dangers.

Cornices
The primary danger on Mount Hood is the cornices that form on the leeward side of the mountain. A cornice is an overhanging ledge of snow that forms from wind and heavy precipitation. It can cause avalanches and falling rock if the wind blows in the wrong direction. If you're climbing a mountain that has cornices, your best bet is to avoid them entirely. Mount Hood, for example, is safest to climb on the opposite side of the mountain. The route is a bit more technically challenging, but you don't have to worry as much about boulders falling on your head.

Rock Fall
When climbing Mount Hood, stick to the snow and the ice rather than trying to gain footholds on the rocks along its face. Rock fall is a significant source of injury on the mountain, mostly for inexperienced climbers who mistakenly believe that climbing on rock will be safer. Not only is this dangerous for you, but also for anyone coming up behind you.

Hypothermia
The below-freezing temperatures on Mount Hood can be excruciating, particularly if you don't think to bring a warm jacket and a pair of insulated gloves. It is also a good idea to bring a compass or other navigational tool just in case you happen to get lost.

Stranded
Inexperienced climbers are far more likely to reach a point in the climb and realize they can't go any further. About 40 people are rescued every year from the face or summit of Mount Hood because they can't go either forward or back. Don't get into this situation; take an experienced climber with you.

Looking for a challenging trail that hikes over a few mountains, sticks you in the wilderness away from your comfort zone and allows you to explore a remote area of New Hampshire that few people ever visit? Then look no further. The Cohos Trail in New Hampshire is it. The Cohos Trail begins its winding way just south of the White Mountains and heads north up to Canada. It crosses several mountain ranges and even climbs up to over 4,500 feet (the peak of Mount Eisenhower), so it's not one for those who don't like heights. It is, however, a beautiful part of New Hampshire, and any nature buff would love hiking on this 160-mile trail.

The Cohos Trail has many delights, including more than 50 species of birds; Table Rock, with one of the scariest views imaginable (you really are that high up, with a straight drop down); waterfalls with a kettle hole; lunch spots with stupendous views; a suspension foot bridge to cross and several high peaks you can climb.

You can hike the entire Cohos Trail, which will take you around 10 to 14 days, or you can do one of many day hikes. For a cool day hike, try the Davis Path to Stairs Mountain near Notchland, Percy Peak Trail or Percy Loop Trail.

The Cohos Trail really is that remote, but recently more campsites have been established, and several information kiosks have been opened along the way. So, if you're thinking of heading up the Cohos Trail, don't hesitate. The campsites are in beautiful spots, there's now a hostel you can stay at only a few miles off the trail, and there's also a new guidebook, which will help you all the way along the trail. The Cohos Trail is also being expanded by another 20 to 40 miles, which are projected to be ready by next year, with some new trails ready as early as spring 2009. Why not be the first to try them out? If you're doing it in the fall or spring, don't forget to pack your winter woolies. You'll need them up on the higher elevations.

From pretty much any vantage point in Seattle, Washington, you can see Mount Rainier. So it makes sense when people think about hiking trails around Seattle, Mount Rainier is one of the first places to come to mind. You could of course hike (and climb) up to the summit, but - at over 14,000 feet - it would take you a fair while. Plus, unless you've done it before, it's also recommended to take a guide and that can be quite expensive. For a challenging, yet not too dangerous hike in the real outdoors, Mount Rainier National Park is still the place, and the Wonderland Trail is the hike.

The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile trail that hits just about every major zone of the park. You can start the Wonderland Trail at many different places along its way, but it will take you at least 10 to 12 days to complete it if you decide to hike the whole thing, so be prepared.

The Wonderland Trail actually circles Mount Rainier, meaning if you do the whole thing, you'll see the mountain from pretty much every conceivable angle (except from the top, of course). There are also ranger cabins all over the park. Because there aren't any places to purchase food, if you do decide to walk the entire trail, you're going to have to arrange to have food packages mailed to several ranger locations for pick up as you hike.

The weather in this area can be a bit iffy, even in the summer. Park rangers will also warn you to watch out for sudden, extreme changes of weather. If you're walking the whole Wonderland Trail, there's a good chance you'll experience some severe weather during the almost two weeks that you'll be hiking. So make sure you're prepared with all the right equipment.

The Wonderland Trail sounds like it could be too much like hard work, but, in reality, it's one of the best ways to see the park. All kinds of flora, fauna and wildlife exist, not to mention the panoramic views. And let's face it, if you've seen anything of Mount Rainier from Seattle, it'd be kinda cool to see it from so close up.

Vermont is a wonderful place to hike during spring, summer and especially fall (think fall colors!). There are thousands of hiking trails in Vermont, with some going on for hundreds of miles (The Appalachian Trail) and some just mini hiking trails. Three trails, though, have always been fascinating to me and all for different reasons.

The Long Trail - This is the oldest, long-distance trail in the U.S. as it's been around for almost 100 years. It has a 270-mile main footpath and almost 200 miles of side footpaths, making it a trail you can visit again and again without hiking in the same place. The Long Trail is also challenging, because it's steep in many places. But there are also areas that casual hikers can hike in and not feel too threatened by the climb. Going from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border, you can see most of Vermont while hiking this trail, and there are some beautiful places for camping.

Camel's Hump - Some of my hiking buddies tell me this is Vermont's best trail. Camel's Hump is a Vermont mountain with lots of unique plant life and some great bird watching, and the summit provides one of the best views in the state. It only takes around three hours to get up and back, because the trail is just over 3 miles each way. But, yes, it's uphill all the way. When you get to the top and see those amazing views in green and deep blue, you'll be happy you did it.

Green Mountain National Forest - This enormous Vermont forest has well over 25 well-maintained hiking trails for all levels of hikers. You've got to try Mount Horrid, just because of the name. It's also a mini-trail at less than one and a half miles round trip, and it's a good one for inexperienced hikers. Two trails that intersect each other, Rattlesnake Cliffs and Aunt Jenny, are also awesome trails for a couple of hours hike. On these trails, you can see beautiful waterfalls, and on Rattlesnake Cliffs, there are spectacular views of Lake Dunmore.

These are just three of Vermont's hiking trails; there are thousands more. Vermont is a beautiful state with hiking trails that won't disappoint.

I've only been to Louisiana once, a long time ago. I don't remember much except the water in the hotel smelled like rotten eggs (it's something about high sulfur content in the water), and Louisiana has some darned good hiking trails. One of the most famous places to hike in Louisiana is the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park. This national park is a maze of swampland and marshes and, yes, part of it smelled like sulfur too. But there are some excellent hiking trails in this neck of the woods, and none of them are too terribly taxing when it comes to effort.

Before you set off, make sure you go to the park's visitor center, which is actually in the French Quarter in New Orleans. They'll give you a booklet with information on all the hikes around the area. All the Jean Lafitte trails are very short (most of them less than a mile), but it's such an unusual area it's worth hiking just for the scenery and wildlife. My favorite hike in this area was the Roadside Wildflower Trail. Like its name suggests, it's a mass of wildflowers during much of the year and short enough (just short of a mile) that it really is just a quick jaunt. Just remember, you're not allowed to pick the wildflowers, because they're protected by local authorities.

If you like birds, the Wood Duck Bird Trail is also very cool. There are hundreds of species of birds in this area, but look out, especially for the woodpeckers. They're colorful, odd looking and one of the famous birds from around this area. There are also five or six other short hiking trails where you can see much of the swampland and the wildlife the waters hide.

Also, in the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park, after hiking you can take a swamp boat tour through the Louisiana bayous and look for alligators, snakes and other scary critters. Quite fitting really, because Jean Lafitte was a pretty scary individual himself. Famous as a local 'pirate,' he was in fact a privateer - legally paid to knock off Spanish ships and fight against the British in 1815. The Jean Lafitte National Park is a must-see. Beautiful, a bit spooky and definitely unique, a hike in this park will make you feel like a true early pioneer.

Zion National Park in Utah has tons of hiking trails for pretty much everybody. The great thing about Zion National Park is the weather is awesome all year round, so you can hike whenever you want to. The Narrows and The Subway are two of the most popular hiking trails and here's why.

The Subway is a challenging hiking trail but a lot of fun. You get to climb over rocks, into crevices and down steep cliffs, and you even have to swim through some fairly deep pools of water. The water in the pools is very cold, which is awesome in the summer months, but make sure you carry emergency equipment just in case there are any accidents. At the end of The Subway, you'll find water shoots that you can slide down, and somebody told me there are even fossilized dinosaur tracks you can see. But remember, have some common sense and don't attempt this one if it's raining. This area floods really quickly, and you could end up in some serious trouble.

The Narrows is the most popular hiking trail at Zion National Park and for good reason. It's more than 16 miles long and was cut out of the rock over the millennia by the river that runs all the way through it. The first couple of miles into the bottom of the canyon are easy and very beautiful with hanging gardens and little streams. The rest of the hike is pretty strenuous, so much so that it requires a permit if you're planning on doing all of it. You could potentially do this in one day, but most people do it as an overnight hike, camping somewhere in the canyon along the way. Either way, you'll have had an amazing workout when you're done.

Zion National Park is easily accessible for everyone. It even has its own shuttle service, which will drop you off at the beginning of many of the trails. Can't get more convenient than that, eh? And don't forget your camera. The red and orange rocks are simply stunning; you'll want to take as many photos as you can.

I lived in Dallas, Texas (Go Longhorns!) for eight years and used to hike a lot there. The weather in Dallas is hot for at least eight months of the year, but it's also quite dry, so it can be great for hiking as long as you don't mind the heat. Dallas has some amazing areas for hiking both in and around the city. It is a very flat area of the country though, so don't expect much in the way of hills unless you get down into Texas hill country around Austin, where you'll find much more hilly hiking country.

White Rock Lake was one of my favorite hiking places. It's over 2,000 acres of lake and park. It's very pretty and even has an Audubon society and wetlands area. There's a trail around the lake that runs for almost 10 miles. It's quite flat, which is perfect for beginners, but watch out for the bikes as it's also shared by cyclists who fly by very fast. There's even supposed to be a Lady of the Lake, a ghost that several hikers have reported seeing. (I've never seen her though, wish I had!) In the spring, the area around the lake is covered with wildflowers, especially the famous Texas bluebonnets, so it's a great time to hike then. In summer, the park areas will be drier, and it's harder going due to the excessive Texas heat. But, if you want a great workout and don't mind sweating, it's fun to hike at White Rock Lake.

One of my favorite places to hike just outside Dallas is the L.B. Houston Park, which is about 7 miles north of downtown Dallas. This is a fabulous place to hike for beginners, because it's easy and pretty too. There are four trails to choose from. One is as short as a mile, and the longest is about four miles. The great thing about L.B. Houston Park trails is the plant life and the birds. I've seen many unusual looking birds in the park (sorry, don't know anything about birds, but they were unusual to me!), and in the spring, the flowers and plant life are really pretty too. The trails are pretty flat to hike on but still fun. You can get here by going north on Interstate 35, turning left on Northwest Highway (the loop road) and following the signs.

Don't forget, if you do hike on either of these trails, especially in the summer, take plenty of water in your backpack. It's hotter than heck in Texas in the summer, and you can easily get dehydrated. Not fun if you're a long way from a water supply or a 7-11.

Wide expanses of snow, ice and glaciers are what we think about when most of us think about Alaska. Going hiking in Alaska probably isn't something most of us would consider. Surprisingly, Alaska does actually have a summer, and it is possible to hike there then. Alaska also has some fabulous hiking trails in incredibly beautiful country where you can get back to nature more than anywhere else in America. If you're thinking of hiking in Alaska though, you really should consider these two hiking trails: the Kachemak Bay State Park near Homer and the Kenai Fjords near Seward.

The Kachemak Bay State Park is stunning and easily reachable from Homer but only by plane or by boat. Here there are two options for trail hiking. Either stick to the well-maintained trails, which will take you up mountains and glaciers and around hidden coves, or branch out to the eastern part of the park. Here it's basically completely Alaskan wilderness with no marked trails, making it a huge challenge but really gorgeous. The Kachemak Bay State Park is also home to loads of wildlife and birds, so don't forget your camera and notebooks. Oh, and be careful of the bears! They may look cute and cuddly, but they can kill you.

The Kenai Fjords are something else entirely. These fjords will rival anything Norway has to offer, with trails cut through the woodland as well as a lot of hikes that cross the glaciers. If you do these hikes make sure you're fully prepared for glacier hiking. It can be somewhat dangerous for those with no experience. (You don't want to fall down a crevasse or break a leg and have to get the Alaskan rescue service to save you.) Near the Kenai Fjords is also one of the most popular places in Alaska for hikers, a coastal defense depot that operated during World War II. Check out the old buildings and pretend you're a WWII soldier. You can also camp in the Kenai Fjord National Park overnight. Just make sure you stock up on provisions in Seward before you set out, because there's nothing to buy in the national park itself.

There are many more amazing hiking trails in Alaska. Your best bet is to start out in Anchorage, Homer, Seward or Juneau and branch out from there.

Looking for one of the most beautiful places on earth? Want to see amazing scenery? Like to work out every muscle in your body, and then relax on a gorgeous beach when you're finished? Then look no further. The Kalalau Hiking Trail is definitely for you. Sure, hiking trails are supposed to be relaxing, fun and easy, right? Well, this one isn't. The Kalalau Trail will give you a major workout, and as it's an 11 mile long trail, you'll be working out for a while. But, part way through the trail, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the ocean and a sandy beach second to none.

The Kalalau Trail is on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and is also known as the paradise trail. This 11-mile trail starts out with a pretty, winding and strenuous, hike upwards until, at the top, you'll be confronted with a narrow hiking path that overlooks an incredible ocean view. The trail then continues on, up and down, up and down, and finally descends until it ends up at Hanakapiai Beach. Hanakapiai Beach is around two miles up the trail, but because of the narrowness of the trail and the incline, it will still take you several hours to get there.

Hanakapiai Beach is a small sandy beach, which is lovely. The only warning here is please don't swim in the ocean. The currents are very strong and even a strong swimmer could be pulled out to sea very quickly, so keep your water emersion to no more than a quick wading.

The Kalalau Trail begins at Ke'e Beach and ends up in the Kalalau Valley. The whole trail normally takes a couple of days to do, even for experienced hikers, so make sure you have your camping equipment with you if you want to hike the whole trail. Be warned that a camping permit is required for people who want to go further than Hanakapiai Beach as the state park is strict about access to this part of the trail and beyond.

For a great workout with an unbelievable view, you can't beat the Kalalau Trail. Hawaii has gorgeous scenery and this trail will show you some of the best.

Big Bend National Park, in southwest Texas, is in the middle of nowhere, but that's a good thing. Big Bend National Park has more than 150 miles of phenomenal hiking trails, which is great for people who like being out in the real wilderness. The terrain in Big Bend is your typical Texas desert: wild and isolated. If you're going hiking here, you're going to need to take food, water, a tent, camping supplies, a medical kit and enough oil for a few days in the desert. Plan on camping out at night or heading to one of the small towns 40 to 70 miles away for a night in a motel.

Big Bend is such an enormous park that it is split up into different areas; east side, west side, north end and mountain. All have amazing hiking trails. Choosing one just depends on which direction you enter the park. The park has a lot of self-guided trails, and booklets and maps for each trail can be bought at the park tourist centers for as little as 25 cents. The Lost Mine Trail sounds really fun, as does the Hot Springs Historic District and the Window Trail. You can easily hike all of these in one day.

Big Bend National Park also has backcountry hikes for those who are not faint of heart. These trails pretty much require an off-road vehicle to get there. Mariscal Canyon Rim Trail is a 6.6-mile roundtrip, backcountry trail and Pine Canyon Trail is just 4 miles long. You can also do overnight hikes if you want to camp out in the desert somewhere, but you really need to understand the desert at night before you do this.

Another cool thing about Big Bend National Park is that the bones of a pterosaur, a Jurassic-type flying creature, were found here. The pterosaur is the second-largest flying creature ever found. How totally cool would it be if you found another one!

The National Park service has an excellent web site on Big Bend. Go to http://www.nps.gov/bibe/ to check out all the hiking trails and how to get to each one.

Cold Mountain, North Carolina, became famous when the Charles Frazier book of the same name won the National Book Award. It became more famous when a movie was made from the book. Cold Mountain, North Carolina, not only has movie-worthy scenery and breathtaking views, it also has some of the most challenging hiking trails you'll ever experience. The trails are only accessible for six months of the year though (May to October.) At other times the severe snow makes them impassible.

If you want to hike to the summit of Cold Mountain, it's a long hike. The trail runs for 11 miles in some of the most beautiful country in North Carolina. Streams, campgrounds and carpets of wild flowers line the trail, but if you go in the summer, be prepared for 100 degree heat. To get to the summit, it will take you a good six to eight hours of climbing, and your muscles will be screaming for you to stop by the time you get to the top. Make sure you're wearing the right hiking shoes before you set off.

If you are a Civil War buff, I don't think you can miss this hike. This area of North Carolina was patrolled by the Home Guard during the Civil War. Their goal was to capture deserting Confederate soldiers and return them to their units or kill them. Climbing this trail you can easily imagine how this incredible rugged country turned out to be a trap for so many soldiers who only wanted to return to their families instead of fighting a war they didn't believe in.

To get to the trail, you should drive from Asheville, NC, on I-40 West. Get off at exit 33 and head into Canton. I would ask someone in Canton how to get to the Cold Mountain trail, as it's around 14 miles outside Canton. When you get to the Scout Camp, if you park at the back, you'll see the hiking trail beginning right next to one of the last buildings.

I can't stress enough how beautiful this trail is. On Cold Mountain, you feel like you're in God's Country and also connect with the history of the South and the Confederate soldiers who were pulled into a war many didn't understand. When you get to the summit, even if you're not religious, say a prayer for the souls of those who lost their lives on Cold Mountain.

We spent a month hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway which connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. We had amazing hikes but one that was very special was actually different from any I've hiked. I had never heard of a privately owned mountain but Grandfather Mountain in Linville, North Carolina is privately owned.

It is also the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountain area at almost 6,000 feet. Grandfather Mountain with 12 miles of trails isn't just for hiking; however, it is a tourist attraction and a nature preserve.

As a privately owned mountain you will have to pay to hike! One ticket includes the Mile High Swinging Bridge which I'll talk about in a moment. There are other exhibits that are great for children. You'll find picnic tables and guided tours as well as a restaurant and gift shop.

The hours for various activities are different so I'll point you to the website for hours and phone number. The fees are $14.00 for adults; $12.00 if you are over 60; $6.00 for children 4 to 12 and under 4 go in free. We thought $14.00 was a lot to hike but it's really a very special place and I recommend Grandfather Mountain. If you have AAA you'll save a couple of dollars.

We got to Grandfather Mountain at 9:00a.m. It was really cool and windy. We went into the very nice Visitor Center where I was told that it is always windy at Grandfather Mountain and it gets windier and cooler as you get higher so I really recommend layers of clothes. In fact the average summer temperature is only 68 degrees.

We parked in the lot and headed to what looked like the main trail. There were many caution signs saying that Grandfather Mountain is dangerous (There are short easy hikes from here though)) and to wear hiking boots. They urge children not to climb (Although we saw at least two but they were experienced.) Our hiking book told us that there were 7 ladder. (Ladders used in hiking are there because the mountain is too steep to climb- unless you're a goat- so ladders are built into the mountain!) There were cables to help climb up the ladder. It can be scary and nerve racking though truth be told my husband was more nervous than I was. The book went on to tell us we'd be on one precipice and one unnerving ladder but as it turned out we loved this hike and rate it in the top 5 hikes we have done. It took us 3 ½ hours round trip to hike 2 miles!

We hiked McCrea Peak (There are many peaks but the sky was getting cloudy and we didn't want to have to climb down wet ladders, which at the time we thought we would have to do.) You may want to go all the way to Calloway if the weather is nice. We encountered a snake and had been warned there were poisonous snakes on the mountain but when we got down we found out this guy was a good guy.

We did a really dumb thing which you can avoid if you're reading this. We like loops i.e. not in and out hikes but different scenery and terrain going up and down. Rather than going back the way we came we avoided the ladders and took Underwood Trail which as it turned out was not only a bit longer than the ladders but made up of boulders. The going was tedious, tough and not very pretty. . We had one long ladder with no rails that was steep but once we connected with Grandfather Trail we had bypassed the ladders. I'd go down the way I went up next time!

We headed over to the swinging bridge. The Mile High Swinging Bridge was built to give visitors a view of Grandfather Mountain's Linville Peak. It was a great view especially knowing we had been on the mountain even if we hadn't been on Linville Peak. The bridge is a 228- suspension bridge so yes it does move and goes over an 80-foot chasm over a mile up. You'll be climbing 50 steps to get to the Bridge; walk on rocks and really just enjoy the views. Enjoy this beautiful and challenging hike.

Please leave only footprints, take only pictures and kill only time.