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.

I lived in Cincinnati, Ohio for 10 years. During that time, especially when I was attending university, I walked many of the state's trails. The best trail in Ohio is The Buckeye Trail. It's absolutely huge (almost 1,500 miles long) and hits every part of the state at least once. It starts in Cincinnati where two different forks go north and east, goes through a national park in Cleveland, continues on up through the rest of the state and ends at Lake Erie. On its way up the two forks, the Buckeye Trail also goes through Medina, Loveland, Shawnee, Troy, Defiance and Akron, just to name a few towns.

The Buckeye Trail is easy to follow as it's marked by what they call 'blue blazes.' These are blue painted marks that are on trees and signposts all the way along the trail. I've walked the Loveland part of the trail, which actually starts in the Eden Park area of Cincinnati. It goes through city streets here (which is cooler than it sounds as there are some beautiful old houses in this area of Cincinnati), then winds through Little Miami State Park, continues along the riverbank and passes King's Island Amusement Park. It ends up at an Indian earthworks and museum that's very interesting to stop and visit if you have the time.

You can also do the Circuit Hike on the Buckeye Trail, which means you can walk the whole thing. At almost 1,500 miles long though, it would take you a few weeks and a excellent pair of hiking boots to complete, especially if you're hiking during the summer months when Ohio gets very humid. You, of course, wouldn't want to hike the trail past the beginning of October as Ohio gets supremely cold in winter with the weather quickly changing to sleet, snow and ice.

Ohio, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful states in the U.S. During the spring and summer, the countryside is green and full of flowers. It's also hilly in many areas so you'll get a great workout while hiking. The Buckeye Trail runs through pretty countryside, where you'll see rivers, waterfalls, gorgeous foliage and wild flowers, raccoons, deer, rabbits and more.

For more information on the Buckeye Trail in Ohio, check out the Buckeye Trail's website.

A hiking or trekking trip makes for a great Labor Day weekend adventure, and you don't have to go too far from home if you make your way to a national or State Park in your area. You'll need some basic survival gear, a camera and a few packets of trail mix to get you through that final outdoor challenge of the season.

Heading off to rocky terrain with the right trekking poles is an absolute essential. Whether you're tackling cliffs and hills, or just making your way through terrain filled with boulders, you'll need a pair of non-snagging poles to navigate your path. Trekking poles made with solid handgrips and lightweight materials work best for most terrain and can help you get through some of the tougher parts of the trail with ease.

If you plan to spend the night at a campsite, don't forget the all-important sleeping bag. Cocoon-shaped bags are a great way to trap in the heat and keep you safe, snug and comfortable on any stormy night. Just pick your favorite color and style, and make sure it rolls up tight for your backpack or tote.

And of course, you'll need a solid pair of hiking boots or hiking shoes. Light hikers are versatile, durable and can help you step up to that challenge like a pro. Look for low-cut hiking shoes if you plan to climb for most of the trip, which can help your joints move with ease. If your route involves tackling trails and hills, a pair of hi-cut boots may be a better match. No matter what style you go for, just make sure it's the shoe that fits!

Go ahead, play weekend warrior just one more time and say goodbye to summer with a memorable trip under your belt.

This is a wonderful day trip that will give you a little of everything.

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has some of the most spectacular scenery and is a must see. The mountains loom large in the distance but it's easy to get on them if you hike. The lakes are beautiful as well. It's awesome to watch the morning clouds that hide the mountains of the Grand Teton range fall away and give you a view of these spectacular mountains.

One hike we did was actually made up of a few separate destinations. At the Jenny Lake Visitor Center you'll park and take a ferry across the lake for $5.00 one way. We could have spent $9.00 for a round trip but wanted to walk back. If you do not take the boat at all you're looking at a whole day adventure. As it was we spent about 5 hours in this beautiful area. The hike I'm going to describe is considered a moderate to moderate-strenuous hike.

On this hike you can walk up to Hidden Falls which was about ½ mile from the dock. The path up to Hidden Falls was steep but well maintained we encountered some boulders but none I had to climb up or sit on to get down. The 200 foot Hidden Falls are really a cascade so if you are expecting amazing falls that you may have seen elsewhere, you'll be disappointed. Just enjoy Hidden Falls for what they are.

This area was crowded. I recommend that you go early in the morning to beat the crowds. We were able to at one point but it was due to veering from the trail and not on purpose! Many people turned around at Hidden Falls and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Be glad you could get that far. If you can continue you will go another ½ mile to Inspiration Point. Along the way you'll see a flat rock area - sort of a large plateau along the way. You can't miss it since there will be others there. Sit awhile. This is a great overlook for this very pretty lake.

The climb to Inspiration Point was tough. I can't minimize it in any way. Not only was it a rocky trail but it was a narrow trail right at the edge of the mountain. In fact one woman could not even go on she was so terrified of the height and the rocks. You'll find yourself at times hugging the rocks behind you with your back to maneuver your way up this fairly steep trail. We then climbed another 1/4 mile on Cascade Canyon to a junction point where we took the trail heading back to the boat ramp which said .9 miles. This is where we veered the wrong way. We were treated to views of rock climbers. Hopefully you will not get treated to a bear sighting. This is bear habitat and the signs were very clear. The trail we were on was narrow and bordered by high grasses. We only saw 2 others hikers here so in a way it was a good choice because it was not crowded. However if I had to do it again I would look for the maintained trail.

Once we got to the boat ramp rather than getting on the ferry we walked 2 miles around the lake to the parking lot. This started out as a very easy walk but changed constantly. Some areas were quite steep, some rocky, some really just dirt. Much of it was right along the lake and many people had their feet in it. I was surprised to not see many people in the lake. You can swim in all other bodies of water except Snake River.

Please take only pictures; leave only footprints; kill only time.

Ever since humans learned to walk, some form of shoe has been essential. Initially, it was a lot about basic protection from the elements. Shoes made from animal skins were developed at first and through the centuries, other types of shoes have been made, incorporating a variety of methods and materials. In more modern times, the discovery of human-made materials have advanced the manufacture of shoes.

Hiking as Recreation

As people began to have more leisure time, and as it became possible to wander farther from home, hiking became more and more popular. Now it is not uncommon to see people enjoying hiking - at different levels of difficulty – for recreation. One of my favorite activities is hiking, and I'm not alone.

Millions of people every year use hiking as a way to connect with nature. I think this is especially true as we become an increasingly urban society. There is definitely a strong desire to get back to our roots in nature. And through the change in the status of hiking, the evolution of hiking shoes has taken place. Originally, people thought of hiking footwear in terms of boots. Bulky, padding-stuffed, stiff boots. These boots were thickly insulated in order to keep in warmth. Additionally, they were large. I look at pictures of my dad's first pair of hiking boots and I can hardly believe how clunky they were. And you had to break them in. If you didn't - well, hiking just didn't maintain the moniker of "recreational activity."

From Hiking Boots to Hiking Shoes

As technology pervades every aspect of life, hiking boots have necessarily been affected. Like microchips and consumer electronics, hiking boots have shrunk in size.

Today's hiking boot is really more of a hiking shoe. The modern hiking shoe, as we know it, started evolving during the 1980s. Nike decided to take on the challenge of casual hikers. Until this point, hiking boots were reserved mainly for the hard core outdoorspeople. But what about those who liked to go for the occasional hike? Many of them didn't want expensive and over-done hiking boots. So, Nike designed a trail shoe that was meant for light hiking.

Now, there are many companies that make hiking shoes. And these hiking shoes have taken advantage of technology to become smaller and sleeker,hile at the same time becoming sturdier. Technological advances have allowed for things like Gore-Tex, which helps protect the feet from water, as well as advances that have led to cushioning in hiking shoes, allowing for a more comfortable hike. And some hiking shoes are made with special technology that lets the shoe to change shape along with the foot. Advances in chemistry have led to more durable materials and research has led to tread that grips better than ever.And you can't forget the technology that has led to breathable mesh materials that add to comfort while maintaining needed insulating effects.

Thanks to technology, we have more choices than ever for when we decide to commune with nature, and we need the proper footwear to do so.

Hiking and backpacking are great ways to traverse the country and explore nature's gifts, but making sure you have the right survival gear for the journey can make that trip even more worthwhile.

Hiking boots are a necessary investment, the only way you can head off on those trails without getting injured, sore or getting tired early on in the trip. Since you want the perfect balance of durability, support and comfort, you'll need a selection strategy to track down your ideal pair. Consider these tips for choosing a high quality hiking boot that will get you through even the most challenging trails and adventures with ease:

1. Wear the right socks: If you're heading off to a rainy or snowy climate, you'll probably wear thick, athletic socks during the trip. This means your hiking boots might be a size larger than usual, so make sure you're trying on the shoes with the same socks you'll be sporting on your travels. Choosing the right socks is another priority - make sure the socks aren't a cotton blend that will quickly soak up moisture; you'll want a pair that can provide plenty of cushioning and keep your toes dry during the trip.

2. Shop for your most challenging terrain: If you're a mountaineering enthusiast or enjoy trekking up steep cliffs and rocky roads, choose the most durable boots that can stand up to the challenge. In this case, you'll want to find boots that can provide extra support and protect your feet from the elements.

3. Go for the leather: Hiking boots can be made with several different types of materials, but leather continues to be one of the most durable and versatile materials available. Leather can keep moisture at bay, is flexible enough to conform to your feet during the steepest climbs, and can trap in heat in colder climates with ease.

4. Leave room for extra padding: Even with the right socks, you might develop a blister or need some extra ankle support during a tough trail. Make sure the hiking boots offer some 'breathing room,' so you can add inserts or bandages without compromising on comfort.

5. Don't compromise on quality: Investing in the correctpair of hiking boots can make the difference between a good trip and a great one. Avoid making a selection based solely on price; you need a pair of boots with Gore-Tex lining, the perfect fit, and high quality leather to get you through your adventure*.*

6. Break them in!: When you've made the final selection, taking the boots for a test drive can help you get comfortable with the feel and fit, and help your legs and feet adjust to the new shape. Wearing the boots for day-to-day activities can help you develop the right posture and balance, so you don't stumble as soon as you set foot on the trail. Roughing it in the great outdoors offers plenty of thrills and adventures, but choosing the right gear can make or break the experience.