Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker If you ever worry about getting lost, this free app is your new best friend. I use AllTrails+ for offline maps, but even the free version is helpful. It can be off on mileage a but so be ware. It lets you: Preview elevation and trail conditions Read recent hiker reviews (super helpful after storms) Filter by distance, difficulty, or dog-friendliness Before I used it, I relied on hope and half-faded trail signs. Now, I head out with way more confidence, especially on...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker I always carry three things in my backpack — even on short hikes. Two are obvious. One might surprise you. The obvious ones: water and snacks (because trail hangry is real). The surprising one? A burned wooden token with the word steady carved into it. It’s part ritual, part reminder. When I’m doubting myself or losing steam, I hold it for a few seconds. It helps me recalibrate. That little piece of wood has seen waterfalls, thunderstorms, and breakdowns. And every...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker Solo hikes get all the glory — but they’re not the only way to reconnect. I love hiking alone. But I’ve also cried-laughed my way through muddy trails with a friend, shared silence with a stranger, and found healing in shared steps, not just solo ones. The myth that healing must be a lonely journey keeps people stuck. The truth? You get to choose how you walk it. Whether you’re side by side or solo, it’s the intention, not the isolation, that creates healing. Know...
13 days ago • 1 min read
Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker Here’s the grounding ritual I use when everything feels like too much. It’s simple, portable, and free — and it works whether you’re in the forest or your backyard. I call it the 5-4-3-2-1 touch-in. 5 things you can see 4 things you can touch 3 things you can hear 2 things you can smell 1 thing you can taste (even if it’s just the inside of your mouth) This sensory check-in pulls me right out of spiraling thoughts and into the moment. I’ve done it on muddy trails,...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Ridge Raven Freedom Seeker I didn’t set out to change my life that day. I just needed to breathe. One morning, after another sleepless night and a to-do list that felt like it could crush me, I grabbed my keys, laced up my boots, and drove to the trailhead with no plan beyond motion. The trees didn’t care about my unfinished work. The wind didn’t ask for explanations. And for the first time in months, I felt… calm. Present. That was the walk that brought me back to myself. Not because...
20 days ago • 1 min read
Field Note:August 2024 Here is your reminder and permission slip: You can do brave things alone! Hi, I'm Petra, a passionate hiker and outdoor enthusiast. As a little kid, I remember hiking and camping with family and summer camps. As I became a mother and those little legs could move them forward, I ventured out on the trails again. And then life took a bit of a twist and my youngest needed some extensive medical interventions that kept us homebound. During the pandemic, to avoid being...
11 months ago • 2 min read