Unlikely Hikers: An Invitation to the Outdoors

TIPS FOR NEW HIKERS

1. I think that the best thing to do as a new hiker is to pick a trail that’s close to home. Some place that will still have cell phone reception.
2. Pay attention to how much elevation gain the trail has and pick something that has a lower elevation gain. If you’re on a trail that’s too long, you can always turn around and go back.
3. Make sure someone knows where you’re going and also let them know when you’re done.
4. Wear clothing you can move comfortably in. Not something you’ll need to be yanking around all of the time. I like to wear my leggings and a tank top.
5. Make sure you have snacks and water so you don’t have any baby meltdowns. It helps with sudden sugar crashes, because that’s what happens when you are working your body.

Jenny Bruso, Founder of Unlikely Hikers

FAVORITE HIKES

1. Forest Park: Right now I’m having a really intense love affair with the Wildwood Trail, which maybe doesn’t sound the most exciting, except that it is so exciting. It’s a 30 mile trail that goes though Forest Park. It’s one of the biggest parks in the country, over 5,000 acres. It’s so easy to overlook because of its proximity to Portland. The greenery that exists in Portland is so magical. We [see] fern gully all around us, if we’re paying attention. In the parts that I like to go to in Forest Park, there are still old-growth trees and all of the trilliums are blooming. I’m out there at least once a week. I’m healing from an injury and a lot of my trails are closer to home and flatter. I love Forest Park and it’s really important to me to not take it for granted.
2. Columbia River Gorge: I also love hiking in the Gorge. Sometimes it’s a bit of a challenge because of the number of people, but I work evenings so a lot of times I go earlier in the day mid-week. Sometimes I’ll be on a trail and never see anyone. I feel very privileged to be able to do that. My favorite trails to do out there are Cape Horn, which is only open about six months out of the year from June – Jan and I love Hamilton Mountain. That’s kind of a tough one, but it’s so unbelievably gorgeous. I love Beacon Rock as a quick little jaunt. It’s like a short little trail. I’ve never been on anything like it. Of course, I love all of those waterfall trails. Like, how can you not?
3. The Oregon Coast: I love Cape Falcon and Cascade Head – those are wonderful trails.

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