Barred owls are notoriously aggressive and territorial, and have been , even when seemingly unprovoked. Now, the federal government plans to authorize killing up to 450,000 barred owls across the western United States under a finalized in 2024.

The management plan is not a new proposal, but it follows a long tradition of hikers in the Pacific Northwest reportedly being attacked by the flying predator.

Reports of aggressive owls are well-documented and longstanding. Multiple runners in the Portland area have reported being and left with wounds throughout the years. Stolen hats, visible puncture marks, and advisories to wear hard hats in certain parts of the city have all been associated with the owl attacks. And after a Washington woman was by an owl while walking in the woods near her house in 2022, biologists report that the occurrence is becoming more frequent.

As most true crime fans will recall, the “owl theory” was one hypothesis put forward to explain the death of Michael Peterson’s wife in the Netflix documentary The Staircase.听That’s right, some argue that Kathleen Peterson may have died after .

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) management plan, however, is designed not to save humans from barred owls but to save other, less dominant species of owls, such as the northern spotted owl and the California spotted owl. Barred owls, which are native to the eastern seaboard but only appeared west of the Mississippi in the early 1900s, are classified as invasive to the West and Northwest. In total, the FWS says in its that no more than 15,600 invasive barred owls per year could be killed under full implementation of their approved strategy.

Stretched out over the proposed 30-year management period, this would mean a total of 468,000 barred owls would be euthanized throughout the western United States. However, the FWS added that 鈥渢his is an upper limit that may be removed assuming maximum implementation of the strategy,鈥� adding that, even if reached, 鈥渋t would result in the annual removal of less than one-half of one percent of the current North American barred owl population.鈥�

Tom Wheeler, executive director of the California-based nonprofit , told 国产吃瓜黑料 that a coalition of conservation groups supports the management plan. Wheeler cited a letter co-signed by groups including the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and the Center for Biological Diversity, that stated the “strategy is a necessary conservation action to stop the extinction of the northern spotted owl and to protect other native species impacted by the barred owl鈥檚 invasion.”

“Barred owl removal is also a habitat protection strategy. Barred owls outcompete spotted owls and are driving the species to extinction. BO removal is likely to provide both long- and short-term habitat protection,鈥� Wheeler told听国产吃瓜黑料.

In addition to attacking humans, the FWS notes that barred owls are one of two primary threats to the continued survival of the threatened northern spotted owl, along with habitat loss, because barred owls are 鈥渓arger, more aggressive, and have a wider prey base.鈥� Unlike northern spotted owls, California spotted owls are not yet classified as threatened but 鈥渘ear threatened.鈥� However, this species, too, faces severe displacement from barred owls.

At least 14 national parks are included in the areas where barred owls could be killed, including the Washington national parks Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades, Oregon鈥檚 Crater Lake, and the Sequoia and Kings Canyon, as well as Yosemite, Redwood, and Lassen Volcanic National Parks in California.

Some environmental and animal welfare groups are not pleased by the plan. Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy against the FWS over the plan last year. Last week, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (CPANP), a nonprofit, published a letter to Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, urging him to vote against implementing the management strategy. The letter鈥檚 author, wildlife biologist Elaine Frances Leslie, called the planned culls an 鈥渦nprecedented and deeply troubling course of action鈥� and one that 鈥渧iolates the spirit of the National Park Service鈥檚 mission.鈥�

Leslie noted that although barred owls are not native to the Northwest and West, 鈥渞ange expansion is a well-documented ecological process鈥� and 鈥渨hile we agree that some of the range expansions are due to climate change, fragmentation, and other human-caused disturbance, the rate of range expansion is inevitable. We have considered policy, but we must also consider moral and ethical concerns. To massacre barred owls to protect the spotted owl in this matter is unethical.鈥�

FWS that the culling will be performed by professional removal specialists who meet training, experience, and competency requirements, which include 鈥渢he ability to accurately identify spotted owls and barred owls using both visual and auditory means, and confidently distinguish between the two species.鈥� The agency notes that no public hunting of barred owls is permitted under the strategy, and that it is unlawful for anyone to kill a barred owl without authorization under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Leslie and the CPANP argue that, among other issues, it will be challenging to ensure that the owls killed are exclusively barred, not spotted, and claim that the plan 鈥渋s a pretext to open up old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest, and to allow for incidental killing of threatened northern spotted owls.鈥�

鈥淭here is no way that there will not be incidental 鈥榯ake鈥� (killing or capturing) in a project of this size and scope,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that this plan will be detrimental to both barred and spotted owls.鈥�

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A hiker was evacuated by air on October 29 from the rugged and remote Kalalau Trail in Hawaii after he was 鈥渦nable to hike out due to a rapidly worsening infection from an apparent spider bite,鈥� wrote the Kauai Fire Department (KFD) in a .

The hiker, a 57-year-old local from Kauai, survived the ordeal.

The is a challenging 22-mile round-trip trek from Ke鈥檈 Beach to Kalalau Beach, offering the only access to the rugged coastline of the renowned Napali Coast. Characterized by emerald-hued cliffs, towering waterfalls, and dramatically lush valleys, this region is difficult ot access and even more testing to hike through.

KFD said the department received a text-to-911 message from the hiker, who reported that an infection from a spider bite had spread. He was experiencing fever and weakness, and couldn鈥檛 be safely evacuated.

L墨hu鈥榚 Fire Station responded just after the text came in at 9:45 A.M. Rescuers evacuated the hiker from Kalalau trail, which is located on the northern side of the island, to a softball field located in Waimea, on the southern half of the island. First responders, who arrived at Kalalau Beach, said the hiker could walk but was 鈥渋n visible distress.鈥�

After a medical assessment, the hiker was transported to a local hospital for further medical care.

Meghan Wright, public information officer for the Office of the Mayor, told 国产吃瓜黑料 that the Kaua’i Fire Department conducted the rescue and initial medical aid before transferring the patient to American Medical Response for further care. The patient鈥檚 condition is currently unknown.

Although there are many types of spiders in the Hawaiian Islands, there are two species that can be particularly dangerous to humans: the brown widow and southern black widow, according to the .

鈥淭hough rare, spider bites do occur. Your risk of being bitten increases if you live in areas where there is clutter and debris or if their habitat has been disturbed. Widow spiders prefer warm climates and dark, dry places,鈥� writes the department on its website.

When bitten by the southern black widow, the spider鈥檚 venom attacks the nerve endings in muscles that can cause severe pain and muscle cramps at the source of the bite, which can then spread throughout the body. However, only females can bite鈥攎ales are too small, writes the .

Named for their coloring, the less-aggressive brown widow spiders are considered by the in California to be minor compared to the black widow. It鈥檚 theorized this is because the brown widow isn鈥檛 able to inject as much venom as its larger relative.

Brown widow and bold jumping spiders, which measure only a half-inch in size, also have painful bites that can produce redness, swelling and blistering.

If bitten by a spider, the Hawaii Department of Health advises hikers to remain calm and identify the spider, if possible. Bites should be cleaned with soap and water, and cool compresses can help to reduce swelling. If an infection appears to persist, contact your healthcare provider.

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Two weeks ago, during a work trip through Southwest Virginia, I had a couple hours to spare. I had, however, no doubts about what I was going to do with the time: get on the Appalachian Trail (AT). Having finally left the East Coast two years ago for the country鈥檚 Rocky spine, I find myself missing the AT like I miss the ocean or soul food, pieces of my constitution I only recognized as critical the moment I lost easy access to them. Even a quick visit to the country鈥檚 best long-distance trail feels sustaining now, like a long hug from an old friend鈥攁 fire you can carry with you, something intangible to keep you warm.

Headed west toward Marion, the cradle of that delicious Southern elixir called Mountain Dew, I aimed for the nearest trail intersection that I spotted on FarOut, still the standard mapping app along the AT. The moment I climbed out of my rental car, I realized my mistake. I had accidentally navigated to the site of a 2019 trail murder, when one hiker was killed and another, who has since become a friend, was critically wounded and fled six miles in the dark to save her own life. That night six years ago, I had finished almost a quarter of my own first thru-hike, headed north from Georgia to Maine. I was camped just six miles to the south, in a shelter with pals who had intended to walk another six miles north until they saw that our little trail family was making s鈥檓ores. They stayed with us and, it turns out, stayed safe.

The morning after the stabbing, that bit of trail was a closed crime scene, so we anxiously waited in a nearby hostel for news about our people. The next day, we headed south rather than north to make up those missed miles, moving quickly past the campsite where it had all happened as if it were already haunted. So two weeks ago, despite the feeling of dread that the place still holds for me, I decided it was finally time to walk in the same direction in which, those few crime-scene miles excepted, I鈥檇 traveled the entire trail. I could spend some time at the site, I reckoned, to sit with the memory. As the sun started to drift toward the horizon late in the afternoon, it felt, too, like a good time to remember all that so many hikers who hadn鈥檛 been attacked had lost that night鈥攖he sense that the AT was a safe bubble, a thin strip of idealized life carved into the woods of 14 states.

The morning after the stabbing, that bit of trail was a closed crime scene, so we anxiously waited in a nearby hostel for news about our people.

In less than a mile, after crossing an idyllic cow pasture where the trail鈥檚 white blazes appear almost proud from their perches on wooden fenceposts, I was back where it had happened. Or at least I thought I was. This being the South, I expected maybe a simple wooden cross tucked near the rhododendrons, perhaps a concrete slab engraved with 鈥淪tronghold,鈥� the name of the murdered Army veteran. But there was nothing in the way of a memorial, only a sign pointing north and south and a series of blue blazes leading to a nearby spring. I scrolled through six years of comments on FarOut, which had then been called Guthook and had been filled with speculation, consternation, and anxiety over what had happened. But only two remarks from 2019 remained, one about the wonderfully cold water and another about highway noise. I snapped a few photos and sent them to friends to ensure this was the place. They all agreed it was, though I鈥檝e since been told by locals that my entire hiking class had the relocation wrong all along. But the point still stands鈥攏o real memorial.

鈥淢emorials and memories and items were placed there by hikers, and we left those there for about six months,鈥� Ron Hudnell tells me several days later. Since 2014, Hudnell has volunteered for Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers, the nonprofit that maintains that stretch of trail. 鈥淏ut it seemed like it was becoming less organized, more spontaneous. We decided to remove it.鈥�

This is, of course, reasonable. The Appalachian Trail isn鈥檛 , littered with the ephemera and graffiti of thousands of fans. Leave No Trace principles suggest the trail should be kept as clean and natural as possible. But there are actually several memorials and markers on trail already, like the one remembering an against smallpox during the Revolutionary War and another for a 19th-century Tennessee mountain man . There are multiple graveyards along the trail, too, their grass sometimes mowed by trail clubs like Hudnell鈥檚. The AT, then, is not some long walk through pristine woods and never has been. And Hudnell confirms that his club would be happy to maintain any sort of memorial approved by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), the de facto overseer of all 2,200 miles. It needs to happen.

In April and May 2019, almost everyone who encountered James Jordan鈥攖he hiker who called himself 鈥淪overeign,鈥� which is a mighty fine red flag if I鈥檝e ever seen one鈥攌new he was trouble. I was a day behind him for the better part of a week, and I kept hearing stories about how he鈥檇 beaten his dog, shit behind a shelter full of folks, and repeatedly threatened a teenage girl on trail. His presence fortified the trail鈥檚 grapevine, with both hikers and people who live in the small towns that line the AT sharing news of his movements. Cops were called, and questions were asked.

In a log left at a trailside restaurant, one hiker wrote on May 10, 鈥�4pm: I totally just saw Sovereign heading NoBo from the window here, FYI guys! I googled it to make sure I wasn鈥檛 mistaken, it鈥檚 him (and his dog).鈥� A few hours later, Sovereign stabbed that very hiker, Kirby Morrill, repeatedly with a 17-inch knife. She escaped with her life as he searched for his dog. I read her note the next day, the damage already done.

I don鈥檛 know that we took all the warning signs seriously enough. On a long trail, the rest of the world and its woes start to fade, leading to a kind of hiker high where the worst that can happen seems to be maybe a broken ankle, too many mosquito bites, or a missed resupply box at a rural post office that closed too early. The stakes of the lifestyle seem lower, the rewards greater.

But what if we had known enough to stick around in town when cops told us we needed to in order to press charges? What if we had known enough to camp in bigger groups or to keep watch when he was around, to keep each other safe? What if we had known enough for Sovereign to simply be some weird trail footnote we mention in group texts six years later, not someone who changed our understanding of innocence and safety? (I asked Morrill, by the way, if she wanted to offer her perspective here, but she declined; we spent a while catching up, nevertheless, as old hikers do.) We knew Sovereign was a threat, but we were on the Appalachian Trail. Life was as great as it had ever been, and everything would be fine. We were wrong.

Memorials and historical markers don鈥檛 simply indicate a place where something important once happened. They tell stories about what has been and offer some insight about what might still be. I try to imagine myself now as a first-time thru-hiker, coming across a memorial for a fellow hiker who was murdered on trail. Sure, maybe I鈥檇 be overly anxious, but I鈥檇 also take the idea of keeping each other safe more seriously. I would think about how we, a class of hikers, might succeed where the cops of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia and the mental health services of the United States failed.

Life was as great as it had ever been, and everything would be fine. We were wrong.

As I consider the missing memorial, it reminds me of the Trump administration鈥檚 of this country鈥檚 original sins in plaques and programs that mention slavery and Indigenous massacres. History is a warning against things that might happen again; ignoring it simply makes those to whom it may happen more vulnerable. That the ATC has not done something to honor Stronghold or at least to acknowledge what happened to him 300 miles south of its headquarters鈥攁nd that Farout has ostensibly scrubbed its data clean of the incident鈥攊s to fail future hikers, to not let them know that horrors can happen, even amid the heaven that a thru-hike may be.

When I asked FarOut about those missing comments, an official simply linked me to their comment policy and, when pressed, offered an Orwellian bit of evasion. 鈥� is the whole of our policy and we abide closely by it,鈥� they said.

The ATC, at least, was a bit more humane: 鈥淚 know it must have been deeply unsettling for you to be so nearby when this tragic event occurred,鈥� an official replied, before essentially confirming that there were no current plans for a permanent memorial. I appreciated the care, but this isn鈥檛 about me, my memories, or any vestigial trauma I might have. It鈥檚 about who comes next and having the respect to tell them what has happened, so that, as best as they can, they can guard against it happening again.

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A hiker died on Mount Whitney, California’s tallest peak, on October 25 after toppling down the 99 Switchbacks section of the route and sliding over a cliff.

The 99 Switchbacks is a 2.2-mile section of the route that gains 1,800 feet of elevation as it quickly zig zags upwards. Recent snow made this part of the mountain particularly perilous over the weekend. In addition to the peak鈥檚 recent precipitation, earlier weather conditions also featured hazardous winds.

Wes Ostgaard also attempted to hike Mount Whitney on Saturday. After encountering the new snowpack and windy conditions, he posted on Facebook that his team decided to turn around. Shortly afterward, he of the hiker who had fallen. Ostgaard contacted his father, who subsequently reached out to rescue officials, prompting the multi-day operation.

Inyo County Search and Rescue attempted to reach the fallen hiker on Saturday, but the peak鈥檚 inclement weather prevented a helicopter landing, forcing them to postpone the rescue. On Monday, Inyo County and Mono County Search and Rescue members hiked seven miles to the base of the switchbacks and confirmed the fatality, but inclement weather again prevented the rescue team from carrying the hiker鈥檚 body off the mountain. On October 27, a helicopter team managed to extract the hiker鈥檚 body after weather conditions improved.

While some shoulder season hikers pack microspikes to navigate deteriorating mountain conditions, high country endeavors like Mount Whitney often require the use of crampons and mountaineering equipment to cross the peak鈥檚 steep and unforgiving terrain safely.

鈥淭here are several turns on that section, near Trailcrest, when you could literally walk off an edge,鈥� hiker Chris Lombardo, who said he had previously retreated during his own climb of Whitney, wrote in a comment to Inyo County鈥檚 Facebook post.

Despite rigid permitting requirements and the mountain鈥檚 remote location, thousands of adventurers set out to hike Mount Whitney every year.听The peak鈥檚 allure as the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states, paired with its majestic views, often draws听ill-prepared hikers.听As a result, the mountain claims a handful of lives every year. (Inyo County SAR didn鈥檛 note what gear the fallen hiker was carrying, and wrote that 鈥渋t is best not to make assumptions regarding the events leading to the recovery.鈥�

In the wake of the recent fatality, SAR officials are urging hikers and climbers to prepare for winter conditions in the Sierras. Inyo County SAR that 鈥淢ount Whitney is already experiencing winter conditions, including snow and ice, very low temperatures, and frequent windstorms. The Main Trail is no longer a casual hike but a mountaineering endeavor. The 99 Switchbacks are especially icy and slippery and should not be attempted without proper equipment, experience, and preparation.鈥�

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When two Washington State hikers set out on October 19 for their day trip in the high-elevation Snoqualmie region, the weather was cold but otherwise pleasant. But soon after they began hiking, a cold-weather system passed over the region, dumping unexpected snow and prompting a rescue situation.

According to a report from the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, rescuers responded to an SOS call shortly before 11 A.M. from the two lost hikers, whose names were not released. The two had become stuck in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area, roughly 90 miles east of Seattle.

鈥淥ver text-to-911, the pair reported they were lost, wet, and cold, with no shelter but a blue plastic tarp. They were unable to make their way off the snowy mountainside where they were perched,鈥� authorities wrote on Facebook.听Because of the snowy conditions and rugged terrain, the agency also requested volunteers Kittitas County Search and Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, and King County Search and Rescue.

The two hikers had lost their way in unexpected snow near Peggy鈥檚 Pond Trail, an 11-mile round-trip hike in the Snoqualmie region with 2,300 feet of elevation gain. With a high point of 5,600 feet, the difficult trail briefly joins the Pacific Crest Trail, according to the .

鈥淭he coordinated rescue team geared up and hiked five miles through challenging conditions to find the hikers, wet and cold but uninjured. They helped the pair off the slope and out of the wilderness,鈥� said the sheriff鈥檚 department.

Peggy鈥檚 Pond is located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area in the Central Cascades Region of Washington state. Spanning approximately 394,000 acres with 47 trailheads and 615 miles of trail, it is a popular area for听hikers, climbers, and other outdoor rec groups throughout the year, writes the U.S. Forest Service on its听.

Recreating in alpine, high-elevation wilderness areas comes with risk鈥攅specially in late October, when temperatures can quickly plummet鈥攁nd rescue stories like these serve as a reminder that snowy conditions and extreme weather can roll in at any moment. Weather systems can move into an area without warning, sometimes in just a few minutes. Unexpected rain, thunderstorms, high winds, or snow can quickly turn an otherwise unassuming hike into a full-blown rescue scenario.

Heading into cooler months and temperature drops, officials are reminding adventurers to come prepared for anything.

鈥淎s we move deeper into fall, remember that mountain conditions can change fast. If you鈥檙e heading out, always carry the 10 Essentials and plan for how you鈥檒l stay warm and dry if your trip takes longer than expected,鈥� said Kittitas County Sheriff.

Those 10 essentials include:

• Navigation tools, like a map, compass, or GPS.
• Sun protection, such as sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat.
• Insulation for a variety of weather conditions, which can include a jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell, and thermal underwear.
• Lumination for shorter days and less light. Make sure to bring a flashlight, lantern, or headlamp.
• First aid supplies that include any required medications.
• Fire starters like matches, lighters, and other fire starters.
• A repair kit for a variety of fixes, including duct tape, a knife, a screwdriver, and scissors.
• Nutrition and food.
• Hydration, such as hydration salts, as well as plenty of water and water treatment supplies
• Emergency shelter, like a tent, space blanket, tarp, or bivy.

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A federal prosecutor in Wyoming has听offered Michelino Sunseri, a trail runner who was found guilty of cutting a switchback earlier this year, a plea deal. The athlete initially faced a potential ban from the park and a fine of up to $5,000. Now, he鈥檚 looking at a far less severe punishment.

In September, Sunseri was found guilty of cutting a switchback while running up and down the Grand Teton in 2024. Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), the public interest firm handling Sunseri鈥檚 defense, told 国产吃瓜黑料 that prosecutors will now seek to dismiss the case in exchange for 60 hours of community service and a course on wilderness stewardship.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wyoming called the plea deal 鈥渁n evolution of what is right,鈥� and one made 鈥渢o preserve prosecutive and judicial resources while upholding the best interests of the public and the justice system,鈥� reported the .

Federal magistrate judge Stephanie A. Hambrick, Sunseri鈥檚 sentencing judge, was less satisfied.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an interesting message you send to the public,鈥� she told another Sunseri attorney, Ed Bushnell, in court, as reported by the . 鈥淚f you whine and cry hard enough, you get your way.鈥澨鼿ambrick neither accepted nor rejected the plea deal. Instead, the judge said听蝉丑别听飞颈濒濒听take 30 days to decide whether to accept the proposal听and has scheduled a follow-up hearing for November 18.

Sunseri鈥檚 ill-fated run up and down the Grand occurred on September 2, 2024. While descending the peak, he took a shortcut on the 13-mile route, using an informal trail to bypass a switchback. As a result of the cut, 鈥攖he group that oversees record keeping鈥攔efused to recognize his record.

But the 33-year-old鈥檚 choice didn鈥檛 just stymie his record attempt. It also landed him in legal trouble. Sunseri had violated a federal code, , stating that 鈥渓eaving a trail or walkway to shortcut between portions of the same trail or walkway, or to shortcut to an adjacent trail or walkway鈥� is illegal in national parks.

Exactly one year later, on September 2, Sunseri was found guilty of a Class B misdemeanor for cutting the switchback. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison, though court documents obtained by 国产吃瓜黑料 indicated that this was never in question. Still, Sunseri faced a permanent ban from Grand Teton National Park and a fine of up to $5,000. His team promptly appealed the guilty verdict.

Sunseri claimed he chose to cut the switchback not to save time, but to avoid the main trail, which was crowded with hikers by the time he was descending. 鈥淚 was ahead of pace,鈥� he told the AP. 鈥淚 knew I was going to get the record regardless of which trail I took. I didn鈥檛 want to be yelling at people to get out of my way.鈥�

He also argued that the sign visible in his direction of travel鈥攄ownhill鈥攚hich states 鈥淪hort Cutting Causes Erosion,鈥� did not clearly indicate that the trail was closed. (A sign at the other side of the cut, visible to those coming uphill, was more explicit, reading 鈥淐losed For Regrowth.鈥�) 鈥淭he trail has been sitting in its current state for decades,鈥� ultramarathoner Joey Wilson told the AP. 鈥淚f they really wanted to close that trail, they could plant seeds over it and put a log down. Trail closed. Do not cross.鈥�

Shortly after Sunseri鈥檚 guilty verdict, the PLF told 国产吃瓜黑料 that their client had already been offered several plea deals, but all of them would either require an admission of guilt and/or a ban from the park.

鈥淭hese mountains mean everything to Michelino,鈥� his team said. 鈥淎greeing to give up such an integral part of his life because of a law he didn鈥檛 know he was breaking was unthinkable.鈥�

The PLF declined to comment on this latest proposed plea agreement to 国产吃瓜黑料. Senior attorney Damien Schiff indicated that the proposal offered by the prosecution鈥攃ommunity service and a wilderness stewardship course鈥攊s acceptable, and 鈥渕ore or less what Michelino has been offering to do from the get-go.鈥�

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The air was bad. Wildfire smoke from the Flat Creek fire had settled across Central Oregon, tinting the Cascades in an eerie dusk-light even though it was only late afternoon. My boyfriend, RJ, and I had already planned an adventure: 5,000 feet of vertical gain up the South Sister Trail near Bend, followed by a night of camping at 10,000 feet elevation near the summit of the volcano. We packed our gear.

Then we packed our suits, ties, and fancy shoes.

I wrapped my toes in climbing tape and slid them into a pair of stilettos. Nylons, silk shorts, and a dappled gray blazer completed my look. RJ wore a full suit jacket, tie, and tailored pants. No, this wasn鈥檛 a dare. We weren鈥檛 filming a prank video. We were just wondering鈥攕ince everything around us felt a little off鈥� what if we shifted our outdoor experience, too? What would happen then?

It turns听out, a lot.

At the trailhead, a ranger clocked us with an expression that sat somewhere between curiosity and concern.

鈥淵ou guys going to a wedding up there?鈥� she asked.

I shrugged and answered, 鈥淭hese views serve. Maybe we have to.鈥�

She laughed. But I could feel it鈥攋ust under the banter, a question: Are you actually going to climb the trail dressed like that?

We were. From the moment we stepped into the tree line, the clothing stopped being a bit and started changing how the hike felt.

How Formalwear Reframed the Trail

I鈥檝e hiked the trail to 10,358-foot-tall South Sister plenty of times. It has classic high-desert alpine ingredients: steep switchbacks through pine and lichen, a push through alpine tundra, and a final grind to a cratered summit. I knew the terrain. But this time, everything felt unfamiliar.

When wearing traditional hiking clothes, I melt into the landscape. I hunch, I focus, I go quiet. The goal is movement, efficiency.

But in a blazer and heels? I didn鈥檛 vanish. I stood out. Every footfall felt like a decision. Every hiker who passed us did a double-take. People stared. Pointed. Engaged. And with that attention came a shift. We weren鈥檛 just hiking; we were performing.

At first, I felt a little ridiculous, but not in a bad way. More like I鈥檇 walked into a role I didn鈥檛 know I wanted to play. The trail had become a stage, and the hike a kind of moving monologue.

My feet hurt immediately. The stilettos made every step deliberate, and by the third mile, I was counting breaths to distract from the sting. But weirdly, I wasn鈥檛 annoyed. The pain felt like something I鈥檇 chosen to experience on purpose. Which, of course, I had.

I thought about the discomfort I鈥檝e pushed through while running ultramarathons鈥攔aw toes, bruised legs, heatstroke, deep rain chill鈥攁nd realized this wasn鈥檛 so different. Just less expected.

There was something freeing about opting into impracticality. Hiking usually strips things down: gear, food, thought. But our unorthodox attire added flair, friction, absurdity, and it lightened the emotional load. I wasn鈥檛 trudging. I was dancing. Or trying to.

RJ and I started riffing as we climbed, pretending we were late to some mountaintop charity ball. I hummed songs. He cracked absurd jokes. We were laughing a lot more than we usually do on steep terrain.

Who Wears What Where?

The outfit made me hyper-aware of my body, but also of the bodies we expect to see on trail. When you鈥檙e dressed like you belong in a hotel lobby, you don鈥檛 blend in among the ultralight packs.

People didn鈥檛 seem offended by our goofy clothes. Mostly, they seemed delighted, or confused, or a little of both. But there鈥檚 an undercurrent, always, when you break the uniform code of the outdoors. There鈥檚 a version of 鈥渓egitimacy鈥� hikers are expected to carry. Our suits didn鈥檛 signal expertise. They signaled what? Vanity? Humor? Defiance?

For me, it felt like none of those things. It felt like the formalwear gave me permission to inhabit the trail differently. To be less hardened. More playful. A little performative, sure. But also more me.

I started thinking about where the outfit had been before. The tights, worn to many networking events and professional functions. The blazer I wore at my first career job. The heels were part of my professional attire when I had worked in Washington D.C.听in a pivotal personal-growth era.

All those old versions of me were stitched into these garments. And now I was dragging them through dirt, lava rock, and smoke. There was something cathartic in that.

We always say that the outdoors helps us shed baggage. But what happens when you bring it with you, literally, it turns out, some of it gets rewired.

Above the alpine basin, the South Sister trail tips sharply into volcanic scree鈥�1,300 feet of loose, shifting ground. The stilettos gave up. I slid, stumbled, and took one too many bad steps.

I sat down and swapped into trail runners. Not for relief, but for safety.

The moment they were on, I felt stronger. But something shifted. The formality was over. I was a hiker again. Efficient. Grounded. Slightly bummed.

I left the blazer on.

No Party at the Summit

We reach the top just after midnight. Stars overhead. A Glacier to our left. Smoke pooled in the valleys like a held breath. We didn鈥檛 say much. Instead, we just pitched the tent, climbed into bags, and let our bodies shake the cold out.

I thought I鈥檇 be tired. Or sore. Or annoyed at myself for the whole stunt.

But I wasn鈥檛. I felt clear. Worn out in the best way.

At sunrise, I unzipped the tent and stepped barefoot onto basalt. The world below us was cloud and fire haze, a thick, still ocean of silver and orange. I couldn’t see the trail, trees, or rangers. There was only the sky above, smoke below, and silence.

There鈥檚 something about effort wrapped in absurdity that makes you feel more present. I鈥檇 carried useless shoes to the top of a mountain. My feet were, still, far too tight听from the climbing tape. My muscles were shot. My tights were dusty toast.

But somehow, it made the entire experience sharper. Truer. Not in spite of the outfit鈥攂ut because of it.

So Why Hike in a Suit?

Why suits? Why in smoke? Why in heels?

The still, quiet part of my brain knew the answer: Because sometimes the best way to remember who you are is to step fully outside the expected. Because we鈥檙e not always at our most alive in performance gear. Because joy can look ridiculous.

And maybe, because not every summit has to be earned with grit alone. Some of them can be reached with a little style, a little satire, and a willingness to look absolutely unhinged in front of strangers.

As we embarked down the same scree鈥攊t was flanked in light鈥攖he journey was much easier in my Brooks running shoes. My feet, cramped and stiff, began to pulse. I wanted to get down and sit down.

I sped up my pace, but RJ kept the same rhythm.

鈥淗ey, go for it,鈥� he encouraged. 鈥淕et back to the trailhead. I鈥檒l meet you there.鈥�

So I rushed down switchbacks, so many switchbacks. And I counted each clearing.

After a few false hopes, I heard cars and emerged from the trailhead, overeager, and popped out at an upper parking site, too soon. I followed it down the lower lot, where I found the car. I softly unclamped my waist buckles, letting myself settle into stillness.

Half an hour later, RJ showed up, grinning, relieved, exhausted. We stretched our tightened muscles.

鈥淛unnelle, I haven鈥檛 done something like this since Mount Fuji. Just, wow. Would you go again?鈥� he asked me.

Absolutely.

Because isn鈥檛 there something marvelous in the new lighting, the unprovoked act, the trial and the summit, that reminds us how precious it is to be alive and fully living, reminds us that these choices are ours to make, these experiences ours to gather? Isn鈥檛 there something in it that reminds us how ridiculously absurd, and wonderful it is, to create that?

Junnelle Hogen is a freelance journalist covering the outdoors, social issues and personal narratives. She currently focuses on medical policy and is set to publish her first book, titled Begin Again, about recovery from a 65-foot climbing fall.听

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When the U.S. government announced it would establish a 100,000-acre National Defense Area in the southern reaches of New Mexico earlier this year, hikers had questions about how it would affect access to the south terminus of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), which fell inside of it.

In late September, we got our answer when the (CDTC) announced that new restrictions would require hikers to apply for a permit and pass a background check to visit the terminus and the southernmost 1.1 miles of the trail. Hikers who weren鈥檛 U.S. citizens would not be able to secure one.

The situation continues to evolve鈥攕ince we shot this video, for example, the CDTC has announced that some non-citizen hikers may be able to visit the terminus with a government sponsor and an escort. Here鈥檚 what we know about the situation at the end of one of America鈥檚 most famous trails.

Transcript

Over the past two weeks, the situation at the southern terminus of the Continental Divide Trail has changed in some important ways. If you鈥檙e planning on heading there either as part of a thru-hike or a section hike, there are a few things you need to know.

Earlier this year, the US government established what it called a National Defense Area along a section of the US-Mexico border in New Mexico. This included about 100,000 acres of land, the control of which it transferred to the US Army for three years. Importantly, the southern terminus of the CDT is within that area.

At the time, there was some speculation that this new designation might affect how hikers accessed the southern terminus of the CDT. However, we didn鈥檛 get confirmation of that until recently. On September 30th, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition announced that new restrictions would require hikers headed to the terminus to apply for and receive a new permit from the US Army.

Applying for this permit is relatively easy, from what we understand. The process takes about 10 minutes. Hikers need a passport-style photo and a Real ID, such as a state driver鈥檚 license or a passport. Generally speaking, hikers have heard back in just a few days about the permit, though technically it could take up to three weeks. And from what we understand, the current government shutdown isn鈥檛 supposed to affect processing.

However, there are a few important caveats. First of all, the permits are only available to US citizens. That means that hikers traveling from outside the US or people here on visas are effectively barred from the southern terminus for the time being. 听It鈥檚 also not clear how people with felonies or other issues that might pop up on a background check are going to be affected by this. We don鈥檛 know if they鈥檒l be able to get the permits or not. And it鈥檚 worth mentioning that while we don鈥檛 know for sure how carefully authorities will be checking for permits, anyone caught in the area without necessary permissions could face anything from fines to jail time. [Editor鈥檚 Note: Since we recorded this video, the CDTC has updated its guidance to specify that non-U.S. citizens may be able to access the NDA with a government sponsor and escort, though the process to secure that permission is still unclear. The U.S. Army鈥檚 application page also now lists , including a felony conviction within the past 10 years or presence on a government terrorism watchlist.]

For hikers who are not eligible for a permit or who don鈥檛 want to apply for one, there are other options for doing a border-to-border CDT thru-hike. The CDTC has not released an official detour around the area. However, there are ways to access the border legally through adjacent state trust lands. All it takes is a fairly easily obtainable permit from New Mexico.

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A听 mother grizzly bear attacked a pair of hikers in British Columbia, but both are expected to survive after being treated at a nearby hospital. The attack occurred on October 12 while the duo was hiking Farm Cabin Trail in the McGregor Mountains, a roughly ten-mile out-and-back route that leads to a remote alpine cabin.

British Columbia鈥檚 Conservation Officer Service (COS) reported on that the hikers were听seriously injured after encountering a grizzly sow with two cubs. In light of the incident, the trail has been closed until further notice.

鈥淔ollowing an investigation, the COS Predator Attack Team determined the bear鈥檚 actions were defensive,鈥� said COS. 鈥淒ue to the location and nature of the incident, no action will be taken against the bears.鈥�

Bear attacks on humans are rare, but can be serious. Defensive attacks by female bears, or sows, are particularly common in late spring, when they are hyper-protective of their newborn cubs. According to the , 70 percent of all fatal attacks by grizzly bears, specifically, are instances of female bears defending their cubs. Adult bears of both sexes are often more aggressive in the autumn, when they enter a period known as hyperphagia, dramatically increasing their food intake to stock up on calories in advance of winter hibernation.

In September, a听bear attacked a hiker in Yellowstone National Park, which park officials believed to be a grizzly, and two more hikers were attacked in Alaska鈥檚 Kenai Fjords National Park later that month.

In August, 国产吃瓜黑料 reported on two instances in Montana and British Columbia where hikers used bear spray to deter aggressive bears. The tool is considered a must-have deterrent when venturing into bear country, though questions remain about its efficacy compared to firearms in fending off charging bears.

Along with their post on the October 12 attack, the COS published a list of guidelines for those heading into bear country.

• Stay Alert & Make Noise: Talk, sing, or clap regularly to avoid surprising a bear鈥攅specially near streams, dense brush, or when visibility is low.
• Travel in Groups: Hike in groups whenever possible. Bears are less likely to approach larger groups.
• Carry Bear Spray: Keep bear spray accessible (not in your backpack) and know how to use it. It鈥檚 highly effective in deterring aggressive bears.
• Keep a Clean Camp: Store food, garbage, and scented items in bear-proof containers or hang them at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from tree trunks.
• Avoid Bear Habitats: Steer clear of areas with fresh tracks, scat, or animal carcasses. These may indicate a bear is nearby.
• Respect Closures and Warnings: Obey trail closures and posted signs. They鈥檙e there for your safety and the bears鈥� protection.
• Never Approach Bears: No matter how calm or curious they seem, keep your distance. Use binoculars or zoom lenses for viewing.

In the instance of a bear encounter, the COS advises hikers, 鈥淪tay calm and don鈥檛 run. Speak in a calm voice and slowly back away.鈥�

鈥淚f the bear charges, stand your ground and use bear spray if necessary,鈥� the organization adds.

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An Arizona hiker was unable to descend the Shadow Mountain Trail in Phoenix after the sun went down. On the way, he found a missing dog. And together, the duo safely made it to the base of the mountain in a heartwarming trail rescue.

At around 5 P.M. on October 4, the Phoenix Fire Department received reports of a hiker on the Shadow Mountain Trail in Phoenix who was unable to descend the mountain after sunset. This time of year, the sun sets by 6 P.M. in most areas of Phoenix, often bringing with it rapidly cooling temperatures.

Technical rescue teams responded to reports of a hiker who was unable to descend the mountain, the Phoenix Fire Department said in a shared to X on October 14, at around 5 P.M. local time.

An hour later, the department said that firefighters safely walked the hiker and dog down the mountain. The hiker couldn鈥檛 descend 鈥渄ue to lighting issues.鈥�

At the base of the mountain, the blue-eyed, white dog was reunited with its owners.

鈥淔irefighters have safely walked down a hiker and a dog after they could not descend the mountain due to lighting issues. The hiker stated he found a lost dog on the trail with no owners present. The dog and owners were reunited at the base of the mountain,鈥� the Phoenix Fire Department.

Firefighters have safely walked down and hiker and a dog after they could not descend the mountain due to lighting issues. The hiker stated he found a lost dog on the trail with no owners present. The dog and owners were reunited at the base of the mountain.

鈥� Phoenix Fire Dept. (@PHXFire)

With sweeping vistas and steep elevation gains, Shadow Mountain Trail is a 2.6-mile loop just outside of Phoenix. Experts say it鈥檚 best to hike during the cooler parts of the day, but losing light on the trail can be just as dangerous as overheating. Because most of the desert trail is exposed, it鈥檚 best to hike this rocky, narrow trail on a colder day.

Annually, more than 200 hikers are rescued from the desert and mountain areas around Phoenix, according to the . Hikers should , stay in contact with someone at home, and watch the weather whenever venturing out into the desert.

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