As has been my habit of a few years, I try to go somewhere warm in winter. I like hiking but I am not keen on doing it on snow, with all that extra gear it requires. Not to mention the bitterly cold winds, chapped skin on frigid hands, frozen water bottles and whatnot. I prefer to go and find early Spring somewhere nice. Over the years, I've been to Portugal, Spain, and Crete in Greece. This year, though, I didn't want to fly to my destination and was looking for a somewhere closer home (Poland) but without the harsh winter. Not that we had any harsh winter around here. The climate change ..read more

Hello, ladies! Do you dream about getting out of your dusty office and out into the wild? I am so with you! Hiking, especially when done alone, can be a life-changing experience. It brings you serenity and peace of mind. It can give you a significant boost of self-confidence and pride. Hiking solo lets you think freely and to be tuned in to own needs. It makes you focus on yourself, which women rarely have the chance to experience. Quite often, we spend our lives providing for others, making sure our loved one’s needs are fulfilled, forgetting about our own. It’s a chance to do something just ..read more

What is The Beara Way? I’m sure you have heard of the Kerry Way? It’s quite popular, both with hikers and drivers (doing the Kerry Ring). If you don’t like the crowds but would love to see the unspoiled nature and spectacular views, the neighboring Beara Peninsula might be just the destination for you. Just as beautiful, but not as popular, this 50 km long finger digging into the Ocean is an excellent place for hikers. If you are like me and prefer solitude to the company, you will find this trail simply marvelous. Compared to eastern sides of Cork, Beara offers quite a number of budget-friend ..read more

I hike solo. When I started, there wasn't much thought process put into it, to me it was obvious it's the style for me. I'm a loner, an introvert struggling with social anxiety, and I find being alone very rewarding. It helps with my anxiety, brings relaxation and simple happiness. Hiking solo gives me also a great boost to my confidence and pride of own accomplishments. A lot of people find trekking solo as equally rewarding – although it’s different for each person. But even extroverts find the experience worth the effort. In our times, when we are surrounded by people almost all the time, i ..read more

This is the second part of hiking the Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai. You can find the first part - from Millstreet to Ballyvourney right here. By the time I arrived in Ballyvourney, I’ve already hiked the Avondhu (Blackwater) Way, so I had already eight days of hiking under my belt. My body needed a rest day, but there wasn’t really a good place for me to stop. I couldn’t afford to stay two nights in a hotel just to rest, and I also couldn’t stay two nights in one spot wild camping. I found this part of Cork lacking in campsites, so I just had to keep walking till the one in Eagle’s Point. A long wal ..read more

I find that in my hiking life I stay in the awkward space between the need and want to strip down my gear, go ultralight, fly lightweight through the mountains, and the inability to get rid of stuff.  It's been easier to exchange the bulkier and heavier items for ultralight (and ultraexpensive) equivalents. But to get entirely rid of some things seems impossible. Not only that, I am not even sure I want to.  I find it pretty easy to come up with excuses and justifications for some of the not-must-haves I carry. They add comfort in sleep, provide entertainment, fulfill my passion of photography ..read more

Welcome to the second installment of my Irish adventures! In the previous part, I shared my experience on the Blackwater/Avondhu Way. I decided to cut it short and arrived in Mallow, where I took a train to Millstreet to start the Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai.  This trail can be walked over 3-4 days by experienced hikers, I did it in five days. The official description says it's 50 km long, but according to my ViewRanger, it's more than 70 km. I will get into details of my take on this trail in a moment, but let me preamble it right here by saying it is a beautiful trail that I can highly recommend ..read more

The dust is settling on the summer of 2019 adventures, and it's time to review my gear. Some of, thank goodness, is still great and will serve me well for another season or two. Some are at its last breath, and some needs replacing or upgrading. I already wrote a review of the boots I had this year, and will probably write another on another piece or two of my gear and clothing. But it's also time when I build my dream list of gear for the 2020 seasons of hiking and camping. A few pieces are must-buys, while some are in the category of "would be awesome to have." So, let me share with you wha ..read more

Finding well-fitting boots is crucial for the success of one's hike. No one wants to cut short an adventure because of blisters and discomfort. We all have different feet, and it's important to know what kind of shoes or boots match our needs. My feet are wide and very sensitive - I can sense every tiny rock and root when I walk, even with traditional boots on. I know I need cushioning and wide toebox. I also like to have waterproof membrane for protection. Just recently, I found out that some of feet sensitivity is related to plantar fasciitis which I need to address. Still, thanks to fibro ..read more

Ireland was such an excellent choice for my big summer trip. I was happy to escape the heat waves plaguing continental Europe. The rugged landscapes of far west coastal walks filled my heart with bliss and the memory card with hundreds of photos (OK, fine, five thousand to be exact). I enjoyed hiking solo on mostly deserted trails, wild camping in a few places, and talking to the very positive locals. As I mostly walk during my trips, I can't see much at once. From the big Irish island, I only saw West Cork and some bits of southern Kerry. I hope to see more another time. It's time I told you ..read more