Author: Aakanksha Rathor
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Out of Sync, Not Out of Shape: Hiking with My Cycle highlights my personal journey of hiking through different phases of my cycle, the importance of preparation and communication, and how I’ve adapted my training to work with my body’s natural rhythms. It captures both the challenges and the resilience I’ve developed, along with practical…
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Explored a dreamy glacial lake nestled amidst snow-clad peaks and green valleys in the Peruvian Andes.
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A quaint town straight out of fairy tale begins the hike on Salkantay Trek to iconic Machu Picchu. The pristine Humantay peak majestically stood out against blue skies. The glass cabanas offered an uninterrupted view of the Milky Way and Inca constellations.
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The backstory! I just finished the epic John Muir Trail, and now it’s time to catch up with friends and family to share all the interesting stories from the trail! Being in the wilderness gave me a chance to reflect on how fortunate we are to have civilization. With October being a month of festivities,…
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2025 has been the year of travel! The international trips involved changes in time zones, jet lag, and shifts in my daily routines. Life has its ups and downs, and my emotional state fluctuated as I tried to catch up with friends and family. I indulged in partying, drinking, and extravagant meals. The days passed…
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Preparation for Type 2 fun expedition! Hiking has become my core value. The more time I spend in nature the further I feel connected to self. This feeling pushed me to start with day hikes, multiday backpacking and now the legendary John Muir Trail (JMT)! JMT is renowned for being one of the most beautiful…
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Whenever I drive on I-280 toward Sandhill Road, I can’t help but notice the majestic dish perched on the rolling hills to my right. It has always fascinated me. I have seen it often from my window in Palo Alto, particularly when its bright red light glows on the parabolic antenna at night. This is…
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The Kennedy Trail is a scenic nine-mile out-and-back route located near Los Gatos, California. Most of the trail follows well-defined fire roads, offering a challenging climb with stunning views along the way to Mount El Sombroso within the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. From the summit, one can enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding mountains,…
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Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve On a warm Saturday morning, we started our hike from the trailhead at eight o’clock. The Whittemore Gulch Trail, located within the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve in California, offers a pleasant loop of approximately seven miles. This trail runs along the western slopes of the Santa Cruz…
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An eight-mile hike on a Sunol Ridge trail on Saturday was truly a delightful experience! It was a cloudy and slightly chilly morning, a refreshing change from the scorching heat I’d faced on spring hikes on the same trail before. This trail is quite exposed, and the scenery is stunning compared to those warmer hikes.…