Hiker | Author | Outdoor Educator
Hi there, I’m Nancy, a.k.a. Seal Mom.
I’m an avid hiker and backpacker in western North Carolina. I’m also a search and rescue team member in Haywood County, home to Shining Rock Wilderness and a sizable portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I created this website to pay it forward to the hiking community by providing:
Take a look around and I hope you find the information useful and engaging! And head here if you’d like to know a little more about my background.
Happy Trails,
Nancy
Dear Casual Hiker, Thru Hiker, Weekend Warrior Hiker, Vacation Hiker...well, you get the point, My name is Nancy and I am a member of a search and rescue (SAR) team in Western North Carolina. We are a tight-knit group of outdoor enthusiasts who choose to put our own lives on hold and often at risk, to help folks find their way out of the woods if they're lost, or carry them out if they're injured (or worse). It's not a job for ...
This post may contain affiliate links and I participate in the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. If you purchase something through one of my affiliate links, it does not cost you anything more, but it helps fund the upkeep for this website. In 1997, I traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, in the dead of winter to complete a two-month veterinary internship focused on—of all things—reptiles. Though I wasn’t particularly interested ...
VALLON sent me a pair of their new 'June' Sunglasses to try out. I love sunglasses and it's one of my favorite things to review. I was immediately impressed their specs: 100% UV protection (UV400), polarized lenses, and frames made from highly resistant nylon. They also offered three different color choices for the frames (I chose Horn). Sadly, they looked odd on my face and I knew I wouldn't wear them much if I didn't feel ...
This post may contain affiliate links and I participate in the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. If you purchase something through one of my affiliate links, it does not cost you anything more, but it helps fund the upkeep for this website. Hikers of long trails, such as the Appalachian Trail, generally fall into two camps: thru hikers and section hikers. Thru hikers are the hearty souls who hike an entire trail all in one ...
This post may contain affiliate links and I participate in the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. If you purchase something through one of my affiliate links, it does not cost you anything more, but it helps fund the upkeep for this website. Like most children, my kids loved picture books when they were young. Whether it was “reading” to themselves or sitting in my lap being read to, it was a treasured part of our daily ...