Walk, Hike, Saunter

Susan Alcorn has always enjoyed the outdoors, but it was not until her mid-40s that she became a serious hiker and backpacker. When she retired from teaching (at age 60), she and her husband were able to finish hiking the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Other highlights have been walking multiple routes of the Camino de Santiago - covering more than 3,000 miles of trails in Spain, France, and Portugal. They climbed Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro in 2007, and backpacked Patagonia's Circuit Route in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile (Patagonia) in 2010. Susan believes that hiking is an excellent activity for people of all ages. In her writing, she seeks to inspire others, particularly older women, to start or continue this rewarding way of life. She adds, Hiking has both physical and mental health benefits. It certainly has been very good for us and it has been an excellent way to see the world. We intend to continue as long as we can! Susan lives in the San Francisco Bay Area near family and many long-term friends. The region's moderate weather generally allows hiking year round, and the large number of regional, state, and federal parks provide hundreds of trails where she can enjoy nature and keep in shape.