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Hi all, I just found TrailGroove online and it’s exactly the type of magazine/website I’ve been looking for. I live in Santa Fe, NM and do a ton of hiking and exploring, and after a two decade hiatus I’m getting back into backpacking. I’ve enjoyed reading through the last few issues of the magazine and look forward to more. Thanks!

Hello everyone. I’m Carl, currently operating out of the Anniston/Oxford, Alabama area. Before moving here, worked as an engineer in Florida and was relatively outdoorsy being a kayak fisherman and occasionally camped on the spoil islands, also dabbled in rock climbing (boulder and top rope) for a year or two. However, as soon as I went into the Cheaha I instantly fell in love with the hiking! I'm using the Talladega National Forest and the Pinhoti as my local testing grounds to hopefully launch my backpacking career! I am looking to share information and experience in this community and hopefully get some expedition friends to take on some ambitious adventures in the future. Although if anyone is in the Cheaha, Talladega, or even within the 2.5 - 5 hr range into Georgia, Tennesee, and South Carolina, wants to do some weekend adventures let me know! I just know I do prefer hikes with a little bit more bite and gruel to them haha. Recent hikes I've done since start of this year: Cave Trail - Pinhoti Loop (13.5 mi, 2400 ft) Walls of Jericho (8.2 mi, 1,457 ft) A lot of Lake Cheaha loop rucking These are mostly training trips for an Olympic Peninsula (Hoh, Mt. Ellinor, Rialto) May adventure and Glacier National Park 6-day backpacking trip in July. I'm also eyeing Linville Gorge for a Sept/Oct adventure as well. Thanks for having me, looking forward to meeting you all!

Great photos Carl, and welcome to Trailgroove.

Yes! There are several entry points into the Pecos Wilderness near Santa Fe, the closest being from the ski area just outside of town, so I do a lot of hiking there. It’s a great area for day hikes as well as multi-day backpacking trips and peak bagging. I’ve also hiked sections of the CDT between central and northern New Mexico. Lots of good choices for sure.

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone Happy Holidays. Have a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year

Thanks Mac, and same to you! Hopefully there will be some great hikes in 2026 all around.

Trekking Poles: I have 5,000km on a pair of Cascade Tech poles from Costco. Around $40USD and they have been delightful!

If they are out there at the same time and day, you’d probably have a good chance of a happenstance meetup right on the trail. But for pre-planning, a post in our Regional Discussions would be my suggestion.