Getting Started: Begin at the Beginning

There are so many topics to cover under the broad umbrella of "outdoors" - from issues of health and safety, to trip reports and route beta, to the politics of public lands and conservation, to gear reviews, people bickering about off-leash dogs and the merits of freeze-dried meals, and oh so much more. We'll get to all of that eventually, I'm sure (the bickering especially, since I seem to be a perpetual sucker for absurd and trivial conflicts).

Basically, this blog will touch on as many aspects of the outdoors as possible, and I'll break my posts down by topic as follows:

• Trip Reports: This is pretty self-explanatory - after I do a trip, I'll write/brag about it.
• Unsolicited Advice: How-to guides, tips and hacks, suggestions... basically me acting like I know what I'm talking about. I'll don my self-appointed expert halo and tell y'all how to run your business.
• IMHO: Reviews of stuff and things. Books, gear, clothing, protein bars - you name it, I'll try it out and give you my take.
• Soapbox: Where I'll get totally opinionated and sometimes political - issues like public lands management, endangered species, race and gender in the outdoors, and all that jazz, as well as less serious things like the aforementioned off-leash dog issue.
• Comestibles: Recipes and suggestions for favorite trail meals and snacks.
• General Content: Things that don't fit into any of the other categories - like this post, for example.
• TMI: Stuff about me and/or my personal life - probably at least tangentially outdoorsy, because that pretty much IS my life, but no promises.

I'll try to keep it all relevant, readable, and hopefully entertaining.

Welcome to Chick on Rock!