Frequently Asked Blog Questions - Answered!

For those new to the blog or simply curious, here is a small tour of content, tips on using the different functions and a bit of history. Let me know if you have other questions and I’ll keep updating these FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).

Commenting on Posts

I welcome comments. You'll be given a choice to "Comment as" followed by a black arrow. Click on that for a drop down menu -you have a choice to comment anonymously, with a Google account or with your name/url. It defaults to anonymous if you don't use the drop down menu. If you want to use your name, choose "name/url" option and type in your name. Just leave the the "url" box blank. Then type in your comment. I will see it and publish it. 

Subscribing

If you don’t use an RSS feed and want to make sure you receive each post as it is published, go to the subscribe box near the top  right and share your email. My subscription service is follow.it. You will automatically receive an email from Follow.it each time a post is published. 

Searching the Blog
If you want to search for something, it’s easiest to use the web version of the blog. If you are using a computer, you always see the web version and it’s easier to navigate.

You can use the search box near the top of the post which may bring waaaay more useless results than you’d like. Or you can take advantage of the “Labels,” or subject headings, I assign to each post (found on the right hand side of the post). Clicking on any of the labels will bring you to the relevant posts you are searching for.

Home Button

This is a handy little feature located on the bottom of each post. On your mobile phone, it displays a thumbnail list of posts with title, picture, date that you can quickly scroll through to find content you want to return to or read. Clicking on that small snapshot brings you to the post. On the web version, you see full post content. I love the mobile phone version best because it is so compact.

Using Mobile Phone vs Computer Web Version

Mobile phone works fine for reading the blog. However if you want to access some of the search and archival functions, the web version of the blog more easily gives you access to them. You can find a link to the web version on your phone at the bottom of each post,  It’s klunky to use on your phone though because the web version is so tiny. The computer web version gives you full size text and maneuverability in the page to access functions like the following:

Blog Archives

This is another fast way to quickly look through posts by date and then title in each month of a year. Click on the black arrow to the left of the year and it will display all the months of the year. Click the black arrow by any month and all blog titles for that month will appear. Click on any title to go to that blog post.

My Blog List

This is a list of hiking blogs or nature blogs that explore the natural world. I recommend all of them. Clicking on any title will bring you to that blog site.

Contact Form

If you want to get a hold of me, just fill in the form and I’ll get back to you via email.

Following the Blog

As far as I can tell, following the blog is more akin to liking a post on social media. You don’t receive posts as a follower but I can see you generally approve of it. Subscribing to the blog directly or through your feed is the only way to receive each post as it is published.

Columns/Regular Features:

• Driftless Area Trail News - programs, advocacy opportunities, special events and other news of note for Driftless hikers

• Trail Reviews/Descriptions - over 50 reviewed trails and many lists of recommended hikes by season, ability, and type (prairie, bluff, etc) - Use the label "find-a-hike" to search for hikes 

• Gear Recommendations - based on seasons. Use the label "gear" to search for seasonal recommendations

• Let's Get Hiking and Learning - monthly column listing of guided hikes, webinars, programs and opportunities for hikers around the Driftless region.

• Naturalist's Corner - occasional column, often featuring guest naturalists digging deeper into an outdoor subject of interest to hikers. Got an idea for a a column? Reach out to me at lochwouters@gmail.com

• I Spy on the Trails - monthly or bimonthly depending on season - a phenology listing of flora, fauna and weather observations from the trails during that month. Use the Label "I Spy on the Trails" to search for specific months.

History
Launched in April 2023, the blog came about because I wanted to combine my Master Naturalist volunteer training and learning with my background as a career librarian. There was so much I had learned from being part of hiking groups (Driftless Drifters, Jabberwalkers,  Blufflands Hiking group);  going on guided hikes offered through Driftless organizations and groups (federal refuge system, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts, the Friends of the Blufflands); and from following and learning from individuals online and IRL - I just HAD to share.

If you haven't already figured it out, there's nothing a librarian loves more than connecting people with information. I was also passionate about encouraging people to try new places and just get outside and explore all nature has to offer us, all year long.

I truly believe that no matter your age or ability you can always find a way to get into nature. Every hike doesn’t have to be bold and hard to be a fantastic hike. It can be flat, slow and gentle and still get you to small wonders and beautiful sights to fill your soul.

And so the blog was born. Here it is two years later - the blog has over 200 posts and 39,000+ views. I hope you share it with others who want to discover a new Driftless trail to hike and a way to be close to nature and tread lightly on the trails all year long.