Lovie Price

It’s a Glorious winter!!

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Lovie Price

Phew, time sure does fly! Besides the Holidays and all of that brew-ha-ha, I’ve been super busy hiking my hips off! Here is a photo montage of some of the sites and scenes i have been privileged to to see:

Weiser State Forest- Roaring Creek Tract

Clarence Shock Memorial Park- Governor Dick Tower Trail

There were SO many more places and things but i couldn’t possibly post them all. And I shared them with some friends( and met some new friends) along the way which makes everything better.

Travis, a new friend and content creator

This past year, according to my Alltrails stats, I have recorded 80 hikes, beating my last two years totals. My miles weren’t as high as i expected, but elevation gains were higher. I know, I know- it’s not all about the numbers. But it’s a good place marker, and an easy way to set new goals.

I have also, i think, greatly improved my video skills, but still have a lot to learn. I was wanting to get a fancy camera, but now – after watching many fellow content creators struggle with malfunctions, carrying extra weight, expensive accessories/gadgets and battery hassles- i am reconsidering that. Using my 5.64 ounce cell phone, with my Alltrails app, editing tools, and camera all in one place seems like common sense… and definitely less expensive. Yes, there are drawbacks, but over all the juice is worth the squeeze. Unless i go to the Grand Canyon, or some epic place like Iceland, I think a simple cell phone works just fine for my short jaunts in the woods:)

I hope everybody is having a terrific year so far and as always- getting outside!

See ya on the trail! Namaste!

Early Winter Camping

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Lovie Price

Another first for me!

On a hike at Whipple Dam State Park- 2nd day

The mid-November camping trip with a group of fellow content creators was, as are most things for me, a huge learning curve.

Of course , this past summer i did do some camping, and i did learn a lot. One thing i learned was that there are at least 25 different types of camping!! Here is a link for a description of those –https://theoutdoorauthority.com/types-of-camping/ . What i did was called “car camping” which can be misleading. It doesn’t (necessarily) mean you sleep in you car ( although you could!) . It just means that you are able to drive in to your location and your car is at your site or nearby, usually sleeping in a tent. My first time”car camping” was this summer and was also my first time camping in an actual campground. I was a fish out of water as i had only ever primitive camped before. There are pros and cons to this.

Some of the pros are : being able to bring more stuff, having a secure place to keep your stuff ( including food/trash- so, no bear bag or canister required), generally there are public restrooms and sometimes even shower and/or laundry facilities, having a pre-existing fire pit, having other people around can feel more safe, and not having to carry everything on your back. Some of the cons are: other people who may have kids or dogs or play loud music (i.e. noise), having to walk to the bathroom instead of an area closer to your tent( this is a big one for me because i have to pee so often..lol), tent sites that may be gravel which means using a staked tent isn’t always ideal, permits/ fees/reservations are sometimes required, and less privacy.

These are by no means all of the pros and cons.

I did two car camps in summer. I learned that it can be super hot in a tent ( recommend a camp fan if you have a power source) and that there are a LOT more bugs in that season ( bring bug spray and keep you tent zipped up!). I learned that all campgrounds are not the same and it is wise to do research before going somewhere so that you know what to expect( type of tent site, amenities, etc). I learned too that some places get more crowded than others and that going during the week and not on holidays is probably best if you want less people around.

So let’s talk about my winter camping experience…

I knew it was going to be cold. I did what i could to prepare for that. Along with my usual sleep pad, sleep quilt and extra warm clothes, i brought several extra blankets and some hand/foot warmer packets. I also brought my cot to stay up off the ground and a pop up style tent that wouldn’t need staked if i didn’t have that option. The pop up tent i had was over 30 years old, and i had used it on many previous camping trips, so i trusted it.

Some of my fellow creators brought heaters. I didn’t have one. But i figured i’d be fine and worst case scenario, i could just go warm up in my car if things got too awful. The temps got down to 28 degrees the first night. That’s when i learned i wasn’t quite as prepared as i wanted to be.

For one thing my sleep quilt is a 20 degree synthetic type. It is a very good brand and quite expensive. But definitely not meant for anything below about 40-45 degrees. Initially, i had just laid my sleep pad on the cot and piled the quilt and 2 blankets on top. I wore 2 thermal shirts and pants and thick wool socks. I also put on my down jacket and wore a balakava hat under a trapper hat. I was still cold.. By morning i hadn’t slept well at all. Even the batteries in my heated gloves failed , though i had definitely charged and tested them before i left home. I had to go to my car , turn on the heat and warm up for about 10 minutes so i could at least thaw out my hands, take the edge off, make coffee and prepare to go for a hike. It did warm up during the day.

The second night I did better, thanks to some advice from another camper. I never knew that inflated items like sleep pads could make you even colder as they can hold the cold air inside and hence, closer to your body. In order to combat this , don’t sleep directly on them. A layer of something in between you and the pad helps tremendously. I was skeptical but i went back to my tent earlier than the others so i could prepare. i wrapped one blanket around my pad then strapped my quilt on to both, i layered the other blanket on top. I also utilized my hand and foot warmers more effectively by using them sooner , rather than waiting until i was already cold.My pad stayed inflated at least. Some of the less expensive pads don’t stay inflated in cold temps. I was much warmer the second night.

However….

The second night we had fierce wind and rain. A few other campers said there was also sleet. I slept through most of it, but i did wake at times when the wind was so loud it sounded like a train coming through. In the morning, I awoke to water all around the inside perimeter of my tent. It wasnt in the middle and thank goodness i was up on a cot, but some of my gear was wet. Another couple had left the night before because of water in their tent also. I am still not sure if this was due to leaks in the 30 year old tent i had, or due to the fact that i didn’t set up correctly. I do know that my rain fly didn’t seem like it was correctly fitted this time, and i didn’t pay much attention to how the tent floor was sitting because i was rushing to get everything up. Ididn’t have to rush, but i did. So perhaps it wasn’t the tent itself. My plan is to set it up again(correctly) in my driveway in the Spring rainy season and see how it fairs. If it leaks, i will try to detect where from and if it’s not a huge job i can re-seam seal it. If it’s too much, i’ll need a new pop up tent.

P.S. This is not my Durston tent which has been awesome in the rain– not a drop inside, nor any condensation- even during heavy storms. But the Durston is a trekking pole tent which needs to be staked( doesnt work well on gravel sites) and requires a larger area than a a free standing tent.

I think for next year i am going to have a few other items. Possibly a new pop up tent, a better rated winter sleep quilt, a large power bank so that i can plug in a heating pad or blanket, maybe a small heater ( not sure until i do some more research) , and for sure some better quality heated gloves-which are lifesavers on cold hikes as well!

But over all i think it went well for my first time. I didn’t freeze to death or have a gear failure that became an emergency. I enjoyed myself and met new friends.

I am grateful I had others around to give me advice and ideas, as well as be there if any emergencies did occur. I was grateful for the shared food, laughter and conversations. I have to say the camaraderie shared in these groups is priceless. Everyone has something(or many things) to offer.

Unfortunately i didn’t take many photos, just video.The photo below doesnt include 3 others who weren’t yet at camp when it was taken.They arrived after dark or on the 2nd day. If you would want to see the adventure itself, please visit my youtube channel @theferalfemale130 and look for the one titled “First Winter Camp/Penn Roosevelt State Park Early Winter Meet Up.”

Hope this was helpful to someone out there. Enjoy your winter and Namaste!

First Group Backpacking Trip!

Posted on October 8, 2025October 9, 2025 by Lovie Price

well, i did it!

This weekend (October 3,4 & 5 ) I drove 4 hours North to hike 7 miles..lol.

But the rewards were fantastic! I got to meet and interact with many of the Youtube content creators i watch regularly. To me, they are Rock Stars! In order above( left to right):

The Wandering Woodsman, Darcys Hiking Diaries,Mountains Into Memories, Jeremy78, me( the Feral Female), Still Going Far, Old Dude on the Trail, Fire & Trails, Day Hike Dave, Travels and Trails With Ron, and Maksim Outdoors- visit their channels if you want to see the some fabulous outdoor hikes and other adventures!

Anyway, about this trip… Sometime over the summer, a meet up was planned by Bill (Maksim Outdoors) for a few content creators to backpack a trail up in Pennsylvanias Allegheny National Forest and I was one of the lucky ones to be invited! I was elated and honored to be able to meet and interact with these amazing hikers. We met on Saturday at the Minister Creek Trailhead and hiked in 3 miles to a campsite by the creek. There were 11 of us and we had so much fun just sitting around chatting by the fire. Day Hike Dave even put together a great game of randomly chosen questions and answers for all of us. The full video of that is on his channel.

The second day we finished out the hike and met up in the parking lot for some delicious food provided by Maksim Outdoors, Mountains into Memories(Ryan), as well as their wives and family members. What a treat at the end of a hike through the fall foliage:)

I would be remiss, too if I didnt Mention a few other adventures…

In September, along with my first solo overnight hike and the multi night hike with Darcy, i also got to hike with one of THE best cinematic content creators around- Walter Zolna. I have been watching Walter for about 2 years and met him briefly at 2 previous events. I am always amazed at how beautifully he captures nature as well as the information he provides. His Youtube videos are more like short films that make you yearn to get outdoors. I was extremely honored to collaborate with him on a hike in Hickory State Forest. But most of all, I was in awe of how down to earth he was and how well we got along. 8 miles flew by that day and it will live forever in my memories.

Next up I have a planned trip to an Airbnb I stayed at twice before to a cabin located on a mountain top in the middle of 130 plus acres with waterfalls galore! When I went before, I wasnt really a hiker.. so I was mostly painting and enjoying short walks around the area. This time, I plan to see and film much more. It is such an absolutely beautiful place, and is usually booked for many many months in advance. But there were 2 days in November open and I scooped them up!

Later in November , I will be doing (probably) my last overnight adventure of the year. Me, Darcy and another content creator( Camping Milkman) that i camped with at Reeds Gap back in August have an early winter meetup planned at Penn Roosevelt State Park with some other content creators as well. Mostly , I want to test out how well my current gear will fair in the lower temperatures, especially at night. But , of course I also look forward to relaxing with fellow hikers and backpackers and enjoying a good campfire.

So there’s the official update. As you might have noticed, i was able to add pics here again. Yes, i caved and upgraded my plan. It’s just not the same trying to describe something when a picture is worth a thousand words.

There is so much outside to see and experience.. sometimes within just a few hours of home! Get outside and immerse yourself in the beautiful nature.. you wont regret it:)

Namaste!

Things that can Make you Miserable on a Backpacking Trip

Posted on September 22, 2025September 26, 2025 by Lovie Price

Hey ya’ll.. i just got back from my 3rd backpack trip this year! Both of my previous trips were overnighters. This last one was 3 days and 2 nights. I’ve already written about my first trip, so we know that unforeseen weather events can really make you miserable ( i.e. the storms and flooded trails during my June trip). But i haven’t talked about the other two and some of the things that can turn a great adventure into a less than fun experience.

The second overnight trip i did was a solo trip. I didn’t go far- only a few miles on the Appalachian trail.It was more of a pack shakedown trip than anything, but it was my first solo overnight backpack. The trailhead was only 45 minutes from where i live so i didn’t have far to drive either. I can’t think of much that made me even slightly miserable on that one. It was an easy hike, to a place i had vetted several times during daylight hours. The campsite was established, with a nice flat open spot in the woods. I had no issues with anxiety, i wasn’t rushed, was well prepared and the weather was awesome.I slept like a baby. If i had to pick anything to complain about, it might be the unexpected amount of loud air traffic throughout the night. But even that wasn’t too bad. I mostly woke briefly and went right back to sleep.The next morning i woke at my leisure, ate breakfast and enjoyed relaxing to the sounds of nature. The hike back out was beautiful and serene.

This 3rd trip was with the same friend i went with in June. Neither of us had previously done more than an overnighter. My friend had been on one section of the trail before and it was only a 45 minute drive for her. But she had never done the entire thing. We started out on a friday at 8am( i had to wake at 5a and drive 2 hrs to the trailhead) and we returned home sunday afternoon. Mornings are hard for me since i am a full time night shifter. Although the trail is rated as “easy” and a great beginner back packing trail it was not without any negatives. For one thing, 70% of the trail was rockier than expected- as in extended fields of large rocks to navigate. Secondly, at least half of those were uphill. I can’t say they were extremely dangerous or severe, but they definitely made the going rough in many spots and slowed us down.

Next, as we were to discover, the recent drought made us have to backtrack at one point because the expected water source was bone dry. The first day was supposed to be 8-10 miles, but having to retrace our steps back to another small ( and not very clear) water source made the days total over 13 miles. We both felt beat up. I had brought enough water, but my friend didnt, so we didnt really have a choice. And the campsite at that water source was pretty bad. I had to sleep on a slant with a large tree root under my back. Both of our sleep pads deflated throughout the night and it made for very poor sleep. The saving grace was that the next day we only had to hike around 6 miles to a wonderful campsite by a stream of pretty clear water.Although i slept very well that night and my pad stayed inflated, my friend didn’t as her pad continued to deflate throughout the night, and she woke up very sore and cranky.The night also became super cold, and i was grateful i brought a down jacket.

Our last day led to a beautiful waterfall and we had plentiful water sources. But the rough rocky trails continued to thwart us. As i had started out the cold day with my down jacket on over a thermal shirt and two pairs of pants, within a few miles i had to stop to change and at that point we got separated.

You see, my friend hikes at a much faster pace than i do. And that is one of the things that can make things difficult, even if a trail is perfect ( and none are). When i have a very light or no pack at all, my pace is around 2-2.5mph. With a 25 lb pack, rocky terrain and going even slightly uphill multiple times in a day, i hike around 1.7 mph. I really prefer, in that situation, to limit my daily miles to 8-10. And, ideally, stop to go pee and/or take a snack break every 4-5 miles. That did not happen on either of our trips.

Now, before you assume i am blaming her for anything, understand that everybody has a different hiking style and pace. My friend did not need to stop that often and she hiked at around 2mph or more, even with her pack being about the same weight as mine. Why? For a number of reasons.

Most importantly, she is abut 20 years younger than me. Secondly, she has never smoked. I only quit smoking a little over 3 months ago. Those two facts have huge effects on how we are able to hike. Yes, i can go the same amount of miles, but i do go slower. The reason is simple- i like to enjoy the trail without being out of breath the entire time trying to keep up with someone, AND i want to avoid injury. I don’t want to suffer by having to hold my bladder for fear that if i stop, i will get too far behind. I also don’t want to suffer hunger pains because if it stop to get out a snack or sit for 10 minutes, i’ll get too far behind. As a content creator i also wanted to get good footage, but if i stopped too much or for too long, i would be making her wait, or i’d get too far behind.In the morning, i like to take my time enjoying a coffee or two, and have the time to pack up my stuff properly, not jamming it hurriedly into my pack. For me it’s not about how fast i can go or how many miles i can cover in a day. And, it’s about relaxing, soaking in nature, stopping to notice and take in the beauty. That’s just what makes sense to me.

Again- i am not blaming her for anything! God love her, i know she was trying to go slower and wait for me at times. But, after all was said and done i think we both realize that we either are not a good fit for backpacking OR that we both need to manage our expectations and certain agreements need to be in place prior to setting out, not only for safety, but out of necessity. We do enjoy each others company, so it may be that we will just camp together, and do our hiking/backpacking solo. i don’t regret going, just know that with any future trips expectations will need to be set so that we both can get what we want from the experience.

Now, a few other things ( not related to a pace or partner):

I wore a different pair of shoes this time and they really did not fair well for the long miles. I have multiple blisters. I also wore a regular bra this time and the pack straps were pressing on them so i have bruises on both shoulders. Somehow i got a bruise on my face next to my one eye as well- not sure how that happened, and because i was trying to save on baby wipes, i didnt wash my hands as often as i should have (and yes, i did use hand sanitizer) i must have gotten dirt my eye which caused a sty. Additionally, since i use only one handkerchief as a “pee” cloth, i was also concerned about getting a UTI(ps- that didnt happen thankfully!).So next time-a later start( maybe 11am), better shoes, a sports bra with no metal parts, and enough baby wipes that i’m not so worried about using them sparingly for wiping my hands and ‘nether region’.

Every hike is a learning curve and i’m ok with that.

We hiked over 27 miles and survived- again!! I’m feeling pretty darn good that at my age and with as little experience i have that i accomplished that.Many people start out with way less miles and take a lot longer to build up to longer trips. Someday though, i want not just to survive, but thrive!

Onward and upward!

Fall Hiking Season is FINALLY here!

Posted on September 4, 2025September 7, 2025 by Lovie Price

After a somewhat brutal summer season ( extra hot and lots of rain) here in the north eastern US, most of us hikers are gearing up for the “busy” season! This is generally considered to be THE best time to hike, backpack and camp in these parts. Brisk fall weather before the ice, snow and cold.. the beautiful foliage.. and soon- “no snake” season! I can barely contain myself! Yippee!

I have many plans including some collaborations with fellow content creators, 2 backpacking trips and a creator meet up in early winter. I have been spending my time packing and repacking my gear, fine tuning which gear i use and which i don’t need, and training– yes, training– for bigger and better things.

Last month I finally got my dream treadmill. It’s a Bowflex with a screen that i can use for immersive and adaptive programming as well as the basics. I absolutely love it and use it almost every day. I train by wearing my backpack during the workouts and varying the incline, speed and distance. It’s definitely been a game changer as i was seriously p*ssed about the weather limiting me this summer. Now, even when the dark comes sooner I can hop on and walk, hike, climb and run to my hearts content, no matter the weather.

Also, i wanted to let my readers know that i chose not to subscribe to the paid version of wordpress this year. There simply are not enough readers or benefits to doing so, and so there will be no more photos included in my posts. Apparently, the free version doesn’t have enough space( i just tried multiple times with no success). This sucks, because it used to be that you could at least upload photos and the paid version just allowed videos. Oh well.I wish i could share the beautiful places i’ve been.. but i can’t now:(

I hope you all are doing well. As I’ve said many times, i dont really get on here much anymore. but i do try to post every other month or so.

Till next time…

Namaste!

What I learned on My First Backpacking Trip

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Lovie Price

In my last post, i didnt really get into this because i wanted to give a mental picture of what the trail was like, and ( briefly) describe the conditions, etc. But in keeping with my original tradition of also explaining my experiences on a more philosophical level I feel like it’s also important to pass along information and knowledge gained as well.I could probably included many more smaller things here that i learned but i’ll try to be brief.

Some of my new found knowledge is based on hiking with someone else. So i’ll start with the fact that it’s kind of important to know your partner. Let me explain:

Hiking pace-it’s important that you understand that their pace and style can be vastly different from your own. I hike at a pace of 1.5-2 mph on average, while my friend probably normally hikes 2-2.5mph on average. This was discussed prior to our trip, but it wasn’t fully apparent until we were on the trail.
Hiking style-while some people might take a lot of breaks, others may not. If this isn’t discussed ahead of time, it can be difficult to stay together and this could be frustrating( or unsafe) for both of you. Additionally, one person may need time take of photos or video while the other may wish to just enjoy the experience without that.
Hiking experience- if one of you has more hiking or backpacking experience, it can be a time to learn how to do things better or at least differently. Be open to learning while understanding that what works for you, may not work for someone else.
Camping style and experience- this also comes into play in backpacking, because, unlike just hiking or just camping, you will be carrying everything you need on your back. You will likely have different equipment, and hence different needs for setting up at camp, cooking/eating, filtering water, etc.
Physical/Medical conditions- for example- i am a previous smoker, and i have a heart condition. My hiking partner had a bad knee, and was shorter in stature, but was not a previous smoker. Both persons individual challenges need to be considered because it affects things like uphill climbs, steep descents and climbing over obstacles on the trail.
Waking and sleep times- some people are early birds, whereas others are not. Some need more sleep than others as well.
“Buddy Systems” should be in place – as in, definite meet up times and places if you get separated, potentially going backwards on a trail if someone doesn’t show up at a pre-determined place or time, or alerting/dealing with search and rescue if someone gets injured and or disappears. This is a huge safety factor.

All of these things should be discussed prior to the trip, especially if it will be an extended hike – as in high mileage or more than an overnight.

Outside of hiking with someone else, there are things i learned about backpacking in general:

Backpack weight- i tried to go as Ultralite as possible, but even so my weight was 23lbs. including food/ water. Since i had never hiked with this amount of weight on my back, much less for 24-26 miles, i learned just how much pain this caused on my neck and shoulders( something that never happened when my pack was 10 lbs or less for day hikes) and how much slower i would go up hills, over boulders and crossing streams ( without losing my balance). But i also learned that i didnt have back, leg, hip, or foot pain like i anticipated . And my recovery time from the trip was basically only 24 hrs. I didn’t have any lingering effects, but my hiking partner lost a toenail and said her body took several days to recover.
how wet gear can make things more difficult- while i was prepared for rain in the sense that i had a great rain jacket ( Thank goodness) i wasn’t prepared for how much moisture there would be on my tent in the morning and how much heavier my pack would be when everything was wet. I need a lighter weight, more absorbent cloth to wipe condensation off my tent.
I am so glad i decided to wear my trail runners (without socks) instead of my Gortex lined hiking boots.Those boots would have been emerged in water over their tops and not only become significantly heavier but would have taken days to dry out, and not at all useful on this trail.
i am so glad i brought my trekking poles. I didn’t have to, because even though i have trekking pole tent ,the tent brand i have does make much lighter tent poles as an alternative. But if i hadn’t taken them, i would have had to call for search and rescue. Period . There would have been NO WAY i could have safely done the stream crossings or gotten down steep rocky descents without them. That would have sucked more than actually having to do those things.Always bring your trekking poles.
I am also very glad i had my SOS satellite device. Even though i was lucky and didnt have to use it, it gave me the peace of mind and confidence to go on.
I brought too much food.My pack could have weighed about 2 lbs less.
Even though my new sleep pad is more comfortable, it added 2.5 lbs to my pack weight. This needs to change.
Hiking apps aren’t always accurate.Even if you have used one for years and it always has been fairly accurate. Stuff happens. Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared.

Hope this has been helpful to someone.Lord knows i have learned so much information that i didn’t know from other hikers( blogs and youtube), many times stuff that i just hadn’t thought of.

Thanks for reading and Namaste!

Mid Summer Sauntering… & Victory!

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Lovie Price

Hello Dear Friends- although I am pretty sure there has been no activity here since I last posted, I still wanted to post a few pics of what i’ve been doing since i last wrote! It’s been a busy summer for sure- with many hikes, events and new friends!

I hiked two trails with my daughter – a rock maze and one with 6 waterfalls in Maryland.

I was invited to a content creator campfire meet up in Tobyhanna State Park, PA.

I solo camped by a beautiful windmill and watched fireworks all around me!

Drum roll , please- I went on my first backpacking trip to Loyalsock State Forest, Pa with my new friend , Darcy ( pictured below).

Another new friend, Luis, I’ve hiked with a few times( and fellow content creator).

I attended a Celtic Fling and Highland Games event by myself. It was hot, but great food and fun.

And this last pic is of me with fully loaded back pack before my backpacking trip:)

I have so many pics and videos I cannot share them all. So many more hikes, trails, and historic local places that I have visited. But again, i do have a youtube channel (@theferalfemale130) that you can visit and follow along.

But what i really wanted to write about was my first backpacking trip!!

Darcy and I arrived to the trail at 1030 am on July 13th. We hiked 9 miles uphill in blazing 80 degree heat the first day and finally found a campsite around 630p.It was brutal. I had never hiked with that much weight( 23 lbs) on my back for such a distance, much less uphill in the heat! But we made it. Did I mention this was in bear country as well?

Overnight there was thunder, lightening and heavy rain. My gear was soaked the next morning which made the pack even heavier. Darcy was up way earlier than i so went ahead of me that morning as she had a time limit for the trip . We didn’t see each other the rest of the trip-which I totally did not anticipate.

I was alone… but the Alltrails app had said the trail mileage was a total of 18 miles( so only 9 more to go), and i figured with the rain cooling things down it would be an easier day.

Boy, was I wrong! Aside from more elevation and being alone , it began to pour down rain with more thunder from about 1pm till 5p. The trails were flooded with steep ascents and descents.There were many stream crossings ( at least 2 were thigh high) and i was in ankle to shin deep water for 12-14 miles. There was no cell service, and as my cell phone was getting wet every time i checked my location, it stopped responding( but i did have my in reach SOS satellite device). I did a lot of praying. I feared injury and even death most of that day and finally at 630 p reached my car- 10 hours and 16 miles of pure survival. Darcy and i talked later that evening, and even though she was ahead of me by about 2 hours- she had roughly the same experience. Our hike total was approximately 25 miles!

That was a fairly condensed version of the ordeal. I never expected all of that my first time out. But since i was was forced to face down some of the worst things a trail can throw at you, alone, i now know what I am capable of.

And it feels damn good.

A 58 year old first time female backpacker vs. nature. And I won. There’s no stopping me now…

To infinity- and beyond!

Namaste:)

The Sweet Sounds of Summer

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Lovie Price

Good Morrow my fellow bloggers and subscribers! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the changing seasons!

Once again, it’s been coon’s age since i have posted here. There’s just not a whole lot of activity on WP anymore, so i often forget about it. But I do feel I should keep the account open in the event of another pandemic – which i truly believe saw the first resurgence of blogger interaction since the early 2000’s.

Thankfully, for now, we are all able to enjoy the freedom of roaming wherever we wish with wild abandon( as long as you’re not flying, anyway), so i thought i’d drop in and share a few photos of my adventures since last posting.

From abandoned tunnels, buildings and spring houses to lakes,caves and rock ledges..to historic ruins, waterfalls and canal locks..to peaceful meadows, serene streams and swamps..

I have made the most of my time this year as i continue to explore Pennsylvania and Maryland. There is so much to see and do! If you feel so inclined, please visit my YT channel @theferalfemale130.

This month I also attended a YouTube meet up at a local spot, where i finally got out of my shell and began to meet some of my fellow content creators who like to hike, camp and backpack ( here in Pa and beyond). It was really awkward stepping out of my comfort zone and being social( i knew NO ONE), but i am so glad i did , as this has led to upcoming collaborations and hikes with new friends!

I am pleased that i will also be doing 2 hikes with my daughter again in a few weeks- it has been awhile:)

In other news, i am settling more and more into my new home. I have replaced some flooring and built dozens of furniture projects( ordered through Amazon). I have also been able to finally attain some goals that i previously thought impossible, but more on that in my next post!

Thanks for reading today — here’s to the sweet sounds of summer blessings( clink!)

Namaste!

Spring has Sprung!

Posted on April 24, 2025April 24, 2025 by Lovie Price

Phew! We made it! There were some days during this winter that i thought it would never end.But, finally i do believe the weather will be staying temperate and that means more hours in the day- and more trail time!

I haven’t posted for 2 months, and i figured i’d post a quick tour of the fabulous places i have hiked since my last photo dump ( I’ve done 20 hikes this winter- from November till now!). There have been beautiful streams, caves, ruins, bridges, boulders, waterfalls and so much more–even a larger than life root beer barrel:)

The Bouldering Trail at Governor Dick Park

All of these places and more are featured on my Youtube Channel @TheFeralFemale130. If you don’t have time for a video, i usually post pics on my FB page (Lovie Price). Not that I’m advertising, per say.. i make zero $ on any of this and of course, have no sponsors.I just like to share my adventures. Gives me a “purpose”-lol.

I have to say, i am quite enjoying the editing process now. It has really taken some time, effort and patience. A 1 hr hike, for example, takes and average of 3-4 hours of editing and uploading. I would rather be doing THAT, than stupid housework!

And now that The days are longer I have so many plans. The area I live in is rich in nature, history and special places. The more I explore, the more I find.

It’s a good life. A sane one. And I intend to fully enjoy it and hike, hike, hike!!

Namaste!

Salutations and Happy Mid-Winter!

Posted on February 24, 2025February 24, 2025 by Lovie Price

I hope you all are well and at least trying to enjoy some outdoor activities in the snow:)

In my last post I mentioned my new home and that i would be forthcoming with some more details. I’m so excited to share, so here ya go..

I previously explained why i could not fulfill the dream of having lots of land and a small home or cabin as i so very much wanted. But when it came down to it, i realized it was unrealistic in todays economy as well as my own physical inability to care for such a place alone, especially considering my age. It saddened me at for awhile, but where i ended up is so much better!

I am surrounded on all sides by state game lands and a state park. Hiking trail access is abundant and there are more places to explore within 5-10 minutes than i could possibly ever complete. I am closer than ever to many of the trails, too, that i had on my bucket list for several years.

The community i am in is absolutely wonderful and comes with so many perks and blessings i feel as if it was destiny. Never in my life would i have expected to end up where i’m at, but I continue to fall in love with it more everyday!!

Here are just ‘some’ of the wonderful things so far:

The people in the community are just awesome. They are super friendly ( every one waves , even if they don’t know you.) If you are out walking, they will stop and chat for a few minutes.
the skies are so clear you can see an amazing array of stars at night.
it’s sooo quiet..no traffic, no humming machinery, no loud street noise, no barking dogs or kids( its an adult community)- just birds and the sweet sounds of nature.Dogs are allowed but they are very well behaved, and i’ve never heard one barking.
it’s only a 15 minute easy drive to work
wildlife is abundant- fox, deer, squirrels, bunnies, raccoons and all kinds of critters. Some of the neighbors have wildlife cams and post them on the private community FB page for everyone to enjoy.
The ease of maintenance– roads are always promptly plowed when it snows and theres a gentleman that charges a very small monthly fee($70) to maintain your driveway and yard( including lawn mowing and leaf removal) year round. You only pay the months you want to- no commitment.There is also an incinerator for cardboard and leaves if you desire- which is quite handy if you get a lot of amazon packages.
One floor living– no more up and down stairs for laundry, baths, and appliance maintenance.The home is open and spacious and only 300 square feet less than my previous home. With 2 large bedrooms, a generous living room/dining area, and a large 3 season back porch area- it’s the perfect size for me:). I even have a hard wired generator that comes on automatically in power outages- no skills required.I feel safe and prepared.
some of the amenities include a gym inside the community building which also holds bingo nights, shuffle board, corn hole , and a host of social clubs open to everyone. The community center itself is a world of books, movies, pool tables and frequent dinners and other events. There is truly something for everyone, but it is also perfectly fine to keep to yourself.
i already mentioned access to hiking trails, but there are also parks, camp grounds, small lakes and other great places to visit nearby such as an ice skating pond, a roller rink, and even festival grounds. And even though i’m far enough off the main road to avoid noise- i’m still close to anything i might need, including health care, banks and groceries.
In my first month i was welcomed with surprise gift bags left on my porch and a visit from the welcoming committee who presented me with an entire packet of goodies. The community has its own monthly newsletter ,social calendar, and FB page. Whenever i have needed anything, i’ve just called the office or asked on the fb page . The responses have been kind, helpful and positive.One neighbor welcomed me to cross her back yard to the trails.The mail lady left a hand written welcome note in my mail box. One neighbor took the time to bring my packages to my door when amazon left them out in the rain.I have been amazed and overjoyed with the sense of community here.
The HOA rules are actually GREAT. Never thought i’d say that, but they keep the neighborhood looking nice, safe and enjoyable for everyone.

And let’s talk finance for a minute…

First, i made a nice profit selling my old place.As i had anticipated, the federal reserve states that they will not be lowering the interest rates and now with the rapid inflation we are experiencing, both sellers and buyers have dramatically decreased- opting to hold on to what they have or wait. If i had waited, i’d likely be stuck for years in a place i was unhappy with and/or walked away with less. With some of that profit i’ve been able to get some furniture i want and a few things for myself( nothing expensive!), plus have a cushion for any unforeseen emergencies. I’ve lowered my mortgage balance by 74,000 and thre lot rent is very low ( 380/mo) which includes trash, sewer, and water. Since i own the home but not the land, i pay next to nothing in taxes. Even the home owners insurance is lower. There’s a gas station nearby that is always about 30 cents /gallon lower than others in the area and since my drive is 30 minutes less one way to work i save on that as well. My electric bill is about 150 less per month than previously, and the only other utility is heating oil which i’ve only had to fill up once so far this winter.

So all in all- i think it’s a win. Now i can settle in and focus on better things.I still have projects of course- carpet removal and other flooring to put in and repainting the walls.But there’s no rush.My anxiety level has improved, and i’m sleeping much better too. I’m finally feeling like i can relax a bit, and spend more time hiking and doing other things i enjoy in life.

Until next time…

Namaste!