Saw a story this morning about a hiker who was rescued in California after getting lost while hiking the Santa Rosa mountains. For those of us who have done a lot of wilderness hiking, we know this can happen pretty easily — especially on poorly maintained trails.

In this case, the solo hiker had prepared for something just like this and brought enough extra food, water and supplies to allow for an unplanned overnight stay. That being said, it’s hard to imagine how he got himself two miles away from the trail and facing 200 foot cliffs.

As I have always said, it is especially crucial for solo hikers to have a GPS, compass or maps to help them plot their location and route and should really consider the SPOT GPS locator so they can signal for help if they do become lost of injured.

This hiker was lucky he was spotted by search planes, but he could have planned a little better to ensure that he never got into the situation to begin with.

Cascade Waterfall — an FDR favorite

Living near Columbus, GA doesn’t offer a lot of hiking options, but the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail in FDR State Park is certainly a good option when you are looking to get outside (about 30 minutes north).

It’s even worth a day trip from Atlanta and can be coupled with a side trip to historic Warm Springs and FDR’s Little White House.

My favorite hike is the 6.7 mile Wolf Den Loop which offers great views, varied terrain and three separate waterfalls. FDR apparently enjoyed the waterfalls, especially the one known as Cascade Waterfall. Not exactly sure how he got to it, though. 

You can choose to hike the entire 6.7 mile loop or just turn around after hitting all three waterfalls (about 4 miles total). The hike isn’t terribly strenuous, but it is a nice way to get out, get a little muddy and clear your mind. The trail is safe for leashed dogs as well.

On the weekends, expect to share the trail with runners, families and other pets. Get there early for the most solitude. See the trip report for directions and more details.

Kennesaw Mountain.

I’m in Atlanta for business regularly and am often looking for a quick hike that I can make either before or after work. Stumbled upon Kennesaw Mountain when driving through Marietta and have since been back a few times to make the 5.4 mile round trip hike up and down Big and Little Kennesaw mountains.

It’s a bit of burner since the uphill climb is relatively steep and takes place within the first mile or so. You get rewarded with great views of Atlanta and plenty of Civil War history. In fact, the mountains are part of a large national battlefield which was the site of a famous battle. During the hike, you’ll pass cannons, rifle pits and artillery embankments. Some wildlife, including deer and hawks are often seen.

Once you climb both mountains, you’ll make a slow descent back down and through the park as you loop back to the parking area and visitor center. See the following trip report for directions and specifics. The battlefield offers a total of 17 miles of trails — many of which are good for trail running. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area and want to get some exercise outdoors.