Appease Your Creaky Knees

It's not easy to admit, but age happens - to all of us. We get older. Our joints get stiff, our back gets sore, that backpack just ain't as light as it used to be. There's really nothing we can do about getting older. That's just the way it is. However, if we can remain active; if we can continue to enjoy the outdoors; if we can get out and hike, perhaps the ravages of age will be a bit gentler. 

Over the years, Seabury Blair Jr., has done more than his fair share of hiking in Washington. Longtime outdoor columnist at the Bremerton Sun and the author of "Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula" and "Day Hike! Columbia Gorge", Seabury's newest guide book, "The Creaky Knees Guide Washington: The 100 Best Easy Hikes", addresses the inevitable - where to hike when our knees, lungs or aching back say, "No way!"

Blair instructs readers where to go and what to expect when searching for that perfect low-impact hike. Divided by region, all the hikes are profiled with driving directions, hike distance, hiking time, elevation gain as well as Blair's description of the hike. These are short-distance, low-impact hikes, but that doesn't mean Blair's hike selections lack excitement. He's specifically chosen hikes that do not scrimp on views, scenery, flora or fauna.  You should have no trouble tracking down a copy of "The Creaky Knees Guide" in bookstores or online. Now get out there and keep hiking!