There are numerous trails and parks found in the greater Sacramento area. With a large variation in terrain and difficulty, there’s no need to go to the coast or all the way up to the Sierra Nevadas. Area trails and parks are somewhat unknown and this lack of experiences makes it seem like some of these places are not worth going to. This is where Recreational Equipment Inc., better known as REI, comes in. REI provides an opportunity to develop skills with a knowledgeable instructor. In the Sacramento area, REI’s Outdoor School has been steadily developing for the past few years. REI offers numerous classes every month and is still adding new classes. There is a wide variety of classes o

A group of six gathered at Old Sacramento’s Trail Mix store Sunday morning to hear author and avid outdoorsman Jordan Summers teach the workshop, “Leave no trace.” “Leave no trace” consists of seven principles to promote responsible outdoor recreation. “It allows you to preserve the resources of which no more is being made,” Summers said. The back country was the focus of the workshop. Summers said the first six-mile stretch of a wilderness area is considered front country. Past that is considered back country. He said five times more people visit front country than the back country. Summers has been a hiker and active in the outdoors since his childhood in Virginia. He has lived in Ca