Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hiking Trips

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Hiking Trips

Constructors: Dan Kammann & Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• COLM (33A: "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" star Meaney) On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999), COLM Meaney portrayed Miles O'Brien, chief of operations of Deep Space Nine. He also portrayed Miles O'Brien on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994). COLM Meaney is Irish, as is Miles O'Brien.
• I LOVE L.A. (2D: Song played after a Dodgers home win) Although I didn't know the answer here, it made sense once I had some letters filled in from crossing answers. "I LOVE L.A." is a song by Randy Newman; it was originally released in 1983. In addition to MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers, other L.A. sports teams also play "I LOVE L.A." to celebrate a win, including the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), L.A. Rams (NFL), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), and L.A. Galaxy (MLS).
• EEL (9D: Grilled fish in ehomaki) Ehomaki is a type of sushi roll typically eaten on the last day of winter. In order to bring good luck, ehomaki is eaten in silence while making a wish and facing the direction of best luck. Ehomaki contains seven ingredients, including EEL.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• TIGER (1A: Chinese zodiac animal after ox) The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle, with an animal assigned to each year. We are currently in the Year of the Snake, which began on January 29, 2025. The next Year of the TIGER will be 2034.
• PANDA (22A: Bamboo-loving bear) A PANDA can eat up to 40 pounds of bamboo a day. (That's a lot!) In fact, a PANDA's day is pretty much made up of eating bamboo and sleeping.
• SEATTLE (24A: City on Puget Sound) Puget Sound is located along the northwestern coast of the state of Washington. The city of SEATTLE is located between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. 
• ASIA (32A: Guangzhou's continent) Guangzhou is the capital of the province of Guangdong in southern China. China is, of course, in ASIA. This is the third appearance of our crossword friend ASIA this month, and its sixth appearance this year. Here's my occasional reminder that the only thing these numbers mean is that I like data!
• ELLE WOODS (36A: The blonde in "Legally Blonde") ELLE WOODS, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, is the protagonist of the 2001 movie, Legally Blonde. The movie was adapted from Amanda Brown's 2001 novel of the same name. 
• BOLOGNA (45A: Classic lunch meat) Hat tip to Oscar Mayer for their commercials that taught me how to spell BOLOGNA: "...'cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A. (How's that?)" Fun fact: Oscar Mayer's BOLOGNA jingle is over 50 years old.
• TINA (58A: "Simply the Best" singer Turner) Here to replace the Oscar Mayer jingle as my earworm is "You're simply the best / better than all the rest..." Simply the Best is a 1991 compilation album by TINA Turner. Of course it includes the song, "The Best."
• WAKE FOREST (59A: University in Winston-Salem, NC) WAKE FOREST University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina was founded in 1834. Its name comes from its original location in WAKE FOREST, North Carolina (located north of Raleigh, the state's capital). The University moved to Winston-Salem in the 1940s and 1950s. (The move was officially completed in 1956.)
• LEI (8D: Fragrant necklace that might be thrown into the sea) It's a custom that a LEI should not be tossed in the trash. Traditionally, a LEI is returned to the place where its flowers were gathered or returned to the earth by throwing it into the sea.
• SPCA (10D: Pet welfare org.)  SPCA stands for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. My cat, Willow, looks a bit grumpy in this photo. Perhaps she's wondering why someone would be cruel to animals.

• DIEGO (29D: Cousin of Dora the Explorer) The title character of the animated children's TV series, Dora the Explorer is a seven-year-old Latina girl. Dora's eight-year-old cousin, DIEGO has his own spin-off series, Go, DIEGO, Go! DIEGO's adventures involve helping animals and protecting the environment. That thought might cheer Willow up.
• CEDAR (33D: Tree on Lebanon's flag) The CEDAR tree is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is pictured on its flag. At one time, Lebanon was covered by large forests of CEDAR trees. Few old CEDAR trees remain, but reforestation efforts have resulted in over 600,000 trees (not all CEDARs) being planted since 2011. 
• LENA (37A: "Girls" creator Dunham) The TV series Girls was created by LENA Dunham, and originally aired on HBO for six seasons from 2012 to 2017. The show centers on the lives of four young women living in New York City.
• GPS (46D: Tech used by geocachers) A geocache is a container of items (usually a logbook, pencil, and a variety of small, inexpensive objects) that is hidden at a specific location for searchers to find using GPS coordinates. Geocaching is a fun way to explore. Geocaching.com describes it as the "world's largest treasure hunt."
• LISTEN (48D: "Stop talking for one second") I can just hear this being said, "LISTEN!" (I'm not going to tell you whose voice I hear saying it...)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• MONEY TRAIL (17A: Laundering evidence)
• ELLE WOODS (36A: The blonde in "Legally Blonde")
• WAKE FOREST (59A: University in Winston-Salem, NC)

HIKING TRIPS: The last word of each theme answer is a place to go HIKING: TRAIL, WOODS, and FOREST.

Why does it feel like today's puzzle is telling me to take a hike? I am a fan of HIKING TRIPS, so I enjoyed this theme and the thoughts it evoked of many memorable hikes. Thank you, Dan and Zhouqin, for this memorable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
• Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers