Little Schloss in the George Washington National Forest is the sister hike to the more famous Big Schloss. Probably with reason… unlike Big Schloss, this one is a climb all the way to the top. On a fall day with foliage colors popping, all that work to a nearly empty summit is beyond worthwhile!
#OptOutside in grief and gratitude
My adventures were close to home in 2020. I cherished every moment I spent outside and fell more in love with nature. I spent the year discovering all the local outdoor gems, taking walks in my neighborhood parks, hiking in state parks, and simply appreciating slow movements all these close to home places offer.
Glacier National Park gives new meaning to wilderness and was the place I most anticipated experiencing on my road trip. Unfortunately, the wildfires of 2018 interrupted my plans for a three-day adventure. I still managed to see some of the beauty of this magical place - Grinnell Glacier, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass, and countless wildlife!
Bryce Canyon National Park neighbors Zion but offers a dramatically different experience. It was an experience to walk (and ride a horse for the first time!) among the famous hoodoos, magical-looking sand structures that cover Bryce. Unfortunately, I didn’t get experience the other hiking adventures Bryce offers because a wildfire closed most of the park.
Zion National Park’s slot canyons, sandstone formations, and rock walls make a spectacular background for a range of adventures. Rocking climbing and canyoneering are popular and well worth experiencing. Zion is also a hiker's paradise with Narrows, a hike in the Virgin River, and the steep and dizzying climb to Angel’s Landing among the most famous.
Winter came early to Yellowstone (in August!), so I scrapped my hiking plans and opted to drive the much of the loop of Yellowstone National Park. Known for its thermal features, grizzly covered backcountry, stunning waterfalls, and large lakes, it is hard to capture the adventure possibilities of Yellowstone in one blog post.
The REI Flash 22 is a perfect day pack for a short or long hike. The ultra light design of ensures comfort but doesn't sacrifice any essential features. The pack also can double as a great travel pack, especially for light travelers. The small frame gives the pack the added bonus of fitting under an airplane... Continue Reading →
During our road trip this summer, we’re visiting and camping at some of the most popular National Parks in the country. While it’s an amazing experience, camping in National Parks, particularly established campgrounds in popular ones, require advance planning. Given the ground we’re covering in five weeks, we mostly opted to stay in these places... Continue Reading →
National Parks are a popular summer destination, so planning a trip to one much less several requires meticulous and early planning. Ricardo and I started planning our trip in mid-February, which is a little later than advised. It gave us enough time to apply for hiking permits but we were behind on making camp reservations,... Continue Reading →
Hiking Misadventures 