47 Parks
These giant cactuses are the iconic symbol of the American southwest. Not only are they majestic and stately, each saguaro is unique… kinda like a special snowflake. Most of the really nifty lookin’ ones are much older than me, since they don’t start developing appendages until around age 75.
Pictures speak louder than words, so … Read more
47 Parks
Length of Stay:
High:
Low:
Favorite Hike:
Favorite Treat:
* both cacti and cactuses is an accepted plural form, or so the internet … Read more
47 Parks
Complete darkness. My eyes fought to find something to focus on; my ears something to target. Thankfully the lady next to me inhaled deeply, leaving me grateful for the brief respite from the disorienting sensory paralysis.
I sat in an alcove with twelve other strangers, united by our collective experience of this outright blackout. After … Read more
47 Parks
Length of Stay:
High:
Low:
Favorite Hike:
Favorite Treat:
47 Parks
Part of traveling in the Southwest means deserts – lots of ’em. I was expecting a typical desert hike when I set out on the Devil’s Hall trail at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I was pleasantly surprised when I ended up scrambling through a shaded wash littered by large limestone boulders, the evidence of the … Read more
47 Parks
Length of Stay:
High:
Low:
Favorite Hike:
Favorite Treat:
47 Parks
As I drove into Big Bend, the temperature gauge on my car read 92°. I expected oppressive heat that would cause perspiration to drip down my face within minutes. Tentatively, I opened the door to my Civic and felt a gentle breeze. Not too bad. I grabbed my day pack and set out to explore … Read more
47 Parks
Nature and I used to be acquaintances. We would interact on an occasional basis, exchanging pleasantries and sticking to surface-level subjects. I’ll admit that I was closed-minded when it came to the great outdoors; I rarely noticed nor cared to explore anything that didn’t suit my immediate purposes.
And then I went to Zion National … Read more
47 Parks
My winter hiatus has absolutely flown by. It seems like I pulled back into the Northern Virginia area only a short time ago, tugging along Clarence (the teardrop trailer) like a faithful pet.
Now the days are getting longer, and the temperature is gradually rising. I’m eager to get back on the road to visit … Read more
47 Parks
47parks.com has a 2017 calendar for sale!
All proceeds will go towards Open Outdoors for Kids, an initiative that seeks to connect kids to nature through experiential outdoor explorations and events. Not only does Open Outdoors
focus on getting kids to learn about our natural world through investigation, they also provide multiple training opportunities for … Read more