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47 Parks

Thermal Activity

  • September 29, 2016March 10, 2019

If you haven’t already submitted your guess for the “jelly bean” contest, you have one more day! The winner will be announced tomorrow evening.

Yellowstone has a lot going on under the surface, which makes for some interesting scenes happening above ground for the visitor’s viewing pleasure. Geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and vents demonstrate … Read more

47 Parks

Grand Tetons Recap

  • September 27, 2016March 10, 2019

Length of Stay:

  • 3 days, 4 nights

Highs:

  • The grand mountains and phenomenal views
  • Not running into a grizzly bear while hiking in the woods

Lows:

  • Super cold mornings (25° feels pretty darn chilly for September)

Favorite Hike:

  • Death Canyon (allegedly named after an explorer in the late 1800’s who was sent to investigate the
… Read more
47 Parks

Grandness

  • September 25, 2016March 10, 2019

The dictionary defines grandness as: impressive in size or appearance; characterized by splendor and magnificence.

Grand Teton national park truly lives up to its name. The mountain range is certainly impressive, and I had to pull over multiple times in order to simply admire the magnificent view.

The main park road runs along the east … Read more

47 Parks

Life: A Soliloquy

  • September 23, 2016March 10, 2019

Taking this trip was scary.

Choosing to leave my job, my stuff, my home, and my community was not an easy decision. By far the biggest fear I had going into this national park adventure, however, was that I wouldn’t like it. Yep. I was extremely apprehensive that I would be one week into my … Read more

47 Parks

Wind Cave Recap

  • September 21, 2016March 10, 2019

Length of Stay:

  • 4 nights, 2 days (I ended up spending 2 days exploring Custer State park)

Highs:

  • Bison!
  • Riding Ricky, the beautiful Arabian
  • Driving the Needles highway and Iron Mountain road in Custer State park

Lows:

  • None

Favorite Hike:

  • Little Devils Tower

Favorite Treat:

  • Raspberry-rhubarb-jalapeno pie

Favorite Random Moment:

  • Being invited to a
… Read more
47 Parks

Jelly Beans and Miles Hiked

  • September 19, 2016March 10, 2019

jelly-beans

You know those contests where you guess the number of jelly beans (or some other sugary candy) and the closest person wins a prize?

47parks.com is doing the miles hiked version of this.

Here’s how it works:

  • Leave a comment with your estimate of how many miles I have hiked in national parks since the
… Read more
47 Parks

Windy Caves

  • September 19, 2016March 10, 2019

Wind Cave national park is an underground magical world full of strange formations and eclectic natural designs. There’s some mystery and a lot of speculation behind the history of this subterranean world. While most people agree that the Lakota Indians were truly the first to discover this place, a well-accepted story tells of two gentlemen … Read more

47 Parks

Not Another Boring Hike

  • September 17, 2016March 10, 2019

I haven’t gotten tired of hiking yet. Mainly because I get to see cool views like this:

And fascinating spectacles like this:

And of course I get to enjoy the little things about my hikes: the crisp morning air, the sounds of nature, the refreshing solitude – oh, and more bison!

I can’t get enough … Read more

47 Parks

Bemusing Beasts

  • September 16, 2016March 10, 2019

When I first met Ricky there wasn’t much of a connection. After spending 4 hours on the trail together, however, we finally hit it off.

Ricky, the adorable Arabian, was a real trooper maneuvering his way through the rugged trail up along the base of a rocky ridge. It was morning, and the sweet smell … Read more

47 Parks

Badlands Recap

  • September 14, 2016March 10, 2019

20160913_101357-1

Length of Stay:

  • 3 days, 3 nights

Highs:

  • Visiting the Paleontologist lab and observing the fossil preparation process
  • Seeing the adorable prairie dogs in their “towns”

Low:

  • Wind – really fast, brutal wind

20160912_104948

 

Favorite Hike:

  • Saddle Pass Trail

Favorite Treat:

  • Sioux fry bread (it’s delicious dipped in honey or served as an open-faced taco)
… Read more

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About Me

About Me

National park expert. Nature enthusiast. Outdoor educator. These are the chronicles of my travels and discoveries around the country and throughout the world.

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