47 Parks
My rather impromptu Colorado visit landed me in Rocky Mountain National Park once again, a few days shy from a year after my first go-round. Back then, I trod eagerly through many sections of the park, exploring multiple lakes, ecosystems, and wildlife via a wide variety of hiking trails. As I once again stood within … Read more
47 Parks
I couldn’t resist fitting in one more outdoor trip before heading back into full time teaching. All 47 parks had been successfully checked off the list, but I jumped at the opportunity to revisit the Rockies. Re-branded as the Park Pilgrim*, I hopped on a plane sans Clarence, ready to have some rugged adventures … Read more
Spaces & Places
I studied the plant. It looked simple enough – full glossy leaves splayed open with a thin but sturdy stalk running along the length. I peeked closely, searching for the pod-like fruit, knowing full-well that I was staring at the most toxic plant in the world.
The Castor Oil Plant was just one of the … Read more
Rock Climbing
Nothing quite beats climbing on real rock. While I thoroughly enjoy my local rock climbing gym, gripping raw granite while puzzling my way up a cliff face is a whole other type of adventure.
During my year of travels, I only climbed a handful of times. Getting back into climbing shape has been a gradual … Read more
Spaces & Places
Beaches are beautiful. I’ve spent a lot of time on the coast this past year. From snorkeling with the fishes in Dry Tortugas to exploring tide pools in Olympic, the ocean is a magical place.
That’s why my trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina came at an opportune time. Nothing beats the … Read more
Spaces & Places
Just a reminder, tomorrow is the last day to post your guess to the contest. Winner will be announced on Saturday!
A year ago today I embarked on an epic adventure. It was a journey full of spontaneous surprises and life lessons that have left me questing after more outdoor experiences.
For the first … Read more
47 Parks
Time for another contest!
A couple months ago, my dear blog readers had a chance to win either a big ol’ jar of jelly beans or a blog picture sent as a 8.5 X 11 print. The challenge was to guess how many miles I had hiked.
Our new contest revolves around the number … Read more
Regional Parks
I’ve been back for a week. The oppressive high temperatures in the NOVA area make me miss the dry heat of the southwest and the cool breezes of the coast.
I am intent not to settle comfortably into an indoor lifestyle. It’s trickier to get outside when abiding in a sprawling metropolis, but there are … Read more
Eastward Bound
Canada was so close. It had been almost four years since I had lasted visited my country of birth, so I figured it was high-time to cross the border and enjoy a butter tart or Nanaimo bar.
I left Clarence the teardrop trailer with a babysitter and hopped on a ferry to take me across … Read more
Spaces & Places
The thunderstorm the night before was disheartening. I was planning on kicking off part II of my journey with some epic climbing at a world class crag in Tennessee. I lay awake in bed picturing rain-soaked sandstone that would hinder upwards movement. Nevertheless, there was some promise of sunshine the following morning, so my brother … Read more