Spaces & Places
Typically I get the travel bug in January. I start researching, planning, and dreaming of summer escapes during the dreary winter months that seem to go on endlessly. You’ll recall that my epic Croatia-cation was mapped out during my snow-bound days armed with hot coffee and lots of time to think about travel.
Although I … Read more
Spaces & Places
Every so often I get scared rock climbing.
Yeah, it doesn’t happen as frequently as my dear mother would like, but I do experience fear, especially when I’m climbing outdoors.
A few weeks ago, this experience was quite acute.
My buddy and I were tackling a 5.7, a not-so-difficult climb outdoors that shouldn’t have caused … Read more
Spaces & Places
The weather was unseasonably warm, typical of March which tends to show off its extreme ranges depending on the particular mood of the wind and the sun. I hadn’t laced up my hiking boots so tightly in quite some time. The past few months had involved staying local, yearning for more sunlight, and spending dreary … Read more
Spaces & Places
I pulled into the empty trailhead parking lot, surprised to see no other cars around. It was overcast and damp, the air heavy with the promise of rain. A perfect day for adventure! Perhaps I’d have the whole park to myself for a spell?
I took a deep breath as I headed up the trail. … Read more
Spaces & Places
I looked into the distance with awe. The Blue Ridge Mountains sprawled out in a well-rehearsed formation, juxtaposing the rugged rocks rising out of the nearby soft, grassy sod. To complement the outstanding vista, a trio of wild ponies were grazing close by, recognizing me from time to time by a tilt of the head.… Read more
Spaces & Places
In the spirit of gratitude, I decided to take advantage of the Thanksgiving season by embarking on a road trip around my own state, appreciating its spectacular array of parks. Virginia State Parks have won various accolades and awards for customer service, overall quality, and just being darn good nature places.
*Round of applause*
I … Read more
Spaces & Places
Every so often I have one of those moments that fill me with an insurmountable sense of wonder and delight. It’s akin to an emotional burst of awe experienced by a child on Christmas morning upon first glance of the present-laden tree.
For me, this wonder-filled moment occurred last weekend with two-toed creatures known for … Read more
Spaces & Places
I eased my tired feet into crystal-clear water, appreciating the perfect temperature for soothing blisters. I had made sure to break-in my new hiking boots before the trip, but the sheer number of miles I’d been hiking had left a mark.
It was a bright sunny day with a just-right breeze blowing in from the … Read more
Spaces & Places
I often meet a lot of people when I travel. Despite my enthusiasm for solo voyages, I do relish the opportunity to be social, even on trips into the wilderness. During my time in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I met many friendly hikers along … Read more
Spaces & Places
Depending on where you live in the world, the term backpack has a variety of definitions. Although commonly used as a noun (at least in North America), backpack can also be a verb meaning “to travel or hike carrying one’s belongings in a backpack.” In other words, backpacking involves multi-day trips with all the necessary … Read more