47 Parks
The big white mountain flickered in my peripheral and then was gone. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? There – again. Pieces of its formidable shape could be seen through the trees, reflecting sunlight and causing my eyes to squint. When I finally spotted an overlook labeled “Mt. Rainier Vista Point”, I happily pulled … Read more
47 Parks
It was so blue. The white snow surrounding the crater accentuated the deep cobalt color, its clarity taking on an almost surreal appearance.
I was standing at the edge of a volcano that had erupted thousands of years ago. The top collapsed leaving a gaping crater, or caldera, that gradually filled with snow, condensation, and … Read more
47 Parks
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47 Parks
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* Fun fact: … Read more
47 Parks
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47 Parks
It was so quiet. The pine needles strewn on the forest floor seemed to absorb most sounds. I could only hear myself inhaling the thin mountain atmosphere; I watched as my breath-clouds swirled around the misty air. As predicted, 7:30 am was a perfect time to visit the popular giant sequoia forest. It was cold, … Read more
47 Parks
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47 Parks
I stepped into the forest.
It felt good to be back.
An odd feeling of coziness enveloped me. I found it comforting to be surrounded by a collection of trees and wild foliage, my footfalls almost hidden by the array of nature sounds percolating about. The smell of campfire smoke from the night before clung … Read more
47 Parks
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47 Parks
“What’s been your favorite park so far?” is my most commonly asked question. I typically mention Grand Tetons, Smokies, or Black Canyon of the Gunnison, depending on my particular mood of the day.
But then I went to Channel Islands.
It’s in a whole other playing field, friends.
Although I only visited one out of … Read more