recap – Page 2 – The Park Pilgrim

47 Parks

Theodore Roosevelt Recap

June 2, 2017March 12, 2019

Countdown:

4 more parks to go!

Length of Stay:

2 days, 1 night

High:

More bison

Low:

Seeing dead prairie dogs on the side of the road #DriveSlow

Favorite Hike:

Painted Canyon Nature Trail

Favorite Treat:

Plain, old-fashioned doughnut holes

47 Parks

Glacier Recap

May 30, 2017March 12, 2019

Countdown:

5 more parks to go!

Length of Stay:

2 days, 2 nights

High:

Unparalleled scenery

Low:

Lots of driving; Montana is a flippin’ huge state

Favorite Hike:

Baring Falls, Saint Mary Falls, and Virginia Falls spur

Favorite Treat:

Cheese curds

47 Parks

North Cascades Recap

May 27, 2017March 12, 2019

Countdown:

6 more parks to go!

Length of Stay:

1 day, 1 night

High:

The fascinating emerald green lakes

Low:

Dam power lines obscuring the landscape

Favorite Hike:

Thunder Knob Trail

Favorite Treat:

Smoked salmon

47 Parks

Olympic Recap

May 20, 2017March 12, 2019

Countdown:

7 more parks to go!

Length of Stay:

3 days, 2 nights

High:

Exploring the tide pools
Mountain vistas

Low:

Mud – the kind that grips your shoes, suctions your feet as you walk, and feels like it’s going to swallow you whole

Favorite Hike:

Sol Duc Falls

Favorite Treat:

Famous clam chowder from

47 Parks

Mt. Rainier Recap

May 17, 2017March 12, 2019

Countdown:

8 more parks to go!

Length of Stay:

2 days, 1 night

High:

Weather – despite being in the Pacific Northwest in springtime, I’ve been ridiculously lucky with both the temperature and lack of precipitation

Low:

Tough snow-hiking that wreaked havoc on my knees/ankles

Favorite Hike:

Rampart Ridge loop

Favorite Treat:

Smoked salmon

47 Parks

Crater Lake Recap

May 13, 2017March 12, 2019

Countdown:

9 more parks to go!

20170505_091212 1

Length of Stay:

1 day, 2 nights

High:

Hanging out with my friend Sarah (who came all the way from NOVA to visit me)

Low:

Sore knees from snowshoeing

Favorite Hike:

Roxy Ann Peak in Medford, OR

Favorite Treat:

Gorgonzola waffle fries

47 Parks

Redwood Forest Recap

May 9, 2017March 12, 2019

Countdown:

10 more parks to go!

Length of Stay:

3 days, 3 nights

High:

Being on the coast
Watching the Elk

Low:

Landslides and road maintenance everywhere
Torn up feet and blisters

Favorite Hike:

Yurok Loop Trail

Favorite Treat:

Butterscotch pie

47 Parks

Yosemite Recap

April 30, 2017March 12, 2019

Length of Stay:

3 days, 3 nights

High:

Exploring the Valley’s multiple viewpoints

20170420_104353 1

Low:

Construction and crowds

Favorite Hike:

The Mist Trail to Vernal Falls

Favorite Treat:

Waterfalls and rainbows

47 Parks

Kings Canyon Recap

April 26, 2017March 12, 2019

Length of Stay:

1 day, 1 night (Kings Canyon is adjacent to Sequoia and share many of the same natural phenomenons)

High:

Lack of crowds due to rain

Low:

Hydroplaning while towing Clarence down a mountain in pouring rain and fog

Favorite Hike:

Big Stump trail

Favorite Treat:

Local Sierra Nevada brews

* Fun fact: … Read more

47 Parks

Sequoia Recap

April 25, 2017March 12, 2019

Length of Stay:

2 days, 3 nights

20170416_134625 1

High:

Driving up the Generals Highway – a long, winding road that leads up into the sequoia grove
Seeing the sequoias (duh!)