Prologue The sounds of chainsaws and heavy machinery dominated the landscape as rain began to fall from a stone-colored sky. Dark clouds rolled in that afternoon, casting a gloomy pall over the forest. The men working beneath them hurried to finish their tasks, eager to escape the impending downpour. One of the loggers flung his […]
52 Weeks 52 Hikes
The Stars Shine Bright Over Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is one of the most remote places in the United States. The closest commercial airport is almost three and a half hours away in Midland, Texas. The nearest major city, El Paso, is three hundred miles to the northwest. It is literally the end of the road, with only the Rio […]
A Word About Wildlife
Remember that TV show, When Animals Attack!? The shockumentary, which aired in the mid-90s, began each week with the narrator cooly saying, “The following program contains graphic footage of animals attacking humans.” What followed was a series of clips, sometimes from home video, sometimes professionally filmed, resulting in increased paranoia and anxiety amongst folks considering […]
Granite Park Chalet: A Back Country Lodge in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is often referred to as the Crown of the continent. And it’s no wonder. Visitors will be wowed when they experience Glacier’s pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, it’s an explorer’s paradise. But with that comes crowds. Want to experience it away from […]
Hike Two – Guntersville State Park, Alabama
Where to next? Luckily for me, I work two buildings down from the public library. During lunch, I walk over to check out the hiking section. Spotting a book titled 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Birmingham, I take it off the shelf. Perfect. I consider doing all 60 hikes as I slowly turn the pages. That would […]
Got Gear?
You’ve made the commitment to hit the trail. Now what? For this article, we’re going to assume you have adequate footwear, not necessarily hiking boots – although they’re’ great. But definitely good shoes. A good pair of sneakers or trail runners work too. There are so many options, and one size doesn’t fit all. But […]
Hike One – De Soto State Park First Day Hike
Jarred awake by the ubiquitous chime of my iPhone, I fumble around the nightstand in the dark. Desperate to silence the beastly apparatus, I ignore the impulse to hit the snooze button. I’d be lying if I said that I’m not tempted to roll back over and stay cozy and comfortable in my […]
Tongariro Alpine Crossing: A Tale From the Trail
Tongariro Alpine Crossing – Tongariro National Park, New Zealand Distance: 13.0 Miles Point to Point Elevation Gain: 2,789 feet Rated: Difficult The bus bumps around a corner onto a gravel road creating great plumes of dust in our wake. Mount Ngauruhoe – you may know it as Mount Doom from the Peter Jackson films – […]
Len Foote Hike-Inn: Rustic Beauty With Creature Comforts in North Georgia
A few hours north of Atlanta, the Len Foote Hike-Inn lies nestled in Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest. The Hike Inn is one of the few backcountry lodges in the United States, and I was lucky enough to have reservations on a beautiful, sunny day. Still early enough in the season to escape the scorching summer […]
The Mighty Five: A National Park Adventure in Southern Utah
National Park visits are exceedingly popular in 2021 as travelers seek the natural social distancing that the great outdoors offers. Want to get the most bang for your buck on your next national park adventure? Consider the Mighty Five in southern Utah – five national parks all within striking distance of one another. ZION NATIONAL […]
