Early mornings, waterfalls and mountains… oh my!
On Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at 2:30 am, I departed my apartment to meet up with Barb on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park once again. This time, our goal was to find parking at Glacier Gorge Trailhead before traveling into the mountains beyond Mills Lake. Incredibly, we just managed to land a parking spot upon our arrival at 4am as the parking lot was swarming with people heading out on similarly epic journeys for the holiday weekend. On this day Barb and I covered 14 miles with around 4000 feet of gain. Not a shabby way to spend a Saturday!
Trip Recap: Cranes, Cliff Dwellings, Coyotes and a Caldera
We had a simple plan: see the Sandhill Cranes migration and visit the cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument near Sante Fe. Little did we know starting out how much fun this minivacation would be and just how many incredible things we would happen upon along the way.
Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival
The 2025 Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, is a spectacular celebration of winter sports, community spirit, and Western heritage. This annual event, held in mid-February, brings together cowboys and cowgirls showcasing their skills alongside thrilling demonstrations in skijoring—a breathtaking sport that merges skiing with horseback riding. The carnival features jaw-dropping ski jumping performances that send athletes soaring through the crisp mountain air, thrilling audiences with their incredible feats of bravery and skill.
As the streets and slopes come alive, this festival highlights the unique bond between horses and their riders, celebrating the rugged outdoor lifestyle of the Yampa Valley. The images tell a story of resilience and traditions shared amongst participants and spectators alike.
Kickstart Their Love for the Wild: A Guide to Introducing Friends to Backpacking
I went on my first backpacking trip in 2017 in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. It was a three day trip where my party summited three of the state’s 46 peaks above 4000 feet. It was a wonderful trip and it got me absolutely addicted to backpacking, but did it fit my criteria for what makes a great intro backpacking trail? Absolutely.