american west, california, Hiking, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized, writing

Wild Winters Melt into Springs

Enjoying the cool mist from the Brown Mountain Dam waterfall The wild weather of the past several months in California is yielding some lovely results. While technically not a 'superbloom' in many areas, the superfluity of water has sprouted many beautiful blooms across verdant hills in southern and central California. I enjoyed the drive up… Continue reading Wild Winters Melt into Springs

Food, Hiking, midwest, Opinion, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Lake of the Ozarks

If anyone mentioned to me at the start of 2022 that I would be making not one, but two trips out to the Ozarks region of Missouri, I'd have probably given them the side-eye and questioned why. Not that I don't love interstate travel, or that I don't think that the Ozarks offers some breathtaking… Continue reading Lake of the Ozarks

american west, california, Hiking, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

The Natural Bridges of Calaveras County

Wading in Coyote Creek at Natural Bridges The County of Calaveras is on the smaller end of the California counties, ranking 40 out of 58 in terms of acreage, but it does boast a number of hiking trails and outdoor areas in a relatively concentrated area. The eastern portion of Calaveras is protected by the… Continue reading The Natural Bridges of Calaveras County

american west, Camping, Hiking, national parks, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized

Hiking the Narrows

Have you ever hiked in a river? I don't mean a stream or river crossing, I mean an actual hike in a river flowing through a massive slot canyon. The Narrows is the most well-known slot canyon in Zion National Park and possibly throughout the southwest. And no wonder: thousand-foot high walls of rock surround… Continue reading Hiking the Narrows