Winter at Chaco Culture National Historic Park
I first learned of Chaco Canyon while going down a YouTube documentary rabbit hole. I’d had plans to drive down to Albuquerque for Christmas, and lucky for me, Chaco wasn’t far off my route. The park is one of the least visited parks in the National Park System. Try...
Springtime in Sequoia National Park
Trip dates: 4/2-4/5/21Total mileage: 30ish With snow in the Sierra and closer-to-home trails closed due to last year’s wildfires, finding an early spring backpacking trail wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. Luckily Sequoia had a great trail that’s hotter than the surface of the sun in the summer,...
Dewey Point and Merced Grove: Yosemite Winter Edition
My roommates and I went on a quick overnight trip to explore the snowy version of Yosemite National Park over the weekend. Thanks to the COVID-induced reservation requirement and the fact that it’s winter, Yosemite was the most empty I’ve ever seen it. Even more empty than it was...
Snowshoeing at Lassen Volcanic National Park
My roommates and I spent our New Years Eve weekend escaping to a quiet cabin near Lassen. I’d only seen a little bit of Lassen, and that was mostly a burn area in the summer, so I was excited to check out the snow covered version of the park....
White Sands, Saguaro, and Death Valley
This early morning post brought to you by a 5:00 am burro alarm clock. White Sands National Monument Along with Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Monument has also become one of my favorite places. The forecast called for rain, but since a trip to White Sands would only add...
Texas and New Mexico Whirlwind
After a food and board game filled night in Austin, followed by all the breakfast tacos I could fit in my stomach, we headed onward towards Big Bend National Park. The drive between Austin and Big Bend is a long, desolate one. Keeping an eye on the gas gauge...
Almost halfwayish
# of days off trail / 2 = # of days it takes to feel like hiking again. After about 4 days of hiking (and after getting out of the oppressive heat), my motivation is back. Which is good, because we’ve still got a looooooong way to go. The...
Closing in on California
This last section had so. many. baby. frogs. Here’s a video of me trying to not step on the baby frogs that carpeted the trail. Experience the baby frog joy! I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while now. Day hikers smell so good. Showering once a...