On the scale of “things that make me happy,” wildflowers are up there – hovering somewhere between waterfalls and golden autumn leaves. Apparently, I’m not the only one. I saw proof of the widespread flower mania during a… Read More
From trudging through snowy-white sand in New Mexico’s 90-degree autumn weather to venturing deep into the shady woods of central Czech Republic, my hikes of 2018 were varied, to say the least. Also unique this year was my… Read More
For a true western experience that combines rugged high-desert terrain with refreshments in an authentic historic train-depot setting, Prescott, Arizona offers a classic duo: A strenuous hike in the Granite Mountain Wilderness Area, capped off with a fitting… Read More
Every now and then, you visit a place that seems to have it all: Jaw-droppingly gorgeous surroundings, charming city streets, a fun vibe, and uniquely entertaining activities. Durango, Colorado is just that kind of town. At a population… Read More
When it comes to life’s simple pleasures, I believe there are few things that can top a walk through beautiful scenery, capped off with a bite to eat or a frosty brew (or both!) in an out-of-the-way café… Read More
Whenever I hike the Peavine Trail in Prescott, Arizona, two questions come to mind: How can so many amazing features be packed into 5.5 miles? And why aren’t more people using it? As my hometown trail, the Peavine… Read More
“I had no idea Arizona got any snow!” – It’s a comment I see often when I post snowy photos on Instagram. And yes, it can be confusing. Towering saguaro cacti, 115-degree temps, and sunny poolside scenes: These… Read More
“Isn’t life good?” This from a complete stranger deep in the mountains of Montana. I didn’t miss a beat. “Amazing,” I responded. Considering the surroundings, our mutual effusiveness didn’t seem strange in the least. At that moment, we… Read More
For the past decade or so, it seems, each time I’ve mentioned my home state of North Dakota, I’ve gotten the same response, “Ah, oilfield country.” An improvement, perhaps, over the previous “Oh, don’t you just love that… Read More
With an evening hike in my sights, I surveyed the sky. Arizona’s monsoon thunderstorms had been wreaking havoc on my plans to get outdoors recently, and I was hoping for a small window of sunshine to hit the… Read More
Canada was never part of the plan. As I was plotting my summer 2016 road trip, I had one major destination in mind: Glacier National Park in Montana. I spent the winter and spring dreaming of hiking the… Read More
Think of a flamboyantly colorful landscape. What just came to mind? The Caribbean? The Greek Islands? Hawaii’s North Shore? The California coast? Well, prepare yourself to add a new landscape to that colorful image – the Arizona desert!… Read More
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