I’m sitting here at my computer desk, and on the wall is one of those analog calendars; the kind with a picture on top and the days of the month in big squares so you can write all your appointments…
Hiking the Clatsop Loop in Ecola State Park
The Clatsop Loop Trail in Ecola State Park, Oregon, is certainly a trail of diversity. Starting out are views of surfers on the nearby beach, with sea stacks a short distance away. Then the hike winds upward through a true…
Fun at the Days of ’47 Pioneer Day Parade
Coming up next month on July 24 is a Utah state holiday, Pioneer Day, celebrating the coming of the pioneers into Utah and the surrounding area. It officially marks the day the first Mormons arrived in the Salt Valley, but…
Afternoon at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Oregon has its fair share of lovely beachy stuff – cliffs, sand, rock formations, tide pools, impressive tides, sea stacks, and so much more. It even has lighthouses. One that caught our attention – mostly because we took a hike…
10 Best Day Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain is one of those parks famous for its peaks. Now, I think there are better mountain views in Colorado, but for a classic experience, Rocky Mountain is certainly a good one (especially considering how convenient it is to…
Visiting Redwood’s WWII-era Klamath River Radar Station
Back in 1999, on my first visit to the Pacific Northwest, we stopped in Redwood National Park. In general, I was a bit disappointed with the park overall, but one part of the park left a lasting impression on me. …
Hiking Cannon Beach to Haystack Rock
Probably one of the more well-known icons of the northern Oregon Coast is Haystack Rock, located near the town of Cannon Beach. I’d read about a nice little beach stroll from the town to the rock, so I thought I’d…
Spectacular Hidden Valley on Mt. Shasta
There may be no other trail in the US quite like the one to Hidden Valley, high on the side of Mt. Shasta in California. The trail begins as a fairly normal one, passing through forests up to a stone…
Early Morning at the Mt. Shasta Horse Camp
The Horse Camp on Mt. Shasta is quite the destination. The views are very nice, but beyond the fact that it’s a popular day hiking destination, it’s also a “parting of the ways” for many climbers ascending Mt. Shasta, as…
Arch Rock Picnic Area: Sea Stacks in Oregon
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor really is unique and beautiful, even among the beauty of the rest of the Oregon coastline. I didn’t do half as much there as I could have; just some exploration around the Natural Bridges…