After arriving at Williams Lake, we thought we would hike a bit further before ascending Mount Walter and Wheeler Peak (our actual destination for the day). Like most alpine lakes, there are a number of social trails leading hither, thither,…
Hiking to Williams Lake, New Mexico
I wanted to climb Wheeler Peak. It’s not just that I liked the pictures others had taken from the top – I figured climbing the highest point in New Mexico would be fun. It would be an accomplishment. It would…
Driving (Part of) the Whitmore Trail
I read about a 2 mile trail – round trip – to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The pictures were epic. The trail didn’t even look that steep. The only thing standing between me and the trail was a…
Pueblos, Lizards, and More on the Pueblo Alto Loop
There are members of my group who have wanted to hike the Pueblo Alto Loop for about 23 years. That was when they saw a photo of Pueblo Bonito on the cover of their AAA road map and decided to…
7 Best Day Hikes in Colorado’s Flat Tops Wilderness
Colorado’s Flat Tops Wilderness is an overlooked gem. Overshadowed by more prominent mountains to the east (Rocky Mountain National Park) and south (Rockies; think Aspen, Glenwood Springs, etc.), the “busy” parts of the wilderness see several hundred visitors each year.…
Lassen Swimming Hole in Butte Lake!
Have you ever wanted to swim in a lava flow? Not in the lava, I mean, but in water among the remains of the hardened lava rock? It’s a big thing in Hawaii to swim or at least walk…
Epic Day Hiking Road Trip to Yellowstone & Grand Tetons!
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons are a concentration of epic views and fascinating phenomena. In Yellowstone, water boils out of the ground to create colorful pools, waterfalls race with thousands of gallons per minute, steaming water spouts into the air, and…
Echo Bay: In Search of a Dream
I’ve gotten a bit serious over the past few weeks on Jesus Sees the Wilderness, so here’s a story that’s hopefully a little lighter – if also a bit longer. When the sun shines in the desert, it becomes…
Climbing Telescope Peak!
It’s not gorgeous, it’s not all that tall, and it’s not all that easy. So why climb Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park? One reason is bragging rights: It’s quite something to say you’ve been to both the lowest…
Overlook Death Valley & China Lake from Rogers Peak & Bennett Peak
If you happen to visit Death Valley in the spring, fall, or summer, you’ll probably want to get out of the valley as quickly as possible to escape the heat. The problem is that one of the few ways to…