Gold Hill was probably one of the most peaceful, most beautiful trails I took on our trek across the southwest last summer. There was a quality to it that was nothing short of pleasant – a ramble through the wilderness…
Best Day Hikes in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is a land of extremes – incredibly dry desert, mountains, bristlecone forests, cacti, sand dunes, wildflowers, canyons, old mines, and waterfalls, not to mention rich history, hiking options galore, and the bragging rights of “the lowest place in…
Early Season Hiking on Bald Mountain
If you’re looking for one hike in the Uinta Mountains that will give you bang for buck, I’d highly recommend Bald Mountain. The scenery you drive through to get there is almost worth the visit, but once on the trail,…
Wheeler Peak – the Highest Peak in New Mexico!
For three weeks now, we’ve been talking about climbing Wheeler Peak. We visited Williams Lake (a worthy short side trip from the Wheeler Peak Trail), discovered Williams Falls (a little lengthier, but still worth visiting), and then up Mount Walter,…
Mount Walter – the Second Highest Point in New Mexico!
Mount Walter might well be seen as the handsome little brother of Wheeler Peak, the highest Point in New Mexico. Located only 0.4 miles north of – and 62 feet lower than – Wheeler Peak, Mount Walter is overlooked by…
Now Announcing: A View Junkie’s Guide: Dayhiking Wyoming!
It’s official: I’ve released another book about day hiking! This time it’s to Wyoming – mountains and rivers, lakes and geysers! It’s by far the longest book I’ve written to date – there’s almost 50 trails featured, let alone suggestions…
Spiritual Killers in the Wilderness
To continue from last week… just because we are in a “desert” or on a “mountaintop” in our spiritual journey doesn’t mean that one or the other is easier or that one is less of an adventure. Everything we do…
Discovering Williams Falls
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,…
Mountains vs. The Desert
Last week, I posted about remembering again how most people think of the desert and the wilderness as places to be avoided, metaphorically speaking. Our songs and sermons focus on getting out of the dry places, or at least…
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.…