Although it’s small, I’ve never seen anyplace quite like Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark. Also known as the “Chalk Pyramids” Monument Rocks features a group of spires that seem to stick straight up out of the ground. These spires range…


Although it’s small, I’ve never seen anyplace quite like Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark. Also known as the “Chalk Pyramids” Monument Rocks features a group of spires that seem to stick straight up out of the ground. These spires range…

From most of what you’d see of Rocky Mountain National Park in the summer, you would think that everywhere you turned you would see crowds of people milling here and there looking at the same scenery you are. However, if…

I love hiking. It’s great to get out and stretch your legs, and it’s so rewarding to see a beautiful vista or interesting sight at the end of the trail. However, there are times when it’s nice not to hike,…

Carrizo Plain National Monument is fairly new as national monuments go. The park was established in 2001 from land in Southern California that had been a part of the Carrizo Plain Natural Area. When I visited the monument a couple…

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like the Flattops Wilderness in northern Colorado. Ever. This pristine wilderness has some of the most grand views I’ve seen, and the top-of-the-world feeling is simply out of this world. I can…

The Teanaway region of Washington is beautiful (I think I said that in another post, but I’ll say it again here because it’s true…it’s lovely!). However, almost any region has its trails that are really hyped up, but actually don’t…

If you’ve ever read the Ideas on Free Camping page of my website, you know that I much prefer free campgrounds to campgrounds that charge a fee. Part of this is due to the size of my group (many campgrounds…

Ok, so we finally did find the Summer Blossom Trail…it took us a while, but we finally did find it! After finishing up the Summit Trail hike the day before, we continued down the road for another two miles and…

Driven away from the Mount Baker/North Cascades area due to too much snow, and unable to visit other places on our Washington itinerary due to unfavorable weather reports, I needed to find someplace nice to spend a day. I’d read…

Mt. Stewart has got to be one of the prettiest mountains in the Teanaway area. It seems to be visible from just about any viewpoint in the area, and it gives you a reference point: “Oh, there’s Mt. Stewart again!” …