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…
Point Arena Lighthouse Overlook
I’ll admit it, I didn’t pay to see the Point Arena Lighthouse. I’m sure it cool, but I didn’t feel like shelling out $25 (or $7.50/person) to drive in, walk around, maybe climb the tower, and leave. It wasn’t worth…
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…
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.…
Solitude at Manchester Beach State Park
Manchester State Park, just north of Point Arena along the California Coast, is so deserted that it’s nearly been shut down – twice. But somehow it lives on, quiet and secluded, a beach with an overabundance of driftwood and excellent…
Sneak Peak: Southwestern Variety at its Finest
I just got back from another hiking-adventure trip across the western US! It was different than any before, even as we visited old and new sites across Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and even Utah and Wyoming. There were high…
Point Reyes – Lighthouse Trail and Chimney Rock
It’s been said that Point Reyes is the second foggiest place in North America – the foggiest being somewhere in Newfoundland – so it shouldn’t have surprised me that it was foggy when we visited late one afternoon in July. …
A Misty Morning Stroll on Arcadia Beach
Arcadia Beach, along US-101 south of Cannon Beach, isn’t worth a long stop. There just isn’t that much there. But it does have some interesting features, so if you happen to be passing by, consider 10 or 15 minutes to…
Lakes & Peaks: Duck Pass
If you can do one trail near Mammoth Lakes, CA, Duck Pass certainly should rank high on your list of possibilities. The trail passes by several lakes between mountains before ascending to an 10,800ft. pass overlooking the valley you just…