Most people who drive to the Keane Wonder Trailhead do so to walk up to the ruins of the Keane Wonder Mill. Many also climb the steep trail up to the old workings of the Keane Wonder Mine and the…
Paddling Black Creek: Churchville to the Genesee River
A couple of weeks ago, we did a very long kayak trip –Black Creek all the way from Churchville to the Genesee River. The section between Churchville and Black Creek Park was quite nice; open water and pretty easy paddling…
The Slots of Sidewinder Canyon
A family favorite from our trip to Death Valley last fall was Sidewinder Canyon. There’s something just so fun about exploring multiple slot canyons and discovering arches, caves, rock formations, and so much more. Plus we got some great views…
Off-trail Hike to Ring Arch
Ring Arch is a lesser-known arch near Courthouse Wash in Arches National Park. No official trail leads to it, but it’s often combined with (and is easier to find than) The Tunnel. The span is very thin and narrow, so…
Saratoga Springs & the Saratoga Mine Road
Many years ago, I visited the Saratoga Springs in the far south of Death Valley National Park. On my last visit, I decided to check it out again and possibly complete the hike (I actually didn’t quite make it, but…
Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway
On the 4th of July, I had a special treat: I went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway with my aunt and uncle. They’ve lived in the area for years, but somehow we never have time to get up there…
A Ramble Through the Alabama Hills
Last November, while I was visiting Death Valley National Park, I decided to take a trip over the mountains to check out the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area. One of my favorite EPs from 2020 (actually late 2019, but who’s…
Kayaking Honeoye Creek: Genesee River to I-390
Last week, we decided unexpectedly to take a kayak trip. We thought about doing another paddle on Black Creek (or maybe downstream from the Churchville Dam), but I’d had my eye on Honeoye Creek for some time. It seemed like…
Walk Across Death Valley & Lowest Point in North America!
Thousands of tourists and visitors to Death Valley stop at the Badwater Basin Trailhead. They pose with the sign that says it’s the lowest point in North America at -282ft. But that sign is not actually the lowest point. For…
Clarence Pathways – Paved Rails-to-Trails
A few weeks ago, I got to ride a “new” (to me) bike path in western New York State! (I almost hate to call it in the Finger Lakes, since it’s so far west, but it could still be classified…