Last fall I climbed my first 46er in the Adirondacks! It was super challenging on a crazy trail – in fact, it’s more scramble than trail in many places – but the views were great and the forest was peaceful…
Willow Canyon (Dry)Falls
I wouldn’t call Willow Canyon the most spectacular hike in Death Valley. It’s nice, and in many places, it would be awesome and amazing. But Death Valley has so much to offer – even from the same parking area –…
Needles Views on the Elephant Canyon Trail
There are a few hikes in Utah that I return to again and again. The Queen’s Garden Trail in Bryce, a few hikes in Arches (like Devils Garden and Delicate Arch), Neon Canyon, Canyon Rims, and Corona Arch are all…
How to Camp in Death Valley – for Free!
There isn’t half enough camping in Death Valley National Park for all of the visitors. That’s frequent in the national parks. But unlike most national parks, which seem to just throw up their hands and say, “figure it out for…
Death Valley Views from Wildrose Peak!
There are a few great things about climbing Wildrose Peak in Death Valley National Park: 1) You get a great view of Death Valley, 2) You don’t need a 4×4 or high clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead, 3)…
Late Afternoon at the White Rim Overlook
If you can only visit one overlook for close-to-sunset in Island of the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, I’ll give you two choices: 1) Grand View Overlook, and 2) White Rim Overlook. Both offer fantastic views of the eastern…
Photographing Sunrise at the Alabama Hills
One of the great things about camping in the Alabama Hills is that you can get up early and see the sunrise from amongst the spires, rocks, and arches. Watching the first rays of sunlight hit Mt. Whitney and then…
Death Valley Road Trip Hiking Itineraries!
Death Valley is a spectacular area to spend a few days in the desert! The park is big enough to hide hidden gems and limit crowds, but it also has popular destinations that are very worth visiting. I’ve visited Death…
God Reveals Himself through the Wilderness
I was reading a book yesterday where the author unexpectedly started talking about how close he felt to God when he was in the wild places. He had some great quotes from John Muir, who found God in the wilderness,…
Death Valley Oasis at Darwin Falls!
A perennial waterfall? In Death Valley? You’ve got to be kidding! But really – blazing hot summer, parched autumn, or during the (slightly less arid) winter/spring, Darwin Falls in the far west of Death Valley National Park is a beautiful…