We've all been there: You've taken your kids camping, and already hiked every kid-friendly trail... twice. You floated down the shallow portion of the river with your small nieces and nephews umpteen times. Your godchildren have realized that not everything presented as a game is actually fun, e.g. "Let's have a contest to see who can collect the most trash!" The kids … Continue reading Camptivities: Pumpkin Carving
Month: October 2017
Seeking Trail Wisdom
Bryce Canyon National Park. Queens Garden Trail. Gorgeous, no? We chose this hike because it divided into two parts: the shorter, more manageable Queens Garden trail for myself, and the extended Navajo Loop for my friend Royce. After a (mostly) pleasant hike downhill, we parted ways. I hiked a couple of minutes further, and then saw this: … Continue reading Seeking Trail Wisdom
Wednesday Words on the Wild: Draco
The first star made me feel less afraid. It came out low in the sky and it was in front of me, toward the east. Other stars began to appear all around, but it was this one I kept my gaze upon. It was in the figure that we call a serpent, a star which … Continue reading Wednesday Words on the Wild: Draco
Sisters Are Doin’ It (For Each Other)
Isabella Lucy Bird (married Bishop) - a nineteenth century writer, humanitarian, and famed Victorian traveler, who became the first woman elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (among other major accomplishments) - was born October 15, 1831. Happy Birthday, ILB! During her travels, Isabella wrote letters she would later compile, edit and publish into books (still in print … Continue reading Sisters Are Doin’ It (For Each Other)
Camping Metrics: Modern Camping Movies
If musical films send us out of the theaters wanting to sing and dance, and romantic comedies inspire us to take vacations to gorgeous places where we can fall in love, then camping movies should make us want to camp, right? Putting aside (for now) Teen Summer Camp movies (like Meatballs or Little Darlings), Survival movies … Continue reading Camping Metrics: Modern Camping Movies
The ZBGC Triangle
The original plan for traveling to Utah included a trip to see all five National Parks in the state. That plan required revision upon discovering that visiting all five meant spending more time in the car than in the parks. The new plan became: camp at Zion for a week, taking separate day trips to Bryce and the north rim … Continue reading The ZBGC Triangle
The Grasshopper Complex: Part III
Every night last week, the wind sighing from out of Zion N.P. canyons rustled through the ginkgo biloba tree beside my tent in Watchman Campground. The soothing sound of fluttering leaves reminded me of water gently washing over river rocks and sand in a gold pan. Oh, the delightful natural music of Fall! Then on the last day of my trip, … Continue reading The Grasshopper Complex: Part III
Bumpass Hikers: The Foolish
A hike to the geothermal area in Lassen Volcanic National Park known as "Bumpass Hell" in 2015 revealed a smorgasbord of hiking styles: prepared, not prepared, polite, rude, curious, oblivious, observant, selfish, selfless, etc. So let's count down the winners (and losers)! THE FOOLISH 3. THE BOY WHO CRIED "OUCH!" = In a general sense, third place goes to the many, … Continue reading Bumpass Hikers: The Foolish
Campfire Tales 