Your trials did not come to punish you, but to awaken you. ~ Paramahansa Yogananda Stepping onto the trailhead to Grandeur Peak I had a head-full of thoughts swirling through my mind. My hiking buddy for the day was Indy, a border collie with unique red merle coloring. He belongs to a former boyfriend, so his presence also brought …
Staying safe with the ten essentials of hiking
With hiking season in full swing, I keep finding myself referring to items you should pack for a hike or other backcountry adventure. The list has been around for a long time, and because my goal is to provide a handy resource for readers, I’m going to re-publish an excellent article by the Mountaineers. They are kind enough to allow …
Photo escape: A second look at Many Glacier Valley
Sometimes the best images aren’t the first ones we notice. Tonight I decided to go back through my shots of Glacier National Park looking for “second round” picks. I was surprised at the great captures I hadn’t paid attention to initially. If you’re not familiar, Many Glacier Valley is on the east side of the park. While you can see …
Adventure film review & giveaway: Tell it on the Mountain
Sometimes the urge to take a long walk in nature is irresistible. For years, I have had a really long walk on my list of things I plan to do, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. I’ve picked away at sections, and this was supposed to my summer to do the whole thing, but I embarked on other adventures instead. For now, …
My first taste of backcountry telemark skiing
Free the heel, free the mind… I didn’t think I would like skiing, now I dream about it. The joy of skiing wasn’t immediate when I took lessons in January. The first two days really challenged me and I wasn’t completely thrilled with being around so many people. Part of that issue had to do with the beginner slopes I …
Photo escape: Fly camping
Not all camping trips need to start from a car or backpack. My parents opted to fly to this destination. In fact, they are not alone, there is quite a network of fly-in campgrounds and resorts across the nation. Some are unofficial, while others market themselves to the flying community. Have you heard of, or even tried fly camping before?
Photo escape: Backcountry Telemark skiing
Having moved to Salt Lake at the tail end of snow season, I’ve pushed to fit in all I can before the snow gives way to grass. Several weeks ago, I headed out snowshoeing with a friend (a post I have yet to write), who wore Telemark (tele) skis. I found myself immediately envious of the flexibility they provided and …
Hiking Devil’s Garden, Arches National Park
The entrance into Arches National Park is less assuming than others I’ve visited. The signage and buildings meld into the landscape so well, I almost drove right past. After paying my fee, I drove the switchbacks up the hillside and leveled off in another world. Red dirt, stone towers and erosion-carved cliffs opened up before me and it was all …
Photo escape: Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
I knew well before I moved to Salt Lake that my first road trip would be to Moab and Arches National Park. This weekend I loaded the car with all of my camping gear and hiking boots and set off for a spectacular drive southbound. Admittedly, I drove the canyon on Interstate 6 just south of Spanish Fork way too …
Closing day at Brighton Ski Resort: Costumes, dummies and snowsports
As a kid, I was the wallflower sitting in the corner of the classroom. Well, for the brief period of time I wasn’t living on a boat being home schooled…. Okay, on to my point, I’m not naturally outgoing, I have to work at it. That said, few things make me more uncomfortable than dressing up in a costume. Seriously, …