Dark Skies, Bright Stars: Utah’s National Park’s After Dark

As the campers quiet down and crawl into their sleeping bags, as sizzling fires are snuffed out, and as the crickets start their nightly song, the night’s sky awakens and rolls out a beautiful show of stars. In Utah’s National Parks, the nights are even darker and the show more stunning. From Bryce Canyon to Capital

On Safari for Tanzania’s Big 5

So after climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, I joined my fellow hikers on a five-day safari around Tanzania. We’d traveled so far and worked so hard, that we deserved a little relaxing post-mountain fun. We visited three of the country’s national parks in the northern circuit: Tarangire, Ngorongnoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. Traveling by safari truck, we

A Rainy Mt. Rainier Weekend

Over Labor Day weekend, I attempted my first glacier mountain climb. I practiced, gathered gear and got as much sleep as possible before heading to Mt. Rainier for the early morning start. And after a summer of record heat in Washington and Oregon, alas the climb didn’t go as planned. Rain, rain, rain, downpour and

Racing Sunrise at Zion National Park

Jumping in place to stay warm, the early morning darkness surrounded us. But the buzz of 1,500 other runners heated the start line. And with the first ray of day, we were off! Running through the rolling desert hills of southwest Utah to the heavenly oasis of Zion National Park.   With very little training

Hoodoos, Hoodoos, Everywhere: Hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park

Miraculous, amazing, breathtaking, majestic. Only synonyms for awe-inspiring can describe the beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park. Surrounded by Hoodoos, old shaped rock pillars left standing after years and years of erosion, I hiked down into this mystifying landscape. My photos hardly even capture this adventurer’s paradise. With only a half day to explore, I

Hiking into the Grand Canyon: a positive and painful persuit

Hiking deep into the Grand Canyon, silence echoing off the million year old stones, I expected serenity. The hushed peace that gives you chills. That “I feel smaller than an ant” moment. And after hiking six miles along the Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point, I craved that moment…for something to stir inside of me.

Sandstorm in Canyonlands National Park

“I hope my tent is still at my campground,” I thought as I looked down on the cavernous desert floor of Canyonlands National Park last month as a windstorm blew in and shrouded the lower moonscape canyons in sand like a hoovering blizzard. My gear may have been scattered, but at least it made for

Ancient Arches, Oh-My!

Over 2,000 natural arches flirt with gravity at Arches National Park. With an unpredictable future, right now is the best time to visit this red rock wonderland. Formed by wind over thousands and thousands of years, the arches show off the amazing transformation of nature and offer a glance back in geological time. While there

Hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome

“If my mother knew what I was doing right now, she wouldn’t like it!” my friend Nigel said as we both stepped up the first rung of the Half Dome cables. “Mine neither,” I replied (sorry Mom!). “I can’t believe they let anyone do this!” With only the morning’s dim glow lighting my path, I