Site steward volunteering
After a pause due to COVID in 2020, Joan and I completed our site steward training and received our site assignment at Fremont Indian State Park and Museum.0 Read More …
Year: 2021
Sunday of Summer in the San Juans
Joan and I enjoy a delightful San Juans trip during the waning days of summer. Read More …
A grand weekend
Joan’s back in Moab after a summer away. Then a weekend running some errands in Grand Junction we talked about previously and a trip to Grand Mesa. Read More …
Planning Trips – All about the Air Quality Index
What’s AQI, why you should care about it, and some resources to check it when planning trips. Read More …
Above the smoke in the San Juans
Another trip in the not-so-far-away San Juan mountains. Read More …
In between the lightning
Wildflowers, butterflies, and mushrooms in our backyard mountains. Read More …
Training for a long distance hike?
Here are my thoughts on training for a thru-hike or any long hike. I don’t think of it as training; I think of it as part of daily life. Read More …
Best shoes for water crossings?
My opinion on the best shoes for water crossings. Read More …
Bear spray canister copy/pasta
More people insist they need bear spray when venturing into black bear country because “it is better to have it and not need it.”—my boilerplate response. Read More …
Checking in with a friend
A quick overnighter in our local peaks. I roamed around the other portion that did not suffer fire damage. Read More …
Review – Wildland Coffee bags
A look at some coffee bags that’s a notch above my usual backcountry coffee fare Read More …
The Trek – Backcountry Campfires : A relic of the past
The Trek published my thoughts on backcountry campfires. Happy to have a larger and different audience discuss this important issue. Read More …
San Juans Solo
Some solo time in the San Juan mountains over the 4th of July holiday. Read More …
San Juans Solstice
Backpacking in the San Juans over the solstice weekend. Read More …
Ending campfire romanticism
I’ve made a case that campfires belong in the past with other practices. And to make that change, we need to change the culture around campfires—some thoughts. Read More …
Into the Abajos
Escaping the fires, smoke, and heat by going to the Abajo Mountains. Read More …
To NOT build a fire
Why backcountry campfires should no longer be a regular part of the backpacking experience. Updated with modified views. Read More …
Quick Tip – Get an emergency air compressor
A must-have item for anyone traveling to trailheads away from mobile device coverage. Read More …