There is no surprise that I have a post dedicated to first-aid kits– they are that important. And they are not just for emergencies. I have used my kit to manage broken nails, bug bites, scrapes, trip-ruining blisters, and more. Addressing these issues as they come up prevents a bigger…
Fall foliage in bloom at Pikes Peak National Forest
Let the photo tell the story #6 The mushroom that dates back centuries For anyone who has spent time in the forests bustling with hardwood trees, I am sure you have encountered the infamous Turkey Tail. I was initially drawn to these mushrooms by their vibrant, rainbow-like display. Especially in…
My expectations for The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling were grossly misplaced. I admit, when I first bought this book years ago (back when Borders was still around), I was expecting the Disney trope. Animals dancing around a heartfelt story of a boy raised in the jungle. Like many others,…
Let the photo tell the story #5 The tree with the keen eye Growing up in the northeast USA, I was more acquainted with the Birch Tree than I was with Aspens. My first time seeing them at Rocky Mountain National Park, I was enthralled by how stunning they are.…
Not all backpackers are created identically. The call of the wild speaks to each of us differently. Are you the type of backpacker striving to complete the Triple Crown? Or maybe you wish to experience the beauty of a thru-hike without the time commitment. There is certainly nothing wrong with…
It is my sincerest belief that the ego is to nature as oil is to water: the two do not mix. Whenever I reflect on my less-than-favorable trips, what they all have in common is an unchecked ego. For my ego, with its insatiable appetite for more, has too often…
Let the photo tell the story #4 Man plans, and God laughs Before getting into backpacking, I was the type of person who loved to have a plan. I was lacking in the Coping With Uncertainty Department, so I would ease this discomfort by planning the weeks and months. Anyone…
The nearby libraries often dole out free books to make room for newer additions. It was on one of these shelves that housed Part Wild by Ceiridwen Terrill. I picked it up, and my interest was piqued by the “IDIOT” scrawled next to the author’s name. This book must have…
Let the photo tell the story #3 The Majesty of the Adirondack Mountains Whenever I share with people that I am from New York, I have this compulsion to blurt out, “but-not-the-city” in one big rush before they can assume further. Don’t misunderstand me- I am not putting down the…
