About half of my time in Kauai was spent backpacking the Na Pali coast, but when I wasn't there, I spent a good bit of time touristing around the rest of the island. We didn't manage any other hikes during the trip partially because we were pretty beat up from Kalalau, and partially because weather wasn't on our side. Here's the things to do and see that made the top of my ...
Adventure
The Good, the Bad, and the Very Damp: Backpacking Kalalau Trail
I may have never been backpacking, but I wasn't about to go to Kauai and miss out on Kalalau Trail, the iconic Na Pali coast experience. After all, Hawaii seems like an awfully nice place to get your feet wet (literally, it turns out!) in backcountry adventuring, so I was up to the challenge. In the months leading up to the trip, I spent hours learning about the hike, reading backpacking tips, ...
The Magic of the Grand Canyon in Winter
What's the Grand Canyon like in the winter? At least as amazing as the summer. The Grand Canyon is always spectacular, but winter transforms the experience. I've made it something of a tradition to do the rim-to-river day hike once a year. I made it under the wire for 2017 by just a couple of weeks. This was my 3rd time doing this hike (I wrote about the first and the second previously), ...
Things You Might Not Expect at Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is a small park in southern Utah, not too far from the super-popular Zion National Park. I've taken a couple trips to Zion, but finally made the extra drive out to Bryce this past fall. Friends, Bryce does not disappoint! Things you might not expect at Bryce Chilly temps The elevation at the rim of Bryce Canyon starts just under 8,000 ft and goes up to ...
Tips for Hiking Angel’s Landing (It’s Not As Bad As It Looks!)
Angel's Landing in Zion National Park has a reputation for being one of the most terrifying but also the most popular hikes in the southwest. If you can get past the fear factor, it's also one of the most fun! I love hikes that have an unexpected element. In this case, that's the scrambling and the chains you'll have to make use of in order to arrive at the summit. In case you don't know, ...
Carry-On Only Packing for a Week Overseas
I’m a big believer in packing light, no matter the trip. With long trips by plane, I’m even more ruthless with my packing strategy. Besides the money saved on checked bags (for some airlines at least), you save time by not having to wait at baggage claim and stress by not having to worry about lost baggage. Plus, I love being able to quickly and easily grab my things and go. I like the feeling ...
