The Great Falls of the Potomac, viewed from the Virginia side. With all the rain we've had lately, the river was raging!
Patuxent River, Bowie, MD
Tucked away in the trees, just out of sight of one of the busiest commuter corridors in the US (along US 301 and US 50 east of Washington, DC), you can still find a spot of wild refuge. The Patuxent River is the longest river wholly contained within the borders of Maryland, and along its…Read more Patuxent River, Bowie, MD
The Moon, Mars, a Comet, and Maybe a Fireball (Astronomy: Week of 7/22/18)
Wow, there's a lot of cool stuff going on in the night sky this week. I can't wait til this pattern of East Coast thunderstorms lets me see it! Let me give a quick rundown, in the order of my own particular interest and excitement. Your mileage may vary. Mars at Opposition Mars is back,…Read more The Moon, Mars, a Comet, and Maybe a Fireball (Astronomy: Week of 7/22/18)
Sailing Intro, Under Harsh Conditions
We had the opportunity this weekend to get some boys out on a Pearson 37 sailboat, the designation 37 referring to its overall length, in feet. Weather was not great - 20 knots sustained, heavy rain which came at you horizontally, and 3-foot swells. Despite that, we went sailing! Two reefs in the main, a…Read more Sailing Intro, Under Harsh Conditions
Cranberry Sunfish
This looks like a regular sunfish sailboat on a regular lake - but it's sailing on a cranberry bog, or at least the remnants of one. The lake is one of five, separated by small earthen dams, strung together in the Pine Barrens of eastern New Jersey. Cranberries are now long gone, and the lakes…Read more Cranberry Sunfish
Mercury and the Moon
As a quick followup to my post last week about Mercury being at elongation (that was back on Thursday, July 12) - I failed to mention, because I didn't know, that the brand new baby moon would be right next to Mercury on Saturday night (the 14th). Here's what I saw: Mercury is actually fairly…Read more Mercury and the Moon
Mercury at Elongation (Astronomy: Week of 7/8/18)
Hey all, a quick one this week - I'm out in the woods (hooray!) this week with no (little) internet. A nice tradeoff, honestly... BUT, as I've been out this week under clear skies, looking at Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars (midnight or so), I've also caught a glimpse of Mercury. All five (six if…Read more Mercury at Elongation (Astronomy: Week of 7/8/18)
Fishing Fun
Ah... the joys of fishing!
Ghosts on the Beach
Atlantic Ghost Crabs (Ocypode quadrata) dig, hunt and square off on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Happy Aphelion! (Astronomy: Week of 7/1/18)
Happy Aphelion Day, everybody! July 6, 2018, marks the point on Earth's orbit where we are the farthest from the Sun. Orbits are elliptical, not circular, and ours is no exception. The degree to which an orbit deviates from circular is called its eccentricity, and that ranges from the very low, almost circular (like ours), to…Read more Happy Aphelion! (Astronomy: Week of 7/1/18)
Six Easy Ways to “Get Out There” This Summer
We all suffer from a lack of time, and perhaps priorities, that keep us away from experiencing certain things in life. If enjoying the outdoors is one of those things that appeal to you (and I assume it is, since you're reading this), take heart! Outdoor adventure doesn't need to take time, money, or even…Read more Six Easy Ways to “Get Out There” This Summer
Boundaries
You can't have a true adventure without a little bit of risk. It's the exploration of something new and getting out of your comfort zone that builds memories! Don't turn back because something is a challenge - just understand and make sure you can accept the consequences of failure (like getting everything wet during a…Read more Boundaries
Pond Run (or… What Happened to Those New Backpackers)
It started off a little ominously. The morning was dreary, with a foggy overcast that threatened rain. We had assembled a team of 6 new backpackers, one with a few trips under his belt, and three experienced leaders, including myself. One of the crew lost a split ring off a cotter pin on his older…Read more Pond Run (or… What Happened to Those New Backpackers)
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 