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
Trips
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)
Morning in the Valley
The best views are those where you can see for miles, and it's ALL nature! Looking west from Mill Mountain, off the Tuscarora Trail in West Virginia.
A Group of First-Time Backpackers
It's been a while since I've done a full-on backpacking plan for a group of more than, say, four. This weekend, I've got 10 people headed out, many first-timers hitting the trail for the first time. It's a whole different dynamic when you can't rely on singles or pairs being self-sufficient and just sharing the…Read more A Group of First-Time Backpackers
Nailed the Start!
It's that time of year again! My view from the bow looking down the line at the start. We nailed the committee boat end of the line.
Pif… Pif…
April 7. I know the view of the river, the marsh and the forest beyond is remarkable. I could see it a few hours ago. Geese maneuvered through the remnants of last fall's cattails, and the air was filled with calls from a pair of recently returned ospreys getting reacquainted. Now, I can't see more…Read more Pif… Pif…
My Favorite Place
One of my favorite places in the world is the one I carry with me. My tent, and the rest of my backpacking setup, allow me to escape to almost anywhere. This particular spot was a great one - 20 miles from the nearest pavement, high in the Colorado Rockies, easily one of the quietest…Read more My Favorite Place
No Place I’d Rather Be…
Taken on day six of eleven along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, this was atop Stony Man Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. Though I was tired, run-down, and smelled even worse than I looked - there's no place I'd rather be! This was posted in response to the Daily Post's Weekly Photo Challenge - I'd…Read more No Place I’d Rather Be…
Good Morning Campers!
Lucky enough to spend the weekend with a great group of youth at an otherwise inaccessible part of Calvert Cliffs SP along the Chesapeake. A bit chilly, but a beautiful weekend in a beautiful place!
Battling Mother Nature
Mid-Atlantic ski resorts have had a challenging winter. Started cold, but for the last few weeks we've seen late spring 60's and rain. Then shortly after I took this, snow, sleet and fog. At least the trails are obvious!
PATC Cabins in Shenandoah NP
I've hiked past them for years - rustic cabins perched high in mountain creek valleys. I've always wondered, as I've passed, what they were like. Doyles River, Pocosin, Range View, Corbin... each sits within the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park, occupying the historic site of an older homestead, in many cases - but they're private,…Read more PATC Cabins in Shenandoah NP
Rails to Trails
Abandoned railroads make great trails. Got the chance to "thru-hike" a developing one today - the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail in eastern VA is currently permit-only, and almost 17 miles long. It has some beautiful remote sections, and ends with this old Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac boxcar and caboose at its west end in King…Read more Rails to Trails
Winter Camping Without a Tent
December was a crazy month - it always is during the run up to the holidays, trying to prepare at home, and preemptively get everything done at work. Like I mentioned in the run-up to Christmas though, I had plans, and some of them have come to fruition. In mid-December, I was able to complete…Read more Winter Camping Without a Tent
All The Comforts Of Home
No water, no electricity, but a fireplace AND a wood stove. Perfect! Tulip Tree Cabin, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
Imagining the Possibilities
Happy December, everybody! It's hard to believe we've come all the way around to the end of the year again, but happy to have completed the journey. For whatever reason, this time of year always stirs a wanderlust in me for getting out on the trail somewhere. It may be a conditioned response - with…Read more Imagining the Possibilities
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 