It’s been 5 years since I last hiked Angels Landingβa quick detour during a backpacking trip on the West Rim. It was always a fun hike, though I have little desire to do it today given the overcrowding the trail routinely experiences.
I’ve worked hard to get more people outdoors, with the thought that more constituents will provide stronger protections and more land set aside from development and abuse.
But, I also can’t help but feel like I’ve somehow “lost” countless places that were very personally meaningful because today’s experience is so vastly degraded from the one I originally fell in love with.
I’m doing a little planning for an upcoming overnight trip to Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness with @exploringisinmydna, @mcarr093, @mjames126, and @swissmissthefirst. It’s one of my favorite easy backpacking trips in one of the state’s most scenic little canyons. The best part? An intimate perennial stream that flows yearround in the Sonoran Desert. Can’t wait. #ourwild #keepitpublic #wilderness
I bought a new kayak on Saturday afternoon, then made it out to the Salt River for a quick paddle with @exploringisinmydna before sunset. I can’t wait for Salt River kayaking season to finally arrive.
One of the benefits of having a national park units quest is that you’re forced to go experience places you may not otherwise have gone. Along the way, you’ll find a number of gems that you didn’t anticipate enjoying so muchβlike Delaware Water Gap NRA, shown here.
Wildflowers bloom in the Sonoran Desert nearly year-round, but I was still surprised at how many wildflowers we encountered in Alaska last year.
Wildflowers in Tonto National Forest outside of Phoenix. #nowildflowerswereharmed, as this photo was shot from a roadside pull-out. You can get plenty of great wildflower shots without leaving established trails or trampling the very flowers everyone has come to see.
When Monday attacks.
A fixer-upper with a great view.
Spring is always my favorite season in the Sonoran Desert. I’m looking forward to backpacking out here in a few days.
These grizzlies were among a group of ten apparently feeding on a nearby whale carcass here in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska. I had never seen more than one grizzly at a time until this trip, so this sighting was quite an experience. #parkchat #optoutside #findyourpark #grizzlies
I had an excellent weekend in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park showing Jen around, enjoying the wildflowers, visiting with an old adventure buddy, and making some new friends. Γ°ΒΒΒ― #optoutside #anzaborrego #camping
It’s still cold as shit here in Phoenix, so I’m likely to spend the morning thinking of warmer times, like the day we spent swimming across Samoa. I could use a bit of the South Pacific today.
After yesterday’s scenic drive down the Apache Trail (see my IG stories), I ran across this photo, shot during an overnight backpacking trip on the Arizona Trail from across the lake.
Phoenix was pretty foggy this morning, which reminded me of our 2016 visit to Shenandoah National Park. This was one of the few shots we got that day where the clouds weren’t totally socked in. Undeterred, we stopped at every single one of the 75 scenic vista pull-offs on Skyline Drive and took a picture, which resulted in a fun fog album on Facebook. I’ll definitely need a return visit to see it on a sunny day.
#optoutside #nationalparks #shenandoah #skylinedrive
Happy Statehood Day, Arizona! No matter your age, you look as gorgeous as ever.
Sunset over Arizona’s “West Coast”
#optoutside #statepark #arizona #amAZing #instagramaz
A railroad gently curves around the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh River near Johnstown Flood National Memorial. #findyourpark #optoutside #nationalparkgeek
Crusty.
Stoked to snag some Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permits for early May! It’s a perfect trip for first-time backpackersβgorgeous canyon, easy trail, plenty of water, and plenty of unscheduled time for exploring the various side canyons. I’m hoping to convert some dayhiking friends into backpackers on the trip.
I’m not a big fan of snow (hence, why I live in Phoenix), but WOW, the Swiss Alps sure are gorgeous. I enjoyed much of my last trtip to Europe, but our time here was definitely one of the highlights.
