Earlier this week I visited the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. This photo is taken from “Decision Point,” where Lewis and Clark made a critically important decision on which riverway to follow during their expedition westward.
The Breaks was the final place I needed to complete an incredible public lands journey—one that involved visiting all 419 National Park units, plus all 124 National Monuments, plus all 17 National Conservation Areas in the United States. After accounting for overlap, that’s a total 478 protected public lands areas (managed by many agencies) that represent what I call our “Treasured Places.” While I’m the first known person to complete this mega quest, my goal is get as many people as possible to adopt this quest of visiting our Treasured Places. Whether or not you might or might not finish the quest isn’t the point—it’s simply about visiting more of our special public lands, especially the places that don’t include the iconic words “National Park” in their official name. America is fortunate to have sooooo many amazing places, and I hope you make the effort to visit as many of them as you possibly can.
To this end, I’ve set up a (still somewhat draft) website at TreasuredPlaces.us to inspire and help people in this endeavor. Soon I’ll add a tool for keeping track of your visits, and we’ll have stickers and other merch that can help you spread the word.
So please, adopt the TREASURED PLACES quest. I promise you that you’ll have an amazing time visiting these incredible places!
#GoQuesting #TreasuredPlaces #OptOutside #FindYourPark #MonumentsForAll #PublicLands
I’m currently plotting out some kayaking trips for the rest of the year, and I’m realizing how few Arizona lakes I’ve actually paddled. Guess I should change that. #optoutside #kayakarizona
It was great to finally get back up to Blue Ridge to paddle last weekend. #kayakarizona #optoutside
If you want to catch a fish, you’ve got to get in the water.
One of the excellent surprises of our Alaska trip was exceptionally gorgeous Misty Fjords National Monument. It’s a great reminder that the National Park Service doesn’t have a monopoly on amazing landscapes. Keep that in mind as you plan your future travels… #treasuredplaces
I just realized that I never posted here that I finished my lifelong quest to visit all 419 National Park units! Glacier Bay National Park was my final park unit; what a great place to finish. Deep thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout the journey. I’ve been overwhelmed by your support & investment in this goal.
I just scheduled a party on Sept 7 in Phoenix for friends who want to help me celebrate the completion of this lifelong quest. DM me for details if you’d like to stop by.
Why wait 2 months to celebrate? Well, because I’ve been quietly working on a MUCH BIGGER public lands quest—and we’ll be celebrating finishing that, too.
#findyourpark #optoutside #FinishedThemAll! #GoQuesting1003
We’re in Alaska for the rest of the month, trying to mark off the last 11 national park units I haven’t yet visited. If you’re interested in following along, check out my IG stories for updates. Here’s a shot from our bush flight to Glacier Bay National Preserve earlier today.
My favorite photo from last year’s Alaska trip was this shot of Denali looming over a family canoeing. I took this on the long bus ride back from Kantishna, and was annoyed when the family started paddling towards the middle of the lake, disrupting the great relfection we were hoping for. Instead, it probably made the image the better. #optoutside #nationalparkgeek #findyourpark
A week from today, we leave for another Alaska trip. Tobe told, I’m equal parts excited and nervous. If things go exactly as planned, I’ll reach a pretty big milestone—a life goal that I never seriously expected to finish until the last handful of years. #optoutside #goquesting
I’m looking forward to today’s adventure to Fossil Creek, one of the true gems of Arizona’s public lands. I’m especially thankful for all those advocates that fought hard to restore natural flows here, and who are doing what they can today to ensure this place remains as wild and undeveloped as possible.
In less than a month, I’ll be back up in Alaska. Last year’s trip was incredibly special. It was my first time there and even though I arrived with high expectations, it still blew my mind. If things go as planned, I’ll finish off my quest to visit every unit of the National Parks System. I wonder how I’ll feel when I’m finally done? #findyourpark #nationalparkgeek #goquesting #keepitwild
So…our weekend backpacking trip had a few glitches, but it was great nonetheless to spend some time in a gorgeous wilderness with some fun friends. Thanks for joining me @swissmissthefirst @exploringisinmydna @mjames126 @mcarr093
A wet winter has scuffled the normal water management schedule for the Lower Salt River. Not only has kayaking season been delayed by more than a month, but it looks like we’ll have half the usual flows until monsoon season. Nonetheless, I can’t wait until we can get back out to paddling longer stretches on the river later this week.
It’s been 5 years since I last hiked Angels Landing—a 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 much—like 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.
