The Black Canyon of the Gunnison Is Really More of a Dark Russet Color

One of the primary goals of this summer’s road trip was knocking off a couple of theretofore unvisited national parks. Black Canyon of the Gunnison: knocked off (now). It’s one of the newer national parks and, common with other newer national parks, it’s not quite Yosemite or Yellowstone. It’s sort of like a much smaller,

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Hiking the Narrows II: The Wrath of Zion

Overnight version of the Virgin River Narrows, undertaken July 23-24, 2016. The weather was warm. River flow was somewhere in the 40s, whatever that means. Ranger said there were no expected thunderstorms but that that could change at any second, and probably would, especially if I didn’t give him the exact license plate number of

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My Morning at Petrified Forest National Park

It’s worth half a day. Heading out to the UT, I figured I ought to get this park checked off my list. It’s sort of on the way if you want it to be (probably added a couple hours to my drive up to Zion NP). The park includes more than just a petrified forest

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Of Costa Rica (A Poem)

Here’s a poem I wrote soon after arriving in Costa Rica.

The American Pigeon Museum Is Real

Here’s evidence: The museum plays it all pretty straight. Things I learned: Pigeon racing is a thing and requires specialized time-keeping equipment. Pigeons basically won the Franco-Prussian war for France (well — except that Prussia won that war). The pigeons that are good at their jobs get names (such as Paddy, Gustav, and the one that won

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New Family Member: A Garage without Compromise

Four months ago, I continued my post-PhD annual tradition of buying a new car every February. Establishing and maintaining traditions has value, studies have shown. Anyway: It’s a 2015 Jeep Wrangler in Willys Wheeler trim (basically a less-extensive, less-expensive version of the serious-offroad Rubicon package).  Came to me used, with 1,500 miles on it. The color is

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Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls and Goat Bluff Loop Hike

Almost all information about hiking to Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls (in the Ozarks, Ponca Wilderness Area) that I could find prior to going on the hike referred to it as an out-and-back. I found one resource that combined it with the Goat Bluff destination to make it into a shuttle hike. For anyone wondering, though, there’s a really

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Spring Break in the UT

It seems like a long time ago. I was there longer than usual due to airfare insanity. Skiing primarily. A lot of family things. Thanks to Caitlin and Mark for letting me stay with them and RKD for driving up, I think, mostly just so I could spend a day or two with Ammon. Here

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Ozark Weekend

So when you live in Oklahoma, the prospect of traveling to Arkansas is seen as a positive thing. Arkansas has mountains, trees, and rivers. I mean, “mountains”. It has Ozarks. Don’t mean to denigrate. They are what they are and that’s good for them and way better than, you know, what’s in Oklahoma. On a

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Ski Weekend on the Front Range

Went to Colorado for a quick (three-day) weekend back in February as sort of a proof of concept. The concept being the reasonableness of going to Colorado to ski for a weekend. I flew in on Thursday night after class, rented a mid-size SUV (Ford Escape as it turned out) “at” the airport, then headed

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