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Category: Hike.

Follow us as we travel to see parks, monuments, trails, creeks, animals, plants, and NATURE!

Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument

Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument

Hi friends! Hope you are having a great week! Thanks for tuning in to read about our mid-October visit to Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument! First a bit about this massive park and the features in the area! The monument was established only 25 years ago and covers 1.87 million acres. To put that into perspective, the park is larger than the state of Delaware! The government protected this area because of the extensive ruins, granaries and petroglyphs that…

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Finding Solitude in Arches National Park

Finding Solitude in Arches National Park

We arrived in Arches National Park in early October. I realize this won’t be popular opinion, but Arches didn’t start out being one of my favorite parks. It is beautiful and boasts having the largest concentration of sandstone arches in the world. However, it is a small park with 3 major pull off areas – The Windows, Delicate Arch and Devils Garden – which makes it feel incredibly busy with minimal escape from the crowds.

Finding Gold in South Dakota‘s Black Hills

Finding Gold in South Dakota‘s Black Hills

One thing that surprised me during our drive across South Dakota was the sheer number of sunflower fields for as far as the eye could see! I had expected to see ranches, but it was mostly corn, beans and sunflowers. Not a bad view for our drive across the state! You can read about our stops along the way here. After about 5 hours in the van, we were square in the Black Hills of South Dakota. First stop: Mount…

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Michigan’s High Country Pathway

Michigan’s High Country Pathway

Affectionately known as ‘Bob and Dave’s Epic Adventure’ Michigan’s High Country Pathway is a series of connected trails that claims to provide a ‘near-wilderness experience’. The trail passes through diverse forests including pine and hardwoods interspersed with clear-cut (logging) areas, meadows and dense-cover wetlands that look like they came straight out of Avatar. For those who know Michigan geography, the trail is close to Gaylord and in the heart of Michigan’s Elk population. Several members of our group saw elk,…

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Pictured Rocks and the North Country Trail

Pictured Rocks and the North Country Trail

Admittedly, I hadn’t heard of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore until we moved to Michigan; what a shame that this gem is not more widely known! It’s a beautiful park on the northern shore of Michigan along the Lake Superior coastline. We spent a week in July 2020 backpacking 42 miles of the North Country Trail while enjoying the beautiful views! Here is a bit about our trip and a how you can plan your own adventure to this magical place….

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We Have the Gear – Now What?

We Have the Gear – Now What?

Tales from our maiden backpacking voyage to Fife Lake, Michigan We completed a Beginning Backpacking class in September; however, because practicing isn’t easy in Michigan winter months, we essentially became Backpack Gear Collectors! Thanks to some good friends and an easy loop trail, our first trip was a resounding success! Fife Lake is near Cadillac, Michigan and the loop is part of the North Country Trail. A map of the loop can be found here. Our backpacking adventure started at…

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