Two Girls Roving: Days 15 & 16 – John Day Fossil Beds National Monument & The Journey Home
Two Girls Roving: The tale of a 16 day, 3522 mile road trip to the Pacific Northwest in celebration of my friend’s college graduation! Follow along for all the shenanigans through thousands of miles, eight National Park Service units, night after night of camping, and even some coastal backpacking! September 6, 2024 Whelp, the day…
2023 Adventuring Year-in-Review
In the past I’m not sure how I’ve felt about year-in-review posts, but I think of all years, it is needed for 2023 for personal reasons. It is so easy to get bogged down in the minutia and mundane of every day life that one forgets exactly how awesome things were! January For many years my…
40th Birthday Adventure Day 5: Timpanogos Cave National Monument
A chilly mountain morning greeted me long before sunrise… happy birthday to me! ‘Twas the final day of the adventure to send out my 30th/start my 40th decade in style, and we had a 7am lantern tour of Timpanogos Cave to catch (hence the dark-o-clock alarm). Established in 1922, Timpanogos Cave National Monument is tucked…
40th Birthday Adventure Day 4: Annular Solar Eclipse
The big event of the trip (aside from my actual birthday) was upon us – the annular solar eclipse that would be happening over a big swath of the western United States! So what is an annular solar eclipse? Unlike what some sources and popular beliefs state, it is not an eclipse that happens annually,…
Colorado Parkin’ Day 3 – Hovenweep National Monument, Yucca House National Monument, & Mesa Verde National Park
May 22, 2023 Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was quite amazing, but it was time to move on south, though I could’ve spent quite a bit more time at the canyon. 255 miles of driving awaited me, including a quick bop into southern Utah. Water was boiled, coffee pressed, and tent packed up.…
2022 Adventuring – A Year in Review
I’ve always seem to be here or there over the last decade, but damn, 2022 was a doozy! What a year, what a year!! Nine states (including the District of Columbia – new for me!). Thirty new National Park Service units. 52 Hike Challenge blown out of the water and completed months ahead of schedule.…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 11 – Dinosaur National Monument
Day 11 – April 5, 2022 The take aways… Belted cows are suited for a hardy environment I met the younger “know it all” version of my self at Dinosaur National Monument Cell phone signal varies greatly from one side of the parking lot to the next in Vernal, UT Crocs are amazing Wyoming will…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 10 – Chicken Corners & Arches National Park
Day 10 – April 4, 2022 The take aways… If you get an inkling the food tote broke in half on the road to Chicken Corners, that’s probably because it really did Arches Thai has amazing pho The dinosaur tracks are always worth a stop We didn’t know anything about where we were after dark…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 9 – Zion National Park
Day 9 – April 3, 2022 The take aways… Check if the Narrows are open before lugging the hip waders up Angels Landing Lottery permit systems can be a joyous thing Kolob Canyon is worth the peek I-70 has gorgeous rest areas You can fall asleep to the sounds of a geyser in the desert!…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 8 – Grand Canyon National Park & Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Day 8 – April 2, 2022 The take aways… The serial killers did not come back for their dirt I agreed with the one-star review of the Grand Canyon Give the Grand Canyon a chance, or at least give me some ice cream Instagram vs. Reality at Horseshoe Bend Some phone conversations you really shouldn’t…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 5 – Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 5 – March 30, 2022 The take aways… Don’t crash the drone into a tree All the orange, all the spiky Bless our park rangers VORS are not easily googled using the term “Mexican hat in the Nevada desert” Another day of waking up in strange places, and we found ourselves this morning by…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 4 – Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Day 4- March 29, 2022 The take aways… Our public lands are beyond amazing in the United States Chase all the waterfalls Sprained ankles don’t like slickrock ashtrays Get the pizza, you earned it The bag hanging in the woods did not have a human head in it, despite what my imagination said With a…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 3 – Capitol Reef National Park
Day 3 – March 28, 2022 The take aways… Secure your water jugs before rallying through the desert Off the beaten path is worth it, and Capitol Reef is always worth it The fajitas are hot, and the walls are plywood Check the elevation of the campsite choice for the night before driving to 9600…
A BeaUTAHful Bucket List: Day 2 – Canyonlands National Park & Natural Bridges National Monument
Day 2 – March 27, 2022 The take aways… Becoming a Junior Ranger is hard work The short cut might not be a short cut after all Fuel up before venturing to the Needles district of Canyonlands Desert air is dry Have a stocked camp kitchen when traveling with me Fall asleep in places that…
Desert Escape Part 4: Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky District, Dead Horse Point State Park, and Dino Tracks at North Klondike Bluffs
Read Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. Sometimes things sound like a really good idea until they’re not. When initially planning the trip I decided I wanted to photograph Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park at sunrise, which involves a crazy early morning and waiting in the dark. Then I finally…
Desert Escape Part 3: Navajo Rocks & Arches National Park
Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here Our first full day in Moab! After a cozy night in our cabin, we got an early start on what would be a busy, tiring day starting with a 17-mile mountain bike ride at Navajo Rocks and ending with some hiking in Arches National Park. Navajo Rocks…
Desert Escape Part 2: Kokopelli Trails, KlonZo Trails, and Hurrah Pass
You can read Part 1 here After a very good night’s sleep, I awoke way too early, my body ready to go for more adventuring. My friend Sarah was still snoozing away, so I tipped toed around the hotel room, making some tea and reading, waiting for her to stir. Only Sarah could convince me…
The Adventuring Heidi 