Half Moon Lake After two days in Denver visiting with friends, we drove north to Wyoming, in search of mountain vistas and clear skies. Our destination was the Bridger-Teton National Forest, which is huge, with several districts within their boundaries. We ended up at Half Moon Lake campground in the Read more…
After visiting the Colorado Western Front, with much of our time in the high desert areas, we were ready for Telluride, aspens and high elevations in the national forest. We spent two rainy nights in Telluride, in their town campground tucked away at the end of the box canyon. Our Read more…
All the seasons pass so quickly, but mid to late June found us revisiting favorite orchid habitats in hopes of finding the utter perfection of Small Purple Fringed Orchid and Round Leaf Orchid. These days, our hikes are shorter, but the scenery is no less spectacular. On our way to Read more…
Hope springs eternal is a phrase that has been in my mind this season. It was a tough winter in many ways- for all of us. The hope of spring hikes loomed large, with spring ephemerals representing the abundance and perfection of nature’s resilience, and a sumptuous prelude to summer Read more…
Our time on the trail was limited over the summer, but the wildflower offerings were no less spectacular. It is a gift to bear witness to the transition of seasons, when newly emerging leaves display all hues of green. Summer’s understory is a soothing, lustrous emerald carpet, with blooms interspersed Read more…
I love native orchids; they exist right in front of us, but hide in plain sight. Catching them in bloom requires diligence and/or habit. There are times when I have rushed to see Showy Orchis, Pink Lady’s Slipper, or Yellow Lady’s Slipper in bloom, and found only stalks holding shriveled Read more…
Let’s be brutally honest. It has a been a fresh hell for hikers as COVID-19 has shut down access to our places of spiritual renewal and physical challenge. Die-hard hikers have worked together to flatten the curve and stay safe, while also searching for trails that are open and safe Read more…
We revisited the Appalachian Ranger district to camp and hike the first weekend in April in an area where there were no trail closures. It was quite cold, and the presence of early April wildflowers was highly dependent on the orientation of slopes and elevation. Some south-facing crags displayed a Read more…
The last weekend of March found us searching for spring wildflowers and a place to hike and camp where we could safely social distance. We focused in on two locations, hiking about 8 miles in the Pisgah National Forest with proximity to the Appalachian Trail. The next day, we visited Read more…
As COVID-19 has spread across the US, we continue to seek refuge in the wilderness. Even in normal times, trails that are less traveled are always our preference. The first weekend in March, we went to Rocky Fork, which defies the typical concept of a state park. Rocky Fork is Read more…