Transcription of journal page photos can be found below. A more traditional blogpost of this hike can be found HERE along with lots of pictures. Trail Map Says: 8.4 miles Laura’s Watch Says: 10.72 miles Elevation Gain (Cumulative): 2,042 ft Elevation Loss: 2,598 ft. Start Time: 9:42 am End Time: 5:36pm Active Hiking Time: 6:14 … More Laura’s Journal: Hobz death-marches us “8 miles”
Transcription of journal page photos can be found below. A more traditional blogpost of this hike can be found HERE along with lots of pictures. Today was so tightly scheduled, we had to conduct the morning hike in a manner completely contradictory to my preferred mode of hiking: get to the end as fast as … More Laura’s Journal: out of the Smokies, back to the AT
A transcription of the photographed journal pages can be found at the bottom of the page. Also, lots of photos because it turns out I’m too far behind on regular blog posts to catch up. So! Transcription: Sunday, May 8 and Monday, May 9, 2022GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREASUTRO BATHS & FORT POINT When I … More Sutro Baths & Golden Gate
For a transcription of these photographed journal pages, please scroll down! A fancier blog post with loads of pictures will hopefully get posted someday. Transcription of photographed journal pages: Tuesday, May 3, 2022GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK Who knew Nevada was so high?? In my defense, apparently I’ve spent my whole life under the impression that … More Laura’s Journal: Great Basin National Park
“If you don’t stop picking huckleberries, we’ll be late for dinner!”
“So we’ll have huckleberries for dinner!”
“You burned, like, 6,000 calories today. If you eat huckleberries for dinner tonight, I’m going to have to carry you down tomorrow, and I don’t want to.”
Grinnell Glacier is one of the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park, and it was so worth the trek. And not just because of the huckleberries. … More Hiking to Grinnell Glacier
Back in the car we ate sad peanut butter sandwiches and stared glumly at the list of hikes we wanted to do.
“It’s going to be tough to hike ten miles to Grinnell Glacier here, drive thirty miles, then do another three-mile hike to sleep,” I said, resenting the seven miles I’d already hiked today.
We considered other hikes nearer the campsite. We considered other campsites nearer the hike. No combination worked in a satisfying way.
“This is really stupid,” I concluded. “I want to go home.”
We sat in the car, staring at our tent in bemusement for a few silent moments.
“Huh,” one of us finally said.
Our tent sat in the middle of a perfect circle of standing water, as if it had decided to grow its own moat. It was perfectly centered. I judged the moat’s depth at about two inches.
… More North Cascades National Park, where contradictory things went awry
My efforts to plan a great four-day trip to Olympic National Park left a little to be desired. In hindsight, I totally give myself a pass because this park is complicated, and without ever having visited before, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the huge number of places to visit, trails to hike, and completely different experiences to try out. You can be in a rainforest one morning, on a glacier the next afternoon, and wading through tidepools the next day. Ridiculous! Awesome, but ridiculous. … More Olympic National Park: Camping on Third Beach
“I hear you have nice mountains out here. When’s the last time you saw them?” I asked. Yes, I’m that tourist. I’m sorry, I can’t help myself. I even know I’m not very funny, but I still always seem to think it’s a good idea at the time. … More Olympic National Park: Smoke Jokes & Banana Slugs
Thither & Yon 