The Kohala Volcano is the oldest of the volcanoes that make up the Big Island, and when part of this volcano slid into the ocean hundreds of thousands of years ago, it formed the sea cliffs along the Kohala Coast. Erosion has formed seven valleys along this coastline, including Pololū Valley, the most northern valley, then Honokāne Nui, Honokāne Iki, Honokeʻa, Honopue, Waimanu Valley, and Waipi’o Valley. Waipi’o Valley is the most famous, perhaps because of its daring grade or the breathtaking views through the cliffs and back into the valley. We faced Waipi’o last time we visited the Big Island (read about that hike here), but it has actually since been closed to non-locals. Since we loved Waipi’o so much, we decided to do another of the Kohala Coast hikes and settled on Pololū Valley, which is a short but steep hike down to a black sand beach.
Read MoreIn early August of 2021, I had the opportunity to visit Colorado during the warmer months for the first time. One of my best friends lived in Denver at the time, and Ryan and I squeezed in a short visit before my fall semester began. Last time I was here was January, so everything was covered in snow, but on this trip, we were blessed with perfect warm weather and sunshine for our alpine lake hike.
Read MoreIn the winter, RMNP (like other national parks that receive heavy snowfall) closes many of its roads, limiting the access points to trailheads. Additionally, it’s important to check the NPS website daily before your trip because Colorado is prone to wildfires, which can further restrict trail availability. Based on the sections of the park closed due to a wildfire, winter access, and our lack of desire to wake up incredibly early for a 10 mile hike, we settled on Ouzel Falls in the southeast part of the park.
Read MoreThe park has many trails to hike, from easy half miles down to the falls viewing area (accessible by parking lot), to 10.8 miles through Sheltowee Trace and ending at the Laurel River. Since my brother and I hadn’t been to the park since we were young and wanted good views of the falls, we opted for the Eagle Falls trail, a fairly easy 1.5-mile trail that gives plenty of views of Cumberland Falls, takes you along the river and through lush forest, and ends in Eagle Falls.
Read MoreRyan and I began our second day in the park with a hike up Stony Man. This is the second highest peak in the park, and the most northerly of the Blue Ridge Mountains, at 4,000 feet. This hike was marked by a ton of great vistas along the trail, culminating in a rocky lookout point from which you could get a stunning view of the mountains. The morning mist was clinging to the valleys, but it was clear enough to get a stunning view of the town as well.
Read MoreNaturally, this unseasonably warm weather has had me itching to go on a hike in my favorite place. So a couple days after Christmas, I decided we would take advantage of one of the last wildly mild days of my time in Kentucky and check out a new spot in Red River Gorge. So my brother, Alan, my fiancé, Ryan, and I set out to Grays Arch on a 65-degree December morning.
Read MoreRock Bridge is a fairly easy 1.4-mile loop that leads to a natural rock bridge (get its name now?) and a fairly large waterfall. It is the only rock bridge in the Gorge that actually spans running water, as it stretches over Swift Camp Creek. Rock Bridge Arch is what is known as a waterfall arch, where a waterfall cut through less-resistant rock, leaving the arch behind. Rock Bridge is also unique because it is composed of limestone rather than sandstone like most of the arches in the Gorge.
Read MoreNational lakeshores are owned and operated by the National Parks Service, which means they usually have more well-maintained trails, historical markers, and maps; however, it also means that they have more rules. We had Kari’s beautiful adventure pup, Kindi, with us, and the NPS does not allow dogs on many trails due to interference they can cause with local wildlife (including bears). But there were still many beautiful spots we could access and keep Kindi by our side!
Read MoreIf you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you’ll remember that I went to Canyon Falls last August while vacationing with my friends, Kari and Kayla, in Marquette, Michigan, where Kari was attending graduate school. Well, Kari graduated with her MA in Literature this spring, so Kayla and I drove up to Michigan to help her move. No surprise, we spent almost our entire time there going on new hikes, as well as some old favorites!
Read MoreWhile these warmer spring temperatures are appreciated by everyone, myself included, the extreme temperature swing from a horrifically cold winter to an unseasonably warm (and snowless) March are undeniable effects of global climate change. Every spring hike this season will no doubt be tinged by this undercurrent of fear at the future state of the environment.
Read MoreTwo weeks ago, the Midwest was plunged into the newest polar vortex. While you read about Chicago setting train tracks on fire and Lake Michigan freezing, Minnesota was dealing with 40 mph+ winds, -35 degree temperatures, and -55 degree windchills. It was so cold that perfectly functioning cars with brand new batteries weren’t starting, and MSU, Mankato cancelled classes two days in a row. The only thing that compelled me to leave our apartment was to run my car for thirty minutes to keep the battery alive.
Read MoreIf you know me, you know I love plants. One of my favorite places in the entire world is a botanical garden, and I’m currently trying to turn my apartment into a greenhouse. So I never pass up the opportunity to try out a new conservatory or botanical garden.
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