Image of the Month
View of Telescope Peak in Death Valley from Pahrump Point, Nopah Mountain Range.
Quote of the Month
". . . we fail to realize how special our ordinary world really is. We come to national parks and other preserves primed for appreciation yet disdain the fat, maroon caterpillars on the pipevine in the alley or the mockingbird on the clothesline with an earwig in its bill. Thoreau said, 'I had no idea there was so much going on in Heywood's meadow.' Heywood's meadow is all around us."
"Anyone who walks in the wild will discover the untamed edges of life; anyone who spends time in the wilderness will, at times, feel like an intruder. The blessings of wilderness are ...real and are mostly within reach of us all."
- Janice Emily Bowers, Botanist and author, from her book The Mountains Next Door - born January 15, 1950 - Happy Birthday!
More Quotes
". . . we fail to realize how special our ordinary world really is. We come to national parks and other preserves primed for appreciation yet disdain the fat, maroon caterpillars on the pipevine in the alley or the mockingbird on the clothesline with an earwig in its bill. Thoreau said, 'I had no idea there was so much going on in Heywood's meadow.' Heywood's meadow is all around us."
"Anyone who walks in the wild will discover the untamed edges of life; anyone who spends time in the wilderness will, at times, feel like an intruder. The blessings of wilderness are ...real and are mostly within reach of us all."
- Janice Emily Bowers, Botanist and author, from her book The Mountains Next Door - born January 15, 1950 - Happy Birthday!
More Quotes
Latest Blog Post
Pahrump Point and Tecopa Hot Springs, California
1/16/22: Another rugged summit from the Sierra Club Desert Peak Section's list completed!
Reward: soaking in Tecopa Hot Springs afterward!
1/16/22: Another rugged summit from the Sierra Club Desert Peak Section's list completed!
Reward: soaking in Tecopa Hot Springs afterward!
Four "Grand Slam Peaks"
Late winter/spring training hikes in Boise National Forest, Idaho
Late winter/spring training hikes in Boise National Forest, Idaho
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Kepros Mountain - Boise NF
5/6/2018: A spacious ridge ramble in the Danskin Mountains with abundant wildflowers and views of snow-covered Trinity Mountains and Arrowrock Reservoir. |
Mt. Heinen: Grand Slam Peaks Completed!
6/5/2018: This steep ridge hike out of Arrowrock Reservoir in the Boise Mountains provides an exhilarating view of water and mountain ranges. |
Lucky Peak - Winter Ascent
March 26, 2018: Snowshoe climb to Lucky Peak in Boise River Wilderness Management Area after a March snowstorm. |
Cervidae Peak - Southeast Ridge Route
March 16, 2018: Short and steep ridge hike close to Boise overlooking Lucky Peak Reservoir to a summit with great views. |
Popular Posts
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Goat Mountain: 11, 913 feet
Pioneer Mountain Range, Idaho 9/22/18: Tough hike/scramble to second highest mountain in the rugged Pioneers with a breathtaking view and steep drop-offs at your feet. |
No Mans Mesa hike in Grand Staircase-Escalante NM
7/21/2018: A unique opportunity to see a near-relict, pristine desert ecosystem from Lick Wash Trail; solitary and remote. |
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Previous Posts
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Gold Butte NM and Little Virgin Peak
12/23/21: Making images in the photogenic northern Mojave Desert and a quick hike up Little Virgin Peak. |
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Wheeler Peak: 13,063' - Great Basin NP
10/06/21: Astounding view of eastern Nevada from its second-highest peak, way above treeline on a well-maintained trail. |
Jarvis Peak: Beaver Dam Mountains, Utah
11/06/21: Get off the beaten paths in southern Utah's national parks to discover more remote and interesting backcountry adventures. |
Virgin Peak - 8,071': In Search of Solitude in the Mojave. 11/26/21: Remote ridge ramble on fossil-filled limestone in Gold Butte National Monument.
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Leatherman Peak: 12,228' - On Top of Idaho
7/19/21: Challenging climb up the loose-rock north side of Idaho's second-highest peak for spectacular views from the "roof" of Idaho. |
Mackay Peak: 10,280' and Mackay Hill Mine Tour,
Idaho. 9/29/21: There's a lot to explore in Mackay, Idaho, especially its historic Mine Hill. |
Gardner Peak: 9,488' - Pine Valley Mountains, southern Utah. 8/29/21: Perfect combination of on- and off-trail hiking, eroded rock formations and aspen-lined meadows.
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Lucky Peak Hike, Boise: The Ridge Less Traveled II
2/20/21: In search of new routes and solitude on Lucky Peak, an historic mining district, Boise. |
Gallagher Peak: 6,074' - Salmon River Mountains, Idaho
3/22/21: Get a taste of true Idaho wilderness on this short climb to a lush and undisturbed summit with a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) history. |
Red Mountain Primitive Trail - St. George, Utah
5/31/21: "Hidden gem" in Red Mountain Wilderness that elevates the traveler from city to peaceful plateau in southern Utah's red rock wilderness. |
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Johnstone Peak: 9,949', This Hike for Henry Brown
10/20/20: Navigate off Pioneer Cabin Trail's beaten path for a massive view of Idaho's rugged Pioneer Mountains. We return to remember our great friend. |
Wolf Mountain: 8,876' and Point 8610 via Jennie Lake Trail in Boise National Forest
11/16/20: Seldom summited, this remote and jagged peak is a great combination of on-trail and Class 2 scrambling and navigating. |
Red Rock Country
1/7/21: Reflections on Southern Utah's warm colors, great images of past hikes, and a remedy for the winter blues. |
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Burger Peak: 10,320' - Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, Southern Utah
6/16/20: We escaped scorching St. George to a cool forest to navigate through snow drifts. |
Jackson Peak: 8,124' - Boise National Forest, Idaho
8/1/20: Lightly-traveled single track to fire lookout and views of Sawtooth Mountains. |
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Cat Mountain: 3,852' - Tucson Mountain Park
3/19/20: Climb the ash tuff rocks of Cat Mountain for a dual view of the sprawling city of Tucson and other high points in this ancient caldera. |
Elephant Head Peak, 5,641' - Santa Rita Mountains, Southern Arizona
2/20/20: combination trail and off-trail fun Class 2-3 ridge climb to view of Arizona's sky islands. |
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Bald Mountain via Station Creek - Garden Valley, Idaho
11/30/19: This hike close to Boise offers a quiet Ponderosa pine forest and great views of Boise NF. |
Tucson Mountains Tour: Golden Gate Mountain, Bobcat Ridge, Little Cat Mountain
1/30/20: Summit three high points in the "Tucson Mountain Chaos" in an ancient caldera. |
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Alpine Peak, 9,861' -Sawtooth Wilderness: Never Stop Climbing Mountains
8/27/19: Scramble to Alpine's summit for tremendous views of Sawtooth Lake and peaks. |
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Tanque Verde Peak, Saguaro Wilderness, Tucson
6/30/19: From saguaros to pines, hike through 4 biomes to immense view of southern Arizona. |
Thimble Peak - Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Tucson
5/19/2019: Hike through beautiful Upper Sonoran chaparral to a distinguished Tucson landmark with steep rock chutes. |
Lucky Peak Winter Hike: The Ridge Less Traveled
4/22/2019: Our own spin on Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken," we hiked a ridge less traveled to Lucky Peak in the Boise NF. |
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My "Neck of the Woods" - Autumn
2/27/2019: You don't have to go far from home for adventure and beauty. These scenes are within a one-mile radius of my house. |
Haystack Mountain - Palm Desert, CA
2/13/2019: Great desert hike off the Art Smith Trail with a spectacular view of Southern California's mountain ranges, and our old summit register entry from 2011. |
Pinto Mountain, Joshua Tree Wilderness
12/30/2018: The reward for the long walk across Pinto Basin followed by a rocky climb is the outstanding 360° views of the Mojave desert. Related: Monument Mountain, Joshua Tree NP |
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Canaan Mountain via Squirrel Canyon - So. Utah
11/30/18: Classic Southern Utah adventure to a towering plateau of Navajo Sandstone. No Mans Mesa hike Boulder Mail Trail to Death Hollow |
Boulder Mail Trail to Death Hollow in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
9/3/18: Hike the remote cross-country route of the last mule U.S. mail delivery through slickrock sandstone and sagebrush flats. |
Sabino Canyon in Tucson - Breakfast Ridge
April 23, 2018: A rugged and beautiful off-trail trek up Breakfast Ridge in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness through a saguaro, palo verde and ocotillo "forest". |
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Monument Mountain: 4,834' - Joshua Tree NP
2/20/18: Sublime and "mind-expanding" cross-country hike, and some of the oldest rocks in California. |
In Memory of Roger Keezer
1/17/18: Roger Keezer conceived the phrase, "Cactus to Clouds", a now well-known extreme hike. We hiked to his memorial in California's San Jacinto Mountains with Maria Keezer. |
Dry Creek/Shingle Creek Loop in the Boise Foothills
12/11/17: Beautiful riparian vegetation along a rushing creek and a breezy Ponderosa pine forest just a few minutes from downtown Boise. |
Zion National Park - Double Arch Alcove Hike
October 28, 2017: Taylor Creek Trail to Double Arch Alcove carved into Navajo Sandstone contains a treasure-trove of exposed geologic features in a relatively short distance. |
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Sunset Mountain Lookout Snowshoe
This winter's snowshoe hike to Sunset Peak in the Boise National Forest was the most spectacular yet. |
This Hike for Henry Brown
October 9, 2016: When Henry Brown passed away last August, we dedicated a hike to Johnstone Peak for him in a land that he loved. |
Tucson: 4 days, 40 miles, One Rattlesnake
Tucson hike highlights: Finger Rock Canyon, Mt. Kimball, Pima Canyon, Pontatoc Trail. |
2013 EXPLORUMENTARIES
If you don't mind steep drop-offs and want to witness an incredible view of Zion Canyon, this hike's for you!
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Alpine Peak Summit - Sawtooth Mountain Wilderness
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4th of July trip to Challis, Idaho: Gold Bug Hot Springs and Merriam Lake in the Lost River Range
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