HIKE/BIKE DESCRIPTIONS
click for lists of hikes by state
click for lists of hikes by state
Image of the Month
One of the billions of "Brood X" Cicadas on a Red Poppy in Bethesda, Maryland
These noisy cicadas are the offsprings of the 2004 periodical cicadas - cicadas emerge from underground every 17 years
These noisy cicadas are the offsprings of the 2004 periodical cicadas - cicadas emerge from underground every 17 years
Quote of the Month
"Has joy any survival value in the operations of evolution? I suspect that it does; I suspect the morose and fearful are doomed to quick extinction. Where there is no joy there can be no courage; and without courage all other virtues are useless."
- Edward Abbey, in talking about the singing of frogs
More Quotes
"Has joy any survival value in the operations of evolution? I suspect that it does; I suspect the morose and fearful are doomed to quick extinction. Where there is no joy there can be no courage; and without courage all other virtues are useless."
- Edward Abbey, in talking about the singing of frogs
More Quotes
June's Helpful Technique - Liner socks for hiking
For hikes over 6 or so miles, I have a long-time habit of wearing liner socks under padded hiking socks. They wick moisture away from your skin and dry fast, which decreases the chance of blisters. I currently like the silk liners from REI, but have worn Bridgedale Coolmax liner socks for many years. I also wear a hiking boot 1/2 - 1 size larger than regular shoes, to allow room for toes in the boot while descending and for the two pairs of socks.
For hikes over 6 or so miles, I have a long-time habit of wearing liner socks under padded hiking socks. They wick moisture away from your skin and dry fast, which decreases the chance of blisters. I currently like the silk liners from REI, but have worn Bridgedale Coolmax liner socks for many years. I also wear a hiking boot 1/2 - 1 size larger than regular shoes, to allow room for toes in the boot while descending and for the two pairs of socks.
Latest Blog Post
Red Mountain Primitive Trail - St. George, Utah
5/31/21: Explore this "hidden gem" in the Red Mountain Wilderness; a primitive trail that quickly elevates the traveler from city to a spectacular and peaceful plateau in the southern Utah red rock wilderness.
5/31/21: Explore this "hidden gem" in the Red Mountain Wilderness; a primitive trail that quickly elevates the traveler from city to a spectacular and peaceful plateau in the southern Utah red rock wilderness.
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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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. |
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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. 
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 |
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. 
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. |
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 
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". |
Monument Mountain: 4,834' - Joshua Tree National Monument
February 20, 2018: Sublime and "mind-expanding" cross-country hike, and some of the oldest rocks in California. |
In Memory of Roger Keezer
January 17, 2018: 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
December 11, 2017: 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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