On our first full day in Death Valley, we woke up to catch a Ranger tour of Golden Canyon. Sarah gave us a lot of information about the history of the canyon. The story goes that a caravan traveling west was sold a faulty map of the area and ended up having to burn their …
We made it to Mojave National Preserve after a few hours on a road filled with ghost towns and endless creosote. Part of Joshua Tree is in the Mojave desert, so we were unsure if we would see anything new in the Mojave Preserve (We are fools for ever doubting the National Parks Service). After …
We woke up on day two in Joshua Tree to conquer our namesakes: Ryan Mountain and Barker Dam. The climb up Ryan Mountain was a strenuous three miles of 1,000 feet gain. We made it up most of the way when we saw this one lonely juvenile Joshua Tree. Please note that my latest trend …
We made it to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument before the sun went down. This gave us time to grab a site at their more popular campground, Twin Peaks, and get some rest. But not before reading that we shouldn’t help anyone cross the border. As the park sits directly on the border between the …
After hearing a podcast about stealing petrified wood from Petrified Forest National Park that Jules and Steve recommended, we knew we had to have a look. Especially after hearing that people would return their petrified wood years later, believing they were cursed by it. (Photo taken at Rainbow Forest Visitor Center) What do you expect …
We had both heard many good things about Taos, so we decided to hit it up during our New Mexico adventure. Stefan and Melissa gave us an Airbnb gift card for Christmas, so we turned it in for two nights in an eco cottage. The place was adorable inside. It had a small kitchen with …
Let me take you on a journey through New Mexico- a journey through space (four places) and time (Ryan’s last three posts fit somewhere in between some of these). We start with Three Rivers Petroglyphs. Two lovely volunteers at Fort Davis recommended this site to us after I shared my love of pictographs and Seminole …
The evening before heading to Carlsbad was a windy one. Ryan and I lay shrouded in blankets as the wind tore through the tent. With each pull of one of the eight guy-lines, I was startled awake. In my half sleep state, I knew, without a doubt, with all the certainly I had, that a …
Continue reading Carlsbad Caverns: Wild Places to Know and Love
On our last morning at Big Bend, we decided to drive an hour west to the Chisos Mountains from Cottonwood. The park is huge, but the roads are so beautiful that an hour passes quickly. We chose the Lost Mine Trail, a 5 mile hike with 1100 elevation gain and stellar views at the top. …
There are three important parts to Big Bend: the river, the desert, and the mountains. They work together to create a landscape that is awe inspiring at every turn. THE RIVER The Rio Grande flows in and out of the park cutting through canyons and quenching dry sandy shores. I had the pleasure of diving …
Beyond the Fold 