Sampling the San Juan Mountains
Between our visit with Nancy’s family and our arrival in Las Cruces we had three days in which to get a taste of the San Juan Mountains. Because we wanted to see as… Continue reading
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The Mount Evans Scenic Byway and a Hike Up Mount Spaulding
As lovely as the other hikes and outdoor explorations we did during our visit, the drive up the Mount Evans Scenic Byway and subsequent hike up Mount Spaulding were hands-down the most beautiful.… Continue reading
A Tale of Two Hikes: Upper Boulder Lake and Mount Sanitas Trails
One of the best things about the mountain ranges in states such as Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Arizona is the rapid changes in elevation that allow you to experience multiple ecosystems… Continue reading
Family Visits in Colorado: Hiking, Leaf-Peeping, and Elk
Leaving the Black Hills at the end of the first week of September we made a beeline directly to Tom’s niece Nancy and husband Tim’s new house in Colorado. Located in the small… Continue reading
South Dakota High Point: Hiking Black Elk Peak
Our last day in South Dakota was spent hiking Black Elk Peak, the highest point of South Dakota at 7,244 ft. The hike was beautiful, but also way more popular than I’d anticipated;… Continue reading
Scenic Drives in the Black Hills and the Buffalo and Burros of the Wildlife Loop
This post combines the driving routes of our first 2 days staying near Custer, including the Needles Highway from the first day and the Iron Mountain and Wildlife Loop Roads from our second… Continue reading
Custer State Park, Part 2: Cathedral Spires Trail
Leaving Sylvan Lake we returned to the Needles Highway, ascending further into the rocky peaks to the southeast. After we wound our way up and through the narrow tunnels – which I’ll write… Continue reading
Custer State Park, Part 1: A Morning Sampling the Sunday Gulch and Sylvan Lake Trails
Our next 3 days in South Dakota we stayed near Custer State Park in order to take advantage of the trails through the piles of boulders, clusters of pine trees, and dramatic rock… Continue reading
The Hike to Crow Peak
After my cursory research it was unanimous that Crow Peak had some of the best views in the Black Hills, and that was good enough for me to add it to our itinerary.… Continue reading
Big Trees: Iron Creek Trail and Spearfish Canyon
Our first full day in the northern Black Hills was dedicated to driving the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Drive and hiking for a few hours in Iron Creek Canyon. Driving south from the town… Continue reading