Potato River Falls

Potato River Falls - Upper falls section looking upstream

Took a midday break from Copper Falls State Park to explore the many waterfalls around Iron County.  Located near Gurney, Wisconsin just off Hwy 169 is Potato River Falls.  From the main parking area there are two trails in opposite directions for views above and below the main falls.  I started from above. Upper Falls … Read more

Max Patch Mountain

Max Patch Mountain - Kelly looking down the trail

Woke up and left Gatlinburg with some time for day hiking before the next destination.  Cold and wet weather killed most of our planned hikes, but we decided to try our luck on Max Patch, one of the most popular viewpoints along the Appalachian Trail.  Remember that smoky fog from yesterday? Well that doesn’t look too … Read more

Cummins Falls State Park

Cummins Falls State Park - View across the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River

After leaving Waterloo Falls, I was itching to do some actual hiking.  Next stop was Cummins Falls State Park which was only 15 minutes away by car.  Weather today was nearly perfect – sunny and about 60 degrees, which felt like summer compared to what I left in Wisconsin. I started by hiking the Upstream … Read more

White Sands National Monument (Redux)

White Sands National Monument - Panorama of the gypsum dunes and San Andres Mountains in background

The start of my return journey home begins with a short cruise east from Las Cruces on US-70 to White Sands National Monument. Known for its very rare almost pure white sand dunes, it seems almost out of place compared to the other local landscape.  Interesting fact: at 275 square miles, it is the largest … Read more

2016 Road Trip Astrophotography

As you may have guessed by my other posts and this blog as a whole, I have always been interested in photography.  My goal was always to try and capture images from my trips while not consuming the whole experience – that is to say, I wanted to live in the moment rather than focus … Read more

2016 New Mexico Elk Hunt

Dad sneaking into a better position for the shot on a monster bull elk

After several weeks of travel and about 5,000 miles driven, I arrived in Las Cruces, NM and reunited with my family. Took one day off to rest and prepare for the elk hunt season.  My Dad drew a bull tag for NM unit 34 which is located in the Lincoln National Forest.  Based on intel … Read more

Driving To Las Cruces And Some Green Chiles (Redux)

Plenty of mountains to see driving south from Santa Fe to Las Cruces

First time driving Santa Fe south to Las Cruces. Enjoyed seeing all the different mountains along the way. Didn’t spend much time in Las Cruces, and what little time I was there was spent catching up with family and preparing for elk hunting. After the hunt I was gifted some Hatch green chiles to take … Read more

Double Rainbow in Jackson, Wyoming (Redux)

Double Rainbow as seen from Wendy's parking lot in Jackson, Wyoming

Leaving Grand Teton National Park it started pouring rain. Stopped for some food and caught a double rainbow. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?! Jackson, Wyoming is a major tourist town and crazy expensive, place next door to Wendy’s was considered “cheap” with $20 hamburgers, yikes. At least rainbows are free. Officially captured my first moose on … Read more

Bighorn National Forest – Tensleep Canyon Interpretive Site (Redux)

Bighorn National Forest - Tensleep Canyon Interpretive Site

Final stop for me today on the Cloud Peak Skyway National Scenic Byway at the Tensleep Canyon Interpretive Site pullout. A sign adjacent to the pullout details the Leigh Creek Monument, a stone construction left atop the cliffs in honor of English nobleman Gilbert E. Leigh who perished by falling 100 feet off the cliff … Read more

Bighorn National Forest – Powder River Pass (Redux)

Bighorn National Forest - Powder River Pass and driving the Cloud Peak Skyway National Scenic Byway

Continuing my drive along the Cloud Peak Skyway National Scenic Byway heading west towards Yellowstone and have reached the highest point on US-16 at Powder River Pass (sometimes shown on the maps as Powder River Interpretive Site or Powder River Pass Summit). There are some remnants of snow on the road apron which I assume … Read more