How — and whether– To Pursue Adventure in the Midst of Pandemic Last week Sylvia and Brian were hiking out in the mountains of North Carolina Mountains, celebrating Brian’s birthday. We returned home to a different world than the one we left. True, the writing had been on the wall, if one had been willing to see it. Already, the […]
Damascus VA: Adventures In Trail Town, USA
Grayson Highlands and the Virginia Creeper Trail *Sylvia and I visited Damascus VA and vicinity in April 2014. Some things may have changed since so please check with the locals before heading out. But you will NOT be disappointed is all we can say. Located in the very far southwestern corner of Virginia is the town of Damascus. It is […]
What’s Been Going On?
Taking a much needed rest the last few days. But we’ll have more posts soon! The the meantime we have updated our Bucket List, Best Hikes in the Southern Appalachians and Local Hikes pages. We are also finished with all of our preparations for the Tour Du Mont Blanc, now just a few weeks away! Brian is hastily cramming to […]
The Path to Green
The Neuse River Greenway Not every step you take in the outdoors has to be of the wild sort. Sometimes all you want to do is go for a walk in a peaceful place. Or go for a bike ride. Or jog to keep in condition for the bigger adventures to come. It’s always nice to have such a place […]
A Trail to Fall For
The Falls Lake Trail, Raleigh/Durham. NC *We had added the Falls Lake Trail to our list of recommended local hikes in the Raleigh/Durham area.. We often train here for the bigger adventures. Being an outdoors adventurer requires a willingness to travel long distances in search of the great adventures of life. Adventures don’t generally come to you, after all. […]
The Linville Gorge: A GoPro Blockbuster!
Video of the Table Rock and Chimneys Hike Now Online! Check out some of the gorgeous scenery of the Linville Gorge Wilderness — in our opinion , the best place to hike in North Carolina — on our new hiking video. This is at the top our list of Best Places to Hike in the Southern Appalachians and Carolinas. The cast […]
The Crossbow Islands: A Nautical Hijink
Islas Ballestas, Paracas, Peru *BecauseItzThere is primarily a hiking blog, but from time to time we do feature other types of outdoor adventures, including ‘nautical hijinx.’ The following nautical hijink occurred in 2015 as part of the same trip that included the Santa Cruz Trek. We hope you enjoy it! There is more to do in Peru besides hiking. After […]
Climate Change Resources for the Skeptical
New Page Added — Climate Change Resources for the Skeptical Climate Change — aka Global Warning — is a very complex subject over which there has been significant debate in recent years. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being skeptical about this or any other subject, especially one as highly politicized as Climate Change. But when ‘skepticism’ continues even in the face […]
Is the Santa Cruz Trek for You?
The Santa Cruz Trek: Logistics and Planning What about me? Can I do the Santa Cruz Trek? This is what you may be asking yourself. The scenery looks great, sure, but can I do it? How hard it is really? If you are an experienced hiker with lot of time spent at high altitude the answer is an emphatic yes, […]
…And Of Course the End is Always a Downer
Santa Cruz Trek Day 4: The Final Day **An older version of this post originally appeared in 2015 on the old legacy blog. We hope you enjoy this updated version! The last day of our hike is here! I emerged from the tent to clear blue skies and three freshly deposited cow turds. Folks I will say this up front…if […]
Landscape With a History of Violence
Santa Cruz Trek, Day 3: The Santa Cruz Valley **An older version of this post originally appeared in 2015 on the old legacy blog. We hope you enjoy this updated version! Waking on the third morning I was greeted, as I stuck my face from the tent, by a cow. This animal, standing about twenty feet away, took one look […]