Road’s End

  The Rae Lakes Loop Days 1 and 2 ***The following is Brian’s account of his hike of the Rae Lakes Loop with a group of close friends in 2014. Please consult the NPS website for details as many things might have changed since he hiked. With darkness approaching I found myself clutching to my sleeping pad inside my now […]

To Paradise and Beyond

The Rae Lakes Loop, Kings Canyon NP One of the best hikes in the United States is the Rae Lakes Loop in the Sierra Nevada. This challenging backpacking trip requires five or more days to complete and takes hikers through some of the best – and most remote – country the High Sierra has to offer. For much of its […]

The Canyon of Earthly Delights

Kings Canyon National Park In 2009 we returned to California for a second helping of vacation. Our time spent along the Big Sur Coast had left us more than suitably impressed enough to go back for seconds. Brian especially wanted to see John Muir’s celebrated range of light, the Sierra Nevada. On our first trip, which had been in winter, […]

King Charles Town

Charleston, SC Part II After visiting Fort Moultrie Sylvia made Brian swear not to visit any more forts or historical sites for the remainder of the trip. Brian grudgingly agreed. However, this would not really be possible since Charleston  — Travel and Leisure Magazine’s ‘World’s Best City” in 2016 — basically is one gigantic historical site. With apologies to the […]

A Weekend of Coastal Fortification in Charleston, SC

Charleston, South Carolina ***Though BecauseItzThere is mostly a hiking blog, from time to time we will showcase travel of other sorts here, especially when it related to the outdoors, nature and history. As we’ve been hitting the mountains a lot lately, including two weeks of it in Europe, it was only a matter of time before Sylvia shouted “Enough” and […]

An Unexpected Blast From the Past

The Golden State, back in our Golden Age I was recently rooting through some of my old photographs from the pre-digital and early digital age…the days when you still had to get pictures ‘developed’ before you could see them. I must admit I have no nostalgia for this age whatsoever. My purpose was to dig up so old pictures from […]

Patagonian Route of Parks!

Chile unveils new scenic hike in wild Patagonia…but details remain rather sketchy We are preparing for a trip to Patagonia next year. So it is no surprise that THIS announcement would get our attention… According to the BBC… “Chile has launched a huge scenic route through its Patagonian wilderness to boost tourism and highlight the need for conservation. The Route […]