Another Unheralded Gem of the National Park System

Teddy Roosevelt National Park *This post continues the mining of old photographs taken in the pre-digital era. We therefore apologize in advance that the quality of the pictures is not quite up to the usual standards. Today we’re again going back into the vault, to the days when photographs were printed on paper, phones didn’t have cameras unless you worked […]

Tough times for Zion National Park

Angels Landing reopens…but now the Narrows is indefinitely closed. A lot of unfortunate news coming out of Zion National Park these days. First, due to damage resulting from a severe storm earlier this year, the Angels Landing Trail – the most popular in the park – was closed for months. Then, just days after Angel’s Landing re-opened, the park announced […]

2016 Flashback…ONP

*This post originally appeared on the blog in December 2017…We have re-posted for the enjoyment of all during our ‘Summer re-runs” while Brian and Sylvia are in search of new adventures. After leaving Rainier we headed south Olympic National Park. This is the only area of Washington, besides Seattle, that I have previously visited and was returning to. We had […]

My Buddy, Rainier!

*This post originally appeared on the blog in December 2017…We have re-posted for the enjoyment of all during our ‘Summer re-runs” while Brian and Sylvia are in search of new adventures. *We have added the Skyline Trail on Mt. Rainier to the list of Great Hikes in the USA and Canada! In my opinion there are seven natural wonders that […]

2016 Flashback: The Pacific Northwest

*This post originally appeared on the blog in December 2017…We have re-posted for the enjoyment of all during our ‘Summer re-runs” while Brian and Sylvia are in search of new adventures. The San Juan Islands / Mt. Constitution Located about halfway between Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia, The scenic San Juan Islands are a popular destination for boaters, sea […]

Oh Goody! Site Updates!

New updates to Becauseitzthere.com! In addition to some changes to the look and feel designed to make the viewing and reading experience a little better, we are busy building new landing pages for each of our hikes pages with all the details in one concise summary! The landing pages will still link back to the blog posts. You can view […]

Waterfalls Week: Where the Hen Wallows(?)

Hen Wallow Falls, GSMNP, TN The First Waterfall on the list for Waterfalls week is a relatively good sized one named Hen Wallow Falls, located on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Hen Wallow Falls is 90 feet tall…but like most eastern waterfalls that drop is not accomplished a single straight plunge. It’s more of a series […]

Get Ready for Waterfall Week!!!

Waterfall Week! There is something undeniably pleasant and harmonious about the sight of moving water. Hence, the attraction to waterfalls, those fountains of nature. Everybody loves ‘em, right? Maybe not. If you’re a serious hiker, my bet is that you probably don’t dislike them, but you probably don’t love them either. Most serious hikers I know prefer a good, solid […]

Zion: A Canyon of Biblical Proportions

Day 1: Zion Canyon *Note that Brian and Sylvia made the pilgrimage to Zion Canyon some five years ago. During this time, Brian, then a man of a ‘certain age’, has become a man of a certain age plus five years. Therefore, a few minor dramatic liberties have been taken with the account that follows…IE, Brian has forgotten most of […]