Category Archives: National Parks

National Parks, North America, Own Country, Road Trip, Travel, United States

My First Cross Country Solo US Road Trip

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“Review this list and determine suitability,” is the first line of an email from my father. He also includes a list of four cars as well while I compare car insurance policies for our own Beetle that stood solemly in the dusty little garage. I stare at the email for a couple minutes. I walk down the dorm hall to one ofmy friends. “If you got an email from your dad with four cars what would you think?” I asked. “I was getting getting a new car,” was the response. A call to my father confirmed that I was getting a new car for my cross country US road trip. Continue Reading . . .

backpacking, hiking, National Parks, North America, Travel, Utah

Completing the Hike the Hoodoos Challenge

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I was at the Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center waiting for the park movie to start.   I am turning the pages of the hiking guide trying to decide what trail to hike.  A small article titled “Hike the Hoodoos Challenge.”  To complete the challenge, one needs do one of two things to hike at least 3 miles of on benchmark trails and/or collect a picture or rubbing of 3 benchmarks. Once completed return to the visitor center and collect “a special reward.”  It didn’t say what the award was or limit it to only kids.  Therefore, challenge accepted since I planned on hiking more than 3 miles. Continue Reading . . .

National Parks, Travel

10 Ways Tourists Annoy a National Park Junkies

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I am sitting at one of the overlooks in Badlands National Park.  I am enjoying the peace and quiet as my camera is taking a time lapse photo.  A large 16 passenger van pulls into the overlook.  Out of the van pills 16 tourists.  They all start chatting to each other loudly.  There went my quiet and then one of them walks in front of my camera and stands there to take his picture.  I couldn’t believe that the guy had the whole overlook to take pictures and he had to stand in front of me.  In that moment, I really wanted to push him off the cliff.  I didn’t, but it was thought for a second.  The incident did remind of all the things that annoy me in National Parks.  Over the last eight years, I have been to 31 of the 59 National Parks of the United States.  I have seen and experienced a lot of things in the parks and here is the list of things that annoy me the most. Continue Reading . . .

National Parks, North America, Own Country, Season, Summer, Travel, United States, Washington, Winter

8 Great Reason to Work in Mount Rainier National Park

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Starting in early May, over 200 people arrive to work in Mount Rainier National Park.  These people come from all over the world to spend the summer in the Park.  These people live and work on the mountain.  They are split between the National Park Inn, Paradise Inn, and Sunrise Visitor Center.  The staff comes from different walks of life; the college students, the park bums, and the retires looking for something to do. Continue Reading . . .

Beach, Europe, Iceland, National Parks, Road Trip, Season, Travel, Winter

Without a Plan ~ Winter Road Trip in Iceland

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A cold wind slams into me as I walk out the Keflavik International Airport. I am actually in Iceland and it’s early February. I unlock my rental car and program my Reykjavik hostel into my GPS unit. I would have brought my own car, but considering I had only recently got it, I thought this time around, renting a car would be for the best. Saying this, I do have trips I want to go on and if it wasn’t for doing research into dealerships like Conklin Chevrolet, I probably wouldn’t even have a car and the idea of a road trip wouldn’t be possible! Anyway, I have my hostel for tonight book and have to return the rental car in two and half weeks. I am about to embark on a winter road trip in Iceland without a plan. I have a 10 item bucket list of things I want to do. Continue Reading . . .