Chicago: A Tale of Two Munchkins, part two

In case you missed it, here’s part one. We turned (some) control over the kids and let them decide what we would do our second day, and gave them options to choose from. Mason claimed (falsely) he’d never been to a zoo before so we opted to take the bus to Lincoln Park Zoo, which […]

Read More

Chicago: A Tale of Two Munchkins, part one

If you’re lucky enough to have nieces and nephews, you’re lucky enough. You might say Greg and I are some of the most fortunate people on the planet as we have a whopping twenty, with two more on the way. Our siblings have produced tomboys and girly girls, athletes and gamers, sweet angels and little […]

Read More

Lizard Head Loop: Valentine Lake to Big Sandy Trailhead

Be sure to check out Parts One and Two first!   Day 5: Valentine Lake to Hooker Valley, 6.0 miles We seemed to have hit the jackpot with weather in the Winds. We met several groups of hikers who told us this was the best time to be there, just after school started and before […]

Read More

Lizard Head Loop: Cirque of the Towers to Valentine Lake

Be sure to check out Part One first! Day 3: Day hike to Texas Pass and around Lonesome Lake, 5.72 miles We awoke our third day to brilliant blue skies. Seriously, we could not have paid for better weather. We made pancakes and bacon and drank our coffee and Earl Grey in the sun. We […]

Read More

Lizard Head Loop: Big Sandy to Cirque of the Towers

My mother spent her formidable years in Wyoming, between Riverton and Dubois. If you’ve ever been to that part of the state you know how utterly gorgeous it is- rivers and buttes and peaks and grizzlies. Mom’s parents had a cabin built on the east side of the Wind River Range, with a picture window […]

Read More

Backpacking for Beginners: Other Pertinent Gear

  There’s a bunch of other stuff we love to take backpacking, aside from our sleeping and cooking gear, and clothing. This is where weight really starts making a difference because food, shelter, and clothing are necessities, whereas all this stuff could be considered luxuries. For starters we both carry bear spray when we’re hiking in bear […]

Read More

Backpacking for Beginners: Clothing

  Clothing is obviously a very personal choice, so I’m just here to share what we wear and love. It doesn’t matter what the weather report says; if we’re going out for a night or more we pack clothes for all temperatures and conditions. The number one clothing item you pack should be a waterproof […]

Read More

Backpacking for Beginners: Food and Water

  Typically when Greg and I hike he carries all the gear and I carry all the food. I’m just a girl and I’ve got a bad shoulder so I can’t load up like that mule can. For this particular trip into the Winds we packed for ten days. Whatever length of trip we go […]

Read More

Backpacking for Beginners: Tent, Sleeping Bags, and Packs

  Greg and I love backpacking. We are at our marital best when we’re on the trail (not always, sometimes we hike too far for too long or my shoulder hurts or we try and rush or I spill the eggs at breakfast or don’t help set up the tent in the rain because I’d […]

Read More

Teton Crest Trail: North Fork Cascade out Paintbrush Canyon

Be sure to check out Death Canyon to Alaska Basin and Teton Creek to North Fork first!   Day 5: North Fork Cascade group site to String Lake Outlet trailhead, 12.3 miles, hot, cold, windy, rainy. Alarm went off at 5:00a again but no one could quite manage it. Rough morning for everyone and our […]

Read More