National Parks
Utah’s Goblin Valley is a Hit for Families
We recently returned from a week-long camping trip in southwestern Utah for spring break. About every other year we head for southern Utah’s state parks and national parks to get dirty, hike, climb on big rocks, camp, play games, sit around a camp fire, star gaze and eat as many s’mores as possible.
For this trip, [...]
The Day Pink Power Ranger Skied 50 Miles
I recently returned from West Yellowstone, Montana, where some girlfriends and I dressed up in super girl costumes and skied. For a very long time.
The occasion? The Equinox Ski Challenge. This annual event, which is named for the time the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth, is awesome.
It’s basically a supported ski-a-thon on some of West Yellowstone’s world-famous [...]
Elk, Crashing Surf, Elephant Seals and a Lighthouse Make for Epic Day
On my most recent trip to the San Francisco, CA, region, I spent a day exploring the Point Reyes National Seashore region, located about an hour-and-a-half northwest of San Francisco.
The highlights were hiking to Tomales Point, which marks the end of land on the Pt. Reyes Peninsula, seeing elephant seals at Drakes Beach, and exploring [...]
Creating Fun in Your Life – Just Do It
Since selling our business in September 2008, some people think I’m retired, or semi-retired. While I’ve certainly gained more personal time and freedom, I’m not retired and don’t plan on retiring anytime soon — if ever.
In fact, in addition to doing my best to be a good mother to our three sons and a good [...]
Chasing Moose on Skinny Skis
Our family just returned from a weekend in the spectacular Jackson Hole region of Wyoming.
Our purpose of the trip was mostly to be on skis — a little work and a lot of play. We started the weekend off at the Moose Chase ski race. I entered the 30-kilometer race and our oldest two sons, [...]
This Parent’s Children Will Be In The Woods
“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.” (John Muir)
The book, Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, tells the story of today’s staggering divide between children and the outdoors. It is not a new book. I think I first read it three years ago. It has since been expanded.
The [...]
Just Being With It — or Trying To, Anyway
I know, I often quote Yoda: Do or do not. There is no try. But I’m not a natural when it comes to present time consciousness. Really living in the moment, fully, without thinking of the past or future, is work for me. I can’t just do it. For me, it requires practice. So that [...]
I Want To Be A Coach, Part 1
I want to be a coach. Not a basketball coach or a football coach, but a life coach.
(And while I’m at it, I also want to be a nutrition consultant, for which I’m working on certification, and a NOLS instructor. And, what the heck, I want a Family Vs. Wild show, too. But I digress.)
As Frontier [...]
Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim of Grand Canyon: 46 miles, 23,200′ of gain/loss, 23 hours
The Grand Canyon is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. After having traveled by foot from one rim to the depths of the canyon across the Colorado River to the other rim, and then back again, I can tell you, from intimate experience, that this claim to fame is merited.
The 277-mile-long [...]
Ahead: Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim
Well, here I am. Coming up on one of my life list adventures: a Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim of the Grand Canyon. All told, depending on which trail we descend from the South Rim, we’re talking 42-48 miles. In one day. One push. No camping or overnight stay in the process. Just hiking constantly from one rim to [...]
National Park Trips
Yellowstone International