Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Casper, WY Bike Ride
My day in Casper started with an unexpected tour of the city's Starbucks locations before turning to cycling along the North Platte River. After a long ride and a relaxing stop at Planet Fitness, I left town in the late afternoon, following the golden evening light south toward a remote campsite at East Allen Lake.
Hell’s Half Acre, Drones, and Casper WY
Hell’s Half Acre appears almost without warning in the Wyoming prairie, a maze of gullies and unusual rock formations carved by millions of years of erosion. I went to photograph the badlands and ended up learning about their geology, fossils, and Hollywood history. The biggest surprise came when two FPV drone pilots showed me the formations from an entirely different perspective.
An Unexpected Day in Thermopolis, Wyoming
What began as a morning of coffee and writing in Thermopolis turned into a day of unexpected discoveries. From the swastikas on a century-old building to the outlaw history of the Hole-in-the-Wall Saloon, fascinating museum exhibits and the ancient geology of Wind River Canyon, Wyoming continued to surprise me.
Meeteetse and Thermopolis
A quiet stop in Meeteetse, Wyoming, turned into an unexpected afternoon with renowned Western sculptor Vic Payne. We talked about bronze casting, his family's artistic history, and the impact of AI on art. Later, I drove to Thermopolis, where I spent three relaxing hours soaking in natural hot springs before watching the last sunlight illuminate Roundtop Mountain.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
A day in Cody, Wyoming, turned into an unexpected journey through the history and art of the American West. I spent hours exploring the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, learning about Buffalo Bill's remarkable life and Wild West Show, and discovering an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures. From Charlie Russell's illustrated letters to contemporary Western art, there was far more to see than I had time for.
Yellowstone to Cody
A three-hour drive from Yellowstone to Cody turned into a full day. I squeezed in beside a family of photographers at Gibbon Falls, spent over an hour watching a hundred buffalo cross the river and the road in Hayden Valley, watched a coyote catch a mouse, and climbed over Sylvan Pass into Shoshone National Forest before the late sun lit up Buffalo Bill Reservoir.
Mammoth Hot Springs in Snow
A cold, rainy October day in Yellowstone turned into another memorable adventure. I explored the colorful terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, photographed waterfalls and mist-covered landscapes, met travelers from around the world, and encountered bison wandering down the middle of the road. Despite the weather, it was another fascinating day exploring Yellowstone.
Yellowstone’s Circle of Fire in the Rain
Rain followed us around Yellowstone’s Lower Loop on the Circle of Fire tour. Between wiping my camera dry, photographing waterfalls and steaming pools, and sharing travel stories with fellow passengers, there was plenty to enjoy. Afterward, the drive back to Madison Campground brought more stops for bison, fly fishermen, and steam drifting across the landscape.
Yellowstone and Old Faithful
A Saturday afternoon in Yellowstone National Park exploring Old Faithful and the surrounding Upper Geyser Basin. With the season winding down, I spent the afternoon photographing colorful geothermal pools, bubbling geysers, mineral formations and drifting steam while learning more about the volcanic forces that created this remarkable landscape.
One Last Day in the Tetons
After several days of hiking, cycling and photography in Grand Teton National Park, I spent my final day exploring Mormon Row and catching up on everyday chores in Jackson, Wyoming. Between showers, laundry, groceries and preparing the van for the next leg of my journey, the day disappeared quickly. I returned to Gros Ventre Campground for one last quiet evening before heading north to Yellowstone National Park.
A Quiet Day in Grand Teton
After a long day hiking around Jenny Lake, I decided to spend my fourth day in Grand Teton National Park doing very little. I slept late, read, organized the van and enjoyed the beautiful autumn weather. When nearby generators interrupted the peace, I drove to a quiet overlook and spent a couple of hours enjoying the mountains in the afternoon sunshine.
A Long Day Hiking Jenny Lake
What began as a planned hike into Cascade Canyon turned into a much longer adventure around Jenny Lake. I photographed Hidden Falls, climbed to Inspiration Point and met a fellow hiker from Costa Rica. As daylight faded, we scrambled across fallen trees and hurried back through the forest. The evening ended with an unexpected search for his car and close encounters with a red fox and five moose.
Cycling Through Grand Teton National Park
My second day in Grand Teton National Park began with freezing temperatures and a moose sighting near Gros Ventre Campground. After several frustrating attempts to find a trailhead, I finally set off on an afternoon bike ride through Jackson Hole. With golden aspens, spectacular views of the Teton Range and temperatures approaching 70°F, it turned into a wonderful day of cycling and photography.
Fall Creek Falls to Grand Teton NP
My journey from Idaho Falls to Grand Teton National Park included a detour to Fall Creek Falls near Swan Valley, where the Snake River winds through a beautiful valley lined with golden aspens. After exploring the falls and photographing the autumn scenery, I continued into Wyoming and settled into Gros Ventre Campground for five nights of hiking, cycling and photography.
Massacre Rocks, Register Rock & Pocatello, Idaho
I started the morning hiking along the Oregon Trail at Massacre Rocks State Park, then stopped at Register Rock to examine signatures left by emigrants more than 150 years ago. Later, I found myself wandering through downtown Pocatello, photographing old buildings, street art, and remnants of the city's railroad past. A chance conversation with a longtime resident revealed stories about the Princess Theatre, Judy Garland, and a downtown that had seen better days.
10/3: Twin Falls
A day exploring Twin Falls, Idaho, took me from the impressive Shoshone Falls to the Perrine Bridge, where I unexpectedly discovered BASE jumpers launching themselves into the Snake River Canyon. I spent time photographing the jumpers before getting on my bike to explore the trails along the canyon rim.
Bruneau Canyon & Twin Falls
A day exploring southern Idaho took me from the remote Bruneau Canyon Overlook through quiet farming communities to Malad Gorge and the crystal-clear waters of Box Canyon. Along the way, I photographed an osprey nest, playful cattle and a horse, and farmers harvesting hay. The evening ended with an Oktoberfest celebration in downtown Twin Falls.
Dedication Point, Bruneau Dunes
A day exploring southwest Idaho took me from the Point Fire Tragedy Memorial to the dramatic Snake River Canyon at Dedication Point and historic Swan Falls Dam. Along the way, I encountered coyotes, pronghorn, and some interesting people. I ended the day at Bruneau Dunes State Park, photographing golden dunes, wildlife along the lake, and the Milky Way late into the night.
Boise: Old Penitentiary & Botanical Garden
A day exploring Boise, Idaho, took me from the fascinating history of the Old Idaho Penitentiary to the late-season flowers and sculpture exhibits at the Idaho Botanical Garden. Along the way, I discovered an elaborately decorated Halloween Jeep, an enormous collection of historic weapons, and a surprisingly lively downtown. I finished the evening with a giant Idaho stuffed baked potato at Spud Daddy and a walk through the city.
Boise River Greenway Bike Ride
What started as a planned 15 mile bike ride along the Boise River Greenbelt turned into a wonderful 43 mile afternoon. The paved trail took me through quiet neighborhoods, wooded parks, along the Boise River, and past people fishing, surfing, walking, and cycling. With beautiful weather and so much to see, I just kept riding. It turned out to be one of my favorite days in Boise.