Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
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.
Craters of the Moon
A drive across eastern Idaho turned into a day filled with unexpected stops. I passed the Three Buttes, stopped at Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1, read roadside signs about Idaho’s nuclear history, found Submarine 666 and Arco Number Hill, and then spent the afternoon exploring the strange volcanic landscape of Craters of the Moon National Monument.
The Little Big Horn Battlefield
Over two days, I explored Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, following the battlefield tour road, visiting the memorials and learning more about the events of 1876. The following day, I spent several hours watching hawks, turkey vultures and osprey hunt over the open fields and along the river. I spent time just relaxing along the Big Horn River.
Foggy Glacier National Park
I went to Glacier National Park hoping to hike Hidden Lake and spend the day taking photographs, but thick fog at Logan Pass had other ideas. What followed included two shuttle rides, grizzlies emerging through the mist, a memorable conversation with two Blackfoot drivers, Running Eagle Falls and an afternoon exploring Two Medicine.
Calgary to Glacier National Park
After leaving Calgary, I crossed into Montana and entered Glacier National Park at St. Mary. The day included a tense border inspection, huckleberry pie on the Blackfeet Reservation, tribal history at the visitor center, bear warnings at Rising Sun, an almost-empty campground and the discovery that my 22-foot van was one foot too long for the road to Logan Pass.
A Week Between Denali and Fairbanks
I spent my final days in Denali exploring Cantwell, hiking Horseshoe Lake and trying to master my Garmin 67i before driving north to Fairbanks. That's where the week changed. A noise I'd been hearing from the rear of the van turned out to be a brake pad worn completely to metal, leaving me parked for several days while Ford searched for parts and me wondering how 7 mm of brake pad disappeared so quickly.
Denali Sled Dogs and Bike Ride
I visited Denali’s historic sled dog kennels to learn how these working dogs have helped rangers protect the park for more than a century. Later, I traded dog power for pedal power with a 20-mile bike ride, including ten miles of climbing up the Denali Park Road.
Denali: A Summer Day
After a busy week in Denali, I finally slowed down. I spent the afternoon exploring exhibits at the Denali Visitor Center, learning more about the people, artists and history of the park, wandering through the Alaska Railroad depot, and wondering whether I could squeeze in a train ride to Fairbanks. Later, I drove toward Savage River with the windows down, stopping for wildlife and photographing the evening light moving across the mountains.
Denali: Tundra Wilderness Tour
An early morning Tundra Wilderness Tour took me deep into Denali National Park, with grizzlies, caribou, Arctic ground squirrels and plenty of “bear rocks” along the way. That evening, a fascinating presentation on permafrost, wildfire history and Alaska’s changing landscape gave me an entirely different way of looking at Denali.
Denali: East Fork Discovery Hike
A full day in Denali's backcountry took me across an icy river, through colorful tundra, and into grizzly country on a ranger-led East Fork Discovery Hike. Along the way I learned about the Pretty Rocks Landslide, photographed wildlife, and experienced one of the most peaceful landscapes I've encountered in Alaska.
Denali National Park
My first day in Denali National Park was spent settling into the campground, talking with Ranger Kate, learning how the park's wilderness experience is different from most national parks, exploring the visitor center, and preparing for my first guided backcountry hike. Along the way I met interesting people, discovered a unique rock-filled retaining wall, and realized this visit would be unlike any national park I'd experienced before.
Exploring Historic Talkeetna After a Denali Flight
After my Denali glacier flight, I spent the afternoon wandering historic Talkeetna. From its railroad history and colorful downtown to Denali views, Bell's Interpretive Trail, local shops, and a memorable dinner, it was the perfect way to experience one of Alaska's most popular small towns.