Monument Valley
Monument Valley is the archetypal Classic Wild West. Even my first time here felt vaguely familiar. I had just found a job in Austin, Texas fresh out of grad school, and started rooming with my college buddy. My friend was…
North America
Lower Calf Creek falls
So called for its use as a natural pen for calves in the early 1900’s, the Calf Creek is a south flowing tributary of the Escalante river. Located in the canyon carved by the Calf Creek are two spectacular emerald…
Goblin Valley State Park
Imagine this – an out of the world landscape filled with an army of “goblins” turned to rock stretching to the horizon! What the locals refer to as “goblins” are really “hoodoos” – strange looking, naturally artful, mushroom-shaped sandstone formations…
Horseshoe Bend
An obscure sign in the middle of nowhere on Route 89 in Page, AZ beckons tourists to the Horseshoe Bend overlook parking lot. A small board at the parking lot (which perfectly echoes my philosophy on nature hikes) signals the…
Juan De Fuca Hikes
When most people think of amazing backpacking trails in Vancouver Island, they typically think about the legendary West Coast trail in the Pacific Rim National Park. However, there are other backpacking trails that are equally good such as the Nootka…
Mishap at the Coyote Gulch
There was a time in my life when I was completely immersed with the beauty of the American Southwest. Its red rock terrain & its desolate yet paradisiacal landscapes had consumed my imagination. I felt truly ‘free’ in its wide…
My favorite waterfall hikes in the Pacific Northwest
Both the Northwest states – Oregon & Washington, are blessed with a plethora of rivers and streams that while working their way through the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean, create plenty of waterfalls. Oregon alone has 200+ waterfalls! If you…
“The Wave”
Coyote Buttes North, aka “The Wave“, is a highly photogenic geologic marvel located at the border of Arizona & Utah. It is believed to be formed over millions of years ago due to desert sand dunes compacting and forming striped…
Moab highlights: Arches & Canyonlands
Arches & Canyonlands, located just a short distance from Moab, form two of the “Mighty Five” National parks in Utah. They are the prime reason why Moab’s tourism has flourished over the years & has managed to establish itself as…
Waterton Lakes in Winter
Waterton Lakes is possibly the most underrated National Park in Alberta. And for good reason – in provinces replete with National Parks, it has to vie for attention between the likes of Jasper, Banff, Kootenay, Yoho & Mt. Revelstoke. It’s…