'Brown Spirits' Are Back!
M. and I stopped at the liquor store on Thursday, and the #2 guy was asking me what kind of whiskey I liked. Mainly bourbon and rye, I said....
mars 2014
The Allure of Mt. Le Conte: A “Past and Present” Perspective
The following is a guest blog by Andy Drinnon from Twisted Ridge Photography. This is part one of a three-part series that will run on this ...
Hummingbirds Slo-o-o-o-wed Down
In about three weeks ( three weeks! ) it will be time for the first hummingbird to arrive, and shortly thereafter, the Hummingbird Wars wi...
Some High Plains Bird News
Mountain Plover (Cornell Univ.) Another news story on the upcoming annual Kaval mountain plover festival. Or how a tiny farming town, fea...
First Pasque Flower of Spring
I saw these Pasque flowers blooming on the 26th when I went to check a nearby scout camera. The amazing part is that they are growing in ...
The Allure of Mt. Le Conte: A “Past and Present” Perspective
The following is a guest blog by Andy Drinnon from Twisted Ridge Photography. This posting is the introduction to a three-part series that w...
Cades Cove
Over the years I've had several opportunities to feature videos by Matt Brass on this blog. In this short film, Matt highlights the sigh...
Windchimes in the Wets
The Haunted Windchimes , a Pueblo-based folk/roots music band, playing outside the Songbird Cafe in Beulah, Colo., in the foothills of the ...
Recipients Announced for 2014 North Carolina Appalachian Trail Specialty License Plate Grants
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announced yesterday this year’s recipients of Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Specialty License Plate grant...
Summiting Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route
Below is a pretty good video of what it's like to climb Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. The video takes viewers through the ...
Goodbye, Dave Brockie
Dave Brockie, during his stint with Virginia Beach Police Department Suddenly today, there were a bunch of hits here, which is unusual. Wh...
Combat Veterans to 'Walk Off The War' on the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has again partnered with Warrior Hike to provide a group of military veterans the opportunity to “Wa...
Taking care of your hiking feet
Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes hiking season. As we prepare for our first hikes of the year, now's a good time to take so...
You Can't Burn 'Em, You Can't Plow 'Em: SE Colorado's Tumbleweed Blizzard
Southeast Colorado county officials try to deal with the combination of blustery spring winds and last summer's bumper crop of tumblewee...
Section of Trillium Gap Trail Closed
The Great Smoky Mountains announced today that a 2.3 mile section of the Trillium Gap Trail, between the Rainbow Falls parking lot and the G...
Kilkelly, Ireland
Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone and anyone who claims a little Irish heritage, even it's only for a day. I wanted to share a son...
Photographs from the Great Smoky Mountains
The following short film is a compilation of some excellent photos that showcase the grand beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Th...
Outside Investigator Praises Black Forest Firefighters
KKTV in Colorado Springs has a good story (text and video) on the recent independent investigation into last summer's Black Forest Fire....
Karl Meltzer Announces Appalachian Trail Speed Record Attempt
Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer announced on his website this week that he will be making another attempt at the Appalachian Trail speed record t...
SNAPSHOT: Playing with Glass
I know this isn’t nature but I thought it was a cool looking shot. Just got a new Canon G15 Power Shot camera and trying out the settings. I...
Restoring the Royal Gorge Burn
Tracy Harmon at the Pueblo Chieftain has a story with photos today on restoration following last June's Royal Gorge Fire, which was th...
Southern Colorado Drought Conditions Improve
Click to enlarge Drought conditions have eased in the Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Range, but southeastern Colorado is still dry .
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Seeks Trail Crew Volunteers
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is inviting volunteers, ages 18 and older, to join Trail Crews that will help repair and construct n...
Tent Rocks
If you’re ever in the Santa Fe or Albuquerque area, be sure to take the one-hour drive to visit Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. T...
North Carolina State Parks actively seeking volunteers for 2014
North Carolina’s state parks are actively seeking volunteers to help protect the state’s rich natural resources and serve an expected 14 mil...
U.S. Mint to Launch Shenandoah National Park Quarter
Back in January the U.S. Mint launched a new quarter honoring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Next month will be Shenandoah National Pa...
Blog Stew on the Scenic Railroad
¶ After the June 2013 fire , the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is reopening for limited hours. Meanwhile, the scenic train that goes from C...
Smokies Announces Spring Opening Schedule
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the spring opening schedule for park facilities for the 2014 season. Campgrou...
Illegal Campfire is cause of Rocks Mountain Fire in Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park personnel have determined that the cause of the Rocks Mountain Fire was an illegal campfire. The fire, which was ...
Tennessee State Parks to Host Spring Hikes
Tennessee State Parks announced yesterday that they will be offering free, guided hikes on March 22nd. The second in the quarterly hikes pro...
Ramsey Cascades Trail Closed Until Late April
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced earlier today that the Ramsey Cascades Trail has been temporarily closed due to...
Smokies Offers Reward for Information on Historic Window Theft
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are offering a reward for information regarding the recent theft of an antique window from a h...
Blog Stew for Airport Survival
¶ News from the other America. A headline on the Reuters news site reads "Winter travel survival tips," and I am thinking, yeah, ...
A Yosemite Classic: The Vernal Fall / Nevada Fall Loop
The spectacular Mist Trail at the eastern end of the Yosemite Valley leads to some of the most popular destinations in Yosemite National Par...
Now We're Talking about a Little Ice Age Again
This is not reported on the five o'clock news, but solar activity is declining. A short video at the BBC, which I cannot embed, "Ha...
A Piñon Canyon "Armistice"
The big news in southern Colorado back in the late 1970s was the Army's search for a new training area for mechanized troops. Fort Carso...
Smokies Tourism Creates $741 Million in Economic Benefit
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 9,685,829 visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2012 spent $741 million in ...
Tourism to the Blue Ridge Parkway creates $902 Million Dollars in Economic Benefit
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 15.2 million visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2012 spent $902 million in communitie...
Work on Chimney Tops Trail to Resume in May - Volunteers Needed
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Trails Forever program has announced on their website that trail rehabilitation work will once again...
One Frosty Morning
The forces of fog advance toward the house. Hoarfrost on Gambel oak. Yesterday felt like a clash of the weather titans. When I woke up,...
Volunteers Needed to Staff Information Center at Clingmans Dome
Great Smoky Mountain National Park is recruiting volunteers to staff the Information Center at Clingmans Dome, from April 1 through November...
