Tag: hiking

  • Grizzly Peak is Perfect Day Hike

    Grizzly Peak is an iconic Ashland landmark, rising to an elevation of 5,920 feet. It also happens to be smack-dab in the center of our living room view. That view is, in fact, one of the things that sold us on the purchase of our townhome just over a year ago. By now, we've watched…

  • Mesa Verde: Home to Pueblo people in the 13th Century

    The Anasazis, now referred to as Ancenstral Pueblo people, built some of the most impressive North American structures during the 1100s and 1200s in what is now southwestern Colorado. Known as Mesa Verde, the villages were built beneath cliffs using sandstone. Circular kivas were used for ceremonies. The Pueblo people lived in the cliff dwellings…

  • These boots are made for …

      For 24 years we lived the rural life near Yosemite National Park. We loved the neighborhood and seemingly limitless space for our kids to play. We also thought our budget benefitted from the low “temptation index,” or a lack of nearby restaurants and stores.   After the kids were gone and we stopped working,…

  • Almost Heaven – West Virginia

    That's how we feel about the weather we've had during our stay here in Morgantown. I was a little intimidated by the never ending landscape of bare trees surrounding us. Chris explained that the fall color had come and gone quickly last month, so I was prepared for winter weather. Instead, we've enjoyed beautiful sunny…

  • Diversions

    The sign on the trail firmly ordered us to stop. It seemed that the Forestry Commission was logging along the section of trail in front of us. We looked to our right where another sign politely insisted we take an alternate route; a diversion. With apologies for the inconvenience and a promise that the new…

  • Short walk – full day

    While Reg “went the extra mile” for us today, in search of lunch, I relaxed and admired the view from the restaurant patio of The Great Glen Water Park. I was promised a short day; just nine miles. No backtracking for me…my feet were not going to walk any more than that! Today was a…

  • Back at sea level

    We said good-bye to Fort William Sunday morning as we continued on our trek through Scotland. We also said good-bye to some familiar faces. We've (proudly) been keeping pace with a group of college kids for the last few days. Sometimes passing them on the trail, but more often getting passed up by the foursome.…

  • Scottish weather at the finish line

    The skies over the Highlands opened for our ninth day of walking from Glasgow. The rain also kept crowds at home as we walked into the end of the West Highland Way in Fort William largely unnoticed. Days of rain: Just one! Miles: about 108 We are due to start the Great Glen Way to…

  • A desolate, but stunning landscape

      It's difficult to capture the expansive beauty of the highlands. The views go on as far as the eye can see without a spec of civilization in sight. Because there are no services out this way, our hotel packed a lunch for us and we ate trail side. We made good time today, arriving…