Ka’ena Point Trail The Wai’anae Mountains were formed by an ancient shield volcano Walking along the 2.5-mile long Ka’ena Point trail, I was amazed by the mountainous peaks that were to my left. I would later come to learn that these were the Wai’anae Mountains, also known as the Wai’anae Range. This rock formation includes […]
Waipi’o Valley News There are some portions of the road that have a grade of 45% Waipi’o Valley is one of the most challenging places to visit on the big island of Hawai’i. There is an access road on the south entrance to the valley that has a 25% average grade. There are some portions […]
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area Kauna’oa Point connects two beaches This photo of four kiawe trees was taken while hiking between Hāpuna Beach and Mauna Kea Beach through the Kauna’oa Point. This hike is called the Ala Kahakai Trail, and it is located along the northwest coast of the big island of Hawai’i. Like almost […]
Taggart Lake Earthquakes over millions of years help create the mountain range In the northwest corner of Wyoming, at the southern end of Grand Teton National Park is picturesque Taggart Lake. It is accessible via a short hike. There is a “Taggart Lake Loop Trail” that takes a couple hours to complete if you are taking your […]
Yellowstone National Park A giant volcano sits underneath Yellowstone National Park I was fortunate to have visited Yellowstone National Park this year. I went in April. It was such a unique experience. This “Upper Geyser Basin” area of Yellowstone is where the majority of the world’s active geysers are located. You would be most familiar with the legendary Old […]
Jordan Pond – Acadia National Park This is the deepest body of water in Acadia reaching depths of 150 feet My favorite place east of the Mississippi River is Acadia National Park. This beautiful national park is located on an island along the northeast coast of Maine. It is not far from the most easterly part of […]
Cape Neddick – Nubble Lighthouse The lighthouse is 41 feet tall There is nothing like the Maine coastline. This is a dynamic environment with large tidal exchanges. In fact, the high tides during certain lunar events can be almost eleven feet above the normal sea level. To help protect boaters in these treacherous waters, a lighthouse was built. Construction […]
Big Bend National Park The highest peak in the Chisos Mountains is Emory Peak at 7,825 feet This photo comes from a 2021 trip Ben, Nick, and I took to Big Bend National Park in west Texas. The photo shows the Chisos Mountains about an hour before sunset, commonly referred to as the golden hour of […]
Common Loon – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Loons are often confused with ducks because they are about the same size and also swim like a duck. In the remote northwestern corner of Maine is a large lake with a large name, “Mooselookmeguntic”. The word comes from the Abnaki and means “moose feeding place”. It is technically […]
Haleakala National Park Standing at approximately 200 feet tall, this cascade of water is a sight to behold. Makahiku Falls is a beautiful waterfall located on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Standing at approximately 200 feet tall, this cascade of water is a sight to behold. Located in the lush and verdant rainforests of […]