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10 Things You Need to Know About Yosemite Before You Visit!
During my years working as a ranger in Yosemite Valley, I was asked A LOT of questions. When I was answering phones or emails, visitors overwhelmingly asked about things they needed to know before visiting Yosemite. And that was great! It was my job to help out visitors, and I loved being able to share…
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Best Hikes in Tuolumne Meadows and the Yosemite High Country
Tuolumne Meadows is the epitome of the Sierra Nevada High Country. During the summer, it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, offering rugged granite peaks, clear alpine lakes, and sweeping sub-alpine meadows. Just hearing the name is good for my soul! Let’s take a closer look at what makes this area so special, along with my picks…
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Top Attractions in Redwoods National and State Parks
The coastline and scenery at Redwoods National and State Parks will take your breath away. Not only does the park protect the tallest trees in the world, it also protects and restores vital prairielands, rivers, and forests. And with a mix of scenic drives, world class hiking, and roughly 40 miles of coastline, Redwoods is…
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Best Hikes in Beautiful Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton has a special place in my heart. My first park ranger position was in the Tetons, and it was such an amazing experience! I arrived in May, straight from my college graduation in Texas. From the moment I pulled into my little summer cabin in Beaver Creek, I knew this place was magic.…
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Best Hikes in Beautiful Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a hiker and backpacker’s dream. The landscape is a unique mix of glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and rugged mountains that give visitors an incredible taste of truly being in nature. I spent about 7 months working and hiking in Glacier, and fine tuning my list best hikes! One of the things…
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5 Breathtaking Hikes You Can’t Miss in Beautiful Kauai
The Hawaiian Islands are truly magical. A tropical paradise right in the United States with breathtaking coastlines, pristine beaches, and miles of tropical jungles to explore. If you’re into a little adventure, and a lot of trail options, Kauai has it all! I spent about a month backpacking around the island in February, and it…
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8 Tips for Successful Hikes with Toddlers
Hiking with toddlers can be a total crapshoot. There are many variables, and like most activities with kiddos, it’s important to plan and prepare appropriately. However, getting little kids out on the trails and seeing their excitement over a really cool rock, or a tiny little ant on the trail can be extremely rewarding! Their…
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How to Live (a little bit) More Sustainably
When I first started working in Facilities & Engineering for the National Park Service at Yosemite, the division was hosting a project specialist from Spain to help calculate the park’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). This chick was freaking rad. Not only did she have a PhD in chemical engineering, she was a competitive runner and…
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Day Hiking Absolute Essentials – What’s in my Pack?
During my years as a park ranger and preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) ranger I learned a lot about hiking and trail safety. Unfortunately several of these tips and pack recommendations come from experience. Either from not having them on my own hikes, or rescuing someone on a trail who probably would have been fine…
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Rachel Carson Quotes – Inspiration from a Biologist
Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist and author. Her most notable book, Silent Spring, challenged the concept that humans could conquer nature with the use of chemicals. Below are a few notable Rachel Carson quotes about interactions with nature: “In nature nothing exists alone.” “But man is a part of nature, and his war…