We just got back from 8 days in Belize, and I've never been in such a hot and humid environment. The jungle of Belize is no joke, and without AC in 93F +80% humidity, the sweating never ended! But it was a wonderful trip - split between jungle and ocean. Overall, a fantastic time experiencing a new culture, seeing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, and learning about Mayan history.

I'll have more on the trip in the next newsletter.

For now, I head out on a work trip to the Oregon Coast before settling down for all of July in Colorado. I'm super excited to hike, backpack, and hike more throughout the Colorado Rockies.

I hope the start of summer is going well for all of you and that you're maximizing your time outside.

A Wild Mountain Goat Encounter

I’ve had some magical wildlife experiences in my life: humpbacks in Hawaii, brown bears in Alaska, polar bears in Churchill, but one experience, high in the Washington state alpine, sticks with me.

Mountain Goats in the North Cascades.

Two friends and I were on an overnight backpacking trip in North Cascades National Park. After a magical sunrise, we started packing up. Then, seemingly to appear out of nowhere, a half dozen mountain goats joined the party.

We immediately stopped what we were doing and grabbed our cameras.

One by one, they streamed into view. I had seen mountain goats before. But never in a place like this. And never with them standing in such a photogenic location.

The goats, with towering, jagged peaks behind them, meandered around; unbeknownst to them, they were the stars of the show.

​I have a lot more photos from the encounter if you'd like to see them, plus keep reading the full article. ​

National Park Spotlight of the Week - North Cascades National Park

While we're speaking of mountain goats in the North Cascades, why not dive into one of the most rugged and least visited National Parks in the lower 48? It's in the top tier of my favorite parks. And thanks to living in Washington for three years, I had the amazing opportunity to explore this area.

• Established in 1968
• Called the American Alps - for good reason
• It's the most glaciated national park (outside of Alaska) with over 300. This is about 1/3 of all glaciers in the continental US
• My favorite hikes that are inside the park boundaries are: Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm, Hidden Lake Lookout, and the Copper Ridge Trail
• Fun Fact: Ross Lake and Diablo Lake (nor Highway 20, aka North Cascades Highway) actually reside outside National Park boundaries (but inside the Ross Lake Recreation Area).
• Amazing backpacking routes, but pretty rugged and strenuous, and most go up, up, up
• Depending on where you go, it's about 2.5-3 hours from Seattle
• Not a lot of lodging out there (until you reach Mazama) as it's incredibly rural. There are campgrounds, but they fill up fast.

​See some of my favorite hikes in the area.​

Photography Gear Corner

Here are some items I've been enjoying over the last few years:

• ​My go-to camera bag. The Wandrd PRVKE 31​
• ​ProGrade Digital Memory Card - CFexpress 4.0 - 240GB​
• ​Favorite small, travel/backpacking tripod: Sirui T-025x Carbon Fiber Tripod​
• My go-to standard camera setup: Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera RF24-105mm F4 L is USM​

Interesting Outdoor-Related Articles

A handful of articles you might enjoy:

​What to expect visiting the National Parks this summer - NYT​

​Three people died inside the Grand Canyon due to extreme heat - CBS News (Remember to avoid the inner canyon between 11-4pm during the summer)

​The most unpredictable meteor shower of the year peaks this week. Here's what to expect - Space.com

​The Colorado River Is Drying Out. I Paddled it to See What's at Stake. - Backpacker

​Maya altar and offerings at abandoned Belize sites highlight enduring ritual activities - Phys.org

Recent Articles You May Have Missed from Explore With Alec

​The 13 Best Hikes in Glacier National Park​

​Visiting McArthur-Burney Falls State Park: A Complete Guide​

​An Oasis in Texas: Exploring the Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center​

​The Best Places to See Bears in Alaska + Photo Tips​

​12 MUST-HAVE Backpacking Gear Essentials for this Summer​

​The 19 Best Things To Do In Yosemite National Park​

​The 27 Best Things to Do in Alaska: Wildlife, Hikes, and Stunning Tours​

​4-Day Grand Teton National Park Itinerary: Hikes, Lakes, and Wildlife​