I understand this is INCREDIBLY subjective, but bear with me here! But I've had the pleasure of visiting over half of the national parks (and pretty much most of the top-tier ones), so I wanted to share some of the best places to land photos as you plan out your 2025 travels. My Top Photography Locations for These National Parks Mount Rainier Dege Peak. Probably not what you were expecting, huh? While you sacrifice wildflowers, Dege Peak gives you views of Mount Rainer, Mount Adams, Mount...
30 days ago • 2 min read
Happy New Year, and thank you for reading this little newsletter. I truly appreciate you all and wish you and your family an excellent 2025. This year, you can expect more adventures, gear tips, hiking suggestions, and more. I wrote a 2024 recap on Instagram that you can read here. Also, I still have calendars for sale. Planning a Trip to the Grand Canyon I spent the holidays with my parents in Northern Arizona and finally spent more than just a day at the Grand Canyon. I usually zip up, hike...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Happy Holidays! One of my favorite traditions is making my scenic calendar. Since 2018, I've compiled my adventures into an annual calendar highlighting stunning locations across the country and beyond. This year is no different - and I actually think it's one of the best calendars I've produced. If you're looking to give a great gift or need a calendar to help plan your trips and get inspired, I would be honored if you chose mine. If you plan to give it as a gift, Wednesday, December 18th is...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I made the bold choice to get my flu and COVID shots the day before we left for Bend, and unbeknownst to me, I had a small cold brewing inside of me. So, combined with the shots and holiday festivities, I got sick by the end of the weekend and have been recovering since. But it gave me plenty of time to dive into this newsletter! As we get closer to the holidays, I wanted to help you out with gift ideas. Practical Gifts without...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays. However you plan to enjoy this upcoming weekend, I hope it brings you joy, full bellies, and lots of laughs. We're headed to central Oregon to enjoy some sun (and freezing temps), but the vitamin D will be lovely! (Scroll to the bottom to see my REI Sale Picks.) Let's Talk TV: Alone vs Outlast The premise of Outlast and Alone: Contestants are dropped into a remote part of Alaska or Canada (or elsewhere) and need to survive off the land...
2 months ago • 3 min read
My Annual 2025 Scenic Calendar is on sale! They make great presents this holiday season and will be mailed out in early December. Order yours today. The importance of preparation before hikes Inyo Search and Rescue was called in early November for two hikers attempting to summit Mount Whitney. That, in itself, is not unusual. People are rescued every year on that tail. The surprising part is they were rescued just three miles from the trailhead and over eight miles below the 14,505-foot...
3 months ago • 4 min read
New Iceland Video Hey, not a campaign email! I bet you're stoked about that, haha. (But please vote if you haven't!) However you're feeling today, I think you will vote in favor of this video. I finally compiled all of my Iceland drone videos from my 2023 trip into a relaxing 17-minute video that showcases the beauty of Iceland's landscapes. If you need a break from the TV, a moment of Zen, or just enjoy watching nature videos, I think you'll love this. Thanks for watching, and I'd greatly...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Temperatures are falling fast up here in Seattle. Snow has started to blanket the higher elevations, and nearly all the trees in my neighborhood have some fall color. It's a beautiful sight but a sad reminder that our dark days are ahead. 4:30 sunsets are coming, and everyone in the PNW and I detest them. In the spirit of changing leaves and cooling temperatures, I wanted to highlight some ways to stay warm while you adventure and camp over the next few months. Sunset view from the North...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Last week was special! On Monday night, just hours after returning from a work trip to Central Oregon, I saw that we would have the northern lights up in Seattle. So, at 8:30 pm, I packed up my gear and headed to the mountains. Unfortunately, I missed the "best" showing, arriving half an hour too late to truly capture the full extent. But for the next three hours, I sat alone on top of a mountain and watched as pillars came and went and pink hues danced across the sky. Then, Thursday night...
4 months ago • 2 min read