Backpacking is just walking … up and down steep inclines and carrying 30 pounds on your back. When you backpack, you pay a lot of money to pretend you are homeless. But there is something to depriving yourself of modern and sometimes physical comforts that… Read More »Benefit of deprivation and love of backpacking
The Buffalo National River, located in northwest Arkansas, is the first river to be designated a national river. It is also the one of the few undammed rivers in the lower 48 states and is managed by the National Park Service. Because of this the… Read More »Kayaking – Buffalo National River
In a state of natural wonder – falling in love with North Carolina After spending only a week in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park one year for vacation, I knew I would have to return to the area because one week is not near… Read More »North Carolina – naturally wonderful
Many think of the National Park Service to consist of, well, national parks. But in addition to showcasing our country’s natural beauty, it also preserves our historic sites, rivers, seashores, lake shores, and other national treasures. These underrated national parks are definitely worth it to… Read More »Four underrated national parks
One of my favorite aspects of epic hikes is being able to start out in on type of ecosystem and view others throughout the hike. In our visit to Olympic National Park in Washington State last summer (2015), Lagena and I really wanted to hike to… Read More »West Fork Dosewallips River Trail
When Lagena and I were planning our road trip from Arkansas to Glacier National Park in northern Montana, I had originally made a long list of places I wanted to see that were “on the way. Unfortunately with that great of a distance, there are… Read More »Yellowstone – when you only have 48 hours
One of my favorite day hikes around Hot Springs is the Hunt’s Loop Trail in the Ouachita National Forest. The 4.3-mile-hike takes you straight up Short Mountain to a gorgeous vista and then through some of the most beautiful woods along the ridge of the… Read More »Hiking Hunt’s Loop Trail
You are planning a trip, but you also do not want to be tied down to certain plans or schedules; after all half of the fun is exploring the unknown. So how do you plan for spontaneity? I know it’s an oxymoron, but it can… Read More »How to include spontaneity in vacation plans
Before hiking the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, the furthest I had ever hiked continuously was about 20 miles, a one-night backpacking trip in Montana. I asked my brother, Jacob, who is a teacher, if he wanted to do a backpacking trip with me during spring… Read More »Gotta LOViT – the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail
A debate is growing between hammock camping and tent camping. People who hammock camp like that they are lighter, easier to set up, and take up way less room in your tent. I lean more toward tent camping, but my brother, Jacob, is all hammock.… Read More »Hammock camping versus tent camping
Learning to ski is always an adventure, but not out of reach Someone once told me that learning a new, physically demanding, and dangerous activity is best done before the age of 30. Well I’m 33, and last month I went snow skiing for the… Read More »Surviving your first ever ski trip
No one really knows what causes migraines. When I went to the neurologist a few years back, I was given a lengthy list possible “triggers,” most of which I have attempted to eliminate, but no luck. I can tell you what I do know, and… Read More »Four truths of those suffering with migraines
Several people have commented to me how Arkansas has such wonderful state parks. And the parks in the Arkansas State Parks system are definitely the best I have visited throughout the country. Between the interpretive programs and wide variety of activities they offer, helpful staff,… Read More »Arkansas State Parks to check out
Belly River Backpacking In the summer of 2014, Lagena and I decided we needed to backpack on our trip to Glacier National Park. We eventually ended up picking the Belly River Trail, which was perfect for the two of us. There were two elements of… Read More »Belly River Trail – Glacier National Park
Bayou DeView Water Trail offers beautiful kayaking The Arkansas Water Trails program is a fun excursion for the outdoor adventurer in Arkansas. As part of the educational programs with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, the trails are located throughout the state along rivers, streams,… Read More »Winter kayaking in the bayou
A soggy socked start to the new year Last New Year’s Eve was the first holiday that I went to bed before midnight since I have been old enough to stay up to ring in the new year. Zach and I decided to spend the… Read More »Big Brushy Trail Complex
I first started researching Big Bend National Park a few years back when a friend and I were looking for a destination for a desert camping trip. That year we ended up at another Texas park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, about four hours to the… Read More »Big Bend National Park
First, I’ll tell you that I love the outdoors so much that even when I am not comfortable, because I’m hot, cold, wet, or whatever, I still have a good time. I love to experience life and life is not always perfect. Most of the… Read More »Sometimes life leaves you bruised – biking the Little Blakely Trail
Summiting Arkansas’ highest mountain I believe anyone who loves big mountains and lives in Arkansas needs to at least once hike bottom to the top of the state’s highest mountain, Mount Magazine. My brother, Jacob, and I had planned to hike another trail, but after… Read More »Hiking Mount Magazine bottom to top
The perfect combination for love of books and travel My favorite thing in life is to travel, explore and see all that I can before I leave this life. It doesn’t take much motivation to get me out the door and on my way somewhere,… Read More »Five books to inspire travel
Jesus tells us to die to self, Christmas is a great time to start A few years back I read Gary Chapman’s “Five Love Languages” for single people. Chapman states that there are five languages in which we communicate love; acts of service, words of… Read More »What I want for Christmas is free
Travel does not have to be unattainable if you travel cheap Traveling and exploring new places is something I find myself longing for pretty much all the time. And fortunately the travel activities I enjoy the most are the less expensive ways of travel. I… Read More »How I travel cheap
I had only been through Oklahoma City twice, but coming back from Texas one trip I caught a glimpse of a lively downtown. I told Crystal, who visits the city often because a family member lives there, that it might be fun to come with… Read More »Girls’ Weekend in Oklahoma City
Brush Heap Mountain is located on the Athens-Big Fork Trail, which is one of the hardest trails to tackle in the Ouachita Mountains. Most trails follow the ridges of the Ouachitas, located in southwest Arkansas, which run east to west. The ABF, however, is a… Read More »Hiking Brush Heap Mountain
While cleaning out an old purse I came across a list of goals from a few years ago that my then-boyfriend and I made. We had a three-month, one-year and five-year plan. I have been told it is healthy to have a five-year plan and… Read More »Why I don’t do the “five-year plan” goals
Backpacking in Grandfather Mountain State Park There are many aspects that set backpacking apart from car camping. One, you carry all of your equipment, food, and water. Two, there are no showers, toilets, or grills. Before my first backpacking trip, I had already been primitive… Read More »Grandfather Mountain Backpacking
Simple running safety rules to keep in mind I don’t love running, but I do it to stay fit so I can tackle epic hikes and simply feel better day-to-day. I consider myself a runner even though I am slow. In December 2014 I ran… Read More »Six safety running rules to follow