ronn0062

Canoeing Minnesota’s Crow River

The Crow River watershed is largely located within the area 100 miles west from the Twin Cities before it detours northeast to dump into the Mississippi and form the border of Hennepin County. While the river stretches upstream for countless unmarked miles and also includes a Middle Fork, only the North Fork beginning at theContinue reading “Canoeing Minnesota’s Crow River”

Canoeing the Zumbro River

Nestled in southeastern Minnesota, the Zumbro River has multiple branches and forks that come together to make their way to the mighty Mississippi. Carving through the driftless region, this designated Minnesota Water Trail passes bluffs, farms, and quaint towns. Water levels are often low, so it’s imperative to check gauges before setting out. Usually ErikContinue reading “Canoeing the Zumbro River”

Backpacking the South Carolina and Georgia High Points

I know both the South Carolina and Georgia state high points have roads to the top but I prefer to shed some sweat, blood (read on), and tears on my journey. What ensues is a tale of two backpacking trips, plus some bonus photos from Charleston because yet again, as with Arizona and Colorado andContinue reading “Backpacking the South Carolina and Georgia High Points”

Backpacking Alaska’s Chugach State Park

Like most plans, this year’s backpacking trip didn’t quite come to fruition as anticipated. This trip was motivated by a combo of wanting to visit our friend, Claire, in Anchorage and see some glaciers before they melt. I scoured a map of Chugach State Park, the fourth largest in the United States, and found aContinue reading “Backpacking Alaska’s Chugach State Park”

Paddling Minnesota’s Snake River: In Four Parts

Located in eastern central Minnesota, the Snake River flows largely south from McGrath to Mora before turning east and winding its way to the Saint Croix River. The watershed to the north flows into Lake Superior, but the water on the Snake will eventually make its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Spanning nine years,Continue reading “Paddling Minnesota’s Snake River: In Four Parts”

Canoeing the Big Fork Plus a Little

In pursuit of the Minnesota Water Trails, initially Erik and I planned to canoe the Red Lake River to the Red River to the Canadian Border with my mom providing a shuttle. Mother Nature had other plans with the flooded Red River creating what looked like a giant lake between Grand Forks north to theContinue reading “Canoeing the Big Fork Plus a Little”

The Nevada High Point and Backpacking Southern Yosemite

My motivation for this trip was to bag the Nevada high point, Boundary Peak. As with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, I combined this with a medical conference just south of Yosemite. After our Wind River Range trip this summer, I realized our itinerary, including a four-day-65-mile-16,000-foot elevation change backpacking loop based out of Luken’sContinue reading “The Nevada High Point and Backpacking Southern Yosemite”

The Great North Wind River Range Backpacking Loop + Tourist Creek

Wherever we go backpacking, we always try to do loop routes. Apparently, as was true on our Beartooths trip in 2017, and now on our North Wind River Range trip, the trails don’t always connect into a circle and often skirt the most majestic mountains and instead stick to lower passes and valleys. Enter off-trailContinue reading “The Great North Wind River Range Backpacking Loop + Tourist Creek”

A Pandemic-Inspired Central Minnesota Canoe Adventure

As we paddle all the designated Minnesota water trails, Erik is often intrigued by the non-designated waterways and in particular, loop connections. He found such a one, the Rabbit River, that almost forms a connection with the Mississippi between highway 6 and Riverton. And so an adventure was born. In addition, we’d take almost aContinue reading “A Pandemic-Inspired Central Minnesota Canoe Adventure”

Ultra-light Backcountry Camping Gear: The Small Stuff

In this final of four gear posts, I’ll discuss all the small stuff. Although the list is long, we bring small quantities and so all these things don’t take up much space. Camping Essentials Extra Supplies (weight w/ First Aid Kit) map in waterproof container 108 g rope (thin spectra or dyneema) compass/GPS/phone/camera 179 gContinue reading “Ultra-light Backcountry Camping Gear: The Small Stuff”