The big picture of my first half of 2021 included mostly day trips (mostly for hiking and cross country skiing) to local nature preserves and Pennsylvania State Parks in the earlier months, followed by longer, week long paddling trips to Mississippi, Florida, Maine, and northern Pennsylvania in later spring.
In the second half of the year, I was able to hike and paddle beautiful wilderness and water trails in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, and a couple of New England states. Oh yeah, and there was an epic three month trip to the state of Washington! I finished up the year with a long overdue "Family and Friends Tour" through southern Ontario.
The common themes in most of my travel destinations boil down to doing fun stuff like hiking, biking, and paddling along beautiful waterways and in magnificent parks. I get to immerse myself in nature a lot, and am often able to share parts of those experiences with old and new friends I meet along the way. Pictures don't usually capture the adventures in getting to these amazing places, but they do offer some sense of the incredible beauty that is out there. I think often about the wonderful emotional and physical benefits that I get by being out there, and hope some of my experiences inspire others to get outside, get active, and find beautiful people, places, and things wherever you are.
I can't emphasize enough how obvious it is that nature is being challenged and stressed by humanity. But it also reinforces my deepening commitment to helping to protect and preserve beautiful places for all of us, present and future generations. Nature has much to teach us about how to live well on this planet.
So here's the picture story of my year. Links lead to photo blogs about each of the places.
In the WINTER, I mostly stayed at home or close to home because of covid precautions. We had good snow, so friends and I got lots of local cross country skiing in. We also visited and hiked in nearby Nature Conservancies and Parks. I painted when I couldn't hike or ski.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ueaJZTBSM1ay6e7h8
The gorge at the Otter Creek Nature Preserve, one of more than 20 Lancaster Conservancy properties that I visited in 2021. More at:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GL8Ngawndiy9AixDA
A complete index of Lancaster Conservancy properties I visited is here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GL8Ngawndiy9AixDA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tF8nXbQMdgsMn2hb6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MWdVeSGzDzvgGMnF7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tN1CZdd8P3RtUXDeA
...and a "snow swim" (by me) in the Laurel Highlands (western PA) with lots of helpful commentary from my so-called friends!!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sKcsvntNqFBgypip9
Laura's Lake, aka Lake Pehoe in the Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia (Chile). Got this shot from my friend Laura. Haven't been there myself (yet), except in my imagination!
More landscape art in The Gallery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1HgbLR75g5CYsGig6
In the SPRING, I began to explore more of the 121 parks in the Pennsylvania State Park System. We have many interesting parks in the Keystone State! Here's an index to photo blogs about each of the state parks I've visited so far:
https://stateparkspa.blogspot.com/2021/08/index-state-parks-of-pennsylvania.html
One of my favorites is Ricketts Glen State Park near Allentown. It features 33 waterfalls along a 5 mile hike. Here's one waterfall; more at
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TW6izp296crRbLwU6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rTEgpduGtoaHjq7R8
Managed some springtime paddling in state parks. Here we are back on the Nescopeck:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5ngf1ddUcUp9JjmP7
The best seat in the house, in Hills Creek State Park. Part of my "Tour of the Northern Tier" in Pennsylvania
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rTEgpduGtoaHjq7R8
In early April, I spent a week exploring the Gulf Islands National Seashore with kayak sailing buddies Scott (l) and Andy. Near Biloxi, MS.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/icGiogNvWGVTfEmp9
...and then a week of paddling Florida Panhandle Rivers, with Lori and Damian
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MWdVeSGzDzvgGMnF7
Canoe Camping along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, with Vern and Nan:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sKcsvntNqFBgypip9
In May, I stopped in to hike to Stepstone Falls, along the Wild and Scenic Wood River in Rhode Island. One of a half dozen Wild and Scenic Rivers in Connecticut and Rhode Island on the way up to paddle the Allagash and St John's Rivers in Maine.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9D5oLZAVmFrTZxyVA
The East Branch Penobscot River in the Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument, just east of Baxter State Park, in Maine.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9D5oLZAVmFrTZxyVA
Seven days /six nights of paddling along the Allagash and St John Rivers in northern Maine. We portaged this rapid!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GMG84og35JwSkRRQ9
Rocks, trees, moss, ferns, and lots of water: Five of my favorite things in nature, at Allagash Falls in Northern Maine
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9D5oLZAVmFrTZxyVA
In June, I joined four other whitewater paddlers for a "week of whitewater rivers" in North Carolina and Tennessee. This is me doing a "bow stall" on the French Broad River near Asheville, NC. Thanks, Briggs Pletcher, for the shot.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rksnNkFyo4gogo7J9
Briggs fires it up at Stairstep Rapid, maybe the most complex rapid on the Big Laurel Creek, North Carolina.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rksnNkFyo4gogo7J9
The SUMMER began with a week of paddle sailing and kayak camping: Big wind and big waves on Lake Erie, near Toledo, Ohio. Thanks, Patrick Forrester, for the shot.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KKrLv6atsBCfPNEU9
Then on for a circle tour of Lake Michigan, about half of it with travel buddy Mary Anne Smith. Here is a highlight: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Also visited some very nice national and state parks in Michigan and Wisconsin on the way around:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zQyq5YEAQeRH8Vy88
In July, there was a week of messing around in boats on wild and scenic rivers in Massachusetts, including the "Dryway" whitewater section of the Deerfield River. Here, boating buddy Sozanne is running one of the more challenging rapids on the section.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3EXzyVCLFuFz3jWd
Here's the Chesterfield Gorge on the East Branch of the Westfield River
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3EXzyVCLFuFz3jWd9
Noel was one of six paddlers I met up with to run the spectacular Fish Creek in New York State on my way back.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zt2YAPzNixRmkypQ6
By mid August it was time to make the big trip out west. Usually it takes me about five days to drive to the Seattle area. This time it took about five weeks, because I made a lot of stops to amazing places along the way. I called it "The Long and Winding Road...To Washington."
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3mjWEytndg4koRn48
One of the first stops was the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Here is "A Superior View," a view of the Greatest of the Great Lakes from the mouth of the Presque Isle River.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GobkzLrod93ovkxT9
Next was a three day stop at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin. There are 23 islands in this archipelago; here are a lighthouse and sea caves on Devil's Island, the island that juts out the farthest in Lake Superior.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/K75RVViayzdJZ8XEA
After a few more stops in Minnesota and Iowa, I headed west and made my way to the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, where I met up with my travel buddy Nan. Together we hiked and toured the park and visited many breathtaking spots, including Hallett's Peak at Dream Lake
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nXzCJJCSsjBETNyS9
After about 10 days in Colorado, it was onward to the Grand Teton National Park, the Wind River Mountain Range, and the Falls in Yellowstone National Park, pictured here...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yy7Jzhc9vc2AFKun6
...before arriving at Glacier National Park in Montana. This park is one of my all-time favorites. Fifth time I've been here.
Discovered Avalanche Lake along a new (to me) trail on the west side of the park.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4k4UKje9f13AwuVC8
Finally, in early FALL, I arrived at the Mount Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest in northwestern Washington, where I met up with travel buddies Mary Anne and Andrea. We spent about a week exploring the trails, mountains, lakes, and glaciers in this amazing "forest!" The fall colors in the mountains were incredible!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/stnszDCw6DRcb4UZ6
After Andrea said her goodbyes, Mary Anne and I headed a bit east to the North Cascades National Park and the Okanogan - Wenatchee National Forest for some wonderful hikes and paddling.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5TSsR5KLWTNjotxNA
The Blue Lake trail with the Liberty Bell Group (mountain peaks in background) was one of my favorites!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8XsStHsDcC4EU6Mq7
After the North Cascades, I headed over to the Olympic National Park in the far north western corner of the state of Washington, where there are many more wonderful lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and hiking trails. The Sol Duc Falls, above, was pretty great....
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BqhS94BKatXK8c9p6
...though the rainforests on the western edge of the park, along the Pacific Ocean coast, are my personal favorites in the Olympic Peninsula. The dense, moist, moss-draped trees and forests are other-worldly!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8fLeFEeW1sNXwGJQ8
Mary Anne rejoined me for a few more days of exploring the Mount St. Helens National Monument, the site of a massive volcanic eruption in 1980...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DJywi7gJX5DGJMkv7
...and some spectacular fall scenery around the Lower Lewis River Falls
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7LvHeQhZ4m1CWkQH9
All in all, it was a pretty fabulous month of scenic adventuring in the state of Washington. Huge thanks to Mary Anne, who took the time to show me many of her favorite places in her home state!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BzuBsoRPfyPkhdyW9
By mid October, it was time to start heading back home. I spent about a week in eastern Utah, exploring several places, including a re-visit to Arches National Park, where I got this fun shot of a raven looking "a wee bit concerned" next to Balanced Rock...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/e7tJJEqHNNGRCgk4A
...and Canyonlands, a vast and wonderful national park that showcases the wonders of erosion!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/stSdMxEfAJToZGKr7
Then a bit further east to Colorado, where I spent about ten days touring, hiking, and riding through the Colorado National Monument...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/stSdMxEfAJToZGKr7
...the dark, powerful and mysterious Black Canyon of the Gunnison...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oqCXMELCgTX1yoY49
...the vast inland dunes in the Great Sand Dunes National Park...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SGfVhu7VQPqVEeHH9
...and the stunning "Garden of the Gods" city park in Colorado Springs.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UE1dpydakxLE4ncs9
I tore myself away from Colorado (next time I might spend a month there) and headed further east again, with a stop at the Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark in Kansas...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8pG5ZLyH9DxoRBVN7
...and the Gateway Arch National Park in St Louis. And a few more places. And finally returned home, about three months after I left. All in all, a pretty fabulous trip, both the journey AND the destination!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yDG6X2A9YXHRfFPx6
After a few weeks at home around Thanksgiving, I left for my last trip of the year, my "Friends and Family" trip to Southern Ontario. It was a wonderful time with opportunities to catch up with friends and relatives in about a dozen homes! Also managed to hike to a few great places along the way...
...including the Niagara Falls...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fqam4HAeGnej6t2b6
...other waterfalls along the Escarpment in the Niagara Peninsula...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uiGWH99ivNrN6FRt9
...and the Georgian Bay shoreline along the Bruce Peninsula
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uiGWH99ivNrN6FRt9
It has been another wonderful year, and I'm so happy for health, passion, means, and support from so many friends and family along the way. Best wishes for a Happy New Year to all!
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