When we decided to take a long weekend trip to Maui, there were two things we prioritized - driving the Road to Hana, and hiking in Haleakalā National Park. One of the most referenced national park experiences was viewing sunrise from the summit of Haleakalā volcano at 10,000 feet. You need a reservation for this …
Continue reading Sunrise on the Summit: Haleakalā National Park
An advantage of driving the Road to Hana and making a complete loop around the southeastern side of Maui was hiking in the small, publicly accessible section of Kīpahulu Valley Biological Reserve in Haleakalā National Park. The Effort to Protect Kīpahulu ValleyIn 1969 ... The Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased close to 10,000 acres of land …
During our recent weekend getaway to sunny Arizona, we spent some time in both the western and eastern sections of Saguaro National Park. Much of what I read online focused on the western side of the park / Tucson Mountain District. I think people prioritize that side because of the big cacti forests: While similar …
Continue reading Morning Hikes in Saguaro National Park’s East Side
After an incredible morning hiking to Seven Falls in the Sabino Canyon area, we made our way toward the west side / Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park. I had originally thought we'd spend the afternoon hiking in this area, but our long morning hike and a transition to cloudy skies had us altering …
Continue reading Exploring Saguaro National Park’s West Side
We recently took advantage of a free January weekend and Alaska Airline points to chase some sunshine and hike among the saguaro cacti in Tucson, Arizona. This was my second time in Arizona but my first time to this part of the state, and I really enjoyed the laid back pace of this area. We …
It's been several weeks since we had time for a longer hike in the mountains. Yesterday we set out on a morning trek into the Cascades following Saturday's rain and snowfall, heading north to Snoqualmie Pass and a new-to-us hike to Dirty Harry's Balcony. With a name like that, I wasn't expecting this hike to …
Around Thanksgiving, my husband always travels to Ohio for 10-12 days of hunting season. I always stay in Washington due to work and the timeframe being too long to leave our 13-year-old fur baby on his own, even with a trusted friend checking in. This year we planned for the same. It wasn't until Brian …
Finding direction and purpose on the road, in the outdoors, and on the page
Finding direction and purpose on the road, in the outdoors, and on the page
Finding direction and purpose on the road, in the outdoors, and on the page
Heather's Compass 