Hiking Archives - Interstellar Orchard

Great Yellowstone Adventure Part 3: Hellroaring Canyon and Shoshone Basin

September 10, 2019 |

This is Part 3 of a series. If you haven’t read Part 1 and Part 2 yet, you probably want to start there! July 13, Saturday “I hope this works.” I stick the backpacking parking permit for both truck and trailer on the dash of Bertha and then make sure all doors are locked and…

Great Yellowstone Adventure Part 2: The Bottom of the Canyon

August 22, 2019 |

This is Part 2 of a series. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, which covers the front country (road accessible and day hiking) part of my Yellowstone adventure, you probably want to start there. When backpacking in Yellowstone, you can’t just show up with your gear at your desired trailhead and start walking. There’s…

Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve

April 26, 2019 |

Wild Sun sits right on the border of Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve, the oldest of Costa Rica’s protected nature areas. At its founding in October of 1963, it was farm land used to raise crops and graze cattle. Fifty plus years later, it’s come a long way towards being reclaimed by nature, now being…

Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ

May 22, 2018 |

May 7, Monday The drive from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon is short and easy, a straight shot up 64. When I arrive at the entrance booths there’s virtually no waiting to get in, but for it being before Memorial Day, it’s still a lot of people inside the park – only to be…

Mojave National Preserve, CA

April 24, 2018 |

April 6, Friday Yesterday my best friend Julie flew into Las Vegas, where I picked her up and we drove back to my boondocking spot in Mojave National Preserve across the border in California. She’s camping with me for a long weekend. Longtime readers know that she’s stayed with me in the Casita before, having…

From the Ocean to the Mountains

March 6, 2018 |

At the end of the last post, Kelly, Marshall, Michael, Joni, and I drove up the Pacific Coast Highway (hwy 1) from Santa Monica to Point Mugu State Park in Malibu, CA for a night. An expensive camping option, but one that gets us close to the ocean. Feb 22, Thursday This morning I awake…

Hiking and Driving

February 27, 2018 |

The middle of February finds me at Anza-Borrego State Park in southern California boondocking with several other Xscapers who are still in the area after the Annual Bash in Quartzsite last month. Feb 14, Wednesday It’s been far too long since my last good hike! In the afternoon, a group of us pile into vehicles…

Hiking Brown Mountain

December 30, 2017 |

After bringing Bertha back from the shop on the 13th, I spend most of my next week in Tucson, AZ focused on work. On the 17th I drive up San Joaquin Road to visit a friend, Malia of Malia’s Miles – a solo full-timer of 16 years(!). The last time we’d gotten together was the…

Fifty-two Miles

August 15, 2017 |

This is Part 4 of my Isle Royale backpacking travelogue. If you haven’t read the other parts, you’ll want to start there! [part 1, part 2, part 3] July 27 (Day 6) continued After our 11 am rest break we find fresh moose prints along the trail, heading the same direction we’re going. That’s exciting,…

Hiking Isle Royale National Park

August 12, 2017 |

This is part 3 of my Isle Royale backpacking travelogue! If you haven’t read part 1 and part 2 yet, you’ll want to start there! July 25, Day 4 But before we go, Julie and I filter more water for our packs. I’m pretty sure this trip marks the first time that I’ve drank lake…

A Crash Course in Backpacking

August 8, 2017 |

Hello! This is part 2 of my Isle Royale backpacking travelogue! If you haven’t read part 1 yet, you’ll want to start there! July 22, Day 1 (continued) Lets see, where were we? Oh yes, just off the ferry at Rock Harbor with 50+ pound packs, ominous clouds, and 2.7 miles to our first stop…

Now With More Ferry Rides

August 4, 2017 |

July 21, Friday By about noon, my best friend Julie and I have loaded all of the backpacking gear into her car and are leaving Madison, WI for Grand Portage, MN. With stops for gas and food, it’ll take us about nine hours to get to our hotel. It rains for the first couple hours…

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