Category: The Moosilauke Letters

VirginiaJuly  2011 We’re on our way to Mount Rogers, the high point of Virginia.  A minor traffic slowdown develops on the highway in front of us, who knows why.  We crawl along.  The vehicle we follow is a Mercedes Benz, painted one of those alcoholic colors that’s hard to define, like “champagne” or “whiskey beige.” … Continue reading Dragonflies

Humphreys PeakArizonaJune  2013 If you like to categorize, if making order out of randomness is your type of thrill, put hikers into three categories.  N’wait, I’ll do it for you. 1I was leading a hike of fourteen people when some hikers approached from ahead.  They stopped walking, I stopped walking, my group, behind me, stopped… Continue reading Hiker Style

Moraine State ParkPennsylvaniaJuly  2019

Blue Ridge ParkwayVirginiaSeptember  2010 I think it’s delightful, oddly gratifying even, that something like a road that is 469 miles long can be considered to be a park.  In fact the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited National Park unit and has been nicknamed “America’s favorite drive.” It’s not just transportation, one place to… Continue reading Marys Rock

Death Valley National ParkCaliforniaMarch  2019 Telescope Peak is more than 11 000 feet high.  My friend Mike once climbed up and over this peak on his way to Mount Whitney. Calling the park where Telescope Peak is located, the telephone conversation begins this way… “Death Valley National Park.  This is Aubrey.  How may I help… Continue reading Telescope Peak

the California CoastJanuary  2009 January 23I fly into SFO and am greeted by a friend of my brother.  He shuttles me to Laurence’s apartment in the Mission District. As we greet each other, I note that Laurence is nearly gaunt, but in good spirits.  He is feeling much better since he began taking morphine yesterday. … Continue reading My Brother Laurence

Harrison Hills ParkPennsylvaniaJuly  2018 While hiking on the dirt path, I notice two five inch brown earthworms on the ground, near to each other.  I pick one up — boys can do this without getting grossed out — and place it right on top of the other.  They wriggle about, each oblivious to the identity of… Continue reading Worms In Relationships

ClevelandOhioMay  2017 We’re on our way home from Cleveland Clinic in a rental car, Lisa is driving.  It is quiet for a few minutes before she says, “Y’know, this whole thing with anal glands…”  She lets the thought hang. This is not Lisa’s standard introduction to conversation. Nonetheless, anal glands are real.  Dogs have them,… Continue reading Jerry Siegel’s House

Mount AscutneyVermontSeptember  1984 We are on our way up-trail to the summit of Mount Ascutney, a former volcano in Windsor, Vermont.  Our snack stop is on Blood Rock. Blood Rock.  In 1925, a self-important gentleman named Houghton Hoisington was using a hand ax to carve his initials in the stone of the overlook.  As he… Continue reading Blood Rock

Red River GorgeDaniel Boone National ForestKentuckyMay  1998 The publicists, in their usual inclination to the obvious, didn’t resist the play on words, calling this area “gorgeous.”  And it truly is, the little of the place we saw. There were stunning rock formations, hillsides loaded with sassafras, and the mountain laurel and giant magnolia were in… Continue reading Rough Ride at Red River Gorge