Category: The Moosilauke Letters

Yosemite National ParkCaliforniaAugust  2003 We are on day six of an extraordinarily beautiful loop hike in one of my favorite places on Earth, Yosemite National Park.  Tonight we are in the backpackers campground, a kind of layover for folks who are, for example, on day six of an extraordinarily beautiful loop hike, or for folks… Continue reading Bear Come Down — Blondie

Baxter State ParkMaine Chimney Pond Campground, in the shadow of Mount Katahdin.  We have our dinner and relax for the evening, sitting by the pond with some other hikers, swapping stories with Ranger Mark, mostly Mark’s stories.  Our food bag is already hung on the bear line, a wire suspended some eleven feet above the… Continue reading Bear Come Down — Hanging

SalisburyConnecticutMay  2014 Today, we hike Bear Mountain in Connecticut, just about the highest summit in the state. The woman working behind the desk at the “beautifully decorated boutique country inn” where we stay one night, asks, “Where are you off to today?” When I use the phrase, “beautifully decorated boutique country inn,” I am quoting… Continue reading Bear Come Down — Clots

One concern of those who spend time in the woods is bear.  In Yellowstone National Park, for example, there are both the black bear, with which we in the Northeast are familiar, and the grizzly bear, who lives in western North America.  Watch out for griz, if for no other reason than its scientific name… Continue reading Bear Come Down — Your Behavior

Myakka River State ParkFloridaFebruary  2002 Trailhead is indicated by a sign.  I appreciate this as there has been a time or two when I’ve pulled into a crowded parking lot, looked around for trailhead and couldn’t find it.  I get the disturbing image that some of the vacationers and tourists — you know, the rubes… Continue reading Rubes

CarlsbadNew MexicoJuly  2013 1We stay the night in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where we need to resupply.  The only remotely convenient store that has the essentials we need — fresh fruit, electrolyte drinks, chocolate — is a Walmart store.  There are a number of reasons I don’t like Walmart stores but now is not the time… Continue reading Adventures in Carlsbad

The Appalachian National Scenic Trailany time since 1937 The Appalachian National Scenic Trail was first envisioned in 1921 and completed in 1937.  Eleven years later, Earl Shaffer stepped on the Trail at its southern end and then, 124 days later, stepped off the Trail at its northern end, logging roughly 2100 miles.  The first verified… Continue reading Running the Trail

HancockMarylandJuly  2024 Lucky us, we made a last minute weekend trip to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.  On the way home, we took a break from driving by stopping at the Sideling Hill Welcome Center in Hancock, Maryland.  What drew us in was mostly the location — it was time for a break — but… Continue reading Rest Stop

Blue Ridge ParkwayVirginiaJune  2015 What is that, right of center in the top quarter of the photo, sticking up above the trees?  That small, silvery hut.  It looks little. Wait, I know the answer.  It’s the Green Knob Lookout Tower.  Let’s set that as our goal for today’s hike. We turn off the Blue Ridge… Continue reading Green Knob

Laurel Highlands Hiking TrailPennsylvaniaJune  2004 A backpacking trip, this one on the Laurel Highlands Trail.  Not more than two hours into our hike, the six of us are caught in a thunderstorm.  Lightning in the woods:  dangerous, yes.  We are clearly not the tallest things in the area, perhaps we will be safe under the… Continue reading Dad! Dad!