Apr 11 2020
On the westernmost shore of the great American plain, the city of Denver sits like a sentry, guarding the central Rocky Mountain region like an old military fort, offering westward travelers one final opportunity to replenish their supplies before spiriting off into the hills for one adventure or another. At least, that is what this …
Apr 06 2020
At just over 3,000 miles long, the Rocky Mountains are the second longest mountain range on planet Earth, and are home to some of the most amazing plants, animals, and geological wonders that can be found anywhere. But the Rocky Mountains are not a single, unbroken system of mountains. Rather, they are a family of …
Apr 05 2020
While the Rocky Mountains of North America can’t quite compete with the incredible heights of Alaska, they still hold claim to many of the tallest points in the contiguous Unites States. In fact, other than the lonely Mount Whitney in California, the Rockies have all of the highest points in the contiguous U.S., and as such …
Apr 04 2020
Because the Rocky Mountains are over 3,000 miles long and sometimes hundreds of miles wide, it should be no surprise that there are many hundreds of different animal species that call these mountains home. From the most fearsome carnivores to tiniest ground mammals, the Rockies are capable of supporting such a diverse cast of characters …
Mar 29 2020
It seems that no matter what part of the Rocky Mountains you are traveling through, you will be overcome with an incredible and unassailable sense of history. Indeed one feels overwhelmed with ghost-like recollections of the prospectors and trappers that settled this wild country, or the explorers and warriors that came before them to unlock …
Oct 14 2018
What to do when you’re in one of the best states for exploring mountains, new at climbing, and tethered to the city of Portland during your summer vacation? Walk Portland, Oregon’s dormant volcano, Mount Tabor! This is exactly what I did this summer. One sunny day in August, my daughter, brother-in-law, niece, and I took …
Jun 16 2018
It is sometimes the lower, quieter mountains that can offer the deepest insights into the world. Douglas Mountain, located in Sebago, Maine, is one of those mountains. Referred to by some as Douglas Hill, it offers the natural beauty that sets the state apart, while also having trails that are short enough to do in …
Jun 16 2018
Jutting up from the Northern Atlantic seaboard, where the land breaks off into islands that stretch east to greet each day, is Cadillac Mountain. The largest of the 20 peaks on Mount Desert Island, Cadillac Mountain’s summit tops out at 1,530 feet (466 m) in elevation. After Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Cadillac’s summit …
Jun 03 2018
Peeking out over the Cordillera Central range of Puerto Rico is Cerro de Punta. Cerro de Punta, endearingly referred to by locals as Puntitas, is located in the middle of the island territory, straddling Ponce and Jayuya. Rising to an altitude of 4,398 feet (1,388 m), it is the tallest mountain on the Isla del …
Jun 03 2018
When one thinks of North Carolina and the mountains, one’s mind is usually drawn to the western part of the state, with the soaring peaks of Grandfather Mountain, Chimney Rock, or Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the East. But 500 million years ago, another range of mountains formed along the coast, what is now …
