arizona

Bucket lists are confounding things. Some people fill them full of wishes that will go forever unfulfilled. Others voraciously tackle each item in course, eliminating the sense of a life unlived long before reaching retirement. As a pragmatist, I've never seen much use for bucket lists. Death...

Last week three of us did a lollipop loop of about 27 miles. Starting from the Bill Hall Trail at Monument Point, North rim. The week had been rainy and we still weren't convinced of clearing. The original plan was to car camp on the trail head road the night before but it was rainy and cold...

I was never that interested in seeing the Grand Canyon. It's like it was too hyped up or something. So many people flocking to the edge of an abyss to stare off into... what? A big canyon? The pictures are pretty and all, but it just never struck me as some place I had to go to NOW. Hiking and...

I need to play catch up on my Backcountry Posts! This was originally posted on the Deuter Blog, because I’m an ambassador (their backpacks are AMAZING). There is nothing better than heading out into new backcountry. Actually there is something better: when the location exceeds all your...

In a desperate attempt to escape the searing of Phoenix, AZ I planned a 9 day trip to southern Utah. Cooler than usual temps lead me to Lone Rock campground where I got to test out my Aquaglide inflatable kayak. Found some really choppy water at first but the kayak proved to be quite stable...

Zion National Park, UT and the North Rim, AZ June 25th-30th, 2015 I normally prefer to travel solo on my hiking trips with the main exception being when my wife is able to join me. So when Tyne said her work schedule would allow her 5 days to hike with me this June, I jumped at the opportunity...

I now know how to integrate pictures with some of my stories....So periodically I will put the two parts together as one, here on BC. This wild day from 2009 Bypass My Ass by Ram This is a story of a FULL day in the Grand Canyon in February 2009. ‹› ‹› ‹› For many years February had been a...

The weather was threatening to cancel us in the days before but luckily cleared and we spent 3 nights in the Paria last week. Spring flowers were great. Enjoyed seeing how the canyon unfolded on it's way to the Colorado. The first 7 miles to Buckskin confluence. Slide Rock Buckskin...

4/12/15 It had been a while since I had been out to Toroweap Overlook on the Grand Canyon. I've always thought it was one of the coolest views around and with my newfound obsession about the big ditch I wanted to see it again. So I mentioned it to my dad and convinced my brother to quote "sit...

South canyon hike to the Grand Canyon. A steep and rocky hike to a beautiful set of beaches and Vasey's Paradise. I was staying one night. Kept my pack-an ultralight-to 20 lbs with a gallon of water fully loaded. I was really glad as there were scrambles which would have been difficult with...

Cove Canyon So when it landed that just two of us were going to be able to go down Cove Canyon in Grand Canyon, we hesitated and considered other options. I am proud to still be toughing it out on the adventure circuit and I think Jenny is too....but this canyon required a 60m rope and then the...

Short hike we did in 2007 to some of the best around: Featured image for home page:

Way back in 1998, before digital cameras, before lightweight stuff was invented, before packrafts ...... we were one of the few pioneers to through hike from Cameroun, AZ and out to Desert View in GCNP. Very few places to get out.

Sandstone can be downright weird... 01/17/2015 About a year ago my dad had visited the Coyote Buttes South special permit area, specifically the Pawhole Trailhead. While it was neat, he had heard that the Cottonwood Cove TH had far better. Rivals The Wave better. But he despaired, for the...

New Year's Day | Thursday, January 1, 2015 Welcome to my first trip report of 2015, and what an adventure it was! This was a fun trip report to write, not because the photos are necessarily great, but because it was a fun day in unique conditions. This may have been my tenth visit to Coyote...

New Year's Eve | Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Yesterday was supposed to have been an easy day of hiking to Cobra Arch, but after adding another hike down the Paria River we ended up hiking another 11 mile day. I always seem have problems keeping my easy days short! Since we were planning on...

Monday, December 29, 2014 On Monday morning we got an early start and drove back to the Wire Pass trailhead so we could spend the day in Coyote Buttes North and visit the Wave. While I have been here plenty of times over the past couple of years and had no intentions of returning this year...

Sunday, December 28, 2014 On Sunday morning we drove over to the Wire Pass trailhead from our hotel in Page and arrived shortly after the sunrise. Our plan for today was to hike through Wire Pass and then down Buckskin Gulch for a few miles. Unfortunately, we would not be unable to go down...

If you haven't seen the report of my other Grand Canyon trip, in 2011 i went to the North Rim with my family, but just long enough to see that the canyon was there. Two years later i managed to make it down to backpack with my brother. If you only see the Grand Canyon from the rim, you haven't...