Celebrating the new year in hut heaven: Champagne toasts at Maine Huts & Trails
At Poplar Hut, nestled on a hill in Maine’s Carrabassett Valley, the staff sets out the champagne glasses at 9:30 p.m. By 10 p.m., most guests will be fast asleep […]
Travels
Travels in Japan: French fries, pancakes, and pickled plums
The summer flew by, with hikes, kayaks, and swims, plus a long-anticipated trip to Japan. For the first part of the trip, we travelled with a small group of teenagers […]
The loneliest road in southern Utah
As the road changed from pavement into dirt, and the canyon walls pressed in on both sides, it seemed that we were heading deep into a wilderness where we might […]
Winter wonderland: Among the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon
When we stop to pull off jackets, I take in the snow-draped hoodoos towering above us. What was it like for Mormon pioneer Ebenezer Bryce to wander into this amphitheater […]
Closing the door on Angel’s Landing
This time, when I gave up on trying to climb to Angel’s Landing in Utah’s Zion National Park, I knew I wouldn’t be trying again. The third time won’t be […]
Remnants of the Gilded Age at Brave Boat Harbor
Kittery Point, Maine — I dip my paddle in the water, push the kayak into the channel, and glide away from the causeway. I’m paddling into the marsh, heading out […]
Island living, Adirondack style
In July, an opportunity arose to camp with a friend for several nights on a quarter-acre island on Middle Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Park. My friend warned me […]
Beautiful desolation at Lake Aloha
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations […]
Three generations, ten springs of exploring Cape Cod
For ten years now, I’ve made a spring pilgrimage to Cape Cod with my son and mother, for a few nights over the April spring vacation week or on a weekend […]
Up in the air at Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory
The clearing weather presented both a threat (mostly to our wallets) and an opportunity. As we pulled into Haines Junction, we debated our options. The circle was nearly complete. Along […]