Ever heard of this place? Neither had I! If you were living in Oregon in the 1950s, you probably never heard much about Smith Rock. My Dad was born and raised in Bend, a stone’s throw from the rocky landscape reminiscent of the Grand canyon, and even he didn’t hear much of the place other [...]

Last September, I had the opportunity to visit Southern Utah.  I was blown away.  The natural beauty found in this corner of the US is like nothing I’ve seen.  When John Muir wrote that one should “Keep close to Nature’s heart,” I’m sure he heard the steady beat coming from Utah.  National Geographic has just [...]

I wouldn’t consider myself  someone who journals all the time.  I don’t keep one on my bedside table jotting down my thoughts from each day.  No, I only write a journal during what I consider moments of personal growth.  I never forget to pack one on international backpacking trips.  And I kept a detailed journal [...]

On this past Sunday, my friend Peter and I went on a hike up Devils Canyon in Chatsworth, CA. I read about the trail on a hiking website, which called the area “the last of the wild west” in the San Fernando Valley. Now that I’ve hiked it, I’d have to agree. We spent five [...]