Michigan – Exploring Michigan and other cool places

Gear testing in a low risk environment

A night in the rain provides an opportunity to discover just how well your gear works.

A love song to my tarp(s)

Tarps are a game-changer when rain is in the forecast for your outdoors weekend.

Wild Childhood

Growing up on the lakes, and in the woods.

My roots as a history nerd run deep, probably from the time my mom began reading me the Little House series, when I was a child. Because my parents’ idea of a vacation often involved sailing or cross-country skiing, we saw a lot of Michigan, and often our destinations had historical significance, such as theContinue reading “Hiking: A History Lesson”

Winter Hiking Trip at Wilderness State Park

Winter day-hikes using a Wilderness State Park bunkhouse as home base.

Michigan DNR Rustic Cabins: An alternative to cold weather camping

Rustic cabins at various state parks can be a great way to enjoy the great outdoors during the cold weather months without the expense of winter gear, or the challenge of staying warm in camp when daylight ends at 5:00 p.m. and temperatures plummet. While I do winter camp on occasion, I love staying inContinue reading “Michigan DNR Rustic Cabins: An alternative to cold weather camping”

Getting to the trailhead: The quickest way is not always the shortest way

When trying to get to the trailhead is one of the most challenging parts of the backpacking trip…

What happened “in the real world” while you were in the woods?

After “disconnecting” for a few days, what if the world you re-enter is completely different?

The Joys and Challenges of Winter Hiking and Camping

There is a certain magic to hearing the absolute stillness of a snowy forest, seeing the snow-draped boughs of the evergreen trees, and finding tracks from deer, bobcat, bear, turkeys, and other creatures in the snowy path. Lying in my hammock at night, listening to the hoot of owls, yips of coyotes, and gentle fallingContinue reading “The Joys and Challenges of Winter Hiking and Camping”

What to wear when you’re winter hiking?

I’ve been seeing this question coming up a lot in the various Michigan hiking Facebook groups that I follow. Dressing for cardio when you’re out in the cold is a lot different from bundling up for just sitting around, but you might end up needing to plan for both when hiking. A lot of the thingsContinue reading “What to wear when you’re winter hiking?”