Send a text

We travel from Wukoki's sandstone perch to Wupatki's 100-room complex, tracing trade routes, desert farming, and the living science of a breathing blowhole. Along the way, we weigh preservation, oral histories, and how plazas and ball courts shaped community life.

• Wukoki's defensive siting and sandstone construction
• Site etiquette and why artifacts must stay put
• Ripple marks as geology's timeline beneath pueblos
• Wupatki as a trade hub linking north and south
• Meanings of the blowhole in science and tradition
• Ball court uses across sports, ceremonies, and storage
• Three Sisters planting and dryland agriculture
• Nalakihu's modest footprint and Citadel's basalt walls
• Terraces, sinkholes, and the land's hidden fractures
• Living ties for Hopi and Zuni communities today

If you're on the podcast, click that link and drop us a message and let us know what you're up to...

Support the show

Send a text

We hike the Bonita Vista and Lenox Crater trails at Sunset Crater, share why NASA trained astronauts here, and explain how a thousand-year-old eruption reshaped this volcanic field. We give practical tips on altitude, footing, water, and protected areas you cannot hike in.

• quick overview of Bonita Vista and Lenox Crater loop
• Why astronauts trained on Sunset Crater terrain
• what to expect at 7,000 feet and why to hydrate
• views of the San Francisco Peaks, O’Leary Peak, and Bonita Lava Flow
• why Sunset Crater’s cone is closed to protect fragile soils
• accessible options on the Lava Flow Trail
• planning advice for late starts and cinder footing

If you have questions or comments about Sunset Crater, please let me know by emailing or texting me.

Support the show

Send a text

We walk through a trail-tested cook system built for fast boils, hot coffee, and simple packability, comparing stainless durability with titanium weight savings. Along the way, we demo the BRS 3000T, share smart add-ons, and show how everything nests for a tidy carry.

• waterproof dry bag setup and packing order
• Stanley stainless cup with graduated marks to 600 ml
• boil-only routine for dehydrated meals and coffee
• BRS 3000T stove pros, cons, and lighting
• regulator absence and practical fuel efficiency
• GSI Spice Missile for six compact seasonings
• Sea to Summit X Mug for collapsible 16 oz drinks
• long-handled Toaks spoon for deep pouches
• stainless vs titanium trade-offs and longevity
• total kit weight of about 12.3 ounces
• affordable, durable, budget-friendly choices
• links for products and affiliate note


If you want to purchase those for yourself, there'll be some affiliate links.

Affiliate Product Links

Stanley Adventure Cup

https://amzn.to/4a75IKL

BRS 3000T Backpacking Stove

https://amzn.to/45Y06Qz

Toaks Long Handle Titanium Spoon

https://amzn.to/46HrjXY

Sea to Summit Cup

https://amzn.to/4rEka2P

If you have any comments or questions, you can click on the link and drop us a message with any thoughts you might have
See you out on the trail!

Support the show

Send us a text

We walk the Florissant Fossil Beds and trace how volcanic mudflows turned a living redwood forest into a world-class fossil site. Along the way, we meet Eocene mammals, explore ancient climate, and reflect on the human choices that saved this place from development.

• planning trails around the visitor center and winter hours
• overview of Eocene mammals and insect fossils
• how lahars buried trees and silicified wood
• reading tree rings for ancient climate insight
• redwood cloning and why redwoods no longer grow here
• Lake Florissant’s brief life and rich fossil layers
• the Big Stump, souvenir damage, and saw marks
• Charlotte Hill’s butterfly and the scientist lineage
• preservation vs development and the 1969 park designation
• ongoing research to locate buried stumps and future discoveries


If you have any questions or comments about this site, let me know by sending a message!

Support the show

Send us a text

We hike Zion’s Emerald Pools from lower to upper, compare the routes, and share realistic time estimates, views, and trail tips. Sudden rain, green water, and a few confusing junctions turn a short outing into a vivid tour of the canyon’s layers.

• lower, middle, and upper route options compared
• time and distance expectations for each segment
• Why the water looks green from algal growth
• navigating confusing junctions on the upper spur
• handling rain, wet rock, and changing conditions
• best views over the Virgin River valley
• choosing where to turn around based on effort and reward

If you have any comments or questions about Zion, click on the link and send us a message!

Support the show

Send us a text

We walk the Riverside Walk to the start of Zion’s Narrows, explain how the Virgin River carved the canyon, and talk through safety, gear, and why crowds change the experience. We end with plans to return better equipped and an invite to subscribe for more Zion content.

• route basics for the Riverside Walk and Narrows
• how the Virgin River carved the canyon and sand deposits
• why the canyon narrows upstream and widens toward Springdale
• weeping wall, hanging gardens and seep-fed ecology
• where the paved path ends and wading begins
• gear tips for cold water and slick footing
• flash flood risk, closures and reading conditions
• wildlife encounters and leave-no-trace reminders
• filming challenges, crowds and timing strategy
• plans to return with proper gear for the full route

If you enjoy the episode, send us a message with your thoughts.

Support the show

Send us a text

We hike the Queen’s Garden Navajo Loop at Bryce Canyon counterclockwise, dropping into hoodoos, spotting Queen Victoria, and climbing Wall Street at sunset. Along the way we share timing tips, parking choices, and why golden hour turns this three-mile loop into pure magic.

• starting at Sunrise Point and choosing counterclockwise
• route overview and mileage expectations
• walking among hoodoos in Queen’s Garden
• finding the Queen Victoria formation
• turning toward Wall Street and the slot canyon
• climbing switchbacks and tunnels to Sunset Point
• timing the hike for golden hour views
• quick gear and etiquette reminders
• reflections and invite for comments

If you have any comments, questions about Bryce, or anything for that matter, send us a message!

Support the show

Send us a text

Trade the crowds for silence and stone. We take you onto Codachrome Basin’s Panorama Trail in southern Utah, where red Entrada sandstone meets pale Henryville layers and the desert’s famous sand spires tell a surprising story about water, pressure, and time. Instead of hoodoos, these pillars rose from saturated sand forced upward long ago, then emerged as the softer surroundings eroded. The loop stays friendly underfoot, but the views scale up fast: Ballerina Spire, the quirky Hat Shop, tight turns through Secret Passage, and the wide-air drama of Mammoth Spire.

We walk counterclockwise, tracing simple junctions and weighing side trips with the clock. A ranger’s geology talk reframes every overlook—ancient dunes, seismic squeeze, and iron-rich reds that make the cliffs glow. The short spur to Panorama Point seals the deal, opening a sweeping look toward Bryce country without the shoulder-to-shoulder viewpoint shuffle. It’s a day built on small choices that pay off big: pause for a snack in the shade, study wind-carved textures up close, then step back and let the horizon run.

If you’re planning a Bryce Canyon trip, consider this as your quieter complement: fewer people, different formations, and a narrative of stone that deepens the whole region. We share practical tips on route direction, timing, water, and which side spurs are worth the detour so you can shape your own loop without guesswork. Hit play to learn how sand spires form, where to find the best viewpoints, and why Codachrome Basin belongs on your map. If you enjoyed the journey, subscribe, share with a friend who loves Utah’s canyon country, and leave a quick review—what should we hike next?

Support the show