Backpacking Adventures

 Siamese Twin's Trail - Garden of the God's, Colorado Springs, CO.  I love seeing live music and like to see concerts at different venues whenever I have an opportunity. When I saw my favorite band Paramore had listed their tour 5 dates, I immediately looked to see if there were any near me. I try to see them as much as I can, which means usually just seeing them in my hometown. However, this time, I saw their last concert date was scheduled to be at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre on July 24th. I jumped up and down with excitement because I felt like the stars had aligned. I have always dreamt of seeing a show at Red Rocks and seeing my favorite band there would be a dream come true. This would be my 5th time seeing them in the 4th city. I immediately purchased tickets and started planning my first trip to Denver. I found an affordable flight through Allegiant to DEN from CVG for 7/24/18-7/26/18, I rented a car through Budget which had the cheapest ...

A Few Planning Tips: Trailhead elevation: 5,174 feet starting at Hualapai Hilltop Parking Lot. Plan to have at least 2 nights and 3 days to do this hike. (max is 4 days) Day 1 - Get an early start to avoid the heat of the day and hike 10 miles to the campground. (reservations required) Explore Fifty Foot Falls, Navajo Fall, and Havasu Falls. Stop by the Fry Bread Hut for a well deserved snack (just past Havasu on your way into the campground - cash only).  Choose/set up camp spot. Enjoy! Day 2 - Start early. Hike down to Mooney falls (wear water shoes with good grip to safely climb down wet ladders). Continue onto Beaver falls and the confluence. Pack yourself lunch as you will be out all day. Day 3 - Hike out or if you have an extra day, you can hike up to the campground, send out a post card. Enjoy Havasu falls. Whatever you prefer! Take at least 2 liters of water with you for the hike. There is a natural spring where you can r...

 Grand Canyon National Park I first started backpacking about 10 years ago. I am lucky enough to live about two and a half hours outside of The Red River Gorge. It is a beautiful geological area in Slade, KY. It is a perfect weekend getaway which fueled my love for camping and backpacking. My experiences at the Gorge gave me the confidence to do more strenuous hiking and take longer trips. Cloud Splitter Arch - 1.8 miles (unmarked); one of my many favorite spots at the Gorge. I could go on and on about this place but, that is a post for another day! I created this list to show new hikers or maybe even experienced hikers some options for tried and trusted gear. You should always aim at keeping your pack less than or equal to 25% of your body weight. When it comes to longer trips, every ounce matters. This gear can be pricey but, you can slowly buy things as they go on sale. I also did a lot of research and took my time reading reviews. I became...