Gear Review: Mountain House Spicy Southwest Breakfast Hash

Price: $8.99 I've used Mountain House products for years, as they're perfect for backpacking when space for carrying food and cooking equipment is scarce. Opening the box at my apartment in Shorewood, I dreamed back to last October, when I was backpacking in the Colorado's Arapaho National Forest that sits…

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Q&A: What to do in Moab, UT?

And the questions keep coming! Cheers to those who have reached out to me or emailed me (bottom of the page) seeking information or tips for your upcoming travels! This inquiry from a former coworker of mine when I worked at a YMCA, is about a special magical place in the Utah desert called Moab. "Going to Moab o…

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Gear Review: TrailFork Paleoats

Price: $7.79 Cooking on a camping trip plays out to be either be one of two things: the most rewarding, delicious feasts, or a stressful, disastrous failed attempt at filling an eager stomach. The first situation sounds better to me. Prior to loading up the car and hitting the road to camp at a state or national park,…

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The 2 Best State Parks to Learn About Wisconsin's History

Wisconsin’s “roots” history is just as beautiful and fascinating as its geographical history. There are properties we automatically associate with polarizing land features that draw us to them, like the stretching Niagara Escarpment that protrudes from the side of High Cliff State Park, Devil’s Lake’s quartzite bluff…

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Q&A: Where to Camp in Wisconsin for July 4, 2018?

This year the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday, but you can and should still take a mini vacation! Since the  holiday is in the middle of the week rather than close proximity to a weekend, traveling might feel limited for those who can't escape the daily grind for too long or don't want to sacrifice a much tr…

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Gear Review: Coleman Flatwoods II

Price: $49.99 Can a sub-$50 make the cut? The answer after three nights of testing it out is yes, definitely. For years I've relied on my beloved Eureka Taron2 backpacking tent for all  of my camping overnights, whether it be simple car camping at a state park or a backcountry trek in a national forest. The tent is…

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Q&A: Resources for Kayaking in Wisconsin

Another question and answer post, this time about kayaking. A good friend of mine, Rick, who I rock climb with (and happens to rock an old-school Subaru Outback wagon with a manual!), reached out to me with this inquiry about resources for paddling. It's a perfect question, especially relevant with the arrival of…

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Q&A: Backpacking at Buckhorn State Park, WI

In my quest to get as many people outside as possible to explore both the amazing state parks we have here in Wisconsin and the vast network of National Parks from coast to coast, I get asked a lot of questions! This happens on almost a daily basis, and the conversations are usually pretty helpful and loaded with exc…

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Finding Stillness in Iceland

The other day morning I was gazing over a framed road map of Iceland proudly hung up on the wall in my apartment, waiting for the mug of fresh-brewed coffee in my right hand to cool slightly. Visiting Iceland in the late fall/early winter of 2016 was the best adventure I've ever taken, and I'm confident that i…

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Banana Slug at Portola Redwoods State Park, CA [Video]

Just your daily reminder that it's okay to get down on your stomach in the middle of a forest, and hang out with an infamous banana slug. Nature is nothing short of perfect, and intimate moments like this prove just how fascinating animals can be. Here's a video I grabbed off of my camera while hiking in Cali…

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Havenwoods State Forest, WI

This is Milwaukee's best-kept outdoors secret. The Mil' is already home to a plethora of excellent county parks but it’s also where two state park properties sit- Havenwoods State Forest and Lakeshore State Park. Have you ever explored Havenwoods? It's the most important property in our state park system …

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Portola Redwoods State Park, CA

I love trees. So much to the level that I even got an inked caricature of a cottonwood, tattooed on my left forearm. This strong admiration for these towering arbor beauts is the reason I had to get out to Portola Redwoods State Park , because I've never seen a sky-high redwood tree before. And that needed to chan…

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