Month: February 2021

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31 Mailbag!

Our first all-mailbag episode. Thank you for all the questions and comments you’ve sent to us about our podcast. We thought we’d try something new and dedicate an entire show to answering your questions. It was a lot of fun recording this episode; we hope you enjoy it.

Some of the questions/topics we discuss in this episode:

  • What are the transportation options to Isle Royale National Park?
  • How do we stay in shape?
  • Why didn’t we take the pottery chard we found in Grand Canyon NP to the park headquarters?
  • Do we ever do outdoor adventures with our adult children?
  • What’s it like to go to the top of the Gateway Arch?
  • Have we ever thought of creating videos?

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30 Six Astounding State Parks

In this episode we take you with us on a journey to six of our favorite state parks as we talk about what makes each of these parks unique and why we think they’re astounding. With more than ten thousand state parks spread across the country, our list of favorites is long, and we may have to record several episodes about these smaller, but just-as-spectacular public lands. On our original trip to all the national parks, we had little time to visit them, but since then, we’ve made it a point to see as many as we can. Consider this episode a mere sampling of the hidden treasures that await you. (And, no, we are not partial to parks with “Smith” in the name. But they do get our attention.)

The parks we discuss in this episode:

  • Custer SP (South Dakota)
  • Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP (Northern California)
  • Valley of Fire SP (Nevada)
  • Antelope Island SP (Utah)
  • Goblin Valley SP (Utah)
  • Smith Rock SP (Oregon)

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29 Horse Pack Trip into the Wilderness

Saddle up, partner! Apologies for the corny opening, but—spoiler alert—more horse-related puns are awaiting you in this episode. We’ve taken many treks into wilderness areas in the past ten years, yet most of them have been of the two-legged variety. On this adventure, we let our four-legged friends do the hard part, carrying us (and our stuff) deep into the Pasayten Wilderness of north-central Washington state. As it seems with most of our exploits, there were a few bumps in the trail that we didn’t anticipate. But by the time we ended our four-day, three-night trip, we were ready to do it all over again. We just needed a few days for our butts to stop aching.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

  • What it was like to ride a horse for the first time in 25 years
  • The curious suggestions we got from friends as we were preparing
  • The unique characteristics about each of our horses
  • The magnificent setting of our camp and the details of camp life
  • Why our horses deserted us and how we got them back
  • How it felt to wake up in a frozen tent in August
  • Our amazing daytrips 
  • And, it wouldn’t be a Matt and Karen adventure without a guest appearance from an oh-too-familiar slithery companion

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Southern Utah: 20 Incredible Places Beyond the Mighty Five

1. MONUMENT VALLEY

If the cluster of iconic sandstone buttes in Monument Valley look familiar to you, it’s because they were used as the backdrop for early Western movies and Forrest Gump, as well as the inspiration for the Road Runner cartoons. Straddling the Utah/Arizona border, the views of the valley symbolize the Wild West. These beautiful rock formations, some rising as much as 1,000 feet above the desert floor, are mostly within the boundary of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The park, which is on Navajo land, requires an entrance fee of $20 per car.

Once in the park, after checking out the expansive gift shop selling Native American goods, you have a few options: Hike the 4-mile Wildcat Trail around West Mitten Butte; it’s the only trail you can hike without a Navajo guide. Or drive the 17-mile scenic dirt road into the park to get a closer view of the monuments. The scenic road is rough, so be patient and take your time.

Continue reading “Southern Utah: 20 Incredible Places Beyond the Mighty Five”
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28 Havasu Falls

Taking a wish out of Karen’s bucket, in 2016 we braved the hike down into the Grand Canyon to Havasu Falls with our friends John and Lolly. Fortunately, we both scored lodging in Supai Village, on the Havasupai Indian reservation, so we didn’t have to carry packs full of camping gear with us. Havasu Creek’s waterfalls are a natural wonder that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. If you Google photos of Havasu Falls, rest assured that the turquoise blue water in those pictures are what you’ll see as you’re standing there in person, looking up in awe. In this episode, we describe our trip to see the falls, including the hike down and back, and our stay at the lodge in the remote village by the falls.

Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

  • Where the heck is Havasu Falls? Hint: Not by Lake Havasu
  • Why it took us a couple of tries to do this trip
  • How a last-minute medical emergency almost stopped us for a second time
  • Where the trailhead is for the hike down
  • Description of the hike to Supai Village
  • Seeing the jaw-dropping falls in person
  • Staying at the lodge in the village
  • Tips for how to get a reservation at the lodge
  • What we would do differently if we went back

Links to more information:

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