Hiatus in Las Vegas

In the midst of our 7 1/2 week adventure, we landed in Las Vegas with Susanna's parents.  It was a time of much needed recuperation, as well as wonderful company and fun adventures of zip lining, go cart racing, hiking in the surrounding desert and visiting the famous Las Vegas Strip.   

 

Happy times with Aba and Abu!

In the midst of a 12 mile hike at Red Rock Canyon NCA

Sunrise on the Spring Mountains to the West of Susanna's parents house

Lena and I just after our zip line adventure in Bootleg Canyon

Jasper loves his Auntie Lena!

Nighttime on the Vegas Strip

All smiles!  :)

A stare-down contest with Abu!

Seven weeks of adventure from Michigan to California and back!

Sunset in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson, AZ

 From mid February to early April, 2015, we put on over 9,000 miles on the prius, traveling in 16 states from Michigan to California and back.  We concentrated much of our time in the Desert SW, camping and spending lots of time with family and friends.  We based ourselves in Las Vegas with Susanna's parents for two different week to 10 day segments.  When we made it to California, we drove up the coast to the Northern part of the state, where we visited the Redwood Coast and our old stomping grounds.  To top of the 7 and a half weeks of adventure, my brother joined me for a 140 mile backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail from Tehachapi Pass to Kennedy Meadows in Southern California.  It was an absolute amazing adventure...thank you to all our wonderful family and friends who hosted us along the way!  Here are some of the highlights of the first leg of the trip (from Northern Michigan to Las Vegas, NV)...

Jasper was enthralled by Entertrainment Junction, Cincinnati, OH

Pulling out the map on a hike at Chickasaw NRA, OK

Carlsbad Caverns NP, NM

                                     

Guadalupe Mountain NP, TX

White Sands NM, NM

Camping at the border of Coronado NF, AZ

Chiricahua NM, AZ

Sonoran Desert near Tucson, AZ

Saguaro NP, AZ

Sabino Canyon, AZ

Winter in the Keweenaw

Spending a winter in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan is a dream-like experience!  Snowfalls for the winter of 2014/2015 hit 245 inches.  It was an absolute winter wonderland!  Along with shoveling pretty much every day, we went skiing or snowshoeing every day.  Jasper loved to be outside and often "helped" with the shoveling!    Here are some of the highlights...

Jasper "helping" with the shoveling!

 

Deep snow in our back yard

Blizzard conditions on our road in Hancock

Late afternoon of a winter ski outing

View from the upstairs of our house

Inner canyon of Maasto Hiihto ski trails

All smiles on a ski outing!

Snowshoeing south of Houghton near Misery Bay

Christmas in Lower Michigan

In mid December, I returned home to Northern Michigan.  A little over a week later, we drove down to lower Michigan to celebrate Christmas and New Years with family and friends.  Oddly enough, there was very little snow in lower Michigan, but that allowed us to get out on several nice hikes, including the North Country NST.  The air temps were cold and the wind was often blowing.  This made all the holiday indoor activities all the more fun!

Late Autumn in the Deep South

Throughout much of the month of November, 2014, I was stationed out of the charming town of Natchez, MS at the southern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway.  I had a great time exploring SW Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana.  The temps began to fall, leaves changed colors, and in mid November, the first frost hit which turned the green grasses to the browns of fall.  Susanna and Jasper were down visiting during this time.  We visited New Orleans, Vicksburg and several NPS sites.  In early December, I returned to Tupelo, MS for the last two weeks of my time at the Natchez Trace. 

Beautiful fall colors in Louisiana

Part of the historic Natchez Trace on the current Natchez Trace National Historic Trail

Round hay bales and historic fence along Natchez Trace Parkway

Mt. Locust Inn - one of the historic inns that has been preserved along the Natchez Trace Parkway

Backpacking in Louisiana

 In late November, 2014, I ventured over to Chicot State Park in South Central Louisiana for a 3 day backpacking trip.  I found 22 miles of solitude (I was the only backpacker, as far as I could tell), beautiful forests turning yellow with fall, cypress trees along the lake and crisp temps.  This was my 29th different state that I've backpacked in!