Bear Butte (Mato Paha) rises as a sacred forested hill from the flats of South Dakota. Visiting Native Americans making their pilgrimages leave bits of fabric tied to trees along the pathway. A cold fog settled on the ground as we hiked silently upwards towards the top.  An eagle flew over a tangled winter ravaged […]

My father and I had driven his ford pickup truck and trailer to a small town north of Portland, Oregon. Sitting in a dilapidated barn was the WWII training plane covered in dust slowly decaying. We paid the owner the $1800 and somehow loaded the frame, wings and parts onto the trailer and headed back […]

Nebraska– I grew up on a small farm in western Nebraska. The winters were cold and bitter but it did not stop a child. My best friend was a dog, half spaniel and half something else. I used to wander the 160 acre farm alone all day with that dog. One grey snow covered morning, […]

We, Tim (aka…Wally) and myself had planned on spending the weekend climbing in the North Cascades. We drove several hours to the trail head for Liberty Bell and Early Winter Spire only to find clouds and light rain instead of the sun we had hoped for. Standing in the parking lot I suggested to drive on […]

Hiked to Lake Twenty Two before the weather changed. Beautiful day with sun, views and emerald lake water. The trail runs through a preserve that was set aside by the federal government in 1947. Wonderful stands of old growth cedar.