It’s always this time of year I want to go back to school to get my masters or to learn new skills. I think to myself, I have enough money to go back to school, but then reality hits, and for tens of thousands of dollars I think I want to travel or put in a new kitchen … Maybe, let’s see what next fall brings.
In the meantime, I’m in full on reading mode because it’s how I learn; and books always make me want to travel.
The reviewer, Talley V. Kayser wrote, “using her own outdoor adventures to frame meditations on the histories, presents, and futures of national monuments in the United States.” I’m intrigued. I keep reading. A quote from Long states: “Monuments are quintessentially American. After all, what is more American than disagreements over the scope of governmental powers.”
Note: National parks are protected due to their scenic, inspirational, education, and recreational value. National monuments have objects of historical, cultural, and/or scientific interest. And, most importantly: Congress designates national parks; presidential proclamations establish national monuments, thus the scope of government powers quote above.
Kayser wrote “Long emphasizes the relations (from romantic affairs to family ties) that shape and sustain her journeys.”
When the book arrived I couldn’t put down. All weekend I worked around reading this book. I enjoyed Long’s writing perspective; an outdoor adventurer telling her personal story with a backdrop of the these 12 national monuments. The writing is crisp and clear; I am taken to each place. I write comments in the margins of my book, and highlight key phrases. I write about how I need to get more involved where I live and advocate for the issues I care about: public lands, clean water, clean air, biodiversity, recreation and conservation.
I’m just thrilled to get back into reading and learning more about the world. I’ll write a full review of each book as soon as I finish. I would love to hear your comments.
And, I don’t read one book at a time when I’m back on a reading bender. I read several. Here’s what I’ve been reading.
I’ve been planning this trip for two years and finally made it to North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
I can now say, I’ve been to every US state.
Last year I canceled this trip because Hurricane Helene hit my area and I was too afraid to leave. (Read: leave my dogs at a kennel that could be impacted; it wasn’t but I didn’t want to risk it.)
On Thursday, September 18 I finally arrived in North Dakota; on schedule and as planned. My hotel was a bit dated and my room smelled, but an ideal location – close to the airport and walking distance to restaurants. I arrived at midnight which was not ideal, but it was the plan, since the day before I was at a conference.
On Friday morning I slept in a bit and then headed west to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the South Unit. The drive was all interstate and easy.
I stopped at the Visitor Center and watch the introductory movie. The themes of this park were about extremes. It was the extremes in the land that created this remarkable landscape. These are the Badlands, not to be confused with Badlands National Park.
Badlands are dry land with sedimentary rocks and clay-type soils that have been extensively eroded producing ravines, buttes, and hoodoos. I read an interesting sign about buttes. They are NOT mountains but created from erosion.
I loved listening to Roosevelt’s story, North Dakota and the wilderness changed and inspired him. I knew his story from reading Gessner’s book but loved hearing it again. “The rugged landscape and strenuous life that [he] experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.”
I drove the Scenic Drive, and stopped at scenic overlooks and hiked from two of the trailheads. The entire loop wasn’t open so I drove what was. I saw bison and prairie dogs. While hiking on Upper Paddock/Talkington Loop I talked to a couple who were taking pictures of the prairie dogs. I continued for a mile and then turned around. I saw people on horseback in the distance and started to wonder if I would encounter any wildlife. I started to get nervous. As I hiked back I saw the couple again and they showed me a video they took of a coyote. I was in the video – it ran behind me to hunt prairie dogs, and I wasn’t even aware of it. WOW! She sent me the video but it was very blurry but I could see it run behind me and was so glad I didn’t see it.
I stopped for lunch in Medora – Boots Bar and Grill.
Then I stopped at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center for a final hike. The hike went down into the canyon on a nature trail.
I took my obligatory selfie in front the the national park sign.
Then drove back to Bismarck and had dinner downtown. I walked around the city and then headed back to the hotel.
North Dakota is in the exact center of North America, which is a perfect way to end my quest to see every state in the US.
I still have so many lists and so adventures I want to experience. There is so much to see and do.
The picture above is from hiking Mount Washington in New Hampshire April 2022.
It could’ve been warm and sunny at the top of the mountain, or knarly and windy at 6,288 feet. It was pretty perfect. Cold, windy but not life threatening. It’s always a toss up.
My point, and what I’ve been reflecting on lately is there are no ideal conditions. Whatever I am meant to do, I need to do it now. Conditions are always going to be unfavorable.
The term favorable conditions is interesting because I work in the outdoor/travel industry. If you work in the outdoor industry “favorable conditions” is an indicator you are watching the weather.
As an endurance athlete I watch the weather.
As a marketer in the outdoor industry I watch the weather.
But now more than ever it’s about asking myself what am I meant to do and figuring out how to make it happen. It needs to happen. I need to make it through unfavorable conditions to be where I want to be.
The things I can control include: doing the plan, run, bike, hike, learn new skills, walk the dog more, show up, and most importantly do what I say I’m going to do.
A plan for this fall season is I’m going to let go of all the things I can’t control; and focus on the things I can control. By doing this I might just do all the things I want to do.
Sometimes the best vacations are about going home. I love saying I’m from seacoast New Hampshire; I am proud of this beautiful place on the Atlantic Ocean. Many people don’t really even know where New Hampshire is – I’ve encountered people not knowing, in the many places I’ve lived in the US.
Last week I flew into the Portland Jetport and drove an hour to get back home to Rye.
Rye, New Hampshire on the coast, beach town, memory town.
One of the highlights of this trip was heading down to Pirate’s Cove, the beach I always went to when I lived at home. It’s just down the way from Wallis Sands State Beach. My brother and I slipped right back into the feeling of growing up here.
He dove headfirst into the waves first (or maybe it was a back into it situation, but definitely under). I chose the floating on my back option and tried to get ahead of the crashing waves.
We just so happened to be at the beach when there were some of the biggest, most continuous swells I’ve ever seen on the New Hampshire seacoast. We laughed and were alternatively stunned that we kept getting knocked down over, again and again. For a while it felt like I was back in high school and just spending the day on the beach.
The trip wasn’t all lobster rolls and fried clams (yes, full bellies). The day prior we hiked at Gunstock Mountain Resort. I worked there from 2020-2022 and I missed it so much so I was really hoping my brother would want to go.
He did.
Jason usually hikes Mount Major on his past trips home. But I convinced him there were fewer hikers on the trail and better parking. Plus, if we felt motivated we could eat at the Barrel Bar, zip line or mountain coaster-it.
We headed out (from the some-what newly paved parking lot) taking Brook Trail to the summit and then along the Ridge Trail back. The climb gave us views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains, albeit a bit hazy due to smoke from the Canadian fires.
The trail was a mix of challenge and fun, and we hung out at the picnic tables on the summit commenting on the incredible views. And maybe comparing it a bit to the Mount Major view.
But what really made the trip memorable was simply catching up with my brother as we drove around New Hampshire and had drinks on the water in downtown Portsmouth.
I loved watching my parents living their best lives, as they put their life on hold for us for a few days – pampering us with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It was great to be back and visit a few of my favorite places: Rye, Gilford, Portsmouth. It was a perfect mix of ocean, mountains, and family fun. And knowing that everyone is fine. Everyone is Fine.
We are a fun, driven, happy, anxious, loving family. We are the Lodges.
The historic Grand Canyon Lodge burned down. The lodge was consumed by a wildfire on Monday, July 14 and a fire still burns on the Kaibab Plateau as I write this.
Here’s a webcam from Kolb Studio at the South Rim looking north.
For me, this wildfire event is a reminder not to postpone my list. A List. Your List. The things-you-want-to-do-before-you-die list.
The list is now a things-to-see-before-they-disappear list.
Staying at this lodge was on my list; but not on my current list.
Here is a stock image of the lodge. I missed seeing this amazing place. I missed staying at this lodge.
Running the Rim-To-Rim (R2R) in a day was on my list (and staying at this lodge the night before), but not on my current list mainly because I haven’t been running or trail running as much lately – I’ve been in a running rut. It was POSTPONED.
If there are places I want to visit, things I want to see, I can’t put it off.
Our world is changing and things are disappearing.
I wish I had made it there.
There are places that are so special in our nation’s history: historic lodges and hotels in our National Parks are big in my book. These are my favorite places. I was so happy to go stay at the Glacier Park Hotel in 2024 after staying close to it on my trip through National Parks in 1988.
I don’t want to say I missed that opportunity to go see something special. I’m working on my NEW list and here is a start, these are the places I want to see before they disappear:
I am eager to see the world, I’m insatiably curious. I’m pretty fit and just love a good plan.
Carpe Diem, man.
And, if you made it this far, not to be dramatic or anything – my thoughts go right to this movie, One Week. I’ve watched it at least 10 times and watching it forces me to remember to ask the questions. You know the questions.
