National Parks Archives - Nancy East

The Beehive Loop Hike: Acadia National Park

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 01:49:18 +0000

Acadia National Park’s Beehive On my family’s trip to Acadia National Park in Maine this past June, I promised the kids I’d let them help map out an itinerary versus me creating it exclusively. My kids are teen/tweens now, and they’ve become a bit more vocal when we visit national parks, requesting that we expand...

The post The Beehive Loop Hike: Acadia National Park appeared first on Nancy East.

Thomas Divide Trail to Sunkota Ridge: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 18:27:14 +0000

I’ve passed the trailhead for the Thomas Divide Trail on Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park more times than I can count. It’s an unassuming pull out–room for just a few cars, an obligatory trailhead sign at the edge of thick woods at the crest of a small hill. Something about this...

The post Thomas Divide Trail to Sunkota Ridge: Great Smoky Mountains National Park appeared first on Nancy East.

Mt. Perry Hike in Death Valley National Park

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 04:26:59 +0000

This post is the 4th in a series of posts about my family’s adventures in Death Valley National Park. The first three posts are as follows: Day 1: Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls Day 2: Mosaic Canyon, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course, and Artist’s Drive Day 3: Rhyolite Ghost Town, Titus Canyon Road, Ubehebe Crater,...

The post Mt. Perry Hike in Death Valley National Park appeared first on Nancy East.

Rhyolite Ghost Town, Titus Canyon Road, Ubehebe Crater, and Mesquite Sand Dune Hiking

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:46:05 +0000

This post is the third in a series, outlining my family’s adventures in Death Valley National Park. As a recap, our first two days were spent in the following areas: Day 1: Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls Day 2: Mosaic Canyon, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course and Artist’s Drive Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Museum...

The post Rhyolite Ghost Town, Titus Canyon Road, Ubehebe Crater, and Mesquite Sand Dune Hiking appeared first on Nancy East.

Mosaic Canyon, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course and Artist’s Drive in Death Valley National Park

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 03:02:53 +0000

After spending our first day in Death Valley National Park exploring Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls, our second day starts from the Stovepipe Wells Campground, located roughly in the center of the park. The blistering sun makes its appearance early, eliminating any thoughts of sleeping in. We know we need to hit the trails early...

The post Mosaic Canyon, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course and Artist’s Drive in Death Valley National Park appeared first on Nancy East.

Hiking to Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 22:52:22 +0000

Panamint Dunes It feels as if we’re breaking a cardinal rule of front country camping our first night in Death Valley National Park. We’re (legally) camped just to the side of a dirt road with dry, sun-baked ground beneath our tents, hard as concrete. The moon is nearly full as I watch Paige reading in...

The post Hiking to Panamint Dunes and Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park appeared first on Nancy East.

How to Have a Spooktacular Day in Cataloochee (Big Fork Ridge – Caldwell Fork – Rough Fork Trails)

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 17:50:30 +0000

[content-upgrade id=”3163″] Halloween is my favorite holiday, what with all the decorations, kids in costumes, fall colors, and late night loot raids (my kids’ Almond Joys don’t stand a chance of making it past Halloween night). That it takes place during one of most scenic seasons in the Smokies doesn’t hurt either. I wasn’t about...

The post How to Have a Spooktacular Day in Cataloochee (Big Fork Ridge – Caldwell Fork – Rough Fork Trails) appeared first on Nancy East.

Backpacking the Grand Canyon–South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails

Sat, 11 Jul 2015 15:50:00 +0000

When our kids were 11, 9 and 8, we took them to the Grand Canyon for a backpacking trip. The last time I witnessed this massive, almost inconceivable, chasm in the earth was B.C. (as in “before children,” B.C.). As Larry and I hugged the canyon walls while we descended deeper and deeper into the...

The post Backpacking the Grand Canyon–South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails appeared first on Nancy East.