There are some moments on the trail that stick with you long after the miles fade. A sudden crack of […]
Seasonal Magic in the Smokies: What to Expect on the Trails Each Time of Year
There is something about the Great Smoky Mountains that makes each season feel like its own secret chapter. You can […]
Hidden Gems of the Smokies: Lesser Known Trails That Beat the Crowds
There is a moment every Smokies lover knows well. You pull into a trailhead on a beautiful day, expecting a […]
Microdosing the Wilderness: How Small Adventures Keep the Soul Alive
A reflection on how small, everyday encounters with nature can nourish the spirit. This piece explores the power of short trails, familiar paths, and quiet moments outdoors to restore presence, ease the mind, and keep the wilderness alive in daily life.
Hiking as Pilgrimage: How the Trail Becomes a Teacher
A reflection on how hiking becomes a form of pilgrimage and personal transformation. This piece explores how walking the same trails over time mirrors emotional and spiritual growth, offering lessons in healing, renewal, and self discovery through the wisdom of the landscape.
Overnight at LeConte Lodge: Sunset, Sunrise, and the Soul of the Smokies
An overnight at LeConte Lodge is more than a hike, it’s a pilgrimage above the clouds. I climbed up Trillium Gap, watched sunset from Cliff Tops, greeted sunrise at Myrtle Point, and descended through the mist of Rainbow Falls. Between dusk and dawn, the mountain reminded me how simple life feels when you’re miles from signal and closer to the sky.
The Window or the Trail?
There’s a truth hikers know in their bones: you don’t really meet a place through a pane of glass. Sitting […]
Experiencing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: A Journey with the Green Fire Tour
In late September I went on what can only be described as a life-changing adventure: the Greater Yellowstone Green Fire […]
Easy Stops: Drive-Up Waterfalls You Can’t Miss in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is famous for its geysers and wildlife, but it’s also home to some of the most accessible […]
The Magic of Montana and Wyoming
There’s something about Montana and Wyoming that feels almost otherworldly. The sheer expanse of sky, the jagged peaks of the […]
Yellowstone National Park- Clear Lake Artist Point Loop Trail
The Clear Lake–Artist Point Loop in Yellowstone is a moderate 3.8-mile hike that showcases geothermal features, meadows, and dramatic canyon […]
Moose Ponds Loop- Jenny Lake- Grand Teton National Park
The Moose Ponds Loop near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park is an easy 3.2–3.5 mile hike with minimal […]
Geyser Basin- Fairy Falls Hike
The Green Fire Tour is mostly for wildlife viewing and sightseeing, but there were a couple of opportunities for short […]
Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park is a striking area of colorful travertine terraces formed by hot water dissolving […]
Lamar Valley- Yellowstone National Park
Lamar Valley, in the northeastern part of Yellowstone National Park, is a wide, open expanse of meadows and river corridors […]
Mesa Falls Idaho
Mesa Falls, located on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River in eastern Idaho, consists of two impressive waterfalls: Upper […]
From Hopeless to Healing: My Journey Through a Herniated Disc
I never realized how much a herniated disc could change my life until it happened. The pain was relentless — […]
Ending the Cycle
I intended for my last post to be the last in this series about Hermetic philosophy but after recent events […]
The Forest of Two Winds
Elena hiked deeper into the highland forest, her boots pressing into the mossy ground. The path was narrow, winding between […]
The Pilgrim’s Ripple
Elias had been wandering for weeks, a faded backpack his only companion. He had followed trails across countries, moving with […]
The Mountain’s Rhythm
Elena began her ascent in the hush before dawn, when the forest still dreamed and the veil between worlds felt […]
The Border of Light and Shadow
Maya had come to Iceland chasing the midnight sun. She wanted to see a sky that never turned dark, to […]
The Living Trail
Elena’s boots struck the ground in a rhythm that matched her pulse. The forest path wound upward, each step taking […]
The Mirror Trail
Miles stood at the summit ridge of Pico da Vara in the Azores, the clouds below him spilling like a […]
The Trail of Thought
Elena had read the phrase in an old leather-bound book she’d found in a secondhand shop in Asheville: “The All […]
The Seven Stories of Hermetic Philosophy
Every once in a while, life knocks you flat and leaves you searching for meaning. For me, that moment came […]
Perfect Harmony
Nature hides its mandalas in plain sight—whispers of sacred geometry reminding us that the universe blooms in perfect harmony.
Osa Peninsula- Costa Rica
Hiking in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula immerses you in one of the planet’s most biodiverse rainforests, where winding trails lead […]
Hiking The Azores
Hiking in the Azores takes you through mist-covered volcanic landscapes, lush green pastures, and crater lakes that shimmer like hidden […]
La Paz Waterfall hike-Costa Rica
Hiking to La Paz Waterfall in Costa Rica winds you through misty rainforest trails, past playful wildlife and vibrant tropical […]
Arenal Volcano- Costa Rica
Hiking around Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica takes you through vibrant rainforest trails, past sparkling waterfalls and steaming hot springs, […]
Where the water falls
Where the water falls, spirit flows. Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dropping 100 […]
Ancient Roots
Ancient roots, timeless wisdom — a reminder that we too are meant to stand tall, grounded in earth yet reaching […]
Finding the World on Foot: Why Travel Starts with a Trail
When most people imagine travel, they think of airports, big cities, or bucket-list landmarks. I’ve learned that some of the […]
The Trail is Waiting
I wrote this in June when I was recovering from a back injury. My boots sit dusty by the door […]
One night turned into home
I saw you on the sidewalk, no collar, no name Just a tail that wagged like sunshine through the rain […]
Mount Cammerer – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Although it’s a roundtrip hike of more than 11 miles, this hike to Mt. Cammerer is still the shortest and […]
Obed Wild & Scenic River, Tennessee
The free flowing Obed Wild & Scenic River and it’s 500 feet deep gorges offer visitors unspoiled rugged terrain, exceptional […]
Icewater Spring vía Appalachian Trail- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This is a great trail if you want a taste of the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies and are short […]
Cumberland Trail- Obed River section
I Hiked with a nice group to Breakaway Bluff. The Cumberland trail leaves Rock Creek Campground and includes many ascents […]
Cumberland Trail- Emory River Gorge Section
This section of the Cumberland Trail will eventually climb from Emory River Gorge within the National Park Service (NPS)-administered Obed […]
Rock Creek Loop- Big South Fork
The Rock Creek Loop in Big South Fork National Recreation Area is A 7-mile loop that highlights a lot of […]
Cumberland Trail- Black Mountain to Ozone Falls
I did a section of the Cumberland Trail in January- Black mountain to Ozone Falls. It was snowing when we […]
Andrews Bald , Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Pics from a recent hike to Andrews Bald , which is always a favorite of mine. I took some friends […]
East Tennessee spring wildflowers
Some April flowers at Frozen Head State Park
Appalachian Trail day hike
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is a beautiful 8 mile section of the Appalachian Trail between Newfound Gap […]
Oscar Blevins Farm loop- Big South Fork
Honey Creek Loop- Big South Fork National Recreation Area
Honey creek loop is one of the most beautiful and difficult hikes in Tennessee. I call it the “Garden of […]
Bruno
This blog is about travel and hiking, but the love of my life is a dog. His name is Bruno, […]
The Name She Forgot
A combat veteran haunted by years of war and the loss of her friends turns to psilocybin therapy as a last resort. During her guided session, she encounters a presence she once rejected, only to learn that faith can take many names: courage, love, hope, and the bonds that kept her alive. The Name She Forgot is a story of healing, remembrance, and the quiet return of a peace she thought she had lost forever.
From Spores to Spirit: What Fungi Teach Us About Transformation
A reflective exploration of how the mushroom life cycle mirrors human transformation, showing how decay, letting go, and hidden inner work become the foundation for creative and personal renewal. This post connects mycology, spirituality, and growth psychology to reveal why true change often begins in the unseen places long before anything emerges.
Mushrooms as Medicine: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science Intertwined
Explore how ancient traditions and modern research meet in the world of medicinal mushrooms. This post looks at the history and science behind Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Chaga, highlighting their cultural significance and emerging wellness benefits. A grounded blend of folklore and current findings shows how these powerful fungi continue to shape holistic health today.
The Secret Language of Mycelium: What the Forest is Whispering Beneath Our Feet
Explore the hidden world of mycelium and discover how fungal networks silently shape forest ecosystems. This post reveals how mycelium connects trees, transports nutrients, and facilitates the Wood Wide Web, creating a living system of communication beneath our feet. Blending science with nature wisdom, it shows how these underground networks mirror patterns of intelligence and interconnection found throughout life and invites readers to listen more closely to the quiet language of the forest.
Mycology Musings: A Journey Into the Hidden Kingdom
A new miniseries exploring the fascinating world of fungi, from the science of mycelium to the spirit of transformation.
The Return of the Pen
For a long time the words lay dormant inside Lila, curled deep in the quiet of her mind like seeds […]
The Return to Herself
The pain arrived like an unexpected storm, a sharp and merciless strike across Lila’s lower back that stole her breath […]
A Sunday Under the Covers With Pongo
Today has been one of those soft, quiet days where the world slows down just enough to remind you what […]
The Art of Slow Travel: Staying Long Enough to Belong
This post explores the beauty of slowing down and truly settling into a place while traveling. It reflects on how staying longer allows you to notice subtle details, connect with locals, and understand the deeper rhythms of a landscape and culture. Rather than rushing through destinations, slow travel invites a sense of belonging and a more meaningful relationship with the world.
Andy's walks in the world 