There are some moments on the trail that stick with you long after the miles fade. A sudden crack of […]


There are some moments on the trail that stick with you long after the miles fade. A sudden crack of […]

There is something about the Great Smoky Mountains that makes each season feel like its own secret chapter. You can […]

There is a moment every Smokies lover knows well. You pull into a trailhead on a beautiful day, expecting a […]

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.

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.

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.

There’s a truth hikers know in their bones: you don’t really meet a place through a pane of glass. Sitting […]

In late September I went on what can only be described as a life-changing adventure: the Greater Yellowstone Green Fire […]

Yellowstone National Park is famous for its geysers and wildlife, but it’s also home to some of the most accessible […]

There’s something about Montana and Wyoming that feels almost otherworldly. The sheer expanse of sky, the jagged peaks of the […]

The Clear Lake–Artist Point Loop in Yellowstone is a moderate 3.8-mile hike that showcases geothermal features, meadows, and dramatic canyon […]

The Moose Ponds Loop near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park is an easy 3.2–3.5 mile hike with minimal […]

The Green Fire Tour is mostly for wildlife viewing and sightseeing, but there were a couple of opportunities for short […]

Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park is a striking area of colorful travertine terraces formed by hot water dissolving […]

Lamar Valley, in the northeastern part of Yellowstone National Park, is a wide, open expanse of meadows and river corridors […]

Mesa Falls, located on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River in eastern Idaho, consists of two impressive waterfalls: Upper […]

I never realized how much a herniated disc could change my life until it happened. The pain was relentless — […]
I intended for my last post to be the last in this series about Hermetic philosophy but after recent events […]

Elena hiked deeper into the highland forest, her boots pressing into the mossy ground. The path was narrow, winding between […]

Elias had been wandering for weeks, a faded backpack his only companion. He had followed trails across countries, moving with […]

Elena began her ascent in the hush before dawn, when the forest still dreamed and the veil between worlds felt […]

Maya had come to Iceland chasing the midnight sun. She wanted to see a sky that never turned dark, to […]

Elena’s boots struck the ground in a rhythm that matched her pulse. The forest path wound upward, each step taking […]

Miles stood at the summit ridge of Pico da Vara in the Azores, the clouds below him spilling like a […]

Elena had read the phrase in an old leather-bound book she’d found in a secondhand shop in Asheville: “The All […]

Every once in a while, life knocks you flat and leaves you searching for meaning. For me, that moment came […]

Nature hides its mandalas in plain sight—whispers of sacred geometry reminding us that the universe blooms in perfect harmony.

Hiking in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula immerses you in one of the planet’s most biodiverse rainforests, where winding trails lead […]

Hiking in the Azores takes you through mist-covered volcanic landscapes, lush green pastures, and crater lakes that shimmer like hidden […]

Hiking to La Paz Waterfall in Costa Rica winds you through misty rainforest trails, past playful wildlife and vibrant tropical […]

Hiking around Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica takes you through vibrant rainforest trails, past sparkling waterfalls and steaming hot springs, […]

Where the water falls, spirit flows. Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dropping 100 […]

Ancient roots, timeless wisdom — a reminder that we too are meant to stand tall, grounded in earth yet reaching […]

When most people imagine travel, they think of airports, big cities, or bucket-list landmarks. I’ve learned that some of the […]

I wrote this in June when I was recovering from a back injury. My boots sit dusty by the door […]

I saw you on the sidewalk, no collar, no name Just a tail that wagged like sunshine through the rain […]

Although it’s a roundtrip hike of more than 11 miles, this hike to Mt. Cammerer is still the shortest and […]

The free flowing Obed Wild & Scenic River and it’s 500 feet deep gorges offer visitors unspoiled rugged terrain, exceptional […]

This is a great trail if you want a taste of the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies and are short […]

I Hiked with a nice group to Breakaway Bluff. The Cumberland trail leaves Rock Creek Campground and includes many ascents […]

This section of the Cumberland Trail will eventually climb from Emory River Gorge within the National Park Service (NPS)-administered Obed […]

The Rock Creek Loop in Big South Fork National Recreation Area is A 7-mile loop that highlights a lot of […]

I did a section of the Cumberland Trail in January- Black mountain to Ozone Falls. It was snowing when we […]

Pics from a recent hike to Andrews Bald , which is always a favorite of mine. I took some friends […]

Some April flowers at Frozen Head State Park

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is a beautiful 8 mile section of the Appalachian Trail between Newfound Gap […]


Honey creek loop is one of the most beautiful and difficult hikes in Tennessee. I call it the “Garden of […]

This blog is about travel and hiking, but the love of my life is a dog. His name is Bruno, […]

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.

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.

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.

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.

A new miniseries exploring the fascinating world of fungi, from the science of mycelium to the spirit of transformation.
For a long time the words lay dormant inside Lila, curled deep in the quiet of her mind like seeds […]
The pain arrived like an unexpected storm, a sharp and merciless strike across Lila’s lower back that stole her breath […]

Today has been one of those soft, quiet days where the world slows down just enough to remind you what […]
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.