I was raised on big time college football. In our family, Saturday afternoons wetr spent watching our beloved Ohio State Buckeyes on television. Nothing was more exciting than hearing ABC college football commentator Keith Jackson say, “It’s a wonderful day for college football in Columbus Ohio!” I love the pomp and pageantry of college football.…
I find myself thinking about different things in Montana than I do at home in Ohio. My thoughts here are very primal. So basic that they align with the classical elements that the ancient Greeks used to define their world: earth, water, air, fire and aether. Earth—getting lost: When you arrive in Montana, swing by…
In an effort to escape the forest fire smoke in Great Falls last weekend, we headed for the Rocky Mountain Front. We decided to explore the Blackleaf Canyon near Bynum, Montana. And we discovered an amazing hike that follows a creek through steep canyons! Best of all, we had the canyon all to ourselves! We…
After a beautiful Sunday morning spent exploring Fort Benton, Montana, we decided that we were up for a real Montana off the beaten path adventure. Something simple. Hmmm, what could we do? What if we visit the geological epicenter of the end of the last Ice Age? Yep, you can really do that in central…
Fear is temporary. Regret lasts forever. If I were to explain this summer in a strategic plan, it would look like this: Objective: to take risks that I would not regularly take Impact: to overcome irrational fears Output: take solo hikes that I previously wouldn’t have done alone. This morning I set out for the…
A few times in my lifetime, I knew, when it was happening, that a day would be etched in my mind forever. I just had a forever day at the Nez Perce Bear Paw Battlefield with Jim Magera, the foremost expert on the site. Jim retired after 47 years as a high school history teacher…
Watch my new video about buffalo jumps! Since I’m from Ohio, I have the double whammy when it comes to hiking in Montana: I’m used to low altitude and flat lands. Luckily, I’m living near a nice trail in Montana this summer with some altitude gain so I can practice some uphill hiking. Not only…
Last weekend, on a drive home after a weekend in Glacier National Park, we were remembering dozens of past Glacier trips. We laughed about the lodging mistakes we had made in the past—like staying near the middle of the park on US 2 to “split the difference” between the park’s two main entrances. We didn’t…
When I decided to put my career on hiatus and spend a summer seeking adventure in Montana, an earthquake was not on my to-do list. Last night, I was jolted from a deep sleep to the largest earthquake in western Montana in nearly 60 years, according to the USGS. The epicenter of the 5.8 magnitude…
This is the post excerpt.
Live like someone left the gate open 