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Adventures_in_Gauja_National_Park_Latvia

24 Jan Latvia: 2 Days of Adventure in Gauja National Park and Sigulda

Posted at 09:55h in Blog, Europe, Latvia, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure

During my November visit to Latvia, my first order of business consisted of a two-day adventure in Gauja National Park and Sigulda. It was a whirlwind tour to explore the outdoors and a couple of adorable towns outside the capital region of Riga. Micah was on...

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Hiking the Narrows in the Winter, Zion National Park, Utah

12 Jun Zion National Park: Hiking The Narrows in the Winter

Posted at 10:05h in Blog, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure, United States, Utah

Towering canyon walls stand on either side of you. Wading upstream, you travel through a river in ankle to waist deep waters. A walking stick in one hand keeps you steady, while a snug dry suit keep you warm from the icy water at your...

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Lake Audy Bison Enclosure, Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada

03 Aug Driving Safari: Meet the Bison at the Lake Audy Bison Enclosure

Posted at 09:30h in Blog, Canada, Manitoba, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure

Hundreds of years ago, thousands and thousands of bison roamed the grassland prairies of central Manitoba, Canada. Unfortunately, due to overhunting, the bison population became all but depleted. Not only was this detrimental to the bison and other wildlife in the region, it was also...

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Kayaking Clear Lake Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada

19 Jul Kayaking on Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park

Posted at 03:30h in Blog, Canada, Manitoba, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure

If there is a body of water nearby, it’s a safe bet to assume we will try to find a way to paddle. Clear Lake in Canada’s Riding Mountain National Park was no exception. We joined a midmorning tour and were excited to get out...

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Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Photo Essay

31 May A Photo Essay: The Galapagos Islands

Posted at 09:30h in Blog, Ecuador, National Parks, Photo Essay, South America

Growing up, I always imagined the Galapagos as a far flung chain of islands filled with indescribable wildlife. I pictured remote beaches, sea turtles, and lush green trees. I imagined iguanas, rocky shores and bright blue waters. All of this is certainly true, but what...

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25 Apr Camping & Hot Springs in Banff National Park

Posted at 09:15h in Alberta, Blog, Canada, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure

We loved Banff National Park so much that we ended up visiting twice in one summer. The first trip was for a video project, and the second visit was a getaway with a couple of friends. Both trips consisted of us spending a few nights...

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Sulphur Mountain Hike and Gondola, Banff National Park, Canada

20 Apr Sulphur Mountain Hiking and Gondola Ride

Posted at 10:00h in Alberta, Blog, Canada, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure

Sulphur Mountain is located in the adorable mountain town of Banff, Canada. Views from the top overlook the town below as well as the mountains and lakes covering the landscapes The top of the mountain’s observation deck is 7,486 feet above sea level and rises...

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Johnston Canyon Hike, Banff National Park, Canada

17 Apr Hiking the Johnston Canyon Trail in Banff National Park, Canada

Posted at 09:15h in Alberta, Blog, Canada, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure

We were nearly finished with the Johnston Canyon hike when we encountered a line of people blocking the path in front of us. No one seemed to know what was happening—the only thing we knew was that we were stuck for the time being. Because...

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Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

12 Apr A Photo Essay: Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada

Posted at 09:30h in Alberta, Blog, Canada, National Parks, Photo Essay

After visiting twice in one summer, Banff National Park became one of our favorite spots in Canada. Although both road trips were too short, one was three nights and the other was two, we were still able to cover quite a bit of ground. One...

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Angels Landing Hike in Zion National Park, Utah

21 Jan Hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Posted at 10:20h in Blog, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure, United States, Utah

The higher we climbed the more nervous I got. I held the chain as I peered over the edge and thought to myself, “What in the world did we get ourselves into?!” Our path was narrow and rocky, the drop offs on both sides were more...

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Adventures in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada

10 Sep Adventures in Riding Mountain National Park

Posted at 14:55h in Blog, Canada, Manitoba, National Parks, Outdoor Adventure

Riding Mountain National Park is located in the southwestern region of Manitoba, about 3.5 hours northwest from Winnipeg. The landscapes and scenery in Manitoba are pretty similar to where we grew up just a few hours south in Minnesota, but since this was our first...

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Road Trip Manitoba, Canada

29 Aug Why You Should Take a Road Trip Through Manitoba

Posted at 09:30h in Blog, Canada, Manitoba, National Parks

Manitoba is often described as mostly prairie land, but it has so much more to offer than most people realize. Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, was voted as one of the best trips to take in 2016, and the rest of the province has plenty...

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Jenna & Micah • Wander The Map
When we asked in the Ski Shop about good trails to When we asked in the Ski Shop about good trails to hike/ski/snowshoe around Yellowstone National Park during the winter, we were told that the 5-mile roundtrip hike to Tower Fall is a fantastic option. We learned that the trail follows a road that is only open during the warmer months of the year, and we were sold. After a morning of wildlife spotting in the Lamar Valley, we decided to set off on a snowshoeing adventure to Tower Fall. 

The trail is primarily used for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, so we strapped on our snowshoes and set off on our adventure. After about a mile of hiking on a very packed trail, we decided that the snowshoes were more of a hassle than a help. Instead, we decided to strap the snowshoes on our backpack and hike in our snow boots. It made a world of difference! The actual waterfall was frozen and a bit underwhelming (it’s hard to spot, but you can see it in the 5th photo), but the hike was still definitely worth it.  We loved the views from the Calcite Springs overlook and the hike was a wonderful way to explore the beauty of Yellowstone in the winter. We didn't see any bison or elk on the hike, but we could tell they were close from the abundance of fresh footprints in the snow!
The Calcite Springs Overlook is located near the n The Calcite Springs Overlook is located near the narrowest part of Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. Look for the steam rising from the Yellowstone River near the bend in the river—this steam is rising through hydrothermal vents. It was so neat to see against the contrast of the snowy landscape! In the summer, you can reach this overlook by driving past Tower Junction along Grand Loop Road to the overlook’s pullout. In the winter, however, the Grand Loop Road is closed at Tower Junction, and the only way to reach the overlook is to hike/snowshoe/ski there. And that’s exactly what we did. On our hike to Tower Fall, we stopped at this overlook and had the place entirely to ourselves!
We heard that winter is a prime time for wildlife We heard that winter is a prime time for wildlife viewing in Yellowstone National Park, and after only 1.5 days of exploring, we definitely can see why! Because of the harsh winter conditions in the park, animals such as bison, wolves, and coyotes, often descend from the mountains to look for food in the valley. Most of the roads in the park are closed to personal vehicles during the winter months, but the road that runs through the Lamar Valley remains open. This happens to create fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities for anyone heading out to explore either via their own car or on a tour. We spent the better part of our morning driving through the Lamar Valley to look for wildlife, and we sure didn't have to look far as we spotted plenty of animals right on the roads in front of us! We saw wolves, deer, elk, and so many bison--it was amazing. 😍
We were booked on a video job in Wyoming last mont We were booked on a video job in Wyoming last month, and it allowed us to make a couple day stop at Yellowstone National Park. Since our visit was only 1.5 days (and we had never been to Yellowstone before!), we decided to stay at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in the park to maximize our time. Most of the roads through the park are closed during the winter, so instead of taking a guided tour through the park we decided to explore the area of Yellowstone that we could see on our own. We spent our time hiking on trails and boardwalks, as well as driving through the Lamar Valley to look for wildlife. Well, luckily, we didn’t have to look too hard for wildlife—it was everywhere! Here’s a shot of some bison we saw within minutes of setting out on our drive. Stay tuned for more of our favorite spots and sights throughout Yellowstone National Park in the winter!
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