Our home country for decades, USA, is also the country that we explored the most. This is a combination of multiple things, like lack of money in the beginning to go on international trips, lack of time afterwards to go on long trips and the myriad of interesting places to see and things to do. We did multiple roadtrips including one to Canada and one (almost) cross country which allowed us to experience the breathtaking diversity of this huge country.
Map of Travels
Trips in 2024
- State Trust Land from Prospector Park
Before a planned but also undesired break from hiking we do one last hike this weekend onto State Trust Land starting from Prospector Park - Into the remote back area of Usery Mountain
On today’s hike we explore the back area of Usery Mountain on a nine mile hike finding multiple caches and enjoying the beautiful weather - Metate Trail in San Tan Mountains Regional Park
We go south this Saturday to explore a new remote trail in Sant Tan Regional Park and use our annual pass on a great day for hiking - Spur Cross Ranch Trail to boundary hike
Today we hike the longest trail in Spur Cross Ranch Park to the park boundary enjoying great views and beautiful weather - The impressive Tucson Air and Space Museum
Finally we are able to visit the expansive and impressive Tucson Air and Space Museum before ending the day with great Mexican food - Exploring the State Trust Land off Meridian
In the afternoon we explore an area of State Trust Land near Meridian Road finding caches and launching our drone for the first time - Bearizona, Alpacas and Petroglyphs near Williams
This long weekend we explore the area around Williams with the major goals being Bearizona, alpacas and an abandoned railroad tunnel - Usery Park from Crismon Trailhead
After weeks of being out of comission we start with an easy hike relatively close to our home exploring a flat area of Usery Park with some great views and abundant bird life - A long weekend of mushroom hunting and caches near Eager
We spend a long weekend joining mushrooms forays and finding caches and mushrooms as well as birds and mammals - Hiking near Munds Park on a beautiful loop
Today with an extra night at the lodging we go on a long loop via trails near Munds Park looking for birds and enjoying flowers and ponds along the way - Geowoodstock XX, our first one
For years we wanted to attend a Geowoodstock and because it is in Arizona we have no excuse this year so up to Flagstaff we go for a day of fun and events - Monument Peak Loop Trail exploration
Today to escape the Phoenix heat we decide to hike the Monument Peak loop trail in the Payson area encountering Indian ruins and an elk - Exploring around Arivaca, mostly Buenos Aires NWR
We take a long weekend trip to explore the Arivaca area with a focus on Buenos Aires NWR and the interesting birds that sometimes can be seen around here - Gilbert Water Ranch rare bird search
Today we explore Gilbert Water Ranch with no luck for a few rare species spotted here the previous days - Wind Cave on Usery Mountain
Today we explore a park near our house that we visited only once before with a focus on the Wind Cave that we missed last time - Looking for Elf Owls in Ironwood NM
Tonight as part of an Arizona Field Ornithologist expedition we are looking for elf owls something we wanted to see for a long time - Hidden Kiln near Blue Point Recreation Area
We plan to take advantage of the cooler weather and explore a ruined kiln close to the cooling waters of the Salt River - Long awaited Madonna concert
Finally after many months we are able to attend a long delayed Madonna concert that we booked way back last year - Another exploration from Horse Trailhead
We are still tired after two long weekend trips so we explore near our home starting from Horse Trailhead and finding caches and birds - Short visit to Orange County
A long weekend exploration of Orange County while visiting friends of relatives - Exploring Washington D.C. and the surrounding area during a conference
During a trip to Washington DC for a conference we explore the capital city as well as the surrounding area
Trips in 2023
- Year End in Patagonia (Arizona)
We spend the end of the year near Patagonia hosting relatives, wine tasting, birdwatching and visiting ruins and ghost towns - Lucky visit to Tovrea Castle
We were lucky to win the lottery for Tovrea Castle a few months back and today was finally the day to see the castle in the desert - Exploring from Horse Trail Trailhead
Today we explore an area we visited a few times and really liked but from a different trailhead, the Horse Trail Trailhead, with a focus on geocaching - Indian Mesa Hike, finally
We planned this hike to see the ruins on top of Indian Mesa for years but only this year we were able to make it to this beautiful location - A long weekend exploring the Page area
A long weekend exploration near Page with river crossings, arches, slot canyons and historical sites - See Canyon Fall Colors
An eight mile total hike starting at See Canyon trailhead exploring the fall colors on the Highline, See Canyon and See Spring trails - Big Sister in Hawes Trail System
Short hike in the Hawes Trail System on the beautiful, but dangerous for hikers, Big Sister Trail - Maricopa Trail near Granite Reef Dam
We spend a few hours on the Maricopa Trail early in the morning before it gets too hot for hiking - Ruins, Volcanoes and a Solar Eclipse in New Mexico
A busy long weekend near Gallup exploring ruins and volcanoes with the highlight being the annular solar eclipse - Mt. Lemmon Oracle Ridge Trail
Five mile hike down to Dan’s Saddle on the beautiful but difficult Oracle Ridge Trail - Hirabayashi Campground exploration
Short stop at Hirabayashi Campground to look for the elusive Montezuma Quail - Looking for a pass at Casa Grande NM
We are looking for a NP pass today and we first stop at Casa Grande NM with no luck - Peach Orchard Trail from Payson Rodeo Grounds
Exploration of a little visited section of the trail system around Payson - Looking for mushrooms and cooler air on the Rim
Between two trips to Europe we make time to take one trip onto the Mogollon Rim while avoiding a hurricane - Escaping the heat, mostly, near Safford
A long beautiful weekend spent exploring Mt Graham and the Gila Box Riparian NCA - Long weekend in Flagstaff
Long weekend trip exploring the Arizona Trail near Humphrey Peak as well as the Flagstaff Loop Trail - Morning walk near the Salt River
Avoiding the heat we do a very early morning walk in the Phoenix area desert up to the Salt River - Shoofly and Peach Loop near Payson
Our first trip in Arizona after a long Europe trip takes us to the Payson area for hiking and to visit some forgotten ruins - Gilbert Riparian Preserve short visit
After some doctor appointments we decide to go relax in the Riparian Preserve and buy some BBQ nearby - Phoenix Film Festival and State Trust hiking
Today we have a busy day planned starting with the film festival then lunch and finally a hike on state trust land - San Tan Mountains and Gilbert Ponds
Forced by external circumstances today we changed our plans and visited Gilbert Ponds and San Tan Mountains seeing many birds and beautiful flowers - Butterfly Association trip
Our first butterfly trip for the year ended with very few butterflies lots of wildflowers and a nice hike - Visiting Superstition Mountains area with friends
An unexpected visit by a friend leads to a full day exploring the Superstitions Mountains and ending with a dinner at a Thai restaurant - Black Canyon Trail south from Table Mesa
Finishing another section of the Black Canyon Trail as we try to hike it end to end - A short (?) jaunt on State Trust Land near Gold Canyon
This is a State Trust section we explored a few times before but we always find something new to discover especially while geocaching - Audubon Trip to Ocotillo Ponds
An enjoyable morning trip with an Audubon group to a group of ponds we haven’t visited before - Tucson Gem Show and Sweetwater Wetlands
Day trip to Tucson to visit the Gem Show for once at the beginning and ending the day at the Sweetwater Wetlands - Desert Botanical Garden
A few hours at the very busy Botanical Garden enjoying the great weather - Broadway Cave in Superstition Mountains
A six mile hike to the interesting Broadway Cave while finding caches along the way
Trips in 2022
- Horse with No Name Trail
12 mile hike near the Superstition Mountains on a beautiful little known loop trail - Flagstaff Hiking instead of Skiing
A day intended for skiing ends in hiking in Fort Tuthill Park due to lack of snow on the slopes - Colossal Cave and Saguaro NP
Today we finally made it to Colossal Cave and also explored Saguaro NP in the afternoon for a busy day in the Tucson area - Balanced Rock in the Sonoran Preserve
On a nice day for hiking in the Phoenix Area we explore the Sonoran Preserve from a trailhead we never visited before - Gila River Indian Community Bird Count
Today we spent the morning helping with the Bird Count on the Gila River Indian Community enjoying the many birds and mammals we saw - One hour hike near Salt River
About one hour hike after work and before sunset near the Salt River birdwatching and geocaching - Exploring Portland during off-season
One week in Portland both working remotely and exploring the city during the off hours and weekend - Blue Point Short Hike
A short trip near the Blue Point Picnic Area with lots of exciting meetings with wildlife - Dia de Los Muertos and Hawes Trail
A full day starting with the Dia de Los Muertos festival in Mesa and ending with a scenic hike on the Hawes Trail System - Long weekend in Los Alamos and Aztec, NM
Two days exploring Los Alamos while at conference followed by a half day in Aztec to see the National Monument and interesting public lands - Red Rock Spring Trail
A few hours on the Red Rock Spring Trail and then on the Highline Trail enjoying the good weather and finding a few caches - Alpine Mushroom Festival
Weekend trip to Alpine area to attend a Mushroom Festival Field trip and to finally climb Escudilla Mountain the third highest peak in Arizona - Hiking near Pine
Exploring Pine during a short visit on a hot day and finding lots and lots of elk - Finally seeing the becards at Tubac
Finally a successful trip to see the rose-throated becards in Tubac followed by a short expedition on Mt Lemmon - Looking for bears around Alaska (and failing)
Two week tour in Alaska spending a few days in the far northwest of Alaska in Nome and the rest of the time exploring the more well known areas around Anchorage, from Seward and Homer to the south to Denali and Fairbanks in the north and Valdez in the east - Grand Canyon Trip with Friends
Three day trip with one day in Williams, one day in Grand Canyon and one day in Sedona area - Goldfield Recreation Area short hike
After work short hike in Goldfield Recreation Area seeing the famous wild horses - McFadden Horse Trail…finally
Full day 8 mile hike to the top of McFadden Horse Mountain and to the scenic overlook at the end of the trail. - Glendale Recharge Ponds
Short two hour walk near the Glendale Recharge Ponds followed by a day out in Glendale - One day near Strawberry
One day hiking near Strawberry ending unexpectedly due to a mishap at our Airbnb. - Granite Reef Dam
Morning two hour hike on a section of the Maricopa Trail near Granite Reef Dam - Payson Phoenix Street TH Loop
Day trip to Payson to hike on an unnamed 5 mi loop trail from Phoenix St Trailhead. - Phon D Sutton Nature Trail
After-work two hour hike on a nature trail in Phon D Sutton - Hassayampa Bioblitz
Night drive with AZGFD employees to explore the biodiversity of Sun Valley Parkway. - Gilbert Water Ranch
Few hours after work enjoying the Gilbert Water Ranch and the many birds and animals that live in the Riparian Preserve - Tres Rios Wetlands
Short jaunt to Tres Rios Wetlands to explore one of the birdiest areas around Phoenix - Tubac Hawk Watch
Two full day trip to Tubac to take part in the Hawk Watch and see the town and to Tumacacori NHS to see the beautiful ruins. - Deer Creek Trailhead
Day trip to the Deer Creek Trailhead with an exploration of the trails starting from it - State Trust Geocaching Outing
Day trip to a State Trust Land area for geocaching and hiking - Organ Pipe Cactus NM
Two day trip to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to visit this remote park and see the special cacti growing only in this part of the US. - Along SR 87 to Gisela
Day trip along the Beeline Highway (SR 87) with a few stops including the Black Mountain Ruins - Hawes Trail System Hike
Short afternoon hike on the Hawes Trail System - Tucson Gem Show
Day trip to Tucson Gem Show to look for bargains and Sweetwater Wetlands for birding - Yuma Mega Event
Two day trip for geocaching, sightseeing and some birding - Wickenburg
Visit to the Desert Caballeros Western Museum and Wickenburg as well as a short jaunt to the Thrasher Spot to look for the elusive LeConte’s Thrasher - Looking for rufous-backed robins at Bushnell Tanks
Short two hour trip to Bushnell Tanks to look for a rufous-backed robin - Willow Canyon in Superstition Mountains
Willow Canyon day hike along a scenic road in Superstition Mountains - Everglades Birding Festival
Short weekend visit to Florida to take part in the Everglades Birding Festival for three full days visiting the Everglades, Upper Keys and Ft Lauderdale area. - State Trust Land near Usery Mountain
Hike on State Trust Land for geocaching and birdwatching
Trips in 2021
- McDowell Mountain Preserve – Adero Canyon TH
Day hike on the McDowell Mountain Preserve starting from Adero Canyon Trailhead - Black Canyon Trail – BCC Trailhead
Day hike from Black Canyon City Trailhead on the Black Canyon Trail - State Trust near Gold Canyon
Day hike on State Trust Land near Gold Canyon - Sonoran Preserve from Apache Wash TH
Day hike in the Sonoran Preserve starting from Apache Wash TH - Superstition Mountains and Lost Dutchman Museum
Day Trip to the Superstition Mountains visiting the Lost Dutchman Museum - Kauai Exploration
One week trip to Kauai, the Garden Isle, with lots of hiking and birding, some snorkeling and even some culture. - Strawberry Stay
Two nights trip to Strawberry exploring a few hiking trails in the area. - Bushnell Tanks
Exploring a different area around Bushnell Tanks including a section of the Arizona Trail - Highline Trail – Hatchery TH
Exploration of Highline Trail while geocaching along the way starting from Hatchery TH
Trips in 2012
- Elephant trees in South Mountain
Last hike of the year is dedicated to finding the mythical Elephant trees which is relatively easy to do if you know where to look for them - Enjoying a day with coyotes in South Mountain
South Mountain is close by so we do a short hike exploring a few interesting natural features and enjoying the great views - Exploring Price Road and Gila River
On Christmas Day we explore Price Road and the Gila River riparian area finding multiple caches and enjoying the nice weather - Exploring the wilderness north of Seven Springs
Today we stop a few times on the Seven Springs Road with the major goal being a climb on Hutch Mesa - The busy Bell Trail
Day hike using the Bell and Apache Maid trails to explore the Wet Beaver Wilderness - Very short stop for caching near New River
Very short hike during a shopping trip to explore a national forest section we haven’t explored before - Caching near the Black Canyon Trail
Today is a day for caching near the Black River Canyon exploring abandoned mines and ruins and enjoying the beautiful Black Canyon River wash - Short visit to Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area
Short visit to the Rio Salado linear trail after browsing the art sale at the Audubon center nearby - Ruins and petroglyphs in Utah and Colorado
One week trip in Utah and Colorado with a focus on ruins and petroglyphs as well as dinosaur sites along the way - An extended weekend exploring near Page
This extended weekend we explore the Page area stopping at the Richinbar mine on the way and the Wire Pass Slot Canyon as well as the Horseshoe Bend near Page - Finding cows on the remote Mail Trail
To escape the heat we choose today the Mail Trail a little known and visited trail passing crossing the highlands of Arizona - Visiting abandoned cabins on the Mogollon Rim
Today we explore the Mogollon Rim visiting two abandoned cabins and enjoying the fall colors and great views - SP Crater exploration north of Flagstaff
Returning from Africa our first trip is north of Flagstaff to explore an area of volcanic cones with a focus on the SP Crater one of the more famous ones - A camping trip near Flagstaff to see lava tubes and find caches
We spend an extended weekend at high altitudes exploring lava tubes and canyons and finding lots of caches - Long weekend of camping in the White Mountains
A long weekend visit to the White Mountains area finding abandoned places and enjoying the beautiful nature - One night camping on the Mogollon Rim
This weekend we camp on the Mogollon Rim and explore the both the Rim and further inland finding cabins and canyons and lots of caches - Hiking and caching near West Clear Creek
West Clear Creek is an area of beauty with lots of wildlife that we explored today while finding caches along the way - Finding caches in the middle of the interstate near Table Mesa Road
Today it is mostly a random exploration of an area near Table Mesa Road including a section that is difficult to access in the median of the interstate - Lonely exploration of Orme Road
One more solo trip before our team is reunited this time exploring Orme Road finding caches and meeting cattle and sheep - Viewing the start of Gladiator Fire from Sunset rest area
With our team split one of us is taking a short jaunt to the Sunset rest area to find caches and unexpectedly be witnesses to the start of the major Gladiator fire near Crown King - Climbing on Bill Williams using Bixler Saddle Trail
Today we explore the Bill Williams area climbing on the Bixler Saddle Trail and encountering turkeys and elks while enjoying great views - A long but beautiful hike to Ballantine Cabin
Today we hike the Ballantine Trail about halfway to Ballantine Cabin passing by The Boulders and enjoying great views and the flowering desert - A weekend exploration of the beautiful Page area
We spend a great weekend in the area around Page exploring beautiful landscapes, wading through rivers and hiking to toadstools and other otherworldly rock formations - A day in the Saddle Mountain area
We spend this Sunday exploring the Saddle Mountain area with some outstanding views and old caches - Deer Creek Trail to Gowan Burial Site
In the afternoon we hike about 3 miles to Gowan’s grave following the beautiful Deer Creek trail - Snow on Mount Ord
We start the day with an exploration of Mt Ord with unexpected snow at higher altitudes - Phoenix Food Festival
We always wanted to check out a food festival and today is our chance with a huge selection of restaurants all offering a sample - Ostrich festival
One of the attractions in Arizona is the annual ostrich race festival and this is the year we are visiting it even though we missed most of the race - On top of Black Mesa
Today we climb on top of Black Mesa of Half Life fame, not really but the cache we find does link to the game - THE Bushnell Tanks
Bushnell Tanks is an interesting riparian area that we passed multiple times and we didn’t explore in depth till now - Work trip to the Carolinas
On a work trip to North Carolina we spend a day exploring the area around Durham with a short jaunt into South Carolina - New River Mesa Exploration
This Sunday we go after a trio of rarely found caches on an out of the way mesa close to Seven Springs - Quartzsite and the Barefoot Imprint
Today we visit the Gem and Auto shows in Quartzsite before exploring the surrounding area for the barefoot imprint - Perry Canyon Indian Ruin
This is the month of petroglyphs as today we explore another famous site on Perry Mesa, home of the red deer - Mineral Road Exploration
An exploration around Mineral Road finding ancient ruins and petroglyphs as well as more recent mines - Annual trip to Laughlin
We take an extended weekend trip to Laughlin searching for petroglyphs and enjoying Joshua Tree forests while finding lots of caches - Deer on the BCT from Glorianna Trailhead
Enjoying the cooler temperatures we do a longer hike on the Black Canyon Trail starting from Glorianna Trailhead seeing deer and finding caches - New Year in the Palm Springs area
Long New Year weekend spent exploring the area around Palm Springs including the Pacific Crest Trail and Painted Canyon
Trips in 2011
- Cave Creek Trail from Seven Springs exploration
For the last hike of the year we choose a beautiful area off Seven Springs Road with a flowing creek and a rarely visited trail, Cave Creek Trail - Exploring the Sonoran Preserve
Today we spend half day exploring the Sonoran Preserve and finding caches along the way - Black Canyon Trail from Glorianna TH
For the second weekend in a row we explore a section of the BCT this time from Glorianna TH seeing again dead cows and poorwills, deja vu - Black Canyon Trail Little Pan from Table Mesa
Today we decide to explore the Black Canyon Trail on a section we have not visited before from Table Mesa finding scorpions, poorwills and dead cows - Arizona Trail near Mormon Lake
Exploration of Arizona Trail near Mormon Lake - Mogollon Rim near Strawberry
Day trip near Strawberry exploring various Rim viewpoint on both sides of US87 - Munds Area Geocaching
Geocaching “inspired” jaunt through the area northeast of Munds Park - Long weekend near Williams
Long weekend of caching around Williams, including climbing the Bill Williams mountain with a stop in Prescott on the way. - Flagstaff and Mogollon Rim
A two day, three nights visit to the higher elevations with one day spent near Flagstaff and one on the Rim - Telluride here we come!
Two full days spent in Telluride area gave us a good idea about the major attractions here, snow covered mountains and old ghost towns - Two days on the North Rim of Grand Canyon
A two full day trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon visiting the major viewpoints and Lee’s Ferry on the way back - To Taos in New Mexico and back
Five day trip to New Mexico visiting Los Alamos and Taos as well as the Catwalk and the wilderness in Western New Mexico - Trip to Pine
On this trip we explored the Great Western Trail near Phoenix, a Payson viewpoint and an area near Pine that led to an exciting bear encounter - Prescott Geocaching via Orme Road
Geocaching day finding difficult caches along the way on Orme Road and then some of the world renowned Raven caches in Prescott area - Kanab Long Weekend
Trip to explore the Kanab Area including Lick Wash with stops along the way on the Arizona side at T Bar Ranch and a petroglyph site - Pine Mountain
Full day hike up Pine Mountain, a remote mountain near the Verde River - South Mountain Exploration
Exploring the Lost Ranch ruins in South Mountain Park. - Highline Trail hike
Highline Trail hike and a jaunt from Deer Creek TH - Extended Weekend Trip to Las Vegas
Trip to explore Las Vegas while stopping in Quartzsite, Lake Havasu City and Laughlin and visiting the petroglyphs near Las Vegas - Hell’s Hole Trail, yes really
10+ mile hike down to Hell’s Hole and back from Young Road - Aguila Road Caching
Caching day along Aguila Road west of Phoenix - Bulldog Canyon Area Exploration
Day exploration of an unexpectedly beautiful area near Apache Junction - South Mountain quick jaunt
Short exploration of the south side of South Mountain Park - Perry Mesa Ruins
Visit to the Perry Tank Canyon Ruin (a.k.a. Pueblo Pato) to see the famous petroglyphs - Up on Table Mesa
Day trip to explore Table Mesa Road area - Laughlin MLK Weekend Trip
Three day long weekend trip (MLK day) exploring the area near Laughlin with forays in California and Nevada and sites in Arizona - Spur Cross Ranch Loop Hike
Loop Hike in Spur Cross Ranch exploring a couple new trails.