Adirondacks:
Forever Wild North Country

Digging into our upstate New York roots, we revisit and interpret memories of the mighty Adirondack Park.  Spanning more than six million acres, we find solace in knowing that we are so small… knowing that, while we aspire to hike every trail or paddle every stream, we never will be able to.  We accept the vastness and slow down to take it all in… day by day, piece by piece.  We travel back east by VW Bus, nice and slow, so we can take in the scenery.  From time to time, the bus breaks down, and even that becomes an opportunity in the adventure, as we just use it as an excuse to stay longer and explore more.  As we chug through the mountains, we stop often and get out to run around, absorbing the colours and olfactory hues of the beeches and sugar maples.  Finally, tired from the work and play, we reward ourselves with a dip in one of the many glassy ponds as the sun sets and the cool of night falls over us.  We retreat to our home on wheels and climb upstairs to gaze at the stars through the canvas poptop.

Canyonlands:
Realm of Rock and the Far Horizon

The desert had been calling our names for quite some time, and we knew we had to go.  We had to go together.  We had done quite a bit of traveling through the southwest: to the Grand Canyon, Moab, and Monument Valley, yet neither of us had ever been to Canyonlands. We follow the lines going south, spotting hawks and falcons flying overhead the entire way, offering a change of perspective.  Once we arrive, we carry our home on our backs.  Packs loaded with essentials to help us navigate the desert, we feel refreshed and free.  We watch the sun sink down into the cracks of the canyon, fading red, orange and then into a deep purple.  The expansive space and colours of the canyon, seeping into our souls, heal our busy heads.  We could sit on that rock forever.  Listening to the crackle of the fire, staring into it’s glow, we are mesmerized by the dance of the flame and ember.  With our dog Luna at our feet, and a blanket of stars wrapped around us, we are home again.

Yellowstone:
Heartbeat of the Land

Watching the sunlight move across the hazy mist that covers the land, there’s nothing like greeting the dawn in the Lamar Valley.  We brave the early morning chill and begin our slow morning awakening. We brew coffee in our percolator and have a simple breakfast.  With unlimited possibilities for adventure, the day awaits. There’s no place quite like Yellowstone, where the wolves greet the morning with wild howls, buffalo roam freely, and the spotting of a grizzly bear is long hoped for.  The land itself seems to breathe, move, even speak.  It is the very heartbeat of all that is wild.  We have a deep connection to the greater Yellowstone area.  This is where our sister Jo has lived for the last ten years, alongside her beloved husband Jens, who we lost tragically last April, while he was skiing and adventuring in the backcountry.  As we reflect on Yellowstone, we honour Jens Hagen Anderson: a great brother, husband, son, uncle, friend, skier, mountaineer, and fellow adventurer.  Yellowstone is a place we all have visited, revisited, alone, together, and with our family.  It is pure magic.  We are transported away from time to another dimension and yet, there we find ourselves at home.