Welcome to this week’s hiking report! The trail recommendations from last week’s hiking report still hold so this week I’m going to share a spring fishing hole recommendation and exactly how I catch sunrise at North Table Mountain. Spring fly fishing I spent last weekend camping near Buena Vista and enjoyed the dry trails plusContinue reading “HIKING REPORT 6/4/25- sunrise at North Table Mountain”
Author Archives: hanbettinger
HIKING REPORT 5/30/25- Here come the wildflowers
We are well into the hiking season and I’ve decided it’d be fun to share a weekly hiking report on the areas in Colorado I’m exploring as the snow melts from the trails throughout the summer. Welcome to the first edition! By this point in the year, I have retired my winter hiking boots andContinue reading “HIKING REPORT 5/30/25- Here come the wildflowers”
EXPLORING MOAB IN THE OFF SEASON & LIFE’S SIDE QUESTS
Early in January a friend and I took a trip to Moab, Utah. I love Moab in the off season as the crowds are low and reservations are not needed to get into the National Parks. The trade off is some restaurants and stores are closed, especially during their “dead” month of January. I typicallyContinue reading “EXPLORING MOAB IN THE OFF SEASON & LIFE’S SIDE QUESTS”
EXPLORING THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS ABOARD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S ENDEAVOUR II
Back in March of 2024 my cousin asked if I wanted to take a trip to the Galápagos Islands two months later in May. I hadn’t heard of the Galápagos since I learned about Darwinism in sixth grade and, frankly, I didn’t know it was a place people traveled to. The proposed trip was aContinue reading “EXPLORING THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS ABOARD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S ENDEAVOUR II”
2025 VISION BOARDING & WILD DREAMING
Happy 2025! Everyone plans for a new year a little differently so I’m sharing my unofficial planning process that’s been a fun exercise over the past few years. December is usually my time to reflect on the previous year (see here) and create a vision board for the year to come. For me, a visionContinue reading “2025 VISION BOARDING & WILD DREAMING”
2024 REFLECTIONS & AN EXPERIMENT ON JOY
First off, I must say, I have loved 2024. It was filled with a pleasant mix of adventure, growth, new experiences, challenges, connection, laughter and a generous sprinkle of anxiety. As I reflect on this year, I see it’s been a year of stabilizing (balance), slowness (presence) and flexibility (releasing control). I’ve been able toContinue reading “2024 REFLECTIONS & AN EXPERIMENT ON JOY”
ALASKA IN AUGUST & MUSINGS ON PERSONAL EVOLUTIONS
While talking to my friend in July I said I was headed to Alaska this summer and they asked if I turn into a bear or salmon every August and instinctually have to go north. The salmon and I must experience a similar pull to head in that direction where we eventually meet at variousContinue reading “ALASKA IN AUGUST & MUSINGS ON PERSONAL EVOLUTIONS”
TRAIL FOOD: MY CURRENT FAVORITES FOR DAY HIKES
I think most people agree, food tastes better on the trail! The math goes something like: Fresh air + feeling your heartbeat + jaw dropping views = best tasting food. Packing food for a day on the trail is one of my favorite parts of hiking and something I haven’t discussed much. Throughout the hikingContinue reading “TRAIL FOOD: MY CURRENT FAVORITES FOR DAY HIKES”
HURON PEAK, THE LEADVILLE 100 & HUMAN POTENTIAL
Another 14er! Over the weekend I hiked Huron Peak (14,004 ft.) the lowest of all Colorado’s 14ers. My friend and I planned a semi last-minute trip to camp and summit Huron which neither of us had done. Huron Peak is not too far from Leadville where the Leadville 100 trail race was happening the sameContinue reading “HURON PEAK, THE LEADVILLE 100 & HUMAN POTENTIAL”
CAMPING NEAR AND SUMMITING MT. SHAVANO (14,230 FT.)
While I’m hiking, I find myself thinking about those who discovered and lived in the areas I’m exploring. I wonder what they thought when they came across these beautiful, albeit unforgiving, wildernesses. I’ve decided to do some digging on the history of and stories that have happened in the places I explore. We are startingContinue reading “CAMPING NEAR AND SUMMITING MT. SHAVANO (14,230 FT.)”