“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” – John Muir
Like John I want to see it all but right now I’m striving to visit every US National Park and summit as many mountains as possible! I grew up with an extreme passion for sports which lead me to an extreme passion for the outdoors. It all started when a few friends and I took off on a road trip through the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone! How could you not be hooked after seeing those incredible places. From there I began a career in the software world while slowly visiting parks. In 2014 I started long distance running and quickly found the trails of the Chattahoochee River NRA to be the best place to do so. I was also able to visit the Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, Shenandoah and Mammoth Cave. Each park continued to inspire me but it was a trip to Yosemite the following summer that gave me complete clarity on what I wanted to accomplish!
From that point on my free time has mostly been spent crushing goals for my feet whether it be hiking, backpacking or mountaineering! At the end of 2016 I moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Seattle, Washington in an effort to put myself closer to more parks. I’m just over half way to my National Park goal 35/59! Before moving I was able to experience some of the best wilderness of the southeast. Here’s my 25 favorite southeast hikes. Since moving my focus turned to the beautiful mountains of the Pacific Northwest and I’ve been lucky to hike up 50+ peaks a year. Here’s my 25 favorite pacific northwest hikes.
I thought it would be a good idea to write about all these amazing trips taken with amazing people and my dog Moose. If you stumble upon this I hope you enjoy the photos and I hope it gives you a good idea of what to do in the mountains and each of America’s National Parks. Please note I am an obsessive planner and would gladly share advice for any adventure! If you have questions about gear check out my Gear List for a great ultralight setup!
I challenge anyone reading this to bring a trash bag on your next hike and pack out any garbage you see!
Now tread lightly, keep our parks beautiful and go climb that mountain!
CAPPY TRAILS 