Adventures
The Complete Stack Rock Hike
We hiked the complete Stack Rock Trail. It was quite spectacular, but my knees were definitely feeling it by the end. It is just around 11 miles to complete the entire hike depending on how much adventuring you do once you reach Stack Rock. Going in the fall adds a nice touch of color to this hike and the cooler temperatures are a real blessing. There is a lot of sun exposure during the first half of this hike, and you will really feel it the second half if you go in the heat of the summer.
Diamond Head State Monument, Hawaii
Diamond Head State Monument is a 475-acre section of land southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii. It is known for its volcanic crater, historic hiking trail, military history, and coastal views. The crater was formed over 300,000 years ago. The trail to the summit was built in 1908. It was initially made as part of O'ahu's coastal defense system but was turned into a hiking trail many years later. The hike is just under a mile from the trailhead to the summit, but if you hike from outside the park into the interior, you reach a round-trip hike of about 3 miles. The area is beautiful, the hike is short but steep, and the views are incredible.
Goose Creek Falls (2023)
We return to one of our favorite hikes in McCall, Idaho. It is a mostly shaded, easily graded, beautiful hike near Brundage Ski Resort. There is a challenging scramble down to the base of the waterfall, but this can be skipped, especially when the water is really flowing. I highly recommend this hike, especially in the morning when the air is cool and the sun is low.
Mogensen Trail (2023)
The second time on this trail, but in a different season. The differences were evident. The trail was much greener, more water was flowing down the falls, and more people were on the trail. We happened to hike on the same day as a major base jumping event, and were even tasked with being impromptu videographers for a marriage proposal from one of the jumpers. It was an awesome hike.
City of Rocks & Castle Rocks Recon
We make a quick dash down to the City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park. This is a recon mission to get some information and see if it is worth a return trip. Spoiler Alert: It is. We take in the sights briefly, and discover so much that remains to be explored. With some handy information form the visitor center we are already beginning to plan a multi-day stay in this iconic and incredible part of Idaho.