Sunrise at Lake Louise, Alberta. What a stunning morning.

Thank you Canada, for letting me glimpse a bit of the tremendous beauty here in your Rocky Mountains. Thank you to all the friendly Canadians I met on this short journey. The days passed quickly and I know I only scratched the surface, but perhaps I might return again soon, to explore a bit deeper.

Waterton Lakes National Park has such incredible beauty. I’m falling in love with the sights I’m seeing in Canada. #watertonlakes #alberta #canadianrockies

Stopped by Glacier National Park on the way to the Canadian Rockies. Just passed through, but still got to see a few beautiful sights.

Returned again to Rainbow Basin in the Trinity Lakes area of the Boise National Forest this week. It simply could not have been a more beautiful day. #idahohiking #rainbowbasin #trinitylakes #trinitymountain #rainbowlakes

💯

I can understand the anguish from losing someone you looked up to politically. What sits wrong with me now is that we see none of that from some of the same people whenever children are murdered in school. Maybe we all agree it should all end

Openness leads to sensitivity. Listening is the major component of communication.

Again, political violence has no place in this country. I probably don’t agree with Charlie Kirk on a damn thing, but that doesn’t matter - he’s a husband and a father. This is despicable and can’t become our new normal.

For all the chaos out there, we cannot lose sight of the need to stay strong and stay focused on our democracy. Empathy will help. We wil get through this.

Retraced my steps of the first backpacking trip I made in Idaho more than 30 years ago. The Rainbow Basin trail is still splendid. The destination on this day was Fiddle Lake. #Idahohiking #fiddlelake #trinitymountain

The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life. — Paraphrased Samurai proverb

As the temperatures warm up, I take my hiking out of the valley foothills and up a bit higher, and I find a bit more solitude. In the mountain ridges outside of Crouch, Idaho today, I found an even broader variety of wildflowers out singing to the sky.

Spring in the mountains and foothills of Idaho brings lots of wildflowers. The touches of color always make me smile.

“I was hungry” and you cut SNAP. “I was thirsty” and you cut funding to ensure clean water. “I was sick” and you cut medicaid. “I was a stranger” and you deported me. “I was in prison” and you just left me there to rot. “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.”-Jesus

Happy #Easter Weekend! 🤣

When I was a kid, bedtime was 9pm. And l couldn’t wait to be a grown- up so I could go to bed anytime I wanted. Turns out that is 9 pm.

Historian here: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Scene from my hike yesterday that kind of captures my mood lately.

I was not prepared for the breathtaking beauty and awe that I experienced at the Grand Canyon. I have seen natural wonders all over North America, but had not personally visited the GC until last month. /1 #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #blewmeaway

My favorite sign from the Boise protest today.

Antelope Canyon is an amazing natural wonder. The colors, shapes, and textures are all so picturesque. The tour was a great experience. #anyelopecanyon #navajotribalpark #sandstone #southwestroadtrip

The populations of the Heard and McDonald Islands have come up with their rebellion flag.

Monument Valley lived up to it’s iconic place in Southwestern imagery. #monumentvalley #monumentvalleynavajotribalpark #dust #southwesternusa #southsweternusaroadtrip

Traveling through Utah through New Mexico and into Arizona provided several picturesque moments.

Chris Murphy is fabulously kind. 😍 "Everybody here has to decide how much energy they're going to put in to trying to fight for that world. & bc you were so bold & courageous, I bet that everybody in this room is going to work a little bit harder to make the world you're asking us to believe in."

When you look at the list of institutions they want to defund: libraries, museums, the Smithsonian, public schools, PBS, NPR, archives, you can clearly see that the real threat to an authoritarian regime is an informed and educated public

Start of a Southwestern Roadtrip. Passing through Moab allowed for a few cool sights. But the journey is just starting, with many stops ahead. #wilsonarch #utah #southwestusaroadtrip

Searching for Mercury. #sunset #idaho #mercury #planets

This morning brought me my first sunrise hike in a while. It is good for my soul.

It also makes it harder for them to ban books.

Few things build my mental health or improve my emotional outlook like getting out and racking up miles on an isolated trail, regardless of the wind, temp, or precipitation. (continued…) #boisetrails #boisefoothills #boise #idahohiking #ridgetorivers #retiredlife

While perhaps not National Park level, the Boise Foothills provide me with plenty of scenic beauty on a regular basis. With the trailhead just minutes from my front door, hiking up Dry Creek ravine was a good rejuvenator for me.

The Grand Tetons are so incredibly majestic. I don’t think photos can accurately capture the that you feel as you stare at these beautiful mountains. #photography #landscapephotography #Tetons #GrandTetons #grandtetonnationalpark #mountains #wyoming

I’m going to continue to love those around me, do good at every opportunity, support those who need it most, and find happiness wherever I can.

Tumalo Falls, Oregon #tumalofalls #oregon #oregonwaterfalls #longexposure #photography

A great American is being honored on January 20th.

The eighteenth sunset in Idaho of 2025. Moments before darkness. There is beauty before the darkness. In the darkness there may be cold and dangers. The darkness may bring fear and hardship. But darkness never lasts forever. Light will come again… and beauty. #sunset #idaho #photography

Keep my anger from becoming meanness. Keep my sorrow from collapsing into self-pity. Keep my heart soft enough to keep breaking. Keep my frustrations turned towards justice, not cruelty. Remind me that all of this, every bit of this life, is for love. And please, keep me fiercely kind. 🙏

After Monday, 1/20/25, the LGBTQ community (which includes me) is going to need YOUR support more than ever. Please stand with us! 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸

This billboard says it all.

The state of Maine is home to many wonderful sights, including a variety of picturesque lighthouses. Here are just a few that I had the chance to see. #maine #mainelighthouses #lighthouses #fortestgump

The beauty of Yellowstone National Park is seriously off the charts. The variety of photographic subjects is huge! I have visited this park in every season & have always seen new sights. It will take many posts to even start to showcase many of the things to see there. #yellowstone #nationalparks

I have lived geographically close to Crater Lake National Park for most of my life, but I did not visit that park until 2023. It certainly is a beautiful place to take in the sights. #craterlake #craterlakenationalpark #nationalparks

The first sunrise hike of 2025 did not disappoint. As a wise philosopher told me today, “You don’t get to see that when sitting at home.” Dry Creek Trail, Boise foothills. #happybirthdayliam #happybirthdaylarry #boisetrails #ridgetorivers #hikingboise #hikingboisefoothills #hikingwithtad

Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming is certainly a spectacular sight to see. There is a certain mystic and serene quality about it.

This peak is named Sacajawea. The photo was captured on my ascent to the summit of Borah Peak, the tallest mountain in Idaho. My son and I had just made it across the section aptly named “Chicken Out Ridge”, and arrived at the saddle prior to the final climb to the top. That view was unforgettable.

Glacier National Park is simply incredible. It is so large and so varied, and changes so much from season to season, I could explore it for the rest of my life and not grow weary of the beauty. Photos do not come close to capturing the actual experiences there (which is really true of anywhere).