Tag: Outdoors

My 2025 outdoor adventures, by the numbers

Another wonderful year of time in the outdoors has come and gone.

While I didn’t log as many hours as I wanted, I’m not sure I’ll ever find a number I am completely satisfied with. In a weird way, that’s part of the fun.

This year held plenty of highlights, including more time fishing with my son and the chance to lease hunting land with my dad for the first time.

My website also turned five years old this year. I cannot thank all of you enough for your continued support. I sincerely appreciate you taking time to read my thoughts, engage with my content, and hopefully gain a deeper appreciation for nature.

Here is a look at my 2025 outdoor adventures, by the numbers.

Continue reading “My 2025 outdoor adventures, by the numbers” →
0

Important reminders

Each year, dip netting season brings an important part of me back to life.

This tradition, that doesn’t seem quite as popular with other folks as I recall it being in my childhood, is one of the first true signs of spring. It means longer, warmer days are coming which, in turn, means more time fishing, hunting, birding, or simply being outdoors. Sure, I do all of those activities in the winter months, but it’s just not the same when you are consistently at odds with the elements.

Continue reading “Important reminders” →
0

Is the dire wolf back?

You may have seen news in recent weeks about an American company, Colossal Biosciences, proclaiming to have brought dire wolves back from extinction.

The headlines garnered a lot of attention in early April, even gracing the cover of Time Magazine. The hype around this announcement is understandable. This was quite a claim.

But here’s the thing: that’s not what happened.

Continue reading “Is the dire wolf back?” →
1

My 2024 outdoor adventures, by the numbers

Another year come and gone.

It’s time to get nerdy and put some numbers to my time in the outdoors in the past year.

I am sincerely delighted by how many of you check out this article each year. It makes me less conscious about my tedious number keeping.

For those of you who may be new to this tradition, I share this information to provide some context to the articles I post on this site each year. It is important to me that you know the depth of my experiences in the outdoors that my perspectives are rooted in.

Here is a look at how my 2024 shook out, by the numbers:

Continue reading “My 2024 outdoor adventures, by the numbers” →
0

Unpacking the feelings

There is no shortage of anecdotal and scientific evidence that being outdoors is good for your mental health.

The ol’ “getting some fresh air” trick has done wonders for countless people, myself included.

Disconnecting from the day-to-day and experiencing the beauty of the natural world, even for a brief period has a way of re-charging our proverbial batteries and leveling us out, often bringing about feelings of peace, calm, and relaxation.

But as you spend more time alone in nature, you’ll find these experiences can offer up more complex emotions. Some that, on the surface, may not necessarily seem positive.

Continue reading “Unpacking the feelings” →
0

Hunting for trout

“If you want something you have never had, you must do something you’ve never done.”

The fact that this quote is frequently misattributed to Thomas Jefferson shouldn’t take away its sentiment. It certainly doesn’t for me.

After I came up empty in my mission to land my first inland trout on a fly rod during the early season, my friend Brandon offered me an opportunity. His family owns a cabin in Langlade County and he discovered an abundance of quality trout fishing spots during some scouting trips last year. He told me I was welcomed to join him for an adventure that would likely get me off the schneid.

Continue reading “Hunting for trout” →
0

My Earth Day Wish

Before you roll your eyes and go, “Oh great, another Earth Day think piece just like all the rest of ’em,” I hope you’ll hear me out.

Make no mistake, I am going to get up on my soap box. Today seems as good a day as any to do it. But I’m not going to take the cliche path of imploring you to plant a tree or pick up some trash. Though, those are always wonderful things to do.

In fact, even though there are loads of things we need to do to protect our planet, I’m not going to ask you to take any action at all. Not right now, anyway. My only ask of you throughout this entire would-be sermon is to stop and think. Because, unfortunately, I feel our society is in need of a mindset shift before we are capable of meaningful change.

Continue reading “My Earth Day Wish” →
1

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑