Capturing the Moment

  We were so lucky to get a clear morning at the top of Waimea Canyon here on Kauai. Looks at this view! Kalalau Valley expands below us, all the way to the ocean. This is where the famous Na Pali coast trail ends, 11 miles later. If you aren't going to hike into it, standing above it is the next best thing. And you can just drive up Waimea Canyon, park, and this view is only a few steps away from the parking lot. Last time I was on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, I missed the opportunity to drive up to Waimea Canyon. The rain and low clouds had settled in by the time I was there. So this time, it was high on my list. I was there with a film crew, getting material for an UnCruise Adventures promotional film for a new land-based extension for our Hawaii cruise. After coming with us on a seven day expedition cruise to the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, guests could then opt to fly to Kauai for an extra five night package. We needed to get all of Kauai's best attractions and ...

Iconic bridge of El Dorado Soaking it in   Exploring El Dorado Canyon State Park in Colorado, USA.    Just outside of Boulder, CO you reach the foothills of the great Rocky Mountains. Here one finds a changing geology from the uplift of plates colliding into one another. The folding of the land up into mountains brings a stark change to the vast flat prairies that lead up to it. It is also here that rock climbing, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts head to find their zen, their wilderness, and their adventure. Looking down towards the prairies Climbers getting vertical   One such place that encompasses all of this is the El Dorado Canyon. The wooden bridge arcing across the rocky mountain river is one of the first things you see once you drive into the park. It is also a great place for some long exposure photography, especially if you have a neutral density filter to block out some of the light. It is an iconic picture that you often see for the sta...

Looking down on a cloud    Driving to the mysterious Polipoli hiking trails 6,000+ft high on the southern slope of Haleakala volcano is an adventure in itself. The 4X4 dirt road to get to the campgrounds at Polipoli state park is sometimes accessible by smaller cars but not today. It wasn't too wet to drive, in fact it was so dry with each footstep little clouds of dust stirred up. But the road had degraded during wet periods forming some pretty deep holes. Driving our little sedan we decided to stop and walk the last few miles instead of risking getting stuck in some hole. I think we could have made it but it worked out in the end. Coastal Redwoods on Maui The trail map at the campground is a little confusing showing different trails in different colors that are all a little to similar. The wooden sign has faded a bit making the colors and trails blend even more together. We decided to try and hike down and out to a trail marker we saw way back by our car. But witho...

 Redwood trees on Maui?! This island really does have it all. 6000' up the slopes of Haleakala lies the hidden nature paradise of Poli Poli. Hiking trails, hunting, camping, rare bird sightings, and giant redwoods await those adventurous enough to tackle the windy offroad driving that leads up from the town of Kula.  Usually this elevation is shrouded in clouds. We were very lucky on this day because it was clear and sunny and at least twenty degrees colder than what we left behind at the shoreline. We hit the Redwood Trail after taking our non 4X4 Nissan Versa along the "4X4 only road" to the final parking lot. If it hasn't rained in a few days the road is totally passable for any car.   As we hiked through the changing landscape we kept wondering if we had hit the redwood grove yet. Once you see it though, you know. The huge, although still young, redwoods emerge out of the mist. It was then that we noticed the fog rolling in. It gave the forest a myst...