The Back Roads Blog

Not Every Good Day Starts Out That Way
Not Every Good Day Starts Out That Way
What started as a frustrating Friday turned into two unexpected adventures through Wallace State Park, Poosey Conservation Area, and Missouri's Amish country. A good dog, an old friend, a few... Read more...
2,768 Steps: Climbing the Manitou Incline
2,768 Steps: Climbing the Manitou Incline
2,768 steps. Less than a mile. Nearly 2,000 vertical feet. Here’s what it was really like climbing the Manitou Incline from the first step to the last. Read more...
An Ordinary Life Should Be the Baseline, Not the Goal
An Ordinary Life Should Be the Baseline, Not the Goal
What if ordinary isn’t the goal, but the place you can always come back to? A reflection on risk, fear, starting before you feel ready, and why an ordinary life... Read more...
Manitou Springs: Come As You Are, Bring the Dog
Manitou Springs: Come As You Are, Bring the Dog
A little weird, wonderfully dog-friendly, and full of unexpected charm. Come wander Manitou Springs, Colorado, where sidewalk pianos and 90-pound German Shepherds are apparently both perfectly welcome. Read more...
The Back Road to Moab: The Time We Accidentally Found Westwater Canyon
The Back Road to Moab: The Time We Accidentally Found Westwater Canyon
What was supposed to be a slightly longer route into Moab turned into hours of red-rock canyon walls, the Colorado River, and one of those accidental adventures that stays with... Read more...