We're 27 days into the new year. Whether or not you have made (or started) your new year's resolutions, it's never too late to add another. I’ve spent time sifting through scientific papers, research articles, and sustainability blogs all over the internet to offer you reasoning and resources for talking to your friends, neighbors, and … Continue reading Sustainable Resolutions: What You Can Do
Sights Along the Southern Scenic Route On our journey from our Christmas beach getaway in Dunedin towards the mountains of Queenstown and Wanaka, we saw many sights. We visited the Nugget Point Lighthouse, walked through a petrified Jurassic forest, and stood on the southernmost point of New Zealand's south island, where we were just under … Continue reading Our Final Two Weeks on the Road in New Zealand
The first European to set his sights on the New Zealand coastlines was Abel Tasman, who reached New Zealand on December 18th, 1642, though he did not set foot on land. The local tribe at the time, Ngāti Tumatakokiri, were eventually replaced by Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Tama in the region by the … Continue reading Our First Great Walk: Tramping in Abel Tasman National Park
When John and I sat down at a table in Auckland to plan what our month of travel would look like, everything started to fall into place. Suddenly, planning felt easier and more familiar—we’d tackled problems like this before. Campgrounds, food planning, how many kilometers to travel in a day. We decided to rent a … Continue reading Life on the Left Side of the Road
No one talks about the challenges of travel. Our phones and computer screens are plastered from top to bottom with romanticized images of foreign countries, smiling faces with new friends, and extravagant or extravagantly simple experiences. And why would anyone want to talk about it? Why should we show weakness when we know our friends … Continue reading Week 1: Auckland to the Bay of Islands
Sometimes when I close my eyes—in between looking at flights, sorting through my things, and the endless bouts of packing and repacking—I see myself as a bright red balloon, floating through the sky. I can see the places that have shaped me into who I am today: Duluth, MN; Gustavus; the Great Smoky Mountains; Denali, … Continue reading Next stop: New Zealand
It’s the end of the summer. In fact, it’s practically the end of fall. In what seems like just moments, we will be in the midst of another seasonal transition—there’s a far-off future with jobs, people, and places we can’t even picture yet. John and I had a final weekend to take advantage of and … Continue reading Utqiagvik, Alaska: the Northernmost City in the United States
January marked one year since I traveled to Tanzania. Between the intense equatorial heat and relentless bouts of traveler's sickness, I didn't fully realize how much I would miss this incredible country. I remember the red bananas bought from our jeep as we passed a market, a coffee pot sitting on the morning embers of … Continue reading Tanzania II
October brought a slight chill to the air of Montana, reminding me that winter--a winter without school, or class, or homework--was coming. But I've always liked school. I like having a schedule that is scattered throughout my day and ranges from environmental studies to music to tutoring writing and mentoring first years. I loved the … Continue reading Aspen.
I recently returned from a 4,000 mile road trip from Alaska through Canada and the western U.S. I set up camp every night, slept on the ground, cooked my own meals, packed my own snacks, and mapped my own route. I explored national parks and monuments, interpretive centers, trails, and small mountain-town main streets. After … Continue reading How to Plan a Cross-Country Road Trip
The Curiosity Chronicles 