hiking Archives - Zachary Kenney

Backpacking the Escalante River Trail with Dogs

July 23rd, 2022Zachary Kenney0 Comments

First off, I had no idea a backpacking route like this could ever exist here in the Utah desert! A trail that snakes below the steep walls of the desert plateau along a winding river. And over the Memorial Day weekend, a group of us decided to do an overnight backpacking trip down the Escalante River trail, and it couldn’t have been a more adventurous trip! We experienced everything from high energy to exhaustion, and dried river beds to wading through waist deep water! The Escalante river originates in the town of Escalante, UT, flows nearly a 100 miles through …

Washington & Oregon Road Trip 2021 | Bend, Yakima, Seattle, Olympic Peninsula

November 9th, 2021Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Every year, Courtney, Gregor, and I load up the truck (or a rented Van) to take a weeklong road trip around a state out west. So far, we’ve done a road trip around Montana, Oregon, and Colorado. This year, to knock off the last western state that neither of us had been to, we headed up to Washington State! Admittedly, it was going to be a far haul and lots of driving to get there and back, but with a week off, we knew it would be worth it. And after the countless opportunities to paddle all types of water …

Maui, Hawaii Trip | Diving, Snorkeling, and Hiking

August 4th, 2021Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Maui, Hawaii, what an incredible island! My wife, her parents, and I spent 10 days driving around the second largest of the Hawaiian Island chain. We spent as much time in the water as possible, while also getting our fill of fresh fish and beer when on land. Over the 10 days, we moved around quite a bit, staying in Lahaina, Kapalua, Kihei, Hana, and Kahului, each for a couple nights. This allowed us to see and explore different parts of the island without having to drive many hours each day. This was our adventure! Zachary KenneyMy name is Zachary …

Dogs in Banff National Park

December 26th, 2020Zachary Kenney0 Comments

If you’re anything like me, you’ve wanted to take your dog with you on some of the most incredible hikes that our National Parks have to offer. You know… to Delicate Arch in Arches, Angels Landing in Zion, or even up to Half Dome in Yosemite. Okay, maybe I wouldn’t take a dog up there, but you get the idea. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in National Parks in the United States (or should I say not allowed on trails). Have no fear, the Canadian National Parks are here! Did you know, dogs are allowed everywhere in Canadian National Parks? …

Grandeur Peak Trail West Face | The Hardest Hike in the Wasatch Mountains?

December 21st, 2020Zachary Kenney1 Comment

There are two pinnacle hikes that every Salt Lake resident can see from the city and eventually should do. The two are Mount Olympus and the West Face of Grandeur Peak. Having done both of them, and many other peaks in the Wasatch, I think it’s safe to say, the Grandeur Peak via the West Face is the hardest hike in the Wasatch. In typical Wasatch trail fashion, right out of the parking lot you immediately head straight up. With little reprieve at the bench, you have the option of choosing between trails that ascend up two different ridges that …

Neahkahnie Mountain Trail | Hiking the Oregon Coast

November 23rd, 2020Zachary Kenney1 Comment

Overlooking the tiny beach town of Manzanita, cut off from the ocean by the Oregon Costal Highway, is one of the most surreal mountains I’ve ever hiked. Is it some alpine peak requiring ropes and ice axes, no. But does it hold some of the most incredible, panoramic views of the Oregon coastline, you bet it does. I’m talking about Neahkahnie Mountain. And on our road trip through Oregon this past summer, we stumbled upon this hike one morning, and couldn’t have been more surprised. Growing up on the east coast, and doing a fair amount of growing up while …

The Colorado Summer Road Trip | Video

October 22nd, 2020Zachary Kenney0 Comments

This trip was something Courtney and I have been dreaming about since moving out to the West. Yet, it’s been something we’ve been putting off for years because it was almost too feasible. Unlike a vacation that requires plane tickets and months of planning, this trip was comparatively easy. Our plan was to drive around to a bunch of mountain and ski towns of Colorado during the summer months, camping just outside of each town. That way, there was no reservations, not deadlines, just get in the truck and go. For this reason, we’ve just put it off year after …

Long Weekend in Ketchum, Idaho | A.K.A. Sun Valley

October 9th, 2020Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Like the rest of the population, we all try to get out and make 4th of July weekend more memorable than the average weekend. That extra day off from work, perfect weather, and of course the excitement of being overly patriotic for a day or two, it’s hard to beat. Back when we lived on the east coast, 4th of July usually meant sitting in traffic for hours in order to spend a day or two at the beach. But that’s rarely the case since we’ve moved to Utah. This year, we decided to head north towards cooler temperatures and …

Hiking Mount Elbert | Colorado’s Tallest Mountain

September 25th, 2020Zachary Kenney0 Comments

Summiting a 14er, the coveted goal of most hikers in the USA and around the world. Similar to hiking a 4,000 footer in New England, a 14er is any mountain whose summit stands over 14,000 feet in elevation. But don’t let that staggering elevation discourage anyone from trying. Most 14ers have trailhead that start at 10,000 feet or higher, making the elevation gain only around 4,000 feet, similar to the hikes in New England. Well, Courtney and I are just like the rest of the ambitious hikers in Colorado with a goal of summiting Colorado’s tallest mountain, Mount Elbert! On …

Crested Butte, Colorado

September 4th, 2020Zachary Kenney0 Comments

This was not our first time in Crested Butte, or CB. We actually had just rung in the New Year of 2020 here with a group of friends, but visiting in the summer was 100% different. Even though the town was still just as busy and filled with tourists, the vib had completely changed. People were outside, walking around in shorts and t-shirts, which was much different than the -15F weather we were lucky to experience over New Years Eve. Luckily, after two sites were no good to camp in, we were able to find a campsite on Kebler Pass, …

Tag: hiking