Midwest Botany Tour: Salt Creek Woods Nature Preserve
In biology, determination is the process of matching a specimen of an organism to a known taxon. Two native species, one common across the state of Illinois, the other seldom […]
Author Archives: The Cairn
Memories of Cold Weather Camping: Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore, MI
I had brought a secret flask of bourbon – which we didn’t touch. I had insisted on bringing the wool blanket – which we used both nights, which I didn’t […]
Journal Notes: A Road Trip
The light show, the thunder bumpers, and 100% precip. As we make our way toward the distant Rocky Mountains on Hwy 2, a codger’s voice on eastern Montana’s local radio […]
Media Recommendation: Dirty Gourmet
What are we going to eat for dinner? The question comes up at least once every 24 hours. At home, I can usually pull something edible/palatable together from the pantry […]
Trail Running: How to Get After It
Running on a trail, that’s really all there is to it. More to it once you’re out there, but that’s for you to find out. My first taste of this […]
Review: Fjällräven Vidda Pro Trousers
Fjällräven Vidda Pro Trousers Price: $150 ($$) Specs: G-1000 material (“A Fjällräven original, G-1000 fabric is tightly woven, hard-tested and quick-to-dry, providing excellent ventilation, top-grade wind and water resistance and remarkable […]
Beginner Tenkara Fishing in the Black Hills, SD
There are trout in South Dakota. Also bison and mountain pine beetles. In the second week of May 2017, there were few people. Empty, but for a few early season […]
Book Recommendation: The Sean Stranahan Mysteries
Keith McCafferty’s series, ‘The Sean Stranahan Mysteries’ follows private investigator, fly-fisherman, and newcomer to Montana, Sean Stranahan as he fishes big water out West while solving local murder cases. Currently […]
Moosed at UPT: Camping in Glacier National Park, MT
Second Breakfast Conversation We were sharing spicy Virginia peanuts and dried mango slices, our second breakfast, with a couple of hikers at Upper Two Medicine Lake. Dennis’s peanuts went quickly, […]
Geology of the Red River Gorge, KY
Within the Daniel Boone National Forest located in eastern Kentucky, the Red River Gorge Geological Area, as its name notes, is an area of unique geological formations. Natural stone arches, sandstone […]
The Cairn: An Outdoor Recreation Handbook 