"The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” 
― John Muir

I'm finally back to having cell-phone signal and reliable access to the interwebs after my last 9 days of travel. I've calculated that I've slept in a tent almost 1/3 of the summer. To me, that is indicative of a good summer. Sadly, my adventures are coming to a close temporarily as I must go back to work soon. School tends to resume every year prior to the Pikes Peak Ascent. It's probably a good thing as it forces me to taper.

My latest adventure included 4 days in Yellowstone National Park and 3 days in The Grand Tetons. Both parks were spectacular but touristy. I typically run a lot of local races during the summer but I devoted this summer more to traveling. I even venture to use the worn-out word "epic" to describe my travels. It is impossible to capture all of my adventures in the last week+ in a blog so I will do my best to summarize the highlights. I did some running, including running up Mt. Washburn at Yellowstone, however, as you can see by the picture to the left, the rangers advised otherwise so I mostly hiked. I kind of followed the rules and carried bear spray. Thankfully, I didn't have any close encounters during this trip.

My friend Colleen, fellow Yellowstone/Teton adventurer, compiled a series of dance videos during our trip. The National Park Montage is coming soon.

Top 20 Things you Should Know before Traveling to a National Park

1. Coming down with strep throat the second day of the trip causes one to not want to ever return to Yellowstone (sorry Kristine! :( National Park clinics are expensive and only take one kind of medical insurance

2. Bison don't really care if you're cooking dinner if they think the grass looks tasty at your campsite

3. Carrying bear spray while running resembles carrying a fire extinguisher

4. If there is a traffic jam, it is most likely due to tourists stopping in the middle of the road to take pictures of buffalo or bears, or wolves or elk 

5. Make sure your kayak doesn't leak before paddling far away from the marina (Nalgene bottles work very well for bailing water)

6. Bring your GoPro for once-in-a lifetime bald eagle close encounters on Jackson Lake. It takes way too long to get camera out of dry bag.

7. Bison like to eat grass all the time, including at night-by your tent.

8. Geysers often smell really bad-like the worst farts ever.

9. Dry ice works better to keep food cold-get a big chunk

10. Hikes that end with waterfalls are rad. 

11. Singing keeps bears away.

12. If you use the bathroom at Jenny Lake campground at 9 PM, there is guaranteed to be someone in front of you and behind you waiting to brush their teeth at the single sink.

13. Downhill running to dodge lightning and thunderstorms is unfamiliar behavior to typical sea-level tourists.

14. If you take showers for granted, go 5 days without showering and pay $4 for the best shower of your life.

15. Cardboard burns fast and makes for decent kindling and a spectacular fire show that will make your campsite neighbors envious.

16. Hitchhiking at a National Park is harder that it seems.

17. 12 miles of hiking can still keep you fit even if you're not running (ran my best time so far this summer to top of W's today after only hiking for the past several days).

18. Random overlooks make for good tailgating areas to prepare dinner. "Cell" Signal Mountain at Grand Tetons didn't have the best viewing of the sunset as advertised but was a fun place to grill quesadillas and play Phase 10 on our last night of the trip.

19. The Incline makes Uncle Tom's trail seem easy and awes/upsets tourists as you compete to see how fast you can ascend the stairs as you photo-bomb their pictures of the waterfall.

20. Last, but not least-and a little morbid:Yellowstone National Park sits on top of an active volcano. If it blows it could wipe out America.