Month: September 2015

Zion – A Voyage of Discovery

Posted on by huizingr

There was much to see and explore when I visited Zion National Park this summer. I spent three days in Zion, though I could have spent well over a week. The park is packed with diverse landscapes, interesting wildlife and more hiking trails than I could dream of. An extremely convenient shuttle bus system allows visitors to quickly travel to any part of the park they’d like, making it easy to connect the dots and understand the bigger picture of this natural wonder in southern Utah.

Under the Weeping Rock.

Under the Weeping Rock.

Journeying to the Weeping Rock, a rock ledge on a mountainside that seems to be eternally crying, was a particularly fun adventure. Seeing the water fall hundreds of feet to the ground below and taking in the mountain peaks that surround the area were sites that definitely made the up-hill hike worth it.

Hiking to the Emerald Pools.

Hiking to the Emerald Pools.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the Emerald Pools hike. As you journey from Lower, Middle and Upper pools, the hike gets increasingly difficult.

We made it to the Upper Emerald Pools! Feeling victorious.

We made it to the Upper Emerald Pools! Feeling victorious.

Though the hike from the Middle Pool to the Upper Pool is only .3 miles, it took us nearly an hour to complete. You have to hop rocks and weave your way through rough terrain, all while trying to managing the extremely steep incline. We were overjoyed once we reached the top, and spent over an hour relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the Upper Emerald Pool.

Standing in the Narrows, looking up.

Standing in the Narrows, looking up.

Though I was unable to hike the Narrows due to the dangers of flash flooding, I was able to enjoy the scenery of the hiking trail’s entrance. This hike is one that is definitely on my bucket list for next time. I cannot wait to return to Zion!

The Petrified Forest – A Trip to the Past

Posted on by huizingr

A fallen petrified tree, frozen in time.

A fallen petrified tree, frozen in time.

Petrified Forest National Park covers nearly 146 square miles of the Painted Desert, and is known for its large deposits of petrified wood (Wikipedia). I was fortunate enough to visit this unusual landscape during the summer of 2015.

A cactus! That's one thing I'm not used to seeing.

A cactus! That’s one thing I’m not used to seeing.

Though I only had a few hours to spend at this park, I enjoyed using my time to learn about the park’s history, understand the science of the petrifying process and take in the wondrous scenery.

Staying hydrated in the Petrified Forest. Cheers!

Staying hydrated in the Petrified Forest. Cheers!

I would certainly recommend this park to those interested in geology. Though it wasn’t as thrilling of an experience as the Grand Canyon (which I had visited the three days before), it was definitely an interesting, educational and fun experience.

The Grand Canyon – Experiencing the World’s Natural Wonders

Posted on by huizingr

When I use the phrase “national park,” what immediately comes to your mind?

Most immediately imagine themselves in the wild and wonderful Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the country’s most well known and frequently visited parks. Massive and awe-inspiring, the park covers 1,217,262 acres and is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World (Wikipedia).

I was lucky enough to spend three days exploring the Grand Canyon during the summer of 2015. There never seems to be enough time to truly see everything a park has to offer, but I tried my best to cover as much ground as I possibly could.

Day One

My girlfriend and I resting after many miles of hiking the South Rim.

My girlfriend and I resting after many miles of hiking the South Rim.

I spent the majority of my time hiking along the South Rim. Approaching the canyon for the first time and attempting to take in its immensity and beauty was wonderfully overwhelming. No photos or videos of the park could ever truly prepare you for the real-life experience. I hiked the majority of the trails and was amazed by how my perspective changed with every few steps. The canyon is vast and engulfs you with ease, making you feel smaller than you ever have felt before.

Day Two

A view from above.

A view from above.

I had the fantastic opportunity to take to the sky! I boarded a small plane at Grand Canyon Airlines, a company that has been giving airplane tours of the canyon since 1927. Once in the air, the views I had of the South Rim, North Rim and Colorado River were absolutely spectacular! Afterwards, I hiked a few paths I had missed before, and especially enjoyed exploring the Desert View Watchtower.

Day Three

A wonderful ending to a full day of adventures.

A wonderful ending to a full day of adventures.

This time around, I explored the canyon from below. I took a raft tour with Western River Expeditions, and it was the experience of a lifetime! Not only did I get a unique view of the canyon, I also made new friends (who had traveled to the canyon from places all over the world), learned about the geological processes of the canyon and got to go swimming in the extremely cold Colorado River!

All in all, my experiences in the Grand Canyon were stellar. I agree that the park truly is a wonder of the world, and I would recommend this adventure to everyone.

My Travels in the Summer of 2015

Posted on by huizingr

The view from my flight to Las Vegas, NV.

The view from my flight to Las Vegas, NV.

This summer I had the opportunity to do a lot of traveling, so without hesitation, I hit the open road at any chance I got.

In addition to a spectacular trip to Chicago, IL and an excellent excursion to Northern Michigan, I also went west for an 11 day adventure. I flew to Las Vegas, NV, rented an RV, and spent the next week exploring the states of Arizona and Utah.

Montezuma’s Castle, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, Zion National Park, Petrified Forest National Park and Grand Canyon National Park were just a few of the places I explored. I could have spent much more than a week at each one of these fabulous locations, but I wanted to see and do as much as I could, so every day I was pursuing new adventures.

I have a lot to say about each location on my trip this summer, so I will dive deeper into each one soon. For now, I’ll leave you with this informative video on the breathtaking Grand Canyon.

The Everglades – My First National Park Visit

Posted on by huizingr

A photo from my first trip to Florida (circa 2004).

A photo from my first trip to Florida (circa 2004).

Back in 2004, when I was only 10 years old and long before my traveling obsession had begun, I visited my first national park: the Everglades. Because I was so young and my time there was so short, I don’t remember much about this trip.

I remember the excitement of learning that my family was traveling to Florida for the first time for spring break. I had never been there before but had always wanted to go because of the way my friends described it. I wanted the beaches, the palm trees, the endless summer. In my young mind, Florida was paradise and I finally had my ticket to go!

The Everglades were not the focus of our trip. In fact, the trip wasn’t focused on anything in particular, so I got to have a variety of new and unique experiences. I went swimming with manatees in the Gulf of Mexico, body surfing in the Atlantic Ocean and snorkeling near a coral reef in Key Largo.

We spent a short amount of time in the Everglades, but I do remember exploring paved and boardwalk trails, taking in the unique wetland environment. My fondest memories are of the American crocodiles that roam throughout the park. I would often stumble upon them just resting on the sides of the trails. I remember feeling like a very responsible older brother by making sure my younger siblings didn’t get too close to the scaly creatures– though I was probably just being bossy.

Overall, exploring the Everglades was a unique experience, and I would love to go back one day to refresh old memories and make new ones.

Introduction – A Bad Case of Wanderlust

Posted on by huizingr

Hello! I'm Ryker and I have a bad case of wanderlust.

Hello! I’m Ryker and I have a bad case of wanderlust.

Once you’re bitten by the travel bug, it’s difficult to shake the insatiable desire for adventure. You become infected with a bad case of wanderlust, and the symptoms include a wandering mind that often takes you to distant lands, itchy feet that refuse to stay in one place, and the burning flames of jealousy that secretly overtake you every time you see photos of your friends’ most recent excursions.

As a victim of wanderlust, the list of places I want to go is extensive. One of my lofty travel goals is to explore every national park in the United States. Currently, there are 59 U.S. parks, and I’ve been to a grand total of eight. Clearly, I have work to do!

I’ve experienced:

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A photo I took of the Watchtower in the Grand Canyon during my adventures there in July 2015.

Traveling below the earth’s surface at Mammoth Cave, observing the power of the Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone, climbing mountains to visit emerald pools at Zion– each park offered a unique and vastly different experience.

In the next few months, I will share stories of my past adventures, discuss my plans for future travels and post other interesting and relevant information pertaining to America’s amazing national parks.

My First Blog Post

Posted on by huizingr

This past summer I had an internship at an insurance company. I was in the marketing communications department, so I had opportunities to get involved with a variety of different projects. I helped develop content for a new website, managed multiple social media accounts, participated in the filming of promotional videos, collaborated with a graphic designer to create various promotional materials, composed new posts for the company’s blog and attended brainstorming sessions for new PR campaigns. I was certainly kept busy this summer, but I enjoyed every minute of it. This job introduced me to many of the possibilities that come with working in marketing and communications, and I’m excited to pursue these new horizons.

I see this class as both a chance to refresh my memory and an opportunity to learn new skills that will make me a much more knowledgeable, effective and efficient communicator. Technology in advertising and public relations, based on my experience so far, is an incredibly helpful tool. It allows one to connect with his audience in new ways. It encourages active engagement. It enables ones to clearly define, focus on and better understand his target audience. Not only is technology a tool for outreach, it is also for reflection and reevaluation.

I’m excited to continue learning new ways to be an effective and versatile communicator.