Grand Canyon Solo Kayak Trip Report & Photographs

July 23, 2022 by John Nestler in Videos, Trip Report, Kayaking, Camping, Photography

I'm fortunate enough to have been down the Grand 1.5 times previously. Once on a commercial trip from Phantom to Diamond and another full trip as a solo kayaker back in 2014. Both those experiences were magical and I've been scheming a way to return for years now. The schedule in graduate school isn't conducive to taking a month off on a whim, but I caught a lucky break during my 4th year of medical school.

All year I'd set aside January as a planned vacation month. I didn't get a permit in the main lottery and was also denied in the follow up lottery. I was crushed as I knew this would likely be my only totally free month until after 5-6 years of residency. The day after receiving the lottery info I got a call from an unknown Flagstaff number. Thankfully I answered as it was a river ranger saying I was next on the list for a late January launch - I was ecstatic!

Trip Report: Bikepacking the Monumental Loop in Las Cruces, New Mexico

March 30, 2022 by John Nestler in Bikepacking, Camping, Photography, Trip Report

With a hut trip planned in Colorado for the holidays Amelia and I set about brainstorming another adventure to tack onto what seems to be our annual road trip out West. Last winter we did the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande, and would have loved to return, but there's only been a trickle of water coming down that section lately. Bikepacking came to the top of the list for warm(er) weather activities, and we kept hearing about the Monumental Loop in Las Cruces from two local riders who had completed it earlier in the year. It seemed like the perfect activity to welcome the winter solstice.

Trip Report: Dolly Sods Wilderness 3-Day Backpacking Loop

May 09, 2021 by John Nestler in Camping, Backpacking, Photography

Dolly Sods holds a special place in my heart as I was brought there a few times as a Boy Scout. At the time I remember being fixated on the unexploded ordinance signage & the otherworldly landscape of this area. Later on I began to realize how special this corner of West Virginia was with Canaan Valley, Dolly Sods, the Blackwater River, and White Grass cross country skiing all nearby. Davis & the surrounding areas really are one gem of an adventure town.

Trip Report: Backpacking the Escalante Route in Grand Canyon National Park

March 28, 2020 by John Nestler in Backpacking, Camping

The Escalante Route is reportedly one of the more difficult, non-technical routes in the Grand Canyon, but it offers a sampling platter for all the Canyon has to offer. It gives you a nice feel for the topography of hiking both near the river as well as through the exposed rock & side canyons that feed into it. There are significant sections of exposure as well as the rock wall at Papago, so be prepared for those sections to be the crux of the trip. Typically hikers will exit this route via New Hance Trail, but exiting via Tonto & Grandview gave us an additional night of camping and let us take in the landscape around Horseshoe Mesa.