by Melanie McManus | Feb 14, 2020 | Snowshoeing/Skiing, Stories
Read This Article On The Star Tribune Many people say ABR is a funny name for a ski resort. I suppose that’s true. ABR stands for Active Backwoods Retreat. And despite its unusual acronym name, USA Today readers rated it the fourth-best cross-country ski resort...
by Melanie McManus | Feb 5, 2020 | Snowshoeing/Skiing, Stories
Read This Article On The Star Tribune The answer to a common trivia question in Wisconsin is Timm’s Hill. That’s the highest point in the state, at 1,951.5 feet. But many Wisconsinites think our highest point is Rib Mountain (1,923 feet), a popular skiing...
by Melanie McManus | Feb 2, 2020 | Exploring and Experiencing, Stories, Texas
Read This Article On The Star Tribune I didn’t know much about Big Bend National Park until a recent travel writing conference took me to El Paso, Texas. As always, I wanted to squeeze in some prime hiking, if possible. What I discovered is that if I drove about...
by Melanie McManus | May 29, 2020 | Blog, Hiking
Father’s Day is looming, so it’s time to think about hiking gifts for fathers – or for any special man in your life. Various stores and consumer sites regularly come up with lists of what are supposedly the best hiking gear, clothing and equipment. But I...
by Melanie McManus | Apr 7, 2020 | Blog, Hiking
One of the first things I discovered when I started backpacking was that it’s not easy to set up a tent in the wind. Or take one down, for that matter. In fact, strong winds are one of the most destructive elements Mother Nature can throw at your tent. Because...
