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I had been wanting to see the golden larches – the unique deciduous conifers that lose their needles in winter, but not before they turn a gorgeous golden yellow – ever since I started spending more time in the Pacific Northwest. Back in 2024, I saw plenty of reels on Instagram that showcased their beauty. But their popularity also came with unbelievable traffic jams on Highway 20 and at the most popular… Read More

[Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Oct 11, 2023] For our only full day in the park, we wanted to do the best hike in the park, 5.5 miles one way to Mt LeConte. At 6,593 ft (2,010 m) it is the third highest peak in the national park. There are three other subpeaks above 6,000 ft (1,829 m) on the mountain, and we were going to reach them all: High Top, named… Read More