United States
Since before their kids were born, the Walleighs have traveled many, many times from one U.S. coast to another–and lots of places in between. Combined, they have traveled to every state except Arkansas and North Dakota. As a family they hiked and fished in Yosemite, Yellowstone, Tetons and Glacier National Parks. Their family has skied in Aspen, Jackson Hole, Park City, Telluride, Sun Valley, Steamboat Springs, Taos, Vail, and of course Lake Tahoe in the California Sierra (Alpine Meadows, Homewood, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley, etc.).
Backpacking in Sierra
After a two-night trip in the Santa Cruz Mountains earlier this summer, in August, Rick and two friends went backpacking into the Sierras’ Desolation Wilderness for a few days. The lakes were still partially frozen and the trail was still covered quite a bit in snow....
Hiking with Friends to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, Yosemite
After many years of attempts by Rick’s backpacking buddy and his wife to persuade her to backpack, Wendy finally agreed to a compromise: hiking to one of Yosemite’s High Sierra camps where breakfast and dinner were included in the price and box lunches were available....
Across NY through Hudson Valley–Breathtaking Colors Everywhere
The Walleighs’ 2013 road trip was with good friends with whom they had traveled in New Zealand. In late September after traversing Quebec Province (go to Quebec or Montreal, etc. for details on the Canada portion of this trip), they crossed the border into New York...
Western New York in Autumn
The Walleighs’ 2013 road trip was with good friends with whom they had traveled in New Zealand. In late September 2013 after traversing Quebec Province (go to Quebec or Montreal, etc. for details on the Canada portion of this trip), they crossed the border into New...
Rick’s September 2013 Backpacking in the Sierra
In September 2013, Rick and his friend Jim spent 5 ½ days hiking 58 miles from North Lake to South Lake on the eastern side of the Sierras. This well-known route is considered by many backpackers to be one of the most beautiful hikes in California. About half of...
U.S. Snow Country–Winter 2013
National Elk Refuge in Jackson, WY. In January 2013, Rick and Wendy flew to Jackson, WY to spend a week with their son Adrian and his girlfriend Kallie. While there, Wendy and Kallie visited the National Elk Refuge via sleigh. It is truly amazing how: large the elk...
Rick’s Backpacking Adventures in California’s Sierra Nevada
Though Rick and Wendy have done two overnight backpacking trips together in about 2000, clearly Rick is the more dedicated backpacker. Luckily he has found a better match with their friends, the White Family—husband, wife, and adult daughter. They have now hiked...
Yosemite – the Walleighs Favorite Place on Earth
Starting in Summer 1972 when Rick and Wendy took their cross-U.S. trip in their red VW camper between each of their graduate schools, their first visit to Yosemite began their life-long love affair with this amazing place. On that trip, one of their first guided...
U. S. Cross-Country Road Trip
Starting May 31, 2008 in Los Altos, Calif. and ending almost 4,000 miles later on June 10, 2008 in Greenville, North Carolina, Wendy and Garner ventured across the southern U.S. to deliver Wendy's 2002 VW Beetle to Diana (so she could drive to/from her new pediatric...
Rick’s Heli-Skiing in Alaska: Once in a Lifetime!
In March 2006, Rick’s friends, the Burwens, persuaded him to join them Heli-Skiing in the Chugach Range near Valdez Alaska. In essence, instead of taking a chairlift or tram to the top of a mountain to find fresh powder, 6 or 7 times per day he rode in a helicopter,...
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