When you reach Ooh-Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, you know why it got that name. What a view! As I looked out over the Grand Canyon, I felt like I was airborne but without a plane. Ooh-Aah Point is a 1.8-mile round-trip on the South Kaibab Trail, and hiking […]
Running has been my primary fitness activity since I completed my undergraduate degree and started running to stay in shape for activities like hiking and softball. I love running not only the health benefits running offers but being able to enjoy being outdoors for most of my runs. I’ve even included running in my teaching, […]
I recently drove to Dunedin, Florida, to meet two of my friends from Kentucky who were vacationing in the Clearwater area. We were having lunch before I took them to explore Honeymoon Island State Park. As we ate our lunch in air conditioning, sipping iced drinks, one of them asked: “What is it that you […]
My recent hike to Mt. Le Conte marked my 51st hike there. I first hiked to Mt. Le Conte with my church youth group when I was in high school. I’ve been fortunate to able to hike Mt. Le Conte almost yearly – and sometimes several times a year – since that first hike. Most […]
Clouds, rain and thunderstorms. That wasn’t the weather I would have requested for hiking, but that was the weather we had for hiking Alum Cave Trail to Mt. Le Conte to spend the night at LeConte Lodge. And when hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, rain always is a possibility, especially in the […]
I didn’t know it was Global Running Day until hours after I’d run. I’d run because, well, that’s what I do most days. I’ve been running about three or four days a week for more than 30 years. [For years, I was running six days a week, but I’ve incorporated more cross training with cycling, […]
Peacemaking That was the title of the class that caught my attention as I looked through the classes being offered at the Florida Earthskills Gathering. Yes, there were other interesting classes – from Natural Dyeing to Knot Tying to Healing with Water. But peacemaking spoke to me. That’s what led to me sitting in a […]
Teacher Appreciation Week reminds us to think about the many wonderful teachers we’ve had and how they have contributed to our academic and personal development. I’m also thinking of what it takes to be one of those memorable teachers. As a member of the University of Florida’s Graduate Student Teacher Awards Committee, I have the […]
What a remarkable day in May for Florida. The weather system that caused the closing of roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to fallen trees and the possibility of snow on mountain tops brought a beautiful day to Florida. Cool temperatures and enough breeze to mean no insects. A great day to check out […]
Earth Day was just the day to renew my Florida State Park card and then put it to use by visiting one of the nearby state parks to cycle on the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail. The trail is a converted railroad track that goes through woods and prairie and includes a few hills. I saw pileated woodpeckers, […]
Julie Dodd 