Sunday Hikes: Cattail Falls

Located in Big Bend National Park is Cattail Falls, the tallest waterfall in Texas (When it is actually flowing). If you look on any maps you won’t see waterfall listed though. This is because most of the water from the Chisos Mountains drains from Cattail Falls, making it an essential contributor to the survival of the barren desert below. With that in mind and with increasing traffic to the falls, the National Park Service decided to block the dirt road leading up to the two mile round trip hike to the falls and back as well as leaving it off all maps in order to protect the fragile area from over visitation. It is still open for visitation but you have to hike a little bit further and know how to find it.

On my third visit to the park I figured out how to get there and with that being one of the few things I haven’t been to in the park, I had to go! The hike begins on a gated off dirt road across the street from the Sam Nail Ranch. There is very limited parking here (especially when big RVs decide to stop at the pull off for lunch) so you’ll want to get there early in the day. Another good reason to start hiking early is the heat. Big Bend is hot all year round with winter highs reaching into the 80s regularly and occasionally  hanging out above 90F. This hike has pretty much no tree cover until you arrive at the oasis created by the falls so be sure to bring plenty of water and some cool sunglasses. We started our hike on probably the hottest day of our trip with the sun rising high above the Chisos.

Soon after starting along the dirt road we passed a construction vehicle that was out in the open but invisible from the road. We kept on hiking past the big yellow Volvo and down the desert road.

This trail takes your from the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and towards the Chisos Mountains making it hard to not stare up and admire the huge cliffs as the shadows constantly change from the sun rising. While hiking and looking up at the mountains, I noticed a big bird chilling on one of the big agave stalks and took some pictures before it flew off.

Over 400 species of bird visit Big Bend at some point in the year so I had a hard time pinning it down but I’d guess it is a falcon of some sort. The road continues through the desert and passes through a couple arroyos with a couple trees around giving a tiny bit of shade. Maybe a mile and a half in, the road narrows into a trail and this is where the first sign for the waterfall appears.

After this the trail takes you down into a small oasis with a very large tree growing. This is a good spot to take a break if you need to since it is much cooler and much shadier than the rest of the trail. There is also a sign describing the waterfall here.

From the little oasis there is about a mile (It felt like less than a mile to me) to the falls. The trail is pretty much entirely vertical except for right here as you climb up some stairs from the oasis back up into the hot desert. The trail takes you up into Cattail canyon where the the plant  life thrives and many animals travel to to drink. I was hoping to see a Mexican Black Bear here since they supposedly frequent this area but I guess they were avoiding me because there were no bears sadly.

The trail takes you over some rocks and under a tree or two. Once the waterfall was in sight there are some more rocks to climb over to get up close.

The waterfall was just a small trickle from the canyon above but impressive still to see what just a little water can do. It was green all over and plants found nowhere else in the park can be found here!

I climbed around and found a nice big boulder to brew some coffee on while enjoying the little oasis we had all to ourselves. It was probably 45 minutes until someone else came along right when we were getting ready to head out. The hike back went by quickly as usual as I enjoyed being on a nice desert hike in the sun while back home in Atlanta it was getting ready to snow.

I would definitely encourage you to visit Cattail Falls just make sure to pack out what you bring and don’t swim in the pool created by the waterfall!

Big Bend’s Iconic “Window”

Thanks! – Josh

Sunday Hikes: Fern Lake Trail

The Fern Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park is a 7.6 mile round trip hike with 1400 feet in elevation gain and takes you to Fern Lake at 9,560 feet above sea level. We began our hike right after eating our tuna lunch in the parking lot. 

The trail starts off fairly flat following alongside the Big Thompson River. The trees in this area vary from small new growth aspen to large and lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees. There are also lots of wild flowers in this area. The trail is fairly busy in this part as it leads up to the convergence of Fern Creek and the Big Thompson River in an area known as The Pool. 

This area is a popular spot to hike to with the family to eat a picnic. The trail begins to climb after passing The Pool and at 2.6 miles into the trail you will reach Fern Falls! Fern Falls is a really pretty 60 foot waterfall that makes the long stretch of uphill you just did feel very worth it! 

We stopped here for a minute to take pictures, have a snack, and refill our water bottles. After the waterfall you have another 650 feet of elevation to climb in the next mile to the lake! Just before you reach Fern Lake there is a side trail that takes you .9 miles to Spruce Lake and passes some backcountry campsites. We didn’t hike to Spruce Lake but I hear it’s pretty dope so now I gotta go back to hike to it! Anyways we hike the last little bit up to Fern Lake and followed the trail around the lake and looked for the perfect place to make our coffee and take pictures. We found a nice spot on the south side of the lake but then some loud fisherman with no understanding of personal space set up right next to us so we found a better spot a little further down. Fern Lake is beautiful with great views of four Rocky Mountains that tower over the lake. The lake is very clear and we could see a couple different fish swimming around close to us (we warned them about the fishermen). 

We spent a good bit of time relaxing at Fern Lake and making coffee and eating peanut butter. We probably spent an hour here and were only prompted to leave when some old guy came out of nowhere and tried to catch our fish friends. The hike back down went by quickly and we were back at The Pool and then the trailhead in no time. This hike is amazing and gives you a lot of nature to admire! If you’re in Rocky Mountain National Park I would definitely recommend this hike to anybody! 

Me and a little baby aspen tree

Thanks! – Josh

Sunday Hikes: Mistaya Canyon Trail

Dad and I were driving up the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park having a grand ol time but a little sleepy so we decided to make some coffee and hike to Mistaya Canyon  to wake us up a bit! The hike to the canyon is only half a kilometer (third of a mile) making it feel like nothing. However the reward is for that measly fraction of a mile is a canyon worth a solid five mile hike! Not really knowing what to expect we walked down the trail and onto a bridge that crosses the canyon. 

What makes this slot canyon so cool isn’t the size but the unique way the water has formed it. The quick moving Mistaya River corkscrews down into the canyon, smoothing out its walls and creating a canyon reminiscent of those in Antelope Canyon, Arizona! 

After marveling at the canyon and the mountains behind it we decided we wanted an it more of a hike so we followed the Howse River trail into the woods. After leaving the canyon we didn’t really have any insane views just the quiet woods all to ourselves (which is quite nice after going to Lake Louise and it’s ten million hourly visitors). Anyways we hiked for a bit before reaching a nice fallen down tree to sit on and enjoy a snack and then we turned back for the Icefields Parkway! 

Also it’s hard to get good pictures of a slot canyon but I tried so I hope you like them. 

Fun fact: Mistaya means Grizzly Bear in Cree

Thanks! – Josh

Sunday Hikes: Jenny Lake – Inspiration Point

The Teton mountain range stretches for 40 miles and shoots thousands of feet straight up from the ground. It is one of the most impressive mountain ranges I have ever seen with the Grand Teton (the tallest mountain in the range) reaching 13,776 feet above sea level. We began our first hike in Grand Teton National Park at the south end of Jenny Lake. The Jenny Lake trail makes a loop around the lake with a side trail going into Cascade Canyon. We planned to go left (the shorter way) and up into the canyon to Inspiration Point. Unfortunately the section of the trail we had planned to hike was closed due to construction (and snow) so we had to take the long way around doubling the length of our hike. So we set off to reach Inspiration Point. The trail around Lake is fairly flat and follows alongside a scenic drive for most of the trail. 

It was an easy hike despite downed trees and large piles of snow still surviving into summertime. The views from the trail are beautiful with the trees making a natural framing for the mountains in some places and Jenny Lake sparkling blue in the sun. 

After about 2 miles the trail leaves the lake behind to follow a beautiful creek up towards the north Jenny Lake parking lot. 

Once we reached the parking lot there was a cool bridge that crossed the creek and the trail headed back towards the lake and into he mountains. There were a lot of new growth woods in this section of the hike giving us unobstructed views of the Tetons. Right where the creek flowed into the lake we spotted our first ever Marmots running around in the brush. We stopped to take pictures and they seemed unbothered by us completely. One Marmot a little further down the trail even seemed like he was posing on a rock for us. 

Along the way we saw loads more Marmots before trail started upwards a little more and into thicker woods. We soon reached the spur of the trail that lead up to Inspiration Point where half of us decided to turn back and half continued on up into the canyon (Me, Dad, Whit, and two year old Hasten on my back). The trailed gained elevation fairly quickly from this point and soon the entire trail was covered in snow. It was amazing how much snow was there in early summer and it even got so bad I considered putting my microspikes on so I didn’t slip down the mountain (the only reason I didn’t put them on is because I foolishly left them in the car). Somewhere along the way the trail became lost under all the snow and with the help of a few footprints and some fellow hikers we made our way over some fallen trees and into a large snowy opening with a beautiful view of the lake and the Grand Teton looming above our heads. 

It felt as if we had climbed way higher than we actually did but we excitedly decided this was where we wanted to be (partly because we couldn’t find the trail in the snow and partly because it felt like the perfect spot). We let Hasten play in the snow and throw snowballs while we took pictures and made coffee on a nice large rock. There was a very cool waterfall up on the cliffs above us that I wish we could have gotten closer to but without any snow gear at all it was hard to make it up the steep slope. We made our coffee and headed back towards the parking lot where the rest of our family waited for us. We slid down the snow most of the way back which was so much fun. Once we reached the loop trail where there was no more snow we went as fast as we could to get back while on the lookout for a moose that somehow evaded us despite everyone else on the trail telling us they saw it. We reached the parking lot as it began to rain and excitedly told the rest of the family about our adventure before all hopping in the car to eat dinner. This hike is one of my favorite hikes I’ve done and I can’t say I’ve ever had coffee in a more perfect setting. There is nothing like being up on a mountain enjoying nature and coffee. 

Thanks! – Josh

Steadfast Coffee

There is a list of places in Nashville that I try to go to every time I visit. Over my last few trips to Nashville, Steadfast has become one of those places. Located off of 6th Ave in north Nashville, Steadfast is a great place for brunch or an afternoon snack. They sadly don’t serve pour over coffee but the do have very good espresso and drip coffee which you can get both of with their Duo menu item. As far as food goes the breakfast plate with poached eggs, bacon, and toast with jam is my go to although the porridge is pretty good too! 

They also have a coffee soda that is quite refreshing after a hot summer day! 
– Josh

My Favorite Coffee Roasters

A while ago I wrote a blog about my favorite coffee shops that I’ve been to while traveling but some of my favorite coffees come from roasters that don’t have their own shops or that I haven’t been lucky enough to go to yet. So here is my list of my five favorite coffee roasters I’ve had so far. 

     1. Counter Culture Coffee

     Calling home Raleigh, North Carolina, Counter Culture is very popular in the southeast. A good bit of the coffee shops in Atlanta carry Counter Culture and so it is my go to roaster and I get to try most of their available coffees. Counter Culture consistently roasts delicious single origin coffees and I never have to worry about getting a coffee I may not like from them because they are dedicated to sourcing and producing quality coffee that supports the farmers and helps them to farm the best coffee possible. If I had to choose only one coffee roaster to drink the rest of my life it would be Counter Culture Coffee. 

The two bags of Counter Culture I have right now (the one on the left is getting kind of old)

     2. Dapper & Wise 

     Located in the hipster Mecca of Portland, Oregon, Dapper & Wise is not only dedicated to making the tastiest coffee possible they’re also hilarious (just watch some of their Instagram videos and you’ll see). I first had Dapper & Wise a couple years ago when I received a sample pack for my birthday. Ever since then I have been in love with their roasts and even have a couple bags in the mail coming to me right now. 

One of Dapper&Wise’s shop locations

     3. Crema Coffee Roasters

     If you are ever in Nashville and can’t decide on a coffee shop then i’ll go ahead and decide for you. Go to Crema. I have been to most every shop in the city and Crema is easily my favorite. Not only do they have a dope shop but they roast their own coffee and they do it well. They care about the quality of their coffee and it reflects in the delicious roasts they produce. 

Crema’s delicious Ethiopia Sidamo that I bought last week (it’s almost gone)

     4. Intelligentsia Coffee

     Starting in San Francisco and then moving to Chicago and now with 10 shops in LA, Chicago, and New York City. Intelligentsia has been around for 21 years and with two decades of roasting experience you’d hope their coffee is good by now. And it really is. There is a reason they are one of the biggest names in specialty coffee and have so many locations across the country and it’s because they cook some tasty beans. 

Enjoying some Intelligentsia at the beach

     5. Cartel Coffee Lab 

     The last entry to this list and the second that was also on my favorite coffee shops list, Cartel populates the Grand Canyon State with 6 shops and they roast probably the best coffee in the state. Like the other entries Cartel cares about quality and sourcing and it shows through their coffees. My favorite coffee I’ve had from them was a honey processed El Salvador! 

My Cartel mug that is now broken 😦

– Josh

Seven Favorite Coffee Shops (So Far)

I love coffee. I have many different methods to brew coffee at my house (My go to being my Hario V60 pour over) and I drink probably an average of three cups a day as well as I dabble in roasting coffee with my brother-in-law. So obviously I love going to coffee shops when I travel and I have accumulated a small list of favorites that I wish I could have at home with me. Here is my list of seven of my favorite coffee shops I have been to (so far!) Also I am excluding any of my home city of Atlanta’s coffee shops and just focusing on ones away from home.

1. Cartel Coffee Lab (Phoenix, AZ)  – There are several Cartel Coffee locations but I visited the Phoenix location in July of 2016. Something that is really important to me is quality of coffee and Cartel definitely cares about their coffee quality. When I went I got a Honey Process Costa Rican that was sweet and nutty to the last drop.
2. Glen Edith Roasters (Rochester, NY) – I discovered this shop in September 2014 on a road trip to see The Black Keys and Cage The Elephant in Rochester. When I went they were called Pour Coffee Parlor and served Verve and Intelligentsia but have since changed their name and began roasting their own. I would love to go back for a pour over and one of their “Lumberjack” sandwiches soon. (They also were doing nitro cold brew before it became such a huge fad) 
3. Boxcar Social (Toronto, ON) – When I visited Toronto last month (September 2016) one of the highlights to me was Boxcar Social. They specialize in coffee and whiskeys and serve flights of both. I did not try any whiskey but I tried a pour over of each of their offered coffees as well as an espresso shot of their Ethiopia Yukro from Anchored Coffee. I quite enjoyed the time spent there drinking coffee and I even brought back two bags to drink at home!
4. Mission Coffee Co. (Columbus, OH) – I also went to this shop on my Black Keys/CTE road trip as well as again on my way to Toronto. The first time I went they were serving multiple roasters and I tried a Siphon (or Syphon) of an Ethipia Amaro Gayo roasted by Deeper Roots and that coffee stands out as one of my favorite coffees I have had with its rich chocolateyness and its sweet distinct raspberry flavor (needless to say I bought a bag of it). The second time visiting they had began roasting their own coffees and we tried an Ethiopian and an El Salvador!
5. CREMA (Nashville, TN) – Crema rules. I visited for the first time last year and have been back every time I go to Nashville (which is often). The coffees they roast are on point and you can tell they care about they quality of the coffee they serve. The last coffee I had at Crema was a Honey Process Costa Rica Finca Dragon that i regret not buying a bag of. Crema is a must for me when in Nashville and despite it always being busy Crema is probably my favorite shop.
6. Black Tap Coffee (Charleston, SC) – Just like Nashville, I visit Charleston multiple times a year and Black Tap has become a staple in our trips alongside places my family has been visiting for years. Black Tap roasts their own coffee and does a good job at it. I can’t wait to go back to sip down some pour overs and spend time with family.
7. Elemental Coffee (Oklahoma City, OK) – Elemental is where I had one of my favorite coffees ever. I visited in July of 2015 on my way to the Grand Canyon and had a pour over of an Ethiopia Sidamo that I sadly had drink in a paper cup because we didn’t have time to sit and drink it but it was good enough in a paper cup that I had to buy a bag of it to compare with the Ethiopia Sidamo my brother-in-law and I had been roasting with our whirly pop. Once I got home and we brewed some up in the trusty ol’ V60 we were blown away by the complex flavor and deliciousness of the coffee. I tried to visit Elemental again on my way home from Utah in July of 2016 but was thwarted by storms and sunday coffee shop hours.

So there is my list. It is lacking for sure as I haven’t been to the northeast United States and I am about to visit Bard Coffee in Portland, Maine and that could easily be added to my list. But for now these are my favorites! – Josh

Anticipating Travel

     I am currently sitting outside of my work, sipping on some Guatemalan coffee between my second shift of the day. It is a cool 73 degrees outside and starting to feel like fall here in  Georgia. This weather is getting me increasingly excited for my two upcoming road trips! The first of which I leave for in less than two days now (Today is Thursday and we leave early Saturday morning). On that early Saturday morning my two traveling buddies (my sister and my girlfriend) and myself will depart for Columbus, Ohio to visit my Aunt and Uncle, after spending time in Columbus we will head for Cuyahoga Valley National Park to hike and enjoy learning the history of the park, our next stop is Toronto, Ontario (With a quick stop at Niagara Falls on the way of course), After spending two days in Toronto we will head into the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York to hike and relax in the woods (and hopefully see some moose), after the Adirondacks we have a short 8 hour drive to Shenandoah National Park to camp and hike, then we go home. I am stoked to spend so much time in the city to drink coffee, visit markets, and explore Columbus and Toronto. I am equally if not more stoked to camp in the woods and hike myself silly. The anticipation of an upcoming trip is one of my favorite feelings. Trying to decide what to pack and what not to pack, buying lots of peanut butter and ramen noodles, and just the knowledge that I will be in new places soon, experiencing things that I may not experience the rest of my life. I am excited to leave for our trip and I cannot wait to take pictures, write things down, and most of all just experience the joy that comes from traveling!

     I’m not sure what the point in writing this was other than to just get my excitement out in some sort of outlet but I hope my anticipation has encouraged whoever might read this to get out and get stoked to travel!

-Josh