Tom Thrash

And Rocky Mountain NP! How could I forget the mighty RMNP?

Same. Can't remember which, but I canceled one, and they told me that it was too late for a refund, and I replied that that was fine, but I didn't want to take a spot away from someone else.
#ParkChat

I always say take any opportunity to see any of them when you can, even if briefly, since you never know if/when you might get a chance to return.

A random thought struck me courtesy of a #ParkChat question last night.
Shenandoah
Great Smoky Mountains
Lassen
Yosemite

Those are the four National Parks I've visited a second time in these last 10 years after first visiting them over 20 years ago.

A2 I love this. "Figuring out"--yes, we may not know what's best just yet, but hopefully we can figure it out. #ParkChat

A1 With about 35 years of national park visits, there aren't a lot that I've visited at the beginning and ends of those ranges. More crowded? Sure, but thankfully nothing that some planning didn't help keep manageable in my experiences. #ParkChat

Go, Scott, go. Also, I may or may not have nudged him to do some of these quests, and he's completed just about all of them way before I have. 😂

Team USA on Instagram: "On top of the world. 🥇🥇 #WinterOlympics" 26K likes, 107 comments - teamusa on February 22, 2026: "On top of the world. 🥇🥇 #WinterOlympics".

Double gold!

www.instagram.com/p/DVEWt8TEVF...

What a game. What a win!!

Oh yeah, 3 on 3 for OT...this game deserves better than that.

I still say that the penalty loop in the biathlon is the best yet cruelest penalty in sports.

I actually went back and read some of the recommended books from college lit classes 10 years later. I recall Middlemarch being called the best novel ever written and He Knew He Was Right as the best novel nobody ever read. Could not get into the former at all, but reallu enjoyed the latter. 🤷🏻

A8. It depends. I've never regretted a day in the park if that's all the time I've had, but for most parks, yeah, a few days is preferred for sure--whether staying put, or traveling to another part of it. #parkChat

Eggs over medium for dunking the sausage in, right? I was just telling someone that's got to be the most underrated breakfast indulgence. #ParkChat

A6. Either one--find a nice morning view, or get into that early daily activity. Both happen on different days of the trip. #ParkChat

...not to mention a VC cafeteria... #ParkChat

A5. Coffee and whatever--it could be the hotel breakfast, it could be a breakfast bar I brought along, or it could be a fast food drive through. #ParkChat

...yep, and the coffee! Almost mentioned that too, but figure there's got to be a coffee question coming. :)
#ParkChat

A4. Yessir, a shower for me, please. #ParkChat

A3. The walls of a comfy or serviceable inn or lodge near the park. #ParkChat

A2. #ParkChat. I'm always up early. In early too, but up early...

A1 #ParkChat I guess I was in a Florida National Park, dutifully the 30 or 60 minutes ahead of departure time, ready to explore the park from the water.

Well, I'm not first, but I'm present. #ParkChat

Well, those last few runs of the women's monobob were rather exciting! Gold and bronze!! Awesome!!

Huh....even with those cardboard beds? 😂

Yeah, but 4 RISP. 🫤

When I was skiing 10-20 days in the northeast each winter, the Super Bowl weekend was always a good one, especially Sunday morning if the Pats were playing--it often felt like I had the mountain to myself as folks left for their game-day parties. I'd get in my runs and be home in NY before kickoff.

A1 A helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon was one of my very favorite park experiences. My drive down Kings Canyon was one of my favorite park drives. Hikes in Black Canyon (and yeah the Grand Canyon) were favorites too. For me, I guess it depends on the park. #ParkChat

Five of Mickey Lolich's baseball cards, stacked three over two against a blue background.

RIP Mickey Lolich. I think it was that "record breaker"card that made me take notice of him, but I was glad to have a few other cards of his in my collection and then to add a few others later on.

A picture of me in shorts and a gray sweater, dwarfed and standing in front of a large statue of Paul Bunyan.

Happy National Sweater Day!