Local Adventure
I’m sitting in my tent right now watching crimson sunbeams drift across pyramid-sized sand dunes. The smell of juniper and rabbit brush permeates the air, slightly diluted by my strong Kona coffee. Unzipping the tent door for a better view, I notice a lone hiker dwarfed by the massive orange dunes. The scale of this landscape reminds me of hiking in the Sahara Desert of Morocco. Except this isn’t North Africa. This is Great Sand Dunes National Park, located right in the middle of America and only a few hours from my house. This national park is a day’s drive or less for millions of Americans.
After months of stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, outdoor photographers and adventurers are ready for some fresh air. Here’s the good news. America has some of the most diverse landscapes, vast wilderness areas and magnificent national parks on the planet. The range of environments is remarkable. Red rock deserts, high alpine peaks, subtropical islands and millions of acres of wilderness are waiting to be explored. You don’t have to cross an ocean to get there—these gems are only a road trip away.
My career has revolved around photographing adventure sports for 30 years. I’ve photographed everything from sea kayaking in the Florida Keys
