Recent content by MichaelMerry

My wife’s winter backpacking valentine surprise for me.

Yeah, I’m in no rush for this wonderful winter to end. I’ve spent more time strapped to skis and snowshoes than I have in many years. It’s replaced my running for most of 2026 so far! And I’ve had 6 great backcountry nights in the beautiful snow as well. Love it! Before I know it, I’ll be...

Quehanna is one of our favorite places in the world.

We rely on our gear for warmth. The fire is ambiance. I don’t prefer the odor of the fire on me or my gear and worry about sparks damaging my gear. Even when we stay in lean tos, we prefer to sleep in a cold lean to and, if we have a fire, have it outside. I’ve been following that Sierra dump...

We broke trail about half the time. Another snowshoer, ironically from the Cleveland area, came through some of our route from the opposite direction. It saved a lot of energy for that portion. The days were unseasonably warm. Once the sun was up, temps quickly climbed above freezing. Clear...

If weather allows, we cowboy camp. We pitched the tarp for frost as the nights were incredibly still. The first night, we arrived to a brief, intense snow squall. The only reason we ever really use a tent is to keep insects away. That is one of many reasons we love winter wilderness travel. We...

We got in late Friday and hiked out Sunday afternoon. Two nights! Thanks for the kind words. We love to do this and spend a lot of time out there.

My wife and I just wrapped a perfectly wonderful snowshoe backpacking trip on the Morrison trail in Allegheny National Forest, PA. It’s a favorite place for us to play in the deep snow because of multiple loop options, plowed parking lots and great camping. We hiked about 14 tough miles. Snow...

The lady slipper on the lichen carpet makes for a striking photo!

Frozen Lake Erie today off sunny Cleveland.

Snowshoe day trip in cuyahoga valley national park with my wife, father in law and Abby just before a snow squall hit yesterday afternoon. Beautiful.

Grew up on a NE Ohio farm. I’ve eaten many groundhogs. Better to stick with the young ones.

I skied in sunshine yesterday and ran in sunshine (and 5 degrees) this morning just south of downtown Cleveland!

We’ve been having sunny skies in Cleveland since Lake Erie largely froze and the lake effect stopped.

I was in diapers when my dad and grandfather took me on my first overnight canoe trip. Growing up on the banks of the tuscarawas river in Ohio, I spent my childhood in a canoe year round; simple day trips, nighttime frog hunting, trapping forays and occasional overnighters. This fostered an...