hike – On the Loose Live

Mt. Nebo —a Fantastic Fall Hike! Mt. Nebo Wilderness Area, Near Nephi, UT

October 21, 2026October 21, 2026livevigorously

Distance: ~9 miles

Elevation Gain: ~3,700 ft

Difficulty: Easy to moderate for the first ~3 miles (1,400 ft gain), then becoming significantly more strenuous with steep grades, loose shale, and slippery footing along the narrow upper ridge to the summit.

At 11,933 ft, Mt. Nebo is the highest peak in the Wasatch Range and the 39th of the 57 “ultra-prominent peaks (5,488ft), meaning that its peak rises high above the land around it.

The hike begins along a fence line through a meadow with rolling hills. In the Fall, clusters of golden aspens and ruby scrub oak adorn the mountain sides and are a feast for the eyes.

Next, you’ll enjoy a short, enchanting walk through the forest. Before long, you’ll be out of the woods and climbing more earnestly.

Your first summit will be Wolf Pass Peak, 11,439 ft, about a mile from Mt. Nebo’s summit. From here, you have a great view of Mt. Nebo’s distinctive pyramid-shaped peak.

Now, only the final steep pitch remains across the narrow ridge of loose shale and dirt. At times, the trail is indiscernible (see if you can make out a trail in the black-and-white photo above); stay on the ridgeline for the most direct route.

From Mt. Nebo’s summit, you can add on, following the trail to Nebo Middle Peak (.07 mile) and beyond to Mt. Nebo South Peak (~<2 miles). I considered it since I felt strong and relatively fresh, but with more on the day’s adventure agenda, I turned around. Seems this was a prudent decision for me as the descent took a toll on my knees (Grade 4 bone-on-bone), even with the use of a pole and knee braces. Overall, a great hike, though not so great on the knees. I call it Mt. KneeBoo.) Happy I did it, unlikely to repeat, though I’ll admit those other peaks are calling me…

Equip yourself: Trail running or hiking shoes with good tread are essential. Consider poles as well. (In general, I prefer to have my hands free, but I used one pole on the steep descent to help my knees.)

Caution: Steep drops, challenging terrain, and altitude make this hike potentially treacherous for those uncomfortable with heights and scrambling, prone to experiencing altitude effects, unsteady on their feet, or attempting the hike in adverse weather conditions (i.e. wind, snow, ice). (A hiker died falling from this ridgeline in August of 2015.)

Getting there: From Nephi, take UT 132 (I-15 exit 225) East 4.8 miles to Mount Nebo Scenic Loop Road (FR 015) take a left and continue for 13.4 miles to reach Mona Pole Road (FR 160). Follow the dirt road another 0.4 miles to trailhead parking on the left.

Happy Trails!

Idyllic Fall Hike: Colorful Kyhv Peak, Near Provo, UT

September 28, 2026September 29, 2026livevigorously

Distance: ~7.5 Miles

Elevation Gain: 2,798 ft (Elevation at the peak is 7,876 ft.)

Difficulty: Moderate to hard, depending on your fitness level (AllTrails rates it hard and states that it takes 5-6 hours to complete. I finished in under 3 hours with plenty of photo ops / yoga pose shenanigans.)

Kyhv Peak was my recovery day hike after Mt. Nebo (post to come). Kyhv is the Ute word for mountain and is pronounced “kive” (like dive with a k).

What a delightful Fall hike! I was so happy to catch peak colors. The first 1.5+miles are on a gravel road. You’ll cross 5 wooden bridges on the way.

Seeing the peak looming in the distance can be a bit daunting, but the trail itself isn’t intimidating at all. If you look closely at the pictures below, you may be able to see the flag on the peak.

Take a left at the marked boulder and enjoy mostly smooth, shaded, charming single track (consistent incline that “pops” in a couple places, never for too long) as you climb up through the forest. If you’re up for it, the terrain is trail runnable.

Enjoy the journey, it’s beautiful all the way up!

The peak rewards with panoramic views of Utah Valley, Utah Lake, and Mount Timpanogos.

Getting There: I-15, exit 269, left onto 900 East, right on Temple View Drive, right on E 2300 North to the Rock Canyon Trailhead parking lot.

Note: For a shorter, less intense hike (1–4 miles, ~285–1,377 ft elevation gain), take Provo Canyon (US-189), turn onto Kyhv Peak Road and continue past the paved overlook onto the rough dirt road. High-clearance vehicle recommended. To see the views without a hike, enjoy the paved overlook.

Happy Trails! This was definitely my Autumn BLISS!

Chasing Waterfalls: Enchanting Burney Falls, Shasta County, CA

July 29, 2026October 21, 2026livevigorously

Wowza, I’ve chased a lot of waterfalls in my time, but Burney Falls stands out for its terraced, storybook, enchanting beauty.

And talk about an easy chase —huge reward for minimal effort— easy 1-mile round-trip stroll with an elevation gain of 161 ft

At 129 feet high, Burney Falls is the main attraction of California’s McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. I’d never heard of it, but it has to be one of the most gorgeous waterfalls that I’ve seen. It has an impressive daily flow of 100 million gallons, and the water temperature ranges from 42 to 48 degrees. While it was tempting, I didn’t take the cold plunge this time.

Apparently, there are 5 more miles of trails in the park, but it’s really all about the waterfall. If you’re adventuring in Lassen Volcanic National Park, Burney Falls is just ~40 miles North off of CA-89.

Notes: Day-use parking fee: $10. No dogs are allowed on trails or day-use areas. Go early; the small parking lot fills up fast.

Getting there: It’s off CA-89 N. (~40 miles from Lassen Volcanic National Park)

Happy Trails!

Key Summit via the Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park, South Island, NZ

May 18, 2026livevigorously

Distance: ~5 Miles

Elevation Gain: ~1,573 FT

Difficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on your fitness level.

I took a microsample (~10%) of the Routeburn Track Great Walk on my afternoon hike to Key Summit. Having just scrambled up the slick, rugged obstacle course to Lake Marian, it was a refreshing relief to stride up the gravel path to Key Summit.

The climb is gradual and is rewarded with sweeping views of the Hollyford Valley, alpine tarns (lakes/pools), and Fiordland’s panoramic rugged peaks.

Possibly the best Port-o-Potty view ever!

Looking back, after doing both Lake Marian and Key Summit, I might have preferred covering more distance on the Routeburn Track vs the painstaking, slo-mo route up to Lake Marian. (Not the most adventurous take, I know.) I tend to enjoy a more vigorous pace—the former trail runner in me still craves that rhythm. Tortuous terrain that slows my flow tends to be more frustrating than fun for me. Lately, I’ve also been weighing the “risk versus reward” factor. That said, Lake Marian is undeniably spectacular, and the hike has a sense of challenge and excitement that Key Summit doesn’t.

That’s the beauty of the great outdoors: you get to choose your own adventure. And in New Zealand, there’s no shortage of ways to find it. Stay tuned for more Great Walk sampling on the South Island!

Happy Trails!

Terrific Tama Lakes Track, Tongariro National Park, North Island, NZ

March 22, 2026October 21, 2026livevigorously

Distance: ~11 Miles

Elevation Gain: ~1,800 ft

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (depending on your fitness level). The trail is so gradual, I didn’t notice the elevation gain until the last half-mile climb up loose, rocky scree to Upper Tama Lake.

When we learned that the Tongariro Alpine Crossing—widely considered the park’s top hike—was closed due to high winds and poor weather, the Tama Lakes Track became our backup plan. It didn’t disappoint. (AllTrails rates it #3 behind both the Tongariro Alpine Crossing #1 and #2 Taranaki Falls. I would rate it higher than the falls. But they’re both gorgeous!

With sweeping views of Lower and Upper Tama Lakes, Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe, and the narrow gorge of the dazzling Wairere Stream, the hike more than delivered. While the Tongariro Alpine Crossing may be more dramatic, it’s also barren and often crowded. Of course, there were a fair number of people on the Tama Lakes Trail, likely due to the Crossing’s closure.

For most of the route, the terrain is a relatively gentle gravel path that’s runnable, with easy footing.

An invigorating scene, the trail crosses over the narrow gorge of the dazzling Wairere Stream.

That changes during the final half-mile climb from Lower to Upper Tama Lake, where the trail steepens into loose, rocky scree that demands more attention and effort.

Here’s a video of the view from Upper Tama to Lower as the weather was changing.

You can also check out Taranaki Falls along the way. I highly recommend doing it on the way back, as the weather moves quickly here. In fact, it can turn in an instant, as I experienced, waiting for a friend to make the climb to Upper Tama. I watched his bright yellow rain jacket vanish into a wall of fog. One moment, the skies were clear; the next, the fog rolled in, and visibility was nil.

It’s easy to see how conditions like this can catch hikers off guard—whether from sudden exposure, hypothermia, or simply losing their bearings. Come prepared with layers and proper rain and wind gear, and don’t hesitate to turn back if conditions deteriorate.

Getting there: The trail starts from the road about 100 yards below the Whakapapa Visitor Centre.

Happy Trails!