nature – On the Loose Live

Easy Waterfall Hikes With Ravishing Rewards, Tongariro National Park, NZ: Tawhai & Taranaki Falls

March 8, 2026March 8, 2026livevigorously

Founded in 1887 and officially established in 1894, Tongariro is New Zealand’s oldest national park and the 4th in the world. It is a dual UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for both its outstanding natural volcanic features, including 3 active volcanoes: Mt. Ruapehu, Mt. Ngauruhoe, and Mt. Tongariro, and its cultural significance to the native Māori people.

Tawhai Falls Distance: < .50 Mile (Ranking 6th of the Top Hikes in Tongariro National Park per AllTrails.)

Up for a tame, super short stroll to a lovely waterfall? Tawhai Falls won’t disappoint. It’s an easy walk through the forest on a smooth trail to see the gorgeous, rushing, crystal-clear, turquoise waters of this 42-foot-high waterfall. You can take in the views from the top viewing platform and then follow the water’s journey to the base of the falls.

Getting to Tawhai Falls: It’s right off the SH48, about 2.5 miles below Whakapapa Village. Look for the large sign.

Taranaki Falls Distance: 3.73 Miles (The #2 Top Hike in the Park per AllTrails.)

Another tame and short walk to a waterfall is Taranaki Falls. Here, you’ll walk through the tussock (a golden, coppery red ornamental grass that is native to New Zealand) and alpine shrublands, enjoying expansive views of mountains and the beech forest, until you come to the star of the show— the dramatic 65 ft Taranaki Falls tumble down from top of the volcanic cliffs (formed by the Ruapehu eruption of 15,000 years ago) to a natural, boulder-ringed pool below.

In my opinion, this loop is most scenic clockwise, with the reward of rounding a corner for the big reveal (versus the anticlimax of seeing the comparatively anticlimactic top of the falls first). From the falls, the track climbs up to loop back, or you can continue your hike on the Tama Lakes Track (post to come).

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

Happy Trails and Waterfall Chasing!

At the Intersection of Art and Nature: Harry Bertoia, Mid Century Modern Italian Artist, The Harry Bertoia Foundation, St. George, UT

February 10, 2026livevigorously

Have you heard of the Italian artist Harry Bertoia? I hadn’t, but am so glad I was introduced to his eclectic works by none other than his daughter, Celia Bertoia, who runs the Harry Bertoia Foundation right here in St. George. Harry Bertoia was a renowned Mid Century Modern Italian artist whose favorite medium was metal. During the war, when metal was scarce, he created prints, which he called monotypes. A prolific and selfless artist, Harry Bertoia preferred not to title or sign his art because it came from “the great Oneness,” and he wanted the audience to experience it and interpret it freely.

From jewelry to chairs and sculptures—especially his mesmerizing “Sonambient” sounding sculptures (check out the videos and learn more)—his artistry fascinates and engages on all levels: visual, tactile, and auditory.

A few of Harry Bertoia’s notable artistic achievements

Wedding rings for the artist Ray Eames and his wife
The iconic 1952 Diamond Chair for Knoll—a staple of 1950s modern furniture—
50 large-scale public commissions
The Sonambient Barn

[Pictures of the artist and his works courtesy of the Harry Bertoia Foundation.]

While all his artwork is compelling, the “Sonambient” sounding sculptures drew me in the most. I love that Harry Bertoia coined the term sonambient (Latin root words for sound and environment) to refer to his sound sculptures (varying in size from delicate rods to thunderous gongs up to 10 feet in diameter). I immediately connected to their natural shapes and movement—some evocative of reeds and cattails, swaying in the breeze. Celia was gracious enough to treat me to a private concert/sound bath, playing each sculpture into a splendid symphony. The deeply resonant tones of the sculptures struck chords of connection in my soul. The experience made an indelible imprint on me – as if the sounds of the tonals are still reverberating through me. What beautiful gifts this selfless artist left us. Grateful to him and his daughter, Celia, for preserving his legacy.

Learn more about Harry Bertoia, his artwork, and his life.

If you’re in the Saint George area, stop by the Harry Bertoia Foundation. You’re invited to Harry Bertoia’s Birthday Bash at the Foundation, March 10, 12-4. 1449 N. 1400 W #11, Saint George, UT 435-673-2355

Bang one of Harry’s gongs at Red Hills Desert Garden, 375 E Red Hills Parkway, St George, UT.

Check out the Harry Bertoia: Master of Metal Documentary.

A Quick Jaunt Up Lassen Peak Rewards With Panormaic Views, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA

February 2, 2026livevigorously

Distance: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,957 ft (8,500 ft at the trailhead to 10,457 ft at the peak)

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, depending on your fitness level and altitude acclimation.

(LVNP rates it as strenuous and suggests 4-5 hours. It took us 2 hours – the threat of a storm kept us on pace.)

When it’s your last day in LVNP, and you haven’t “bagged” Lassen Peak yet, you make a run for it. And so we did. Actually, it was more of a fast walk than a trot, but a steady pace to try and outpace a looming monsoon. Mission accomplished. This was a fun hike and a solid workout. In my opinion, the trail is runnable – mostly smooth gravel with some short rocky sections. It’s a moderate, though consistent, incline with sweeping switchbacks. (Unfortunately, my knees no longer sanction running, so I have to settle for brisk walking.)

Since we had just hiked the Ridge Lakes Trail with 1k of elevation gain, we were warmed up for the climb. If you’re just hopping out of the car, you may want to take a little stretch band stroll before you hop on the “hill”.

The immediate scenery is a bit stark, but the panoramic views are splendid.

Happy Trails!

Short, Steep, and Sweet: Ridge Lakes Trail, A Glimpse Into Lassen Volcanic National Park’s Former Splendor

November 19, 2025November 19, 2025livevigorously

Distance: 2 miles RT

Elevation gain: ~1k ft climb ( ~7k to 8k ft)

Difficulty: Moderate+, depending on your fitness level and sensitivity to altitude

As you drive and hike around Lassen Volcanic National Park, one of the first things you’ll notice is the extensive devastation from the Dixie Wildfire that occurred in 2021 and burned 73,240 acres of the park in 3 months (August through October)—the largest fire in the park’s history and the largest single fire in California history (963,309 acres). While Nature’s resilience is on display in terms of seedlings and new growth, it’s clear four years later that full recovery will take many decades.

It’s hard to imagine what the park once looked like, but fortunately, a few untouched areas still offer us a glimpse into its former splendor. The Ridge Lakes Trail is one of them. This short (2 miles), steep (1k in 1 mile) hike is an idyllic little slice of paradise and a window into what Lassen Volcanic National Park must have been like before the fire.

This was my morning “warm-up” hike before tackling Lassen Peak (post to come). The lovely single-track trail winds up through ferns, grasses, and wildflowers (Indian Paintbrush, Lupine) to two (it seems more like 1, as they’re connected) small alpine lakes cradled in a pristine basin with Brokeoff Mountain and Mount Diller as the scenic backdrop.

I had the hike all to myself (except for a Doe and her fawn), and as you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed my photo safari here. If you’re heading to Lassen Volcanic National Park, I’d put this one on your short list (pun intended).

Getting there: The trailhead is at the Sulphur Works parking area (1.1 miles past the southwest entrance).

Happy Trails!

Chimney Rock—Short and Sweet With Stunning Panoramic Views, Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, Utah

November 12, 2025livevigorously

Distance: ~3.4 miles

Elevation gain: ~795 ft

Difficulty: Easy (smooth trail-runable terrain)

If you’re rolling into Capitol Reef at sunset or wrapping up a day of hiking but still have some energy left, the Chimney Rock Trail is a short, sweet hike that offers stunning panoramic sunset views. If you’re really short on time, you can take the official sunset “hike” in the park, Sunset Point Overlook—an easy half-mile trail that offers similar breathtaking vistas.

Chasing sunsets on the trails and yoga pose photobombing are two of my favorite things! What silly things do you do to express your exuberance in the wild?

Happy Trails!