OffBeat Pathfinder Basecamp

Callanish at dawn: not sure if it was the stones or the weather, but I got chills either way. Ancient sites feel even older when you’re the only one there, wind howling and all. Pro tip: bring snacks. There’s nowhere to buy anything nearby, and those stones aren’t sharing.

Some parts of Wisconsin are flat. The Driftless? Not a chance. If you want hills, bluffs, limestone outcrops, and enough trout streams to make your head spin, this is your spot.


Started my weekend at Wildcat Mountain State Park, which lives up to its name—steep ridges, foggy mornings, and a ...

Chester Fall Festival = the best pie I’ve ever eaten, full stop. If you get there early, bring elbow pads for the dessert line.

Ranger talk after dark was wild—learned more about volcanic history in 30 minutes than in all of high school.


PS: They sell astronaut ice cream at the gift shop!

Pretzel the size of a hubcap at Munchen Haus. Still hungry after.


Also, beer cheese? Dangerous.