Pike's Peak State Park...Iowa

Pike's Peak Sate Park is located a few miles south of McGregor, Iowa. The park is ideal for hiking and viewing the mighty Mississippi River.

The park is named after Zebulon Pike. In 1805, just after the Louisiana Purchase, government officials sent Pike to explore the Mississippi Valley in search of suitable sights for military posts. Pike recognized the park as an important strategic sight for such a post. Government officials agreed on the vicinity, but in the end choose flatter land on the other side of the Mississippi River which is now Prairie du Chien. Several years later, Pike was sent westward and named the more famous Pike's Peak in Colorado.

My wife and I camped in the park last Fall. The park has nice camping facilities and has easy access to the many hiking trails. The above photos were taken in late February. While over-looking the river, the sound of breaking ice boomed and echoed across the valley. The racket didn't seem to bother the deer.

College Fjord

A fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.

College Fjord is located in the Northern section of Prince William Sound in Alaska. The fjord contains 5 glaciers that end in water. These glaciers are known as tidewater glaciers. Dozens of smaller glaciers are in the fjord, but do not end in water. College Fjord was in discovered in 1899 by the Harriman Expedition. The expedition named the glaciers after renowned East Coast colleges, hence the name College Fjord. Some of the named glaciers include Amherst, Harvard, Smith, Wellesley, and Yale.

College Fjord is one of the most impressive sights I've seen in my life. These photos were taken on an Alaskan cruise my wife and i took a few years back. The weather was sunny, the air was crisp, and the views were breath-taking.

Cozumel

Cozumel is a mecca for tourists seeking sun, watered down drinks, and cheap trinkets. The west side of the island is crowded with bars, hotels, and t-shirt shops. The east side of the island however is surprisingly beautiful. The beach has soft white sand and the huge volcanic rock deposits make the area very unique. This portion of the island has very few people and is densely populated with vegetation.

Cozumel facts:

• Cozumel is Mayan for "Island of the Swallows"
• The third largest island in Mexico
• Cozumel relies solely on tourism for income
• The highest natural point on the island is less than 15 meters above sea-level

These photos were taken earlier this year.