In America’s current political hellscape, where we seem to be intent on bringing about the destruction of public services, public lands, and the environment at-large, it is tremendously refreshing to visit a place that is a living, breathing refutation of that notion

You feel wrapped in a wave of contented solitude. People talk about going to the mountains to be alone, but really, you can’t get much more alone anywhere in the country than you will be on the prairie.

Even I have yet to explore everything it has to offer, and it's likely that you couldn't experience it all in less than a week.

Guad Peak is not for the faint of heart. It’s a tough hike that will make you earn every inch, but you will be rewarded with arguably the best view in the state.

All-in-all, Carlsbad Caverns holds a special place in my heart… it encapsulates what National Parks are supposed to be in a way that not many other parks do.

While I don’t think parks are the end-all-be-all of what public land is all about… it has certainly made me a better and more well-rounded outdoorsman.