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| Dear Friend:
"The landscape of the American West has to be seen to be believed and has to be believed to be seen." N. Scott Momaday
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| Hello from Charlotte, North Carolina!
From the lush beauty of the Olympic Peninsula and California’s Redwood & Sequoia Country to the winter wonderland of Park City, the sunshine stays of Palm Springs, and the rugged natural drama and outdoor beauty of Northern Arizona and New Mexico, this special edition of Big Blend’s Parks & Travel Magazine covers the Pacific Northwest to the Desert Southwest with articles and interviews covering destinations, history, and the arts. For road trippers, hikers, and equestrians, it also shines the spotlight on notable routes like the Chief Joseph Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and Nevada’s “Free-Range” Art Highway. Plus, there are interviews with artists, authors, and musicians – all inspired by the natural wonders, cultural roots, and legendary stories of the west.
As we publish this issue, we also turn our attention to the intense winter weather occurring in the west. Some parks and places may be closed due to flooding and snowfall, so please check websites or call destinations before visiting. And, as travelers, let us all support these destinations having to endure the damages caused from this weather. Let us be there to help them recoup, while also being light-footed in action and patient with hospitality service as they get back on their feet. While this weather has wreaked havoc, it has also helped to replenish drought-stricken watersheds. If you travel west this spring and summer, you just may be rewarded with some displays of wildflowers and green landscapes that haven’t been seen for years!
This issue is dedicated to the late and great Jim Ostdick, our friend and long-time
Big Blend Radio guest and Parks & Travel Magazine contributor who hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail and parts of the Appalachian Trail, walked across the country from Delaware to California, and cycled the entire perimeter of the country. He was an incredible writer and author who gave you the inside experience of his amazing adventures. He was a teacher, a geologist, an environmentalist, and a volunteer who did everything from guiding hikes with youth to picking up trash on highways. His legacy is an example of someone who put action before words, and who had words to inspire action.
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| COMING UP ON BIG BLEND RADIO
We have some big news coming about our shows, so please stay tuned and enjoy our daily broadcasts. Watch/listen to shows on YouTube.com or download the podcasts on BigBlendRadio.com
Jan. 22: Disaster Prep for Your Home & Valuables
Jan. 23: Plastic-Free Packaging Alliance
Jan. 24: Adventures in Nashville, Tennessee
Jan. 25: California Workplace Leaves of Absence Rights
Jan. 26: Jefferson Highway Association Conference
Jan. 27: Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future
Jan. 28: Student & Youth Travel in England
Jan. 29: National Park Trust Celebrates 40 Years
Jan. 30: Psychologist & Author Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt
Jan. 31: Angela Laws – TrustedHousesitters.com
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ICYMI – OUR LATEST MAGAZINES:
Way Back When History
Quality of Life
Eat, Drink & Be Merry
Success Express
Vacation Station
Parks & Travel
Keep up with all things Big Blend here: https://linktr.ee/BigBlend
Happy Lunar New Year!
Nancy J. Reid & Lisa D. Smith,
Big Blend’s mother-daughter duo who publishes Big Blend Magazines, hosts Big Blend Radio, and travels full-time on the Love Your Parks Tour. |
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