Blogs by Karen Denison
Karen Denison is owner of Outspire Hiking and Snowshoeing guide service, a former biologist, and a shameless admirer of the outdoors.
Topic: At Home Outdoors
I've been a professional outdoor guide in the Santa Fe area since the 1990's after leaving a fifteen-year career as a laboratory biologist. It was a return, since I've been fascinated with the natural world from earliest childhood. In addition to leading hikes, I teach outdoor skills workshops through the Santa Fe Community College, various outdoor shops, and through my own company Outspire Hiking and Snowshoeing. My husband and I hike, ski, camp, canoe, backpack, snowshoe and fly fish. Our circle of friends includes climbers, mountain bikers, hunters, trail riders and rafters.
"At Home Outdoors" will be short posts on outdoor things to do, where to go, and the stuff that you might see along the way. Comments or suggestions are welcome!
May 28, 2013 at 3:07 PM
"That male rat-a-tat-tat is the equivalent of saying 'hey, baby'"
May 6, 2013 at 10:56 AM
"The western U.S. is riddled with fossils of prehistoric "horse-like" species..."
April 5, 2013 at 10:01 AM
"...a weekend program chock-full of half-day classes to introduce a variety of outdoor skills to women who may not have had other opportunities to experience them"
March 13, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Comet pan-STARRS Within View
In Santa Fe it is possible to see stars and other night sky features that the average American may never have seen
February 5, 2013 at 11:22 AM
"...having your gear organized makes one less hindrance to getting out in a timely fashion and taking advantage of a day's opportunities"
January 2, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Winter Resolutions: Gearing Up to Enjoy the Snow
"Santa Fe has beautiful winter days. With the right gear, you can really get outside and enjoy them"
December 3, 2012 at 12:04 PM
"For hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, it means that trails that might be in sunshine during summer are shaded instead, so it's colder and ice or snow lingers to threaten your footing"
November 5, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Nothing’s Perfect (Especially Off the Rack)
"...the percentage of truly serious gear designed to fit women is still pretty small"
October 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM
"So thank you, mountain bikers, for pitching in to maintain, restore and improve our trails!"
October 2, 2012 at 11:58 AM
"...why would something as large as an elk be interested in something as barren-looking as aspen trunks?"
September 18, 2012 at 12:51 PM
"Birds, bees and other creatures are constant visitors to these plants"
August 30, 2012 at 2:30 PM
"Where you find one bird, you will find a whole flock..."
July 17, 2012 at 3:47 PM
"In New Mexico, this 'child of the earth' is relatively common although less often seen"
May 17, 2012 at 12:01 PM
"There in the clump of dead grass and new sprouts was a carefully crafted and well-camouflaged nest..."
May 7, 2012 at 2:43 PM
"It is a sprawling annual plant in very dry, disturbed soils in New Mexico and Arizona"
April 25, 2012 at 12:45 PM
"Good trails don't just appear out of nowhere."
April 5, 2012 at 1:54 PM
"Junipers are tough plants, well adapted to this beautiful, arid place"
March 5, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Guest blogger Tim Michael
"...if 2012 is anything like 2011, we can expect strong and cold winds in March"
February 13, 2012 at 12:07 PM
"Please be courteous on your outing so that other folks can best enjoy theirs"
