Thenaturalmedic Adventures

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Please see YouTube for a video version We trace Utah's Potash Road to packed petroglyph panels and nearby dinosaur tracks, unpacking how to identify motifs, read track slabs, and protect fragile surfaces. Along the way, we confront vandalism, clarify what not to touch, and share simple steps to leave no trace. • difference between pictographs and pet...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: To View the Video Version, Please Visit YouTube We kick off a seven-day Utah parks road trip with Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky, moving from the quick drama of Mesa Arch to the long horizons of Grand View and the unsolved geology of Upheaval Dome. Short hikes, big views, practical tips, and a standing question: meteor strike or salt dome collapse. • Mesa...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: If you are interested in a video version, please view it on YouTube. We road-trip the Big Five in eight days, moving from Canyonlands and Arches to Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion with honest notes on crowds, shuttles, permits, and weather. Expect practical routes, favorite hikes, and small tips that unlock big views, plus where to find the best pie....

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: A video version is available on YouTube. Please send us a Message! Sand that moves like a stormy sea, a creek that sings under aspen fire, and a ridge that widens the world—this Mosca Pass hike delivers more than a modest mile count suggests. We start at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, trace Mosca Creek through shifting meadows and timber, an...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Please See YouTube for the Video Version Ever wondered what geological treasures hide near Colorado's Great Sand Dunes? Join me on a refreshing detour to Zapata Falls, where ancient glacial forces created a stunning 25-foot waterfall tucked away in a rocky chasm. The adventure begins with a scenic half-mile hike through BLM land, leading to Zapata Cr...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, See YouTube for Video Version Sometimes the best adventures come from unexpected detours. When bad weather derailed my plans to summit Mount Elbert, I discovered the hidden gem of Interlaken Trail near Leadville, Colorado – a 5-mile journey that transports hikers through time to a preserved "ghost resort" nestled along Twin Lakes. Th...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, Please see YouTube for the Video Version We explore Valle Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, a 1.25-million-year-old dormant volcano with a massive magma chamber beneath its surface. The preserve features historic buildings, dramatic weather changes, and breathtaking views of mountain landscapes surrounding the massive caldera depression...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Version Only, Please See YouTube for Video. Ever stumbled upon a natural wonder that feels like a well-kept secret? That's exactly what awaits at Spence Hot Springs, tucked away in New Mexico's breathtaking Jemez Mountains. Nestled within the Santa Fe National Forest just outside Jemez Springs, these thermal pools offer a perfect blend of...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, Please See YouTube for the Video Version Step into the ancient world of Bandelier National Monument through this immersive backpacking journey along the Rito de las Frijoles (Bean Creek). What begins as a simple overnight trek quickly transforms into a fascinating exploration of natural wonders and human history nestled in north-central New Me...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, See YouTube For Full Video  Step back in time with me as we explore the ancient wonders of Tsankawi at Bandelier National Monument. This remarkable archaeological site offers a rare window into the lives of ancestral Puebloan people who made these cliffside dwellings their home centuries ago. Walking through what was once a bustling central pl...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, See YouTube for Video Version Craig the Natural Medic explores the Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, New Mexico, discovering ancient rock carvings etched into volcanic basalt across three distinct canyon areas. • Piedras Marcadas Canyon features hundreds of petroglyphs on a 1.5-mile trail showing animals, humanoid figures, and handp...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, Please see YouTube for the Video Version The tallest dunes in North America reside unexpectedly in Colorado, where wind and water have shaped massive sand formations surrounded by mountain ranges. This remarkable landscape serves as both a natural basin that collects eroded sand and a historic landmark, first documented by Zebulon Pike in 1807...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only. Please see YouTube for the Video Version. Craig introduces his countdown of the 10 essential items for backpacking, starting with the most critical: water filtration in the wilderness. We explore why even pristine-looking mountain streams require treatment before drinking and demonstrate how to use the Platypus water filter system effectively....

Let us know what's on your mind? Audio only, see YouTube for Video Craig the Natural Medic explores the Tennessee Pass Trailhead where the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide National Scenic Trail intersect. He takes a short snowshoe trek at over 10,000 feet elevation, sharing trail insights and snowshoeing tips during his adventure. • Snowshoeing at Tennessee Pass near Ski Cooper and the 10...

Let us know what's on your mind? Audio only, see YouTube for full video...Thanks Ski Cooper outside Leadville, Colorado, offers an affordable, uncrowded skiing experience with rich historical connections to the 10th Mountain Division. The resort stands apart from corporate-owned ski areas, offering great value tickets and a meaningful opportunity to honor the veterans who shaped American skiin...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, See YouTube for Video Version Craig the Natural Medic takes us on a meaningful journey through Saguaro National Park in Arizona as he celebrates his 50th birthday. The magnificent saguaros standing sentinel throughout the park create a stunning backdrop while showcasing the resilience of desert ecosystems that once faced predictions of disappe...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, Please see YouTube for Video Version Standing among the towering hoodoos and balanced rocks of Chiricahua National Monument feels like stepping into another world. These extraordinary formations weren't crafted by human hands but by 32 million years of volcanic activity and persistent erosion. Located in southeastern Arizona near the smal...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Version only, see YouTube for Video Version Craig the Natural Medic shares his comprehensive day hiking gear setup for 2025, highlighting essential items that ensure safety and comfort on southwestern trails. His experience as a paramedic and a former park ranger provides these practical recommendations for hikers of all experience levels. • Sun pro...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio only, please see YouTube for video version. Hidden within the rugged terrain of New Mexico's Gila National Forest lies an engineering marvel with a fascinating past. The Catwalk National Recreational Trail suspends visitors along sheer canyon walls, following a path first blazed by silver miners in the 1890s. My journey begins at the trailhead...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, please see YouTube for Video Version.  Step back in time with me as we explore the hidden archaeological wonders of Hovenweep National Monument, straddling the Utah-Colorado border. Few travelers discover this remote treasure, home to remarkable stone towers built by Ancestral Puebloans nearly 1,000 years ago. My two-hour journey around the ca...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: This is audio only; please see YouTube for the whole video experience. Thanks! Please send us an email! The quest for natural wonders often leads to unexpected discoveries. My journey to San Francisco Hot Springs, tucked away in New Mexico's Gila National Forest, proved to be exactly that kind of revelation. Setting off from the trailhead in my truck...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio Only, please see YouTube for Video Version The weathered footings of a washed-away bridge stand as silent sentinels on either side of the Tularosa River in New Mexico's Gila National Forest. Most hikers would turn back at this obstacle, but those who wade across discover something extraordinary—centuries-old petroglyphs etched into stone walls...

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio only. Please see Youtube for Video Version. Venture with me along the mesmerizing Blue Mesa Trail, where time itself seems written into the landscape of Petrified Forest National Park. On this brisk March day, I braved the characteristic winds of northeastern Arizona to bring you an intimate tour of one of the park's most beloved hiking paths....

Let us know what's on your mind? Note: Audio only, please see YouTube for video version Snowshoeing through Cedar Breaks National Monument reveals a transformed winter landscape with deep snow and beautiful vistas of the amphitheater from the North overlook. Though faced with a canceled ranger-led hike, this solo adventure showcases the accessibility and beauty of winter exploration in this so...

Let us know what's on your mind? Audio only, please see YouTube for the video experience!  Walking through the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs in southwestern Utah reveals ancient rock carvings that tell stories of migration, astronomical knowledge, and the spiritual beliefs of Native American peoples who inhabited this area centuries ago. • Located near St. George and Cedar City, the gap is an ancien...