Moe Lauchert

Off of the 89, just north of Flagstaff AZ, there is an unmarked dirt road just before a gas station. It leads out to privately owned land that's open to the public. Some friends and I went out there to get away from our day jobs. As we headed down the road, the land opened up in vast expanses of hills. Some of these hills are dormant volcanic craters and we decided to see what was at the top. ...

6.6 miles west of downtown Flagstaff off the I-40 West is the A1 Mountain Road. Continue over the cattle guards and enter into the A1 Mountain Area—perfect for hiking, camping, and trail running.The main road is well established for a dirt road, and many of the hiking trails branch off from it. There are amazing views of The San Francisco Peaks from almost any of the medium hills, which are acc...

Starting from Downtown Flagstaff we headed west. After making a left turn on Woody Mountain Road, we continued for 22 miles. Woody Mountain Road then becomes Forest Road 231. Continue on FS 231 until you find a killer spot to pitch it! Make sure to be wary of elk herds crossing the roads.We made a fire ring to mitigate impact from campfires and set up tents however, the temperature was mild and...

We started off in Big Sur and took as many pull-off viewpoints as possible between Big Sur and the final destination, Pigeon Point Lighthouse. The weather was foggy in some spots but would open up to reveal the vast Pacific Ocean and sun in others. The weather was mild for us but we're familiar with the cold. The temp was averaging in the mid 60s (F) and around 18 (C).The 95 Miles between Big S...

Getting There North of Flagstaff on the 89A, take a left turn directly after a sign for Sunset Crater. This road winds up a well-developed path; when it ends, turn right. After the road banks left, take a right at the next fork and continue on the dirt road up a single lane path until you enter the Lockett Meadow campground. Be sure to drive carefully and slowly, as other vehicles will be leavi...

The Cabot Trail weaves among four different bodies of water, including the Atlantic, making for incredibly scenic riding. Be very cautious of wildlife and holding your line. Some turns have gravely inside corners, but are otherwise beautiful.There are minimal gas stations along this route, some of which run out of gas, so pack an auxiliary tank. A proper motorcycle inspection is necessary for s...

Some friends and I recently rode our motorcycles up to Cape Breton where our final destination was Meat Cove. It's the northern most point accessible by motor vehicle. In the morning we hiked to a scenic cliff side and were welcomed warmly by friendly staff. We spent the day at the private beach and riding around the dirt roads. It's an incredibly secluded area so be sure to bring enough suppli...

Upon entering Yosemite Valley National Park I made it a point to see Half Dome, El Capitan, and Washington Column and several other famous Yosemite formations. What I didn't realize was as soon as I entered The Village was that all could be seen within a 15 minute loop around the valley floor. There was plenty of space to park and obviously an abundance of trailheads to hike down. During the dr...

Getting There About 18 miles south of Flagstaff on the 89A, turn into the Cave Springs parking lot and look for the trail just right of the first bridge. Hike up the chossy hill until you reach a giant sandstone slot canyon in the northwest. Climbing This canyon contained the crags, known as the Dr's Office and the Pharmacy. With grades ranging from 10 and up, there are plenty of heady routes. ...

The Icefields Parkway has been named One of the World's Most Scenic Drives by National Geographic and with all the scenic hikes, stops, and viewpoints, it's easy to see why. Starting at Lake Louise, a friend and I decided to drive up the Icefields Parkway which goes through Banff National Park into Jasper National Park. All along the parkway are pull-offs and short hikes that lead to extraordi...