The Westward Chronicles of Daniel Kessler

Outdoor enthusiast on a cross country road trip from Roanoke, VA to the west coast and back. I'll be hiking, backpacking, climbing, paddling, and exploring along the way, documenting it all here.

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Saying Goodbye to a Friend, and Hello to the West Coast.

Saying Goodbye to a Friend, and Hello to the West Coast.

Picking up from my last post, Oscar and I decided to camp together another night on the road after our climbing trip to City of Rocks in Idaho, this time in eastern Oregon. Another freecampsites.net find, the campsite at Morgan Lake near La Grande, OR was northwest of my planned route to Sacramento, so I decided I would divert my drive through Portland and down the coast of Oregon the following…

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Waiting 36 minutes for this 18 minute #longexposure at #grandviewpoint in the #grandcanyon was absolutely worth it. #astrophotography #nps #findyourpark

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The dark and shady depths of the 'Smoking Section' #bouldering area at the bottom of the #charonsgarden boulder-field in the #wichitamountainswildliferefuge. World-class #granite #climbing in #Oklahoma.

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#Lichen which has grown into a #fractal shape in #elmalpais #newmexico

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Some snaps from my cross country adventure. I have almost 64 gigs of images and video that haven't seen the light of day yet. Hard to believe I'll rounding the trip off in Nashville tonight!

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#redtailhawk #pointreyes

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#bigskylight #cave #elmalpais #lava #moss #lichen

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#firsttime #innout

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#meteorite #longexposure #astrophotography

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#Elk basking in the sun on #pointreyes.

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Multiple parties working #elcapitan on a clear, cold and #starry October evening in #yosemite. #climbingapp #climbing #bigwall #longexposure #astrophotography

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Climbing at City of Rocks in Idaho and the Oregon Coast.

Climbing at City of Rocks in Idaho and the Oregon Coast.

After our stint working in the Grand Teton National Park, my climbing buddy Oscar and I were both headed to the West Coast via Oregon. I had planned to backpack for a couple days in Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, but Oscar recommended that we go on a two day climbing trip to City of Rocks in the same state instead. It was an excellent idea, and Craters of the Moon can certainly…

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Exploring Yellowstone and Final Experiences in Grand Teton National Park

Exploring Yellowstone and Final Experiences in Grand Teton National Park

It’s been a while since my last post, and for good reason! I’ve been busy moving on from Wyoming wrapping up my short work season at Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton National Park, exploring Yellowstone, planning and executing a short climbing trip to City of Rocks with Oscar Bishop, and making my way through Oregon down Highway 101 and down to Sacramento to stay with my cousins Bill and…

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My sweet ride around #Sacramento today. Thanks Uncle Bill! #faustocoppi #vintagebicycle

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Central #Oregon #coast. #highway101.

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Hidden amongst giant #redwoods.

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#cityofrocks. Perfect #granite. @oscarjbishop led us up the iconic 5.8 'Skyline' on Morning Glory Spire (the tall one one the left) our last day there.