Mike's  WINTER  Schedule

 

 

     The delicious smells of Thanksgiving still fill the house.  Leaves have fallen and been cleaned up.  Trees now send their barren branches up into grey-clouded skies.  Rakes have been replaced with shovels.  Temperatures are set to plummet.  Winter is on its way.  Time to follow the well known tradition of the wise bear, and slow down for awhile to be ready for another year ahead.

     A wonderful and successful season of tours has been completed.  There were challenges, ranging from Park Service cut-backs to a government shutdown.  Fortunately, nothing prevented our tours from running.  And the parks remain the stunning places of which we all share proud ownership.

     The Winter is now my time to relax, work on the house, and do personal travel.  I may even take a Caravan tour or two.  So maybe I'll see you again on a Caravan bus, but I won't be in the front row this time!  There are many awesome trips to Central and South America offered by Caravan over the Winter.  It's the best time of year to visit Latin America, as it is their dry season.

     For 2026, I hope to begin Grand Canyon tours by the 3rd week of April or so.  It will be awhile before Caravan calls me to discuss specific tour dates, perhaps as late as March.  Once those dates are set, I will post them on this website.  I will run Grand Canyon tours through June.  I then plan (at this point anyway) to take the Summer months off.  First time in many years!  That means it is unlikely I will lead any Yellowstone tours in 2026.  But I will then continue with more Grand Canyon tours in September and October 2026 to complete the season.

     People often ask me why I live back East and work out West.  My simple response is : "Because I can."  Family and my Blue Ridge Mountain home root me in the East.  But I love to gaze upon wide open spaces and towering mountains in the West.  Something about the power of the individual and the ability to dream big. 

     I finally made it to my 50th state last year.  North Dakota, you are amazing!  I have travelled all over the West, and yet there are still so many places to see out there.  I love to gaze at landscapes that challenge my ability to comprehend them and leave me in awe.  May adventures continue to enrich our Lives, and may our paths cross again on tour or in the most unexpected places.  My best to you all - - - 

 

This schedule has been updated on November 28, 2025.