Korin Oliver – Pick-up and a Pop-up

Home!

Posted on August 5, 2025August 11, 2025 by Korin Oliver

Our first month-long camping trip without the kids was bittersweet in the best way. We loved the adventure just the two of us but there were times that we missed having the kids with us! Over the course of our journey, we traveled through 15 states, visited three stunning national parks, and spent time with my sister, brother-in-law Steve, and my parents. Both kids made great choices and handled things well at home, and we’re especially thankful to Matt’s parents for being there for Eli.

We crossed off a few bucket list hikes, saw more wildlife than we expected, and soaked in landscapes that took our breath away. One of the best surprises for Matt was getting to fish the Gros Ventre River.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: God has created incredible places in this country. Get out there and see them, you won’t regret it.

Oak Grove, Missouri

Posted on August 5, 2025August 7, 2025 by Korin Oliver

After an unforgettable stretch in the Grand Tetons, it was time to point the truck east and begin our journey home. Our first night on the road was all about convenience as we tucked in at a KOA just off the interstate. The following evening, we traded freeway noise for the quiet charm of C2T Ranch in Kansas. Horses grazed nearby, and a curious donkey kept us company.

Next, we made our way to Missouri to visit my sister and her husband. My parents were there too, with their motorhome. We went out to dinner, shared stories, watched the chickens peck around the yard, and spent time playing Settlers of Catan and Rummikub. It was a short visit, but it was so nice to see them. We’re already looking forward to seeing my parents again in a few weeks when they drive out to Delaware.

After saying our goodbyes, we drove on to Milton, Indiana, where we spent the night at Cobbler’s Knob, a peaceful corn and hay farm tucked into the countryside. The miles may be long, but these simple moments help make the trip unforgettable.

The ranch campsite with horses and a mule

Matt with one of the horses at our campsite

My favorite chicken at my sister’s house

My sister with her chickens

Grand Tetons – Part 2

Posted on August 5, 2025August 5, 2025 by Korin Oliver

After our long Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon Loop hike, we knew we needed a few slower days to recover. We spent them exploring the Jackson Lake Lodge, wandering through Teton Village, and enjoying a peaceful walk to Taggart Lake. Matt fished the Gros Ventre River while I happily read a couple of books. But there was one hike we’d heard about from fellow hikers that we just couldn’t skip. Delta Lake.

We set out early from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, knowing parking would fill fast. The trail to Delta Lake is unofficial meaning it’s not maintained and requires some off-trail navigation and steep rock scrambling. We’d been warned, but we were excited. The first mile of trail was cool and shaded, an easy warm-up. As we began climbing, we were treated to stunning views of Taggart and Bradley Lakes behind us. Around mile three, we broke off the main trail and began the ascent toward Delta Lake.

The route was steep, with loose dirt, exposed roots, and fields of boulders. Matt navigated using his GPS, guiding us carefully up the rugged terrain. Eventually, we crested a ridge and there it was: a glacially fed turquoise lake cradled beneath the Grand Teton. The surreal color of the water comes from glacial silt, and for a short time, we had it nearly to ourselves. We found a spot on a rock, took in the view, snacked, and let the moment sink in. As more hikers began arriving, we packed up and decided we felt pretty good. Rather than return, we pushed farther up to Surprise Lake and Amphitheater Lake. The switchbacks felt endless, but the reward was more than worth it. Surprise Lake was a quiet, reflective spot nestled among boulders and trees, and just beyond it, Amphitheater Lake was tucked beneath towering granite cliffs, rimmed with wildflowers and subalpine forest.

I soaked my tired feet in the cold water while we shared snacks in the peaceful, alpine silence. Knowing this would be our final hike of the trip, I felt a wave of thankfulness for the time and the healthy to explore places like this.

The descent was quick; our pace surprised us after such a long day, and we passed several other hikers. In just a few hours, we were back at the trailhead. We clocked 11 miles and 3,400 feet of elevation gain. Matt had promised me pizza and I made sure he kept that promise. What an unforgettable day, and the perfect way to end an incredible trip.

Lake big hike of the trip – Delta Lake

Matt at Taggart Lake

The view from Jackson Lake Lodge

Moose and calf

Mama Moose

Campfire

On our way to Delta Lake looking back at Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake

Delta Lake

Amphitheater Lake

Grand Tetons – Part 1

Posted on August 5, 2025August 5, 2025 by Korin Oliver

Matt and I have been trying to get reservations at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon for years through the lottery system. In December, I happened to check the website and spotted a cancellation for two nights in July. I grabbed it immediately and we kicked off our training since this hike has nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain.

Our original plan was to camp at the North Rim for one night, hike 13 miles down the North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch, stay for two nights, then climb out via the steep 7-mile South Kaibab Trail. But on July 4th, a lightning-sparked wildfire broke out on the North Rim. It’s still burning and our Phantom Ranch stay was rescheduled. Disappointed, we turned to my trusty National Parks guidebook and found the author’s highest-rated hike in the Grand Tetons: Paintbrush Canyon to Cascade Canyon Loop.

All the park campgrounds were full, so we took our chances at Atherton Creek Campground in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It’s first-come, first-served, and by some miracle, we pulled in just in time to grab the last site. We settled in and braced ourselves for what would be a monster of a hike the next day, one that I was honestly a little intimidated by.

We hit the String Lake Trailhead at 6:22 a.m., packs full and spirits high. The trail began gently, meandering along the lake, but as we entered Paintbrush Canyon, the elevation began to climb. Looking back, we could see views of both String Lake and Jackson Lake behind us.

From miles 3 to 6, the trail climbed steadily through dense forest and into rocky terrain until we reached the stunning alpine basin of Holly Lake. We took a much-needed break, ate our first sandwiches, and took in the view. Just as we got back on the trail, we spotted a fox carrying his kill, a pine marten. He was unbothered by our presence, although I moved on when things got a bit graphic, but Matt caught it on video if you’re curious.

Past Holly Lake, the trail became far more challenging. We powered up steep switchbacks of loose scree and crossed two snowfields before finally reaching Paintbrush Divide at 10,700 feet. It was tough, and at one point, I actually fell near the top. However, the panoramic views of the Teton Range and Paintbrush Canyon made the effort worth it.

From the divide, we began descending into the North Fork of Cascade Canyon. Waterfalls cascaded down cliffs, and Lake Solitude, cradled by dramatic peaks, appeared like a hidden gem. This view was definitely my favorite part of the hike. We hiked down the switchbacks to the lake, took off our boots, soaked our tired feet, and ate more snacks. At this point, we’d hiked 11 miles with 8 more to go.

From Lake Solitude, the trail was in between towering granite walls, and we tried to pick up the pace. Along the way, we had incredible wildlife encounters including three black bears and one grizzly. There weren’t many other hikers as we moved steadily around the west side of Jenny Lake.

Finally, after 19.9 miles, we arrived back at the truck. We were tired, dirty, sweaty, and exhilarated. If you’ve been following our adventures, you already know where we went next: straight to the pizza place. We celebrated with two whole pizzas and ice cream before heading back to our trailer to recover from one of the most epic hikes we’ve ever done.

Our first come, first serve campsite in Atherton Creek Campground

Let’s begin the monster hike!

String Lake

Crossing String Lake

The start of Paintbrush Canyon

Indian Paintbrush flowers

Getting further into Paintbrush Canyon

Looking back on String Lake and Jackson Lake

Can you find the pika?

Holly Lake

Fox eating a pine marten

At this point we are getting closer to the top and you can see the trail we just came from!

I made it!

How cool is he?

Getting ready to start the decent to Lake Solitude

Not the Grand Canyon!

Heading towards Lake Solitude

Lake Solitude

Still in good spirits!

Lake Solitude

Soaking our feet…still a long way to go!

Cascade Canyon

Made it to Jenny Lake

Matt at Jenny Lake!

I. See. The. Truck.

Celebration pizza with a view

As we headed back to the trailer, we saw an amazing sunset with a moose!

Sheridan, Montana

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Korin Oliver

From St. Mary, we made our way to Sheridan, Montana, home of our friends Bill Fraser and Donna Patterson-Fraser. Our last visit to their beautiful Ruby Valley farm was back in the summer of 2022, so we were excited to reconnect.

We tucked our trailer in front of the back barn, just outside the cow pasture, and settled in. That evening, Bill and Donna treated us to an incredible dinner at the Wells Fargo Steakhouse and Eatery in Virginia City. The food was fantastic, but the company and conversation were even better.

The next morning Bill and Matt headed out to fly-fishing on the Upper Ruby River while Donna and I enjoyed a leisurely shopping trip. That evening, we had a delicious homemade dinner, complete with dessert and plenty of laughter.

Though our visit was brief, it was great! We said our goodbyes that night since Matt and I needed to hit the road at sunrise. We’re already looking forward to our next visit and don’t worry Bill, we’ll be sure to book our stay early!

A wonderful dinner!

Bill fishing

Glacier National Park – Two Medicine Area

Posted on August 4, 2025August 5, 2025 by Korin Oliver

On the morning of July 19th, we packed up camp at St. Mary and made our way to the quieter, wilder southwestern corner of Glacier National Park; Two Medicine. Tucked away from the crowds, this region feels more remote. We’d visited once before, but only briefly. This time, we were here for something big: the Dawson-Pitamakan Loop, a legendary 17-mile alpine trail known for its panoramic ridgelines, sapphire lakes, and grueling climb.

We planned our hike for the next day, waking up before the sun on July 20th. By 5:45 AM, we were on trail…barely. Just minutes in, we heard branches snapping. Loudly. We froze, scanning the trees. And there it was: a grizzly, right on the trail.

We slowly backed away, gave it plenty of space, and got our bear spray ready. We waited quietly as the bear lingered, then finally turned and disappeared down the trail in the opposite direction. We began our hike alert, awed, and maybe just a little amped up from adrenaline.

Starting at Pray Lake, we took the counterclockwise route. The early miles were fairly easy, winding through forest and alpine meadows before becoming steep with a series of switchbacks. As we climbed, we caught our first glimpse of Old Man Lake below us. At Pitamakan Pass, the trail opened up into a stunning panorama of two more lakes, Pitamakan and Morning Star.

From there, we headed towards Pitamakan Overlook and saw several big horn sheep and baby big horn sheep! We sat to eat a snack, and I made friends with a curious marmot. After our short break, we skirted along narrow scree-covered ledges around the backsides of Mount Morgan and Flinsch Peak, staring down into a vast, beautiful valley below. It was windy across the exposed ridges, but the views of jagged peaks and endless sky were amazing.

Eventually, we reached Dawson Pass and began the long descent. I was struggling a bit as we made our way down, and Matt did his best to keep my spirits up. We made a fishing stop at No Name Lake and Matt caught both a brook trout and a bull trout. We made it to the boat dock at Two Medicine Lake just in time, and there was space for us on the return boat ride. The boat shaved off the final 2.5 miles of trail, and we were more than happy to give our legs a break!

We celebrated the 17-mile day with cookie ice cream sandwiches at the lake store and a charcuterie board at the campsite where we were accompanied by a few bighorn sheep who congregated around our fire pit. It was one of those hikes that stays with you – majestic, intense, and absolutely unforgettable.

The next few days brought rain, and with it, a shift in plans. We ducked into Glacier Park Lodge for lunch, only to find out our reservations at Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon had been canceled due to a large fire at the North Rim (more to come later on that topic). With soggy weather settling in, we made the decision to pack up and head out of Two Medicine and head to Bill and Donna’s.

Pray Lake at sunrise

Here we go!

Sure, we will wait for you grizzly bear…no problem….

On our way!

Old Man Lake below

Old Man Lake below

Pitamakan Lake and Morning Star Lake

On our way to Pitamakan Overlook

At the Pitamakan Overlook Korin made a friend

Can you find the big horn sheep?

Almost to Pitamakan Overlook

Pitamakan Overlook!

Before Dawson Pass

Breathtaking views

Making my way down Dawson Pass

We made it to the boat dock just in time!

Big horn sheep at the campsite!

That is a lot of steps!

We are home!

Posted on August 12, 2019August 21, 2019 by Korin Oliver

After another spectacular camping trip, we are back in Delaware. Matt drove 6,998 miles which included 11 states, 4 Canadian Provinces, 5 United States National Parks, and 4 Canadian National Parks. We are extremely thankful that God has given us the opportunity to travel for a significant amount of time each summer. Our kids are growing up quickly and we are trying to spend as much quality time together as possible. As a family, we have now visited 32 National Parks. Let us know if you have any suggestions for next summer!

Once again, we leave you with a memorable video:

Isle Royale National Park

Posted on August 7, 2019December 21, 2019 by Korin Oliver

The only way to reach Isle Royale National Park is by boat or sea plane (unless you are a crazy good kayaker). This national park is located in Lake Superior and is technically a part of Michigan, although we departed from Minnesota. We decided to leave our camper behind for a few days so we could experience the 99% wilderness that Isle Royale boasts. We arrived by sea plane which gave us a fabulous aerial view of the island. No roads. No cars. Just pristine wilderness to explore.

Once we were settled and had eaten dinner, we set off on our first hike via the Tobin Harbor trail which connects with the Suzy’s Cave trail. It was around 7pm when we started hiking the 4 mile loop and we figured it would be good timing to see a few animals. We reached Suzy’s Cave around 8:30pm and began our way back to the lodge along the water, watching the colors in the sky change as the sun began to descend. Soon we were met by another hiker who told us that there was a moose directly on the trail. Super excited, we walked a few more feet to see a huge bull moose grazing. He was truly a majestic animal. We took pictures, Eli flossed, and we chatted with the other hikers (one family of 4 and 2 others). It was awesome. We were stoked that we saw a moose so quickly after we had arrived! Minutes ticked by. The moose would take a few steps down the trail, we would take a few steps back on the trail. More minutes went by. Soon, another bull moose came out of the brush and was eating. The moose took a few more steps down the trail, we took a few more steps back on the trail. By this time, it was about 9:30 and we were losing light. We were only about a ½ mile from the harbor and could see the lights however, the moose were not in any rush and it didn’t seem like they were going to leave anytime soon. At this point, the 10 of us decided to make the 3 ½ mile trek back around. As far as light was concerned, Matt had one headlamp and I had my cell phone flashlight to share amongst the entire group. Needless to say, it was an interesting hike back over rocks, roots and brush in the pitch dark. About half way back, Matt (who was leading the group) spotted two large orbs on the trail. A second later, he saw two more sets of smaller orbs. It was another moose and her two calves! The ten of us made some noise and soon, the moose headed back into the forest. We all made it safely back to the lodge around 11pm! Whew! What a first day on a remote island!

We slept in a bit the next morning and decided to take advantage of the wonderful weather to explore the island by boat. Matt rented a small motorboat and we all jumped in. We zipped over to the Edisen Fishery historic site. We were quickly greeted by a volunteer who told us about the area and then made our way to the Rock Harbor Lighthouse on other side of the island. There was a small museum inside the lighthouse that described the area during the 1800-1900s and a great view from the top! From there, we took another trail to the “Mooseum” where was saw hundreds of moose bones and antlers. We met Candy Peterson, the wife of Rolf Peterson who is a research scientist. Rolf and Candy have been conducting research on the moose and wolves of the island for more than 50 years. The four of us found Candy and her knowledge about the moose extremely interesting, especially since we had just seen five moose the night before. She answered all of our questions and inspired the kids to spend their lives doing something the love, just as she and her husband have done. From the Mooseum, we headed to Moskey Bay. After a quick look around, we took the boat over to Daisy Farm, a beautiful field of daisies and other wild flowers. Next, we headed back to the lodge for a late lunch and to celebrate Eli’s 11^thbirthday. The restaurant didn’t have any dairy free desserts but luckily, I secretly bought a Hostess Apple Pie at a gas station before we were on the island. Later, Matt and Eli took the boat out and tried fishing for the lake trout we had heard so much about. Later that evening, we took the trail to Scoville Point and saw a fox and a bunny while hiking.

Our third day on the island, we packed up and got ready to leave. We had a good breakfast and headed down to the dock. A few minutes before our plane was to arrive, the lodge bellhop came to tell us that due to weather, all flights back to Minnesota were cancelled. This meant that we would not be heading back to Minnesota until the following day. We were surprised to say the least. The lodge had one room left (nicer than our first) so we MasterCard-ed the moment and settled in for one more night. We decided to completed one more hike after dinner in search of more moose and we were successful! We found a moose laying down a few feet from the trail. He looked like he was going in and out of sleep. We had all sorts of time to look at him and through the binoculars we could see the veins in his antlers!

The following day we had a very intense game of National Park Monopoly before leaving Isle Royale National Park. As we flew over the island, I thought about the island, the animals and how God orchestrated such a beautiful place. I felt blessed to have had the experience with my family and terribly emotional as I realized that our 2019 summer adventure was coming to a close.

We surprised Eli and Sam with the sea plane option!

Scooting around the island in the motorboat

Eli tries to hold up a moose antler that we found

Yoho National Park

Posted on July 29, 2019December 21, 2019 by Korin Oliver

By: Eli

Ok, before going to Yoho National Park we hiked Johnston Canyon and all the way to the ink-pots. This hike should have a do not do sign at the start. The ink-pots were just ponds basically. No not even basically, they just were ponds. After this hike I felt like Dad was like, “Now young Eli you shall die!” Then Darth Sam drastically saved me from emperor Dad with a cookie and yadda yadda you know the rest…

The Kickinghorse Campground is where we stayed in Yoho. It was awesome. You had a circle of treeless campsites with mountains circling the campground. The campers were parked on the outer rim and in the middle, there was a grassy field. In the middle of the field there were a few rocks and under those rocks lived 7 little red squirrels, 5 babies and 2 parents. And what was the most awesome about it was that the squirrels got so close that I could pet them!

Sadly, there is not much to write about Yoho. We only stayed 1 night there. Also, who named this place? Was it Sponge-Bob or maybe it was Jack Sparrow? Or was it named after a guy that that really liked pirates? Anyway, moving on… The next day we hiked to Takakkaw Falls. I’m not even going to guess who named that. While we were driving there we saw a huge moose but let’s get to the falls. The falls were beautiful. Dad and I hiked almost to the top and felt the mist on our skin. The view was beautiful. They are the second longest falls in Canada. My dad and I put a tiny rock onto a rock pile and scurried down to the bottom before a ranger came to tell us to get down!

Peace from the Plains of Canada. -Eli

Banff National Park

Posted on July 28, 2019December 21, 2019 by Korin Oliver

by: Korin

I grew up in a family that went camping. From an early age I remember fishing, hiking and of course, playing cards. I guess this is how my passion for travelling and seeing the beauty of God’s creation began. Over the years, my parents have camped all over North America. So, naturally, when Matt and I began thinking about our summer plans, I asked my mom what our family still needed to see. She urged us to visit the Canadian Rockies.

We were greeted in Banff National Park by a beautiful view of towering peaks and a mysterious feel as a storm had just passed. After seeing some elk along the road, finding our campsite in the Two Jack Lakeside Campground and setting up, we headed into the nearby town, also named Banff. The town was picturesque and bursting with people as we went to the visitor’s center, ran a few errands, and had dinner. The next morning, we set off on our hike to Sunshine Meadows. To get to the meadow and three alpine lakes, we took a gondola and then a chair lift up the mountain. We then had a lovely short hike down the beautiful lakes in the valley.

After spending a few nights in the Banff area, we headed to Johnston Canyon and hiked approximately 7 miles to the Ink Pots. Honestly, the canyon was pretty but the trail was so crowded it was anything but peaceful. Matt later compared it to a conga line. Later that night we stayed in Yoho National Park which Eli will tell you about. The following day we arrived in the Lake Louise area of Banff National Park. When we arrived, I was pretty disappointed with how crowded it was. The parking for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake was full. We learned that people were walking several miles to Lake Louise and that the shuttles were operating with a two hour wait. Furthermore, I was under the impression that our campsite in Lake Louise Campground would be within walking distance to the lake but I soon realized that it was several miles away. We headed to our campsite, set up the pop-up and had lunch. A few hours later that we learned that we were in the wrong campsite and had to move. What a day! After dinner we decided to try our luck at getting a parking spot and exploring the area a bit. We found a spot at Lake Louise and headed towards the lake. The water was a beautiful glacial green-blue with a significant mountain backdrop. We explored a bit and moved on to Moraine Lake. Here, we climbed the Rock Trail to get a view of the lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Despite the amount of people there, the scene was magnificent and the color of the water with the peaks in the background was astounding.

Due to the weather, we decided to postpone our Banff hikes and head to Jasper National Park the next morning. After a two-hour car ride along the stunning Icefields Parkway, we arrived at the Columbia Icefields. We boarded a massive “Ice Explorer” all-terrain vehicle (AKA a monster truck) to a place where we could walk on, feel and drink from the Athabasca Glacier. It was extremely chilly on the glacier, but it was an incredible experience. We finished the adventure with a jaw-dropping walk along the glass floored Skywalk on the edge of a cliff!

We woke the kids up at 5:30 AM the next morning in order to get a parking spot at Lake Louise. I wanted to complete a 12-mile loop hike which included two tea houses (tiny cafés in the middle of the mountains). I mean, who wouldn’t want to be rewarded in the middle of their hike with tea and biscuits? We arrived at the parking lot at 6:01 and snagged a spot. The parking lot was full by 6:25. After Matt made coffee and breakfast on the truck tailgate, we were on the trail! The start of the hike was tough and had significant elevation gain. We opted to do the Little Beehive lookout which brought us to a view of the lake and the next valley. We pressed onward to the first tea house and we were not disappointed. Overlooking Lake Agnes sat a quaint and charming tea house. While inside we had tea, biscuits and a homemade VEGAN apple blueberry crumble! Needless to say, Eli was ecstatic and everyone got a nice rest from the first few miles. We took the Highline Trail that connected us to the second destination: Plain of Six Glaciers. In Glacier National Park, we hiked to one glacier but this hike brought us to six at one time! It was lunchtime when we got to the second tea house and the glaciers. The tea house was nice but didn’t have as many options as the first, so we had some lemonade and snacks but followed up with our own packed sandwiches and snacks down by the viewing benches. We gazed up at the incredible view for quite a while. While we were there, a sound sort of like thunder erupted and a piece of one glacier fell off. It was spectacular. The hike finished with a crowded walk along Lake Louise. Overall, the day had been delightful and the views quite memorable.

Our last day in the Canadian Rockies once again began early. We wanted to hike to Consolation Lake which is located in the Lake Moraine area. We reached the parking lot at 5:58 AM and it was full! Yes. Full at 5:58 AM. We went up the road about ¾ of a mile and found a turnout that hadn’t been occupied yet, so we quickly grabbed it. The trail to Consolation Lake was nice and pretty flat which was welcomed as we were still recovering from the long hike the day before. There was a rock scramble at the end which led us to another glacial lake in a gorgeous valley. Matt and Eli fished for a bit and then we headed back to Lake Moraine. After walking along the lake, we decided it was time to beat the impending storm and head back to the pop-up. We relaxed all afternoon (some of us even took naps), Matt fished on the Bow River and we ended the night with some intense card playing!

We had to deal with some weather and significant crowds but all in all, our time in the Canadian Rockies was enjoyable. The days gave me time to reflect on my camping experiences as a child and how much my family and the surroundings influenced me as we walked along trails, fished for elusive trout and sat around countless campfires. That is what I hope these summer camping trips bring to my own kids. A sense of amazement of God’s creation. An adventurous spirit willing to walk the extra mile to see what is just beyond the bend. A family closeness that is weaved through uninterrupted conversations and experiences together.