RobertAnnis Joined: 05-06-2022
After spending nearly a decade as a reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, Robert Annis finally broke free of the shackles of gainful employment to become an award-winning outdoor-travel journalist. Over the years, Robert's byline has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including National Geographic Traveler, Outside, Hemispheres, Lonely Planet, Afar, Bicycling, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics, the Chicago Tribune, Togo RV, and Hidden Compass.
RobertAnnis/08-02-2022

I was a few miles south of Wall, South Dakota, when I finally saw the line of campers perched perilously close to a cliff ledge. After nearly two days of nonstop driving, I’d finally reached my destination, Nomad View in the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recarea/?recid=30329 ).   Gnarled rock formations rise above the low plains, the remnants of geological instability 65 million years ago and continuing erosion ever since. On this unseasonab...

RobertAnnis/07-28-2022

National park crowding has been an issue for years, but what if the solution is hanging in your garage right now? Can e-bikes make for not only a less congested park system, but also a happier and healthier visitor experience as well? Late last fall, I spent two months visiting all the national parks in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. It was an incredible road trip, but even during the supposed shoulder season, the crowds were often stifling.  So many people see these parks, among the most bea...

RobertAnnis/05-06-2022

Outdoor gear is constantly improving, but is that reason alone to upgrade?   There are two main camps of people when it comes to gear: Folks wearing puffy jackets covered in duct-tape patches who see buying new equipment as a moral failing and those people who consider seasonal gear guides as holy scriptures on the level of the Bible or Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire and want the latest and greatest of everything.   I’ve written dozens of gear reviews over the years, so I know the all...