Dustin
@midwestskinny.bsky.social
Montrose Beach, Chicago.
Carefully made my way over the ice shelf and launched onto the lake by dropping in off a 3 ft ledge of ice.
Carefully made my way over the ice shelf and launched onto the lake by dropping in off a 3 ft ledge of ice.
December 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Montrose Beach, Chicago.
Carefully made my way over the ice shelf and launched onto the lake by dropping in off a 3 ft ledge of ice.
Carefully made my way over the ice shelf and launched onto the lake by dropping in off a 3 ft ledge of ice.
Starved Rock State Park. A little longer of a drive than my other recent weekend outings, but it’s a beautiful park and worth the trip.
November 18, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Starved Rock State Park. A little longer of a drive than my other recent weekend outings, but it’s a beautiful park and worth the trip.
8 miles along the Des Plaines River Trail and Algonquin Woods.
November 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
8 miles along the Des Plaines River Trail and Algonquin Woods.
Moraine Hills State Park. Hiked the Lake Defiance & Leatherleaf Bog trails (roughly 6 miles). First trip to the park and will make sure to get back here to cross country ski this winter.
October 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Moraine Hills State Park. Hiked the Lake Defiance & Leatherleaf Bog trails (roughly 6 miles). First trip to the park and will make sure to get back here to cross country ski this winter.
Paddled down the Chicago River and through the locks out onto Lake Michigan and up to Montrose Harbor this morning. Kayaked about 11 miles and the clouds and light rain kept most of the other boats off the water until we took out.
July 4, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Paddled down the Chicago River and through the locks out onto Lake Michigan and up to Montrose Harbor this morning. Kayaked about 11 miles and the clouds and light rain kept most of the other boats off the water until we took out.
Early morning salmon fishing on Lake Michigan.
July 2, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Early morning salmon fishing on Lake Michigan.
Surf day at Montrose Beach. The beach was empty except for a few of us in the water and a handful of volunteers monitoring the Piper Plovers. Water and air temps in the low 50s.
May 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Surf day at Montrose Beach. The beach was empty except for a few of us in the water and a handful of volunteers monitoring the Piper Plovers. Water and air temps in the low 50s.
Pesh Fest 2025! One of my favorite events - a long weekend of camping and running the Peshtigo River in Northern Wisconsin.
April 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Pesh Fest 2025! One of my favorite events - a long weekend of camping and running the Peshtigo River in Northern Wisconsin.
Goodbye Logan Square. Hello Ravenswood.
March 31, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Goodbye Logan Square. Hello Ravenswood.
My reading list is always growing, but sometimes I need to go back to books that I’ll keep rereading over the years. Two of my recent rereads are Blankets by Craig Thompson (amazing) and Love in the Time of Cholera (my absolute favorite).
What books do you regularly reread and highly recommend?
What books do you regularly reread and highly recommend?
March 27, 2025 at 3:33 PM
My reading list is always growing, but sometimes I need to go back to books that I’ll keep rereading over the years. Two of my recent rereads are Blankets by Craig Thompson (amazing) and Love in the Time of Cholera (my absolute favorite).
What books do you regularly reread and highly recommend?
What books do you regularly reread and highly recommend?
Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
March 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Winter adventures with Rosetta.
February 22, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Winter adventures with Rosetta.
It’s frigid in Wisconsin this week, but we’re still playing in the snow every day.
February 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
It’s frigid in Wisconsin this week, but we’re still playing in the snow every day.
6 weeks alcohol free. It’s a start.
February 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
6 weeks alcohol free. It’s a start.
Another beautiful morning surfing at Montrose Beach.
February 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Another beautiful morning surfing at Montrose Beach.
Packed up the truck and heading back to the wilderness for a while.
January 23, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Packed up the truck and heading back to the wilderness for a while.
FKA Twigs coming to Chicago in March is just what I needed to get through the rest of winter.
January 16, 2025 at 8:05 PM
FKA Twigs coming to Chicago in March is just what I needed to get through the rest of winter.
It’s snowing in Chicago, so it felt right to pull Blankets off the shelf for another reread.
January 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
It’s snowing in Chicago, so it felt right to pull Blankets off the shelf for another reread.
After a rough month, Rosetta is off meds and hopefully recovered from a nasty tick-borne disease. Our vet always stated she was up to date on all tests, but we found out she hadn’t been tested for tick-borne illnesses and this one may have been dormant for years until flaring up last month.
January 5, 2025 at 7:40 PM
After a rough month, Rosetta is off meds and hopefully recovered from a nasty tick-borne disease. Our vet always stated she was up to date on all tests, but we found out she hadn’t been tested for tick-borne illnesses and this one may have been dormant for years until flaring up last month.
Practiced rolls and rescues in the cold water (36 degrees) after a nice paddle on Lake Michigan yesterday, where we saw hundreds of mergansers and other winter ducks.
December 9, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Practiced rolls and rescues in the cold water (36 degrees) after a nice paddle on Lake Michigan yesterday, where we saw hundreds of mergansers and other winter ducks.
Palos Trail System.
We spent one last weekend enjoying a few hours hiking without needing extra layers. Quiet day in the woods except for a few robins, blue jays and a large coyote.
We spent one last weekend enjoying a few hours hiking without needing extra layers. Quiet day in the woods except for a few robins, blue jays and a large coyote.
November 19, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Palos Trail System.
We spent one last weekend enjoying a few hours hiking without needing extra layers. Quiet day in the woods except for a few robins, blue jays and a large coyote.
We spent one last weekend enjoying a few hours hiking without needing extra layers. Quiet day in the woods except for a few robins, blue jays and a large coyote.
Kayak camping along the Wisconsin River - Fall 2024.
November 13, 2024 at 8:02 PM
Kayak camping along the Wisconsin River - Fall 2024.
6 miles this morning through the Palos trail system.
November 9, 2024 at 9:05 PM
6 miles this morning through the Palos trail system.
Came here from the other site to mostly post about kayaking and other outdoorsy activities around Chicago.
Montrose Beach - one of 2 beaches in Chicago where it’s legal to surf all year. I’m usually out in a sea or whitewater kayak.
Montrose Beach - one of 2 beaches in Chicago where it’s legal to surf all year. I’m usually out in a sea or whitewater kayak.
November 7, 2024 at 12:26 AM
Came here from the other site to mostly post about kayaking and other outdoorsy activities around Chicago.
Montrose Beach - one of 2 beaches in Chicago where it’s legal to surf all year. I’m usually out in a sea or whitewater kayak.
Montrose Beach - one of 2 beaches in Chicago where it’s legal to surf all year. I’m usually out in a sea or whitewater kayak.