Sonja
banner
sonjmarie.bsky.social
Sonja
@sonjmarie.bsky.social
Chicagoan, backpacker, runner.
Higher Ed staff member for my day job.
Enjoyed the lush lower altitudes of @greatsmokynps.bsky.social over Memorial Day. 3 nights near Abrams Creek.
June 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Beaver at Oak Street Beach this morning. Took a swim in the lake and then headed over the beach. Zoomed in - sorry for thr shakes camera work! #chicagowildlife #beaver #oakstreetbeach #chicago
May 19, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Beaver swimming at Oak Street Beach this morning. #chicagowildlife #chicago #oakstreetbeach #beaver
May 19, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Cherry Blossoms. Jackson Park. Chicago
#cherryblossom #chicago
April 17, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Protect Our Parks

Stand up for Public Lands and National Parks. Support our parks and forest workers, and protest the illegal firing of thousands.

March 1
Link to find the location nearest you
tinyurl.com/ProtectParks...

@resistancerangers.bsky.social
#protectourparks
#NPS #protest
March 1, 2025 at 5:31 AM
National Forests, unlike National Parks, have a variety of allowed uses including grazing. A night at an established site in the White River NF included walking by cows from a decent distance on the way. They expected to use the site the next morning (view from my tent.) #nps #hiking #blm #nfs
February 28, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Summer sunset on North Manitou Island. Part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
#greatlakes #lakemichigan #sleepingbear #hiking #backpacking #sunset #SLBE #nationallakeshore
February 27, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Falls in Sand Cave at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Kentucky.
#waterfallwednesday #waterfall #hiking #NPS #Kentucky
February 26, 2025 at 6:58 PM
In the late 1940s, my grandfather, who is now 98, took a road trip out West from Ohio visiting several National Parks along the way. He was accompanied by his parents, who were immigrants from Hungary, and his sister (pictured). Memories that last a lifetime. #nps #Yellowstone #Yosemite
February 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Backpacking has given me a huge appreciation for our National Forests. A view of one of the many lakes in Sawtooth National Forest from August 2023. #backpacking #idaho #sawtooth #nationalforest #hiking #sawtoothnationalforest
February 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Another day, another favorite national park photo from past wanderings.
Entering Indian Bar on the Wonderland Trail, August 2014.
#hiking #backpacking #MRNP #alpine #wonderlandtrail
February 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Apostle Island Sea Caves; March 2014.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Lake Superior is usually best explored by boat. If the winter is cold enough and the lake is still enough it can be explored by foot on ice. In 2014, the caves drew visitors from around the world. #NPS #LakeSuperior
February 20, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Colonnade Falls in Yellowstone. August 2023.
#waterfallwednesday #yellowstone #waterfall #hiking
February 19, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Ooh! Great question!
I love a simple log bridge with a single railing. Not spectacular, but there's something reassuring and familiar about it.
One from the GSNP and one from MRNP.
February 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Sharing some more remote #NationalPark entrances from past trips. The parks have something for (almost) everyone. In these cases, an opportunity to escape from the bustle of humanity into the beauty of nature. #nps #hiking #camping #worthsaving #americasbestidea
February 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM
In honor of President's Day, a trip down memory lane to the national park named for Theodore Roosevelt whose recognition of the need to protect lands instead of exploiting them helped shape the preservation of public lands.
#nationalparks #TRNP #americasbestidea #hiking #northdakota
February 18, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Today's run in Chicago led me to the outer peninsula of Belmont Harbor. I often forget that running east of the LFT is an option. Lovely views of the lake and downtown with some snow. Love living on Lake Michigan in all the seasons.
#chicago #running #LFT #LakeMichigan
February 16, 2025 at 4:02 AM
This is Richard.
Why Richard? This is a zoomed in photo. We tried to keep our distance, but Richard soon started crossing the river. We moved up the trail to give him space. Richard started moving up the trail. So we named him Richard, because he was being a bit of a Dick.
#yellowstone #bison
February 14, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Much love to all the NPS and NFS staff who were cut or remain but with fewer resources. Worried for our parks, forests and wilderness.
If you love public lands and aren't already following @altnps.bsky.social check them out
#nationalparks #hiking #camping #publiclands #nationalforest
February 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Point Beach State Forest. Wisconsin. Feb 8-9, 2025.
#hiking #IceAgeTrail #wisconsin
February 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I often take photos of trail signs thinking they'll just help me identify where more scenic photos were taken. But they often end up being some of my favorite trip photos.
#Timberlinetrail #GSMNP #Wonderlandtrail #Sawtooths #Oregon #NorthCarolina #Washington #Idaho #backpacking #trails #hiking
January 29, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Sunshine, smiles and positive energy at today's F^3 Half! Loved getting to pace the 3 hour group.
January 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Denali. #Denali
January 22, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Daydreaming of peaceful sunsets. Backcountry in Yellowstone August 2023.
#yellowstone #wilderness #backpacking #camping
January 21, 2025 at 11:21 PM