Who am I?
I live by five key principles, those are Consistency, Resilience, Adventure, Thirst for Knowledge, and Versatility in my interests. The Wandering Frontier is my way of sharing my key values with the world, my goal is to inspire and educate others about the trips I take and the activites I engage in. I hereby vow that I will always be consistent in my pursuit of adventure. No matter what adversity I face in life, I will be resilient and continue my pursuit towards knowledge and the eternal journey that I have embarked upon.
On my website you will find information regarding hikes across the United States that I have completed. I will also inform my readers about activites within these parks and trails such as rock climbing, kayaking, swimming, and more.
Unlike many travel sites, with me you are getting the real deal. Unlike other sites, I actually visit the locations I talk about and I ensure I give you not just info about where I go, but also my personal experience as I believe it is important to account not just for what a place offers, but how it makes the visitor feel.
My Top Five Hikes/Parks of All Time
Stone Mountain, North Carolina
Stone Mountain State Park is located in the North-Western portion of North Carolina. I completed this trail a few years ago, I am not sure as to all the trails in the park as I had limited time here, the trail I completed started by descending down the side of a waterfall and staying on the trail until I came upon a historical village. Once I hit the village the trail is hard to find, at least it was for me. To journey up to the peak of Stone Mountain, you need to stay left after the village to find the trail, I saw a group of men stray down the road directly ahead of the village because they failed to find the trail, I never saw them again... Do not take the road, find the trail. Next I traveled up a steep flight of stairs that led up the mountain, it was strenuous and I needed to take 2-3 short breaks to complete this section of the trail. Eventually I came to an exposed portion of the trail where I held onto a rope while climbing the face of the mountain. This was my favorite part of the trail, the experience is exhilarating and the rush of adrenaline is sure to leave a lasting impression, it sure did for me. After this section you are at the summit and continue on the trail for a short period until you reach the parking lot. I will make a more detailed page about Stone Mountain but this is the general overview of the hike.
Difficulty Level: Hard
Length: Moderate
Type of Hike:Loop
Total Score: 9.5/10
Indian Staircase: Red River Gorge, KY
Honestly, it is impossible for me to choose between Stone Mountain and the Indian Staircase. I will say, in terms of excitment and unrivaled sensations, the Indian Staircase takes the prize. I have never hiked a more thrilling and frightening hike in my life, there is nothing quite like climbing up the face of an exposed rock face where you have to scramble the entire way up. It was one of those rare moments where I knew if I made a mistake, it would probably be my last. The rest of the trail is not as thrilling as the staircase, but for a good portion of the trail you are walking on the edge of the mountain which is quite exciting. If you want adventure, beauty, and danger, the Indian Staircase is for you.
Difficulty Level: Hard
Length: Medium
Type of Hike: Loop
Total Score: 9.5/10
Carolina Beach State Park, North Carolina
As someone born and raised in Pennsylvania who frequented the beaches of New Jersey and Delaware, I was not prepared for the charm this park had to offer. Carolina Beach is like nothing I have ever experienced, and it is one of the only places where Venus Fly Traps grow natively. Not only was the park incredible, but it was also within a short drive to Wilmington, NC and countless other interesting locations such as the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. While you are there, be sure to check out the North Carolina Aquariums within the Fort Fisher area, truly one of the best aquariums I have ever visited.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Length: Mostly Short Trails
Type of Hike: Loops and Out and Backs
Total Score: 9/10
Worlds End State Park, Pennsylvania
So far, this is my favorite park within PA. The park offers a wide variety of trails ranging from easy to hard and each trail has its own unique charm. My experience with this park is slightly biased, I stayed in a cabin here over winter a few years ago, the Loyalsock Creek ran right next to the cabin and you could hear the water flowing throughout the night. It was perfect, this park was like a dream and I cannot recommend it enough if you are in PA, and at this point I have been all over PA and I can still say this is my favorite park in the state with certainty.
Difficulty Level: Easy, Medium, and Hard Trails
Length: All Lengths
Recommended Hikes: Butternut Trail, Canyon Vista Trail, and High Rock Trail.
Total Score: 8.75/10
Seneca Rocks/Spruce Knob, West Virginia
Honestly, it has been a struggle choosing this last one, mostly because there are so many places I have visited that I could just as easily choose, which is why I have narrowed it down to two parks very near to eachother. I camped near Seneca Rocks and I believe it was only a 45 minute drive to Spruce Knob, I highly recommend doing both if you are in the area. Seneca Rocks is a short but tough hike, the overlook is incredible as well as the rugged terrain that is climbable, but be careful, poeple have died climbing on those rocks so proceed with caution. If you are not an experienced climber and do not possess proper safety equiptment, I do not condone climbing on the rocks.
Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia and the overlooks are simply stunning. I took the huckleberry trail which had a very unique ecology due to its extremely high elevation, the trail is long and grueling so be warned. The huckleberry trail as well as the overlook trail took around 4 hours and was around 10 miles. If you plan to do this, bring plenty of food and water and be prepared to take breaks.
Difficulty Level: Moderate-Hard except for the Overlook trail at Spruce Knob which is easy
Length: Spruce via Huckleberry: Long, Spruce Overlook: Short, Seneca Rocks: Short
Total Score: 8.9/10
My Travel Goals
I have an extensive list of goals I want to accomplish with this website and I will continously update this list as time goes on.
Visit every state park in PA 22/124
Visit every National Park in the USA 3/63
Hike the highest mountain in each state
The Wandering Frontier Travel Map
This map contains hikes, parks, cities, and other travel-worthy locations I have visited
Test Your Might
I dont claim to be the best hiker, but I know I am definitely a strong one. I am going to give you a list of challenges for you to push yourself and grow both physically and mentally based on my travels.
Beginners Road
The Five Mile Trial - Complete a 5 mile hike in under 2 hours
Rock Scramble Rookie - Hike a trail with some scrambling involved
Waterfall Hunter - Find and hike to a new waterfall
Creek Jumper - Hike a trail that requires water crossings, like hopping over rocks or a small stream
Elevation Initation - Hike a trail with at least 1,000 feet of elevation gain, pushing your endurance
Intermediate Traveler
Double Summit Day - Pick two peaks and summit them in one day, covering at least 8-10 miles total
Scramble King - Complete a hike with major scrambling, where you must use hands and feet to ascend steep terrain
Weight Vest Challenge - Hike a full trail carrying 20-30 lbs, simulating a heavy backpacking load
Seasoned Adventurer - Repeat the same trail in all four seasons
Speed Ascent - Hike a trail 25% faster than its suggested time (e.g., if it’s a 4-hour hike, finish in under 3 hours)
The Experts Path
The Ice Warrior - Hike a trail completely frozen in ice.
The 20 Mile Journey - Hike 20 miles in one day
Stairway to Heaven - Complete a hike with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain
The Double Summit Deathmarch - Hike to a major summit, descend, then IMMEDIATELY hike back up. No breaks. Just suffering.
The No-Fear Traverse - Cross an exposed rock ridge or narrow spine where you must use both hands and feet. No trekking poles—just balance, grip strength, and nerve. One wrong step means serious consequences.