×

Goal to visit 61 — or 62 — national parks

Lori and Roger Griswold were hiking along. They saw a man coming toward them over the hill. He was completely naked and carrying his clothes. When the man got close to them, he covered his private parts with his clothes and kept walking. That is the one and only time Lori and Roger Griswold, of Ft. Madison, have ever seen a naked hiker in the national parks.

In 2006, Lori and Roger Griswold, set a goal of visiting all the national parks in the United States. At the time, there were 57. They started with Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and ended with National Park of American Samoa, south of Hawaii. No sooner had they completed all 61, and were given a certificate verifying such, when number 62 was established — White Sands National Park in New Mexico. So, they made plans to visit this April but, because of the pandemic, have delayed the trip. Just getting to the National Park of American Samoa is a challenge. There are only two flights a week from Hawaii to Samoa. Sure enough, there were delays and Lori and Roger missed their connection to Samoa. Stuck in Hawaii, having missed their flight to Samoa, they decided to spend a couple of days in Kauai.

When they were able to go to Samoa, they left a day early, but all connections were on time and they made it through. Immigration officials in Samoa were amazed that Lori and Roger were “tourists.” Samoa is so far from everywhere that few tourists go there.

Memories abound around the Griswolds’ visits to national parks. At Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande River, Mexicans would sneak across the river at night and place trinkets and artwork for sale next to the campground. No one ever saw them. Tourists just placed whatever money they wanted next to the item they took and everyone was happy.

Lori and Roger have seen so much wildlife and insects that they’d never seen before. The bears snaring salmon out of the river at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska is a sight everyone should see. Hiking across a glacier wearing crampons is an experience like no other, topped only by an icy polar plunge. Twin Lake is the site of Richard Pronneke’s cabin. From Primrose, Iowa, Pronneke spent years in the wilderness of Alaska. In addition to visiting all the national parks in the United States, the Griswolds have also been to all seven continents. Avid scuba divers, they have gone to Australia, Indonesia, Oahu and Fiji to dive. At the Great Blue Hole of Belize they viewed underwater stalagmites and stalactites. At Antarctica they were entertained by islands containing a half-a-million penguins. Both the Griswolds are runners, although Lori more so. She organized and participated in a number of Relay Iowa events; they have ridden five RAGBRAI’s; and she’s a good cook. Her stuffed-pepper soup and Scotcheroo cookies make her popular with hungry hikers, divers and fools who plunge into icy water.

The Griswolds are active people. With the pandemic limiting travel, they have found time at home to enjoy wildlife. Once they counted 13 squirrels in the yard, along with a couple of wild turkeys. When the pandemic is over, they will be headed south to White Sands National Park in New Mexico for number 62. Will there be a 63?

Call or text Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com or visit his website at

www.empty-nest-words-photos-and-frames.com

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today