Over the last two years while discovering weekend backpacking near my home in Central Florida, some of my most thrilling experiences have been one-night adventures far from home that I’ve added to family vacations and road trips to college football games. In fact, I now consider backpacking options when deciding where to travel. As fun … Continue reading Tips for Backpacking During Breaks on Business Trips or Family Vacations
Author: Rob Rogers
Labor of Love: My first trail maintenance work party with the Florida Trail Association
I finally got around last Saturday to joining my local Florida Trail Association chapter for a trail maintenance work party, one of the most popular activities the FTA chapters host. If you’re looking for a great way to get acquainted with some of the most beautiful sections of trail in Florida and the people who … Continue reading Labor of Love: My first trail maintenance work party with the Florida Trail Association
My Book Has Received Another Award, and Also Check Out My Latest Essay, “Boynton Canyon”
I was thrilled to learn this morning that my book, Finding My Way Home: Fighting Depression Backpacking in Central Florida, has received another award, this time from the 12th Annual Independent Author Network (IAN) Book of the Year Awards. My book was named as Finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards category for Nonfiction: Mind/Body/Spirit. … Continue reading My Book Has Received Another Award, and Also Check Out My Latest Essay, “Boynton Canyon”
Shenandoah National Park is a special place to backpack in October and November
After several weeks of not posting here, I am thrilled to return by raving about a recent once-in-a-season chance I had to backpack for a night in one of the most beautiful national parks east of the Mississippi River. Shenandoah National Park is the Hope Diamond of Virginia and a magical place to spend a … Continue reading Shenandoah National Park is a special place to backpack in October and November
Check out my article on backpacking in Outdoors Unlimited (“Backpacking Beside the Baltic Sea”) and my essay in The Florida Writer (“Anger Sister”)
I was thrilled to have two different pieces published in two different publications today, one creative and one an outdoor travel article. Today's Fall 2025 issue of Outdoors Unlimited includes my article titled "Backpacking Beside the Baltic Sea," a travel piece about a great national preserve near Stockholm, Sweden for hiking, camping, and backpacking. Outdoors … Continue reading Check out my article on backpacking in Outdoors Unlimited (“Backpacking Beside the Baltic Sea”) and my essay in The Florida Writer (“Anger Sister”)
Hunting Dates for Central Florida’s Eastern and Western Corridors of the Florida Trail
With November now only a month away and temperatures (hopefully) beginning to cool, we are finally approaching backpacking season in Central Florida. But as most Florida Trail lovers know, many of the great places to backpack here, including most of the forested sections of the Florida National Scenic Trail, are on land that we’ll have … Continue reading Hunting Dates for Central Florida’s Eastern and Western Corridors of the Florida Trail
Come Join Me (Virtually) on Sept. 27th for a Live Reading of My Essay, “Cognitive Distortion”
I recently learned that an essay of mine titled "Cognitive Distortion" will be published in the next issue of Thorn & Bloom magazine, and its publisher will be hosting an online Live Author Reading event on Saturday, September 27th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PST). The other authors … Continue reading Come Join Me (Virtually) on Sept. 27th for a Live Reading of My Essay, “Cognitive Distortion”
Seaside Camping at its Finest Can be Found at St. George Island State Park
Florida has precious few places where hikers can camp in primitive settings beside the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico or beside stretches of intracoastal waterways unblemished by buildings on the opposite shore. But a gem of a seaside primitive campsite can be found beside a wide expanse of Apalachicola Bay at St. George Island … Continue reading Seaside Camping at its Finest Can be Found at St. George Island State Park
My Essay “Mardi Gras ‘95” Has Won First Place for Nonfiction in the SLO NightWriters Golden Quill Contest
I was overjoyed to learn recently that an essay of mine titled “Mardi Gras ‘95” has won First Place for Nonfiction in the 2025 SLO NightWriters Golden Quill Writing Contest. The contest is hosted by the San Luis Obisbo NightWriters, a writing community in Central California that provides writing education, opportunities, resources, workshops, and scholarships. My essay … Continue reading My Essay “Mardi Gras ‘95” Has Won First Place for Nonfiction in the SLO NightWriters Golden Quill Contest
As State Parks Go, Colt Creek State Park is Great for Longer Hikes
Anyone familiar with my book or my prior blog posts knows that I am borderline-obsessed with the Green Swamp located an hour west of Orlando. But I’m ashamed to admit that, until this weekend, I had not yet visited nearby Colt Creek State Park. I’m glad my wait is over, as Colt Creek is certainly … Continue reading As State Parks Go, Colt Creek State Park is Great for Longer Hikes
