The Wolf Hollow Quest: Paused, Not Abandoned

Posted on August 22, 2026August 22, 2026 by Dusty Roads | No Comments

A group of five gray wolves resting together on a snowy forest clearing, with one wolf standing while the others lie in the snow.

The Wolf Hollow Expedition Is Back on Hold

I’ve been exploring my options to visit Wolf Hollow. Wolf Hollow is a wolf sanctuary located in Ipswich, MA. It was conceived in 1988 and became a state‑ and federally‑licensed 501(c)3 non‑profit organization two years later. Wolf Hollow opened its gates to the public in September of 1990.

Discovering a Sanctuary Close to Home

I first became interested in Wolf Hollow when I was searching for a place to photograph wolves. I’d been to Yellowstone, where tourists sometimes get lucky enough to see wolf packs in the wild. I wasn’t one of the lucky ones. I’ve seen gray wolves in zoos — they always looked so sad — but I still haven’t captured a photo that reveals the true wolf essence.

I heard of a sanctuary in New Jersey, but weather interfered with that trip, and then life got in the way. Closer to home, I learned about Wolf Hollow.

Transportation Troubles and the GoWithGuide Detour

Their website doesn’t provide ticket pricing, so I’ll need to do more research. Since Wolf Hollow is located in Ipswich, transportation is a challenge. I contacted GoWithGuide and was given the name of a Salem‑based guide. I emailed him with what I was looking for, but he chose to pass.

At this point, I think I’ll need to plan a car‑rental day.

Weather, Timing, and the Photography Challenge

As much as I hate the cold, I also think winter might be the best time for photos. With overcast skies, the lighting should be soft, and the wolves’ winter coats should be in full glory.

Checking on Wolf Conservation Status

I was concerned about the status of the sanctuary, since there seems to be a lot of turmoil in the conservation world these days. The Endangered Species Act is being slowly stripped and downgraded by the current administration. But my research showed that despite years of political back‑and‑forth over wolf protections, gray wolves are currently listed as endangered in most of the United States, including all of New England. Sanctuaries like Wolf Hollow continue to play an important role in education and conservation.

A February 10, 2022 federal court ruling reinstated ESA protections for most wolf populations after a previous nationwide delisting attempt. The 2026 USFWS update confirms that this protection remains in place.

Putting the Trip on Pause — Not Canceling It

So once again, my quest for a wolf portrait has to be delayed — but I’m not giving up. I’m just sidelining it for a bit until I can get all my ducks in a row.

WMEO 9 BREAKING NEWS- Back Bay Braces for… Elephants?

Posted on August 5, 2026August 6, 2026 by Dusty Roads | No Comments

Filed by Anchors Banner & Balboa Dateline: Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Boston.. WMEO 9 We Meow-You Listen

🎙️ Banner (Orange, Overcaffeinated, Zero Chill):

LADIES, GENTLEMEN, AND ALL WHO APPRECIATE A GOOD PARADE OF ABSURDITY— We interrupt your regularly scheduled bird‑watching to report that Boston has officially lost its mind.

Moving trucks are clogging Back Bay again, but instead of college kids hauling futons, they’re unloading elephants. Not real ones. But 100 life‑sized elephant sculptures, which is somehow even more chaotic because you can’t bribe them with peanuts to move.

I repeat: ONE HUNDRED ELEPHANTS. FIVE BLOCKS. This is the greatest thing to happen to Boston since someone finally fixed the Green Line.

I attempted to climb one for “journalistic purposes” but was removed by a volunteer who said, and I quote, “Sir, please stop narrating loudly.” I regret nothing.

🎙️ Balboa (Black, Soft‑Spoken, Perpetually Worried):

Thank you, Banner. I would like to reassure viewers that these elephants are friendly, quiet, and unlikely to bite—unlike some anchors I could name.

The installation is part of The Great Elephant Migration, a global fundraising initiative bringing awareness to conservation efforts. The sculptures will line the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, creating a peaceful, tree‑lined corridor of gentle giants.

I personally inspected the scene. The elephants appear sturdy, respectful, and uninterested in stealing anyone’s kitty grass. I approve this event.

However, I must note that the moving trucks were loud, and I hid behind a hydrangea for several minutes. This is normal. This is fine.

🎙️ Banner (interrupting):

BALBOA HID BEHIND A HYDRANGEA. THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

🎙️ Balboa:

Please ignore him. We encourage all residents to visit the installation, take photos, and appreciate the artistry—while also remembering that climbing the elephants is not allowed, even if you are a very handsome orange cat with a press badge.

WMEO 9 SIGN‑OFF

This has been Banner & Balboa reporting live from Back Bay. End of bulletin. Please resume your regularly scheduled scrolling.

A Miracle Comeback Nine Years in the Making

Posted on July 28, 2026July 26, 2026 by Dusty Roads

Rustic log cabin in Rangeley, Maine surrounded by trees and summer greenery, the lakeside vacation rental where I stayed during my 2017 moose‑spotting trip.

A Quiet Cabin, an Empty Town, and a Mountain Waiting for a Miracle

A Moose heading for the trees In 2017 I chose Rangeley for my summer vacation because I wanted to see Maine moose. And I did — moose, deer, and more quiet forest roads than I could count. But I also found a town on a beautiful lake that was struggling.

Saddleback, their ski mountain, was closed. Talk of a sale floated around like fog over the lake, but I can’t say the atmosphere was hopeful. Most people didn’t expect anything to come of it. Rangeley has plenty to offer if you love the outdoors — hiking, camping, nature photography — but in town the restaurants were either closed or empty. My cabin was beautiful, but I didn’t see many other vacationers around. It felt like a place waiting for something that might never come- a town holding its breath for a miracle.

So I’ve always wondered: What happened to Rangeley in the nine years since that visit?

Well, COVID didn’t stop the little town that could. In 2020, the sale of Saddleback finally went through — and everything changed.

The mountain woke up again

After years of false starts, Saddleback was purchased by Arctaris Impact Investors, a Boston‑based firm focused on revitalizing rural communities. And they didn’t just buy the mountain. They revived it.

More than $42 million has been invested since 2020. New lifts, new snowmaking, lodge improvements, a new T‑bar, a high‑elevation restaurant, and even a 7.5‑megawatt solar farm that produces twice the electricity the mountain uses.

It’s the kind of transformation you expect from a mega‑resort, not a once‑shuttered independent ski hill in western Maine.

Rangeley’s winter heartbeat returned

The reopening didn’t just bring skiers back — it brought life back.

Saddleback created 240+ jobs, built workforce housing, and restored the winter economy that had been fading when I visited. Restaurants filled up again. Lodges booked out. Seasonal workers could count on steady income. The town’s identity — which felt fragile in 2017 — snapped back into place.

It’s hard to overstate how much a single ski mountain can mean to a rural town. In Rangeley’s case, it meant everything.

From shuttered to #1 in the East

This is the part that still amazes me.

In 2025, SKI Magazine’s readers ranked Saddleback #1 ski resort in the East.

Number one. In the entire East. After being closed for five years.

If you wrote that in fiction, people would say it was unrealistic.

A different kind of ski mountain

What makes Saddleback’s comeback special isn’t just the money or the lifts — it’s the philosophy behind it.

They’re leaning into:

Independence — no mega‑pass, no corporate sameness
Sustainability — that solar farm is a game‑changer
Community — housing, childcare support, year‑round jobs
Authenticity — the “real ski mountain” vibe people crave

In a world where so many ski areas feel interchangeable, Saddleback is intentionally not trying to be anything but itself.

Weather still rules the game

Of course, skiing is still skiing. Warm spells still happen. Rain still happens. Gas prices still matter. Travel budgets still matter.

But Saddleback is far more resilient now than it was in 2017. Better snowmaking, better infrastructure, and a broader year‑round recreation economy give Rangeley a buffer it didn’t have before.

Looking back at that 2017 trip

When I think about that quiet summer week — empty restaurants, shuttered lifts, locals who didn’t dare hope — it makes Saddleback’s comeback feel even more remarkable. Rangeley didn’t just survive. It reinvented itself.

A comeback nine years in the making — and absolutely worth celebrating. I can honestly say that I love a happy ending! Rangely, Maine got it’s miracle.

The Red Onion

America the Beautiful- Unique and Wonderful

Posted on July 20, 2026July 19, 2026 by Dusty Roads

America’s One‑of‑a‑Kind Wonders

Every country has its own personality — its language, its customs, its landscapes, its quirks. The United States is no different. We just forget that sometimes because we live here. We stop noticing and we stop looking. So I thought it might be fun to highlight a few things that make the USA truly unique — places and experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Let’s see how many you’ve done.

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Did you know the world’s longest cave system is right here in the USA? Mammoth Cave National Park stretches for more than 400 miles beneath Kentucky’s bluegrass hills. It’s not just big — it’s ancient. You can wander through massive underground chambers, squeeze through narrow passages, and walk routes first explored centuries ago. It feels like stepping into another world.

Route 66

The Mother Road turns 100 years old this year. Maybe this is the perfect time to drive the whole thing from Chicago to Santa Monica. Route 66 is pure Americana — neon signs, retro diners, roadside oddities, and nostalgia for a simpler time. Expect celebrations and events all along the way for its centennial.

Old Faithful, Yellowstone

If nature is more your style, Yellowstone is unmatched. The park has over 10,000 hydrothermal features — hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, terraces, and of course Old Faithful. It’s the most predictable geyser on earth, erupting roughly every 90 minutes and shooting boiling water up to 184 feet into the air. It’s a natural wonder worth seeing at least once.

Four Corners Monument

This is the only place in America where you can stand in four states at once — Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. There’s not much to do except take the classic selfie, but it’s still fun to say you’ve been in all four at the same time.

Below Sea Level… Without Getting Wet

New Orleans offers more than Mardi Gras. Parts of the city sit below sea level, protected by levees and pumps — a precarious setup made painfully clear during Hurricane Katrina. Only a few places in the world build this boldly against the water. The Netherlands comes to mind — think of the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike.

Bayou Bridge , City Park, New Orleans

Space Launches in Florida

Head to sunny Florida and watch rockets roar into space. Feel the ground shake, hear the thunder, and witness the sheer power of a launch. It’s one of those experiences that reminds you what humans are capable of.

The Redwood Forests of California

These giants are the tallest trees on earth — some reaching 350 feet. Many are between 500 and 2,000 years old. Imagine that. Two thousand years. They were already ancient when the first European explorers arrived.

Yes, It’s Corny

In Mitchell, South Dakota, you’ll find the Corn Palace — redesigned every year with new murals made entirely of corn. It’s quirky, it’s colorful, and yes… it’s corny. But it’s also wonderfully American.

Visit with Bison

While you’re at Yellowstone, take a moment to appreciate the wildlife — especially the bison. They roam freely and can do serious damage if you get too close, so admire from a safe distance. You can also see them in Custer State Park in South Dakota.

Getting ready to pass by

There are so many uniquely American things to do in this great country — watch a rodeo, tour an aircraft carrier, feed a wild burro a carrot, ride an airboat, marvel at Mount Rushmore, stand in the mist at Niagara Falls, or gaze into the Grand Canyon. There’s nothing quite like the Grand Canyon.

It’s our 250th anniversary. A perfect time to celebrate the sights, scenes, and culture that make America special.

Where have you been? What makes America special for you?

The Day Roswell Landed on the Map

Posted on July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by Dusty Roads

Seventy‑nine years ago today, on July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field casually announced they’d recovered a “flying disc.” Just tossed it into the news like someone found a lost hubcap in the desert.

By the next day, the Army said, “No no, wait — it was a weather balloon.” And that was the moment America collectively raised an eyebrow and said, “Sure it was.”

That tiny headline didn’t just make the local paper — it put Roswell, New Mexico on the map. Before the “crash,” it was a quiet desert town. After the “crash,” it became the Alien Capital of the World, complete with:

UFO museums
alien‑themed diners
green‑skinned mascots
and an annual festival that looks like Comic‑Con met Area 51

All because someone typed “flying disc” before their morning coffee.

The whole modern UFO craze — the sightings, the documentaries, the late‑night radio callers, the government cover‑up theories — traces back to that one moment in 1947.

And decades later, The X‑Files summed up the entire Roswell vibe with its iconic slogan:

“I want to believe.”

Roswell still does. Do you?

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