David Kotz

Maroon Bells and Crater Lake

Third visit in three years!

I never expected to be able to visit the beautiful Maroon Bells Wilderness Area, outside Aspen Colorado, for a third summer in a row. On my first visit in 2024, I enjoyed a spectacular hike to Maroon Lake and Crater Lake, enjoying the photographic opportunities as well as sightings of moose and coyote. On my prior visit in 2025, I was able to visit Maroon Lake and the scenic loops near there, but ran out of time to make the hike up to Crater Lake. Those visits were possible when I attended a conference in Aspen. This weekend, I’m back in Aspen for a wedding – and enjoyed the opportunity to share this beautiful hike with my two sons, neice, and nephew.

Maroon Bells from Crater Lake, outside Aspen CO.

Hiking NH again

Home in New Hampshire!

After a brief return to Lisbon [photos] for a conference, I’ve arrived home again to New Hampshire. At my first opportunity, I joined a friend for a hike along the Appalachian Trail here in my hometown of Lyme NH. It is an easy hike up the north slope of Moose Mountain, to a barely discernible ~2300′ summit covered in trees. This trail is pleasant for its gentle climb through hardwood forests to a ledgy summit ridge. Although it has no real views or distinctive features, it holds a special place in my heart because I built this trail. Literally.

The Appalachian Trail over Moose Mountain.

every thing hath ende

End to an interesting ten months.

As the Old English saying goes, all good things must come to an end: But at the laste, as every thing hath ende (English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, in a poem from the 130os). Today concluded our year living in London.

Dave and Pam, up high on the London Eye.

Snowdonia

Four days in the mountains of northern Wales.

I chose to spend my final week in the U.K. hiking with Dartmouth friends in Snowdonia, the mountainous region in northern Wales. Much of the region is protected land, as part of Eryri National Park. Although the mountains maintained their characteristically cloudy summits throughout most of our four-day visit, we were spared any rain and enjoyed one gorgeous sunny afternoon on Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest peak in Wales.

Passing a reservoir on our hike to Pen Llithrig y Wrach.

Postboxes and Royal Cyphers

Wherein I complete a royal quest.

While walking through a rural area outside London, early in my year-long stay in England, I came across a bright-red postbox embedded in a very old stone wall in the tiny village of Shalford, outside Guildford. Although self-standing pillar-shaped postboxes are ubiquitous, this one sparked my curiosity. Why is this postbox – owned and maintained by the Royal Mail as a public service – embedded in a stone wall? and what does the insignia, embossed on the surface, mean? I later did some research online and found myself embarking on a months-long quest for more postboxes. Read on!

King George VI (1936-1952) postbox embedded in a stone wall between Guildford and Shalford.

Capital Ring – section 3

My final hike in England.

Final for my final hike in England (this year), I selected a section of the Capital Ring trail that runs from Grove Park to Crystal City, southeast of the London city center. Although it much of it follows suburban streets and nearly all of it is on paved tracks, it passes through several pretty parks. This morning was beautiful – sunny, breezy, and (finally!) cool after a week of brutal record-breaking heat across the UK and Europe.

Downham Woodland Walk, outside Grove Park.

Punting on the River Cam

The best way to see Cambridge.

While at the University of Cambridge for a week-long conference, I decided it was time to punt. Yes, it was worth skiving a few hours from the conference so we could experience punting along the River Cam. In both Cambridge and Oxford I’d watched from shore while students, locals, and tourists all enjoyed this classic pastime – most of them on a punt with a skilled guide, and some trying their hand at punting with friends. It looked like fun!

Punting along the River Cam in Cambridge, England.

Changing of the Guard

A daily ritual at Buckingham Palace.

One of the benefits of living where we live, in London, is that we often walk by Buckingham Palace. It is only 15-20 minutes from our flat, so I sometimes walk by just to see what’s happening. Of course, the ceremonial guards are there, standing rigidly in front of their guard houses. And the crowds are there, peering through the gates. In the winter, when the guards wear their heavy grey uniforms, the crowds were sparse.

Buckingham Palace “Captain’s inspection”. A leader (red sash) instructs F Company Scots Guards while waiting for the captain to arrive.

Cambridge-Grantchester

Along the River Cam from Cambridge to Grantchester and back.

When I visited Cambridge, last month, I was in town for just the afternoon and had very little time to see the city or explore the university. I’m back, this time for five nights, to attend a computer-science conference (MobiSys). I chose to arrive early and go for a hike: from Cambridge to Grantchester, and return, along the River Cam. (Get it? Cam-bridge?) Along the way, I encountered four swans a-swimming and dozens of punters a-punting, dined al fresco in an orchard famed for its literary heritage; and explored a church nearly 900 years old.

Punting on the River Cam – Cambridge, England.

Hampstead Heath and Kenwood House

A midweek ramble through forest and art.

The weather is summery and I had some free time today, so I decided to take a walk in Hampstead Heath – a large, forested park in northwestern London – and stop for lunch in Kenwood House, a historic mansion that now serves as a public art museum. It was reputed to have a lovely café, so I stashed my laptop in my backpack and took the #24 bus to its endpoint near Hampstead Heath.