You could say I live a double life of sorts. My primary career ambitions rest within the dizzying but fascinating landscape of foreign affairs. While international relations keeps me primarily grounded in policy or academia, my heart is the mountains or canyon country–hiking, backpacking, sightseeing. “Live and Let Hike” focuses on that other life, dedicated to providing detailed trip reports, route information, and maps on various hikes from coast to coast. Particular areas of focus include Capitol Reef National Park (where I worked for four months and hiked every trail/route) and southern Utah, the Colorado Rockies, the DC–Maryland–Virginia area, and–now that I live in California–the San Francisco Bay Area.
Have a question or suggestion? Feel free to email me at liveandlethike@gmail.com.
Happy trails!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Wojtanik is a 31-year-old budding foreign affairs scholar and practitioner but also an avid hiker with an affinity for exploration. Growing up in Kansas and attending college at Georgetown University in DC, Andrew took a break from foreign affairs in 2014 to serve for four months as a seasonal volunteer at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. Back in the day, he won the national and world “geography bees” and is the author of two books: Afghanistan to Zimbabwe (2005) and The National Geographic Bee Ultimate Fact Book (2012). He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Live and Let Hike 
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Andrew, I want to thank you for all the time and effort you have put into this guide. Both the pictures and the commentary are totally captivating and the maps/directions are very helpful! As are I`m sure most of the other readers who have stumbled onto this wonderful site, I am preparing for a trip into the areas that you touch on here. There is just no way I will be able to hike even a quarter of your suggestions, but you have certainly helped me to nail down some of the most suitable for my interests in the time I do have, and I have to say that I have enjoyed reading your take even on the destinations that I will have to skip. Muchos thank yous!
Brian D
Reno, NV
Thanks for the kind note, Brian. Really glad my posts have been helpful. Best of luck with your travels!
What a great resource to stumble upon as I start planning a spring trip to Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks. Thanks for all your effort!
It sounds like we switched places! I moved from the DC area to Colorado. Colorado and Utah have been quite the treat to explore. Your blog is awesome, keep up the great work!
Andrew, I am a travel writer http://www.bystevecarr.com
I am doing my second book entitled “Best of the Southwest – Canyonlands” and I would like to use your most excellent trip log for the Fremont River Trail in my book.
I will, of course give you full credit and provide a link to your blog. Are you good with that?
Cheers!
STEVE CARR
steve.carr567@gmail.com
Hi Steve – sure that sounds fine with me!
Hello Steve!
I am currently writing a book about the battle of Eltham’s Landing fought on May 7, 1862. I would like to ask permission if I could use your photo of the battlefield in my forthcoming book? I would be more than happy to acknowledge your contribution and will also credit you as the source of the photo. I would be more than happy to send you a courtesy copy when gets published.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Joe Owen
Hi Joe – sure, feel free to use the photo. Keep me posted on the book!
Oops! I mean Andrew! Sorry about that!
Just discovered your blog. Someone on Nextdoor.com referenced it. Love your pieces on DC area trails. FYI, Google wouldn’t let me see your interactive map from my Android phone.. Said too many redirects.
Thanks for doing this!
Peter
McLean, VA
Love this site! I just planned my Mt Marshall hike and discovered you already mapped it out!! Cannot wait to get back out there to hike it!!