Welcome to a celebration of God’s rugged wilderness known as the Adirondacks. My name is Kevin B. MacKenzie and this site is dedicated to my descriptive narratives of backcountry bushwhacks - slide explorations, winter outings, on-trail photography and various hiking resources.   

Many notable trips make up the whole of my hiking journey/learning curve.  Duration, mileage, routes, terrain, intense weather conditions and the like define some as particularly epic.  My trail-name emerged during one such hike in August of 2004.  Rich McKenna, a long time hiking partner and I took a day-trek over the high peaks of Seymour, Seward, Donaldson & Emmons...during a narrow weather window between the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie and the oncoming remnants of Hurricane Charley.  The day began from a trailhead that was underwater and continued for 16 hours through mostly knee-deep mud.  By the day’s end under cover of darkness, a rich layer of Adirondack mud (composed of soil, water and quite possibly epoxy) adhered to my body.  The trail name, “MudRat”, stuck as well.

Many seasons and hikes have passed since then.  Each reiterates the fact that the journey, whether on a path in the woods or in life, contains the most valuable memories and lessons.  The final goal, whatever it may be, is just a catalyst that compels us to motion.  Enjoy each moment, the companionship, the tranquility and the wilderness with its minutiae and vistas.  May your ambition for the goal allow you to be a student of the journey…

Please feel free to email me by clicking "MudRat" in the header pic.