Photo Tour: Retracing our Steps to Everest

After days of upward climbing, summitting Kala Pattar and reaching Everest Base Camp, my team and I finally turned around and began the three day journey back down the mountain. With 35+ miles to cover, we hiked eight hours a day to make it back to Lukla and our final goodbyes to the Himalayas.

A Fiery Fall on the Eagle Creek Trail

As cool weather settles into Oregon and fog hangs on the banks for the Columbia River Gorge, the Eagle Creek Trail illuminates in the fiery tones of fall. Following its colorful path – especially against the evergreen backdrop and contrasting grey sky – I savored and soaked in the mists of the new hiking season.

Saddle Mountain Hike

Located just a few miles off of highway 26 near Seaside, Oregon this spectacular hike takes you high into the coastal range – 3,283 feet to be exact for views of the ocean, mountains, Columbia River and surrounding forests. A 5.5 mile round trip hike, the walk up Saddle Mountain is steep at times with

Summiting the South Sister

Climbing the last stretch, a mile straight up through red-brown silt and gravel, I kept my eyes on the peak ahead. The blue sky over the rounded bulge summit at 10,358 feet beckoning me like a turquoise pendant. Reaching the top of this mountain however, awarded me with a hiking high better than any jewels could

Gluten-Free Hiking

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were the staple food of my childhood. Anyone else? From the playground to hiking trails, the sticky-sandwiches were Ziplocked and stashed in my pack on an almost daily basis. So you can feel my despair, when all of a sudden…no more PB&J. It’s the Gluten-Free (well, almost GF) life for

Cooling off Along the Waters of the Columbia River Gorge

Headin east from Portland along highway 84, we raced the rising summer sun. Warming from the tip-top cliffs of the river valley down to the curving road that hugs the waters’ shore, the sun kissed the Columbia River Gorge as we set off on a day-long adventure. Following the Historic Columbia River Highway (highway 30),

A Not-So-Flat Hike to Flat Top

With sprawling views of the municipality of Anchorage, its muddy shores and the eastward mountains, the hike up Flat Top is well worth the crowded climb. One of the most popular hikes in Alaska because of its close proximity to Anchorage, this 3-mile hike climbs 1250 feet to a flat lookout that gives the perch

Bridge over the Stream

“If you know wilderness in the way that you know love, you would be unwilling to let it go….” — Terry Tempest Williams, Testimony

8 Must Do Day Hikes in Oregon

Spring is here, which means its time to start planning your warm weather hikes, day trips and summer vacations. So dust off your hiking shoes and head out to explore more of Oregon with these eight must-hit trails! Silver Falls Park Wander through a temperate rain forest, lush with wildlife and trickling water at this

Wild Weather Hike on the Ridgeline Trail

Last weekend even though the weather couldn’t make up its mind, my roommate Sarah and I headed out to the Ridgeline Trail System just 10 minutes south of downtown for a quick urban hike. Taking the trail for a 4-mile out & back, we started at the Spring Blvd Trail head and hiked to the