Explore a new town, new country, or new point of view.
The Wild Wyoming Winds: Photographer’s Point Hike
“Wow” doesn’t really do this hike’s view justice, but at the same time it’s definitely the first and last word that comes to my mind. You know that viral clip of the guy who saw a double rainbow while out hiking. That is the kind of enthusiasm that is behind this “wow.” And the 9.2-mile…
Half-Day Hike at Devil’s Tower
The middle of nowhere perfectly describes the location of Devil’s Tower in Wyoming – and there is nothing wrong with nowhere. Rising from the earth suddenly, Devil’s Tower becomes visible from miles away as you drive into the Park. There isn’t much else on the horizon – a few ranches or farms, a handful of…
Exploring Colorado’s Mountain Passes: 4 Epic Mile-High Hikes
Over the Labor Day weekend, my husband I traveled to Colorado to compete in the Grand Traverse. A point-to-point ultramarathon, the race runs up and over two mountain passes connecting Crested Butte to Aspen. While the race didn’t go in my favor, the week long trip was not a complete bust – exploring four different…
Weekend Warrior Trip: 2-Day Metolius River Camping
If you have trouble sleeping these days like me, power through your work week and book a camp ground along the wild Metolius River. Better than any white-noise machine, the roaring rapids of these crystal-clear waters will sooth you to sleep like a sweet lullaby. Recently, I have been super stressed and my anxiety high,…
Kayaking into the Silent Wilderness of Patagonia
It’s hard to imagine – and even harder to describe – a place like Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. I’ve started and stopped this blog post about fifteen times in two days, trying to find the right words. It is true undeveloped, wildly remote, vast wilderness. Covering an area of over 8.7 million acres (that’s bigger…
Riding “The Wave” at Valley of Fire State Park
The desert can be a deadly and desolate place. However, in the heat and extreme landscape comes surprising beauty. In Nevada’s first state park, the Valley of Fire, rugged formations of bright red Aztec sandstone jut out of the earth; some with rough edges from thousands of years of erosion from the power of the…
Dark Skies, Bright Stars: Utah’s National Park’s After Dark
As the campers quiet down and crawl into their sleeping bags, as sizzling fires are snuffed out, and as the crickets start their nightly song, the night’s sky awakens and rolls out a beautiful show of stars. In Utah’s National Parks, the nights are even darker and the show more stunning. From Bryce Canyon to Capital…
On Safari for Tanzania’s Big 5
So after climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, I joined my fellow hikers on a five-day safari around Tanzania. We’d traveled so far and worked so hard, that we deserved a little relaxing post-mountain fun. We visited three of the country’s national parks in the northern circuit: Tarangire, Ngorongnoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. Traveling by safari truck, we…
Strong, slow, and steady: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
As the sun warmed our backs, its orange-red glow illuminated our path. Gravel, scree, and boulders were all we could see. From the soles of our dust-covered hiking boots to the white-wispy clouds in the sky, it never ended. We never gave up. The highest point on the African continent, Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of…
Make it a historic summer weekend in Astoria, Oregon
“Let’s escape the heat and head to the coast this weekend,” says everyone this summer as we enter another week of 90+ degree weather. And while I agree that the cool sea breezes feel wonderful, I don’t like to share the beach with the crowds and arcades. So a few weeks ago, I had the…
Mountain Biking the Wilson River Trail
Flying around a corner, the lush coastal forest trees a blur in my peripheral vision, I locked onto the trail dipping below the horizon. I gripped the handle-bars; white-knuckles. I kicked the pedals into gear. I found my balance. I grinned wide, even with the threat of trapping bugs. And then I sailed away, down…
Bayocean Peninsula Beach Camping
2021 Update: According to local authorities, camping is no longer allowed at Bay Ocean Peninsula. Hope some of you got out an enjoyed it while it was open! There aren’t many places on the Oregon Coast that you can backpack, but leave it to my boyfriend to find one. Located just an hour and a…
Lake Agnes Hike
What do you get when you combine freezing temps, blue skies, silky white snow, and alpine lakes in the Canadian Rockies? A fantastic and rejuvenating day of hiking. Starting out at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, we grabbed a cup of hot coffee to watch the sun rise over the frozen lake and illuminate the surrounding…
Hiking My First 14er: Mt. Evans via Sawtooth Ridge
Following a bubbling spring, we scrambled and bouldered down loose rocks and past big horned sheep on cliff faces to the valley floor. From the base, I looked up from where we came and out to where we had yet to go. It looked daunting. My legs were tired from hiking all weekend and running…
Painted Hills of Oregon
One of the Seven Wonders of Oregon, the Painted Hills in eastern Oregon near the John Day Fossil beds are ablaze with fall colors year round. While its quiet a drive to this scenic wayside from Portland, I can’t recommend it enough. Put on your Indian Jones hat and make a wild west day of it!
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Evergreen Hiker 