Tag: Hike

• Thunderbird Park

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 22, 2018

  A trip to Arizona for me is not complete without a visit to Thunderbird Park. Mostly this is because my family lives near one of the trail entrances, so I walk half a mile and my hike begins. Not quite like the 1-2 hour drives I take to get to a trail in Washington.

  Not that I’m complaining, nothing compares to the hikes in Washington…yet.

  In my previous visits to Thunderbird Park, I stuck to a basic walk following the Coach Whip trail, taking me along three different mountains, but never to the summits. The park is split into three mountains, each with their own summit. One at Arrowhead Point, one on the Cholla Loop, and one on Sunrise Mountain.

  The other trails in the image below lead into one of these summits.

  

  I decided to jump on board with the #52hikechallenge this year, where I hike at least 52 times throughout 2018. To make it easy, I started on Jan 2. Ideally I will hike once a week, but there will certainly be weeks I hike more than this (like when I’m hiking 8 days straight in Scotland, or when I’m hiking this summer at an exciting location – for another blog post), as well as weeks I don’t hike at all.

  I plan to listen to my body this year more than every before, like yesterday when I chose to go to a spin class instead of hike. 

  Overall I have no strict rules for this goal, just to make an effort to hike as often as possible. I completed four hikes while in Arizona, three of them at Thunderbird Park in order to hit all three summits. I find it easy to start a commitment like this when I’m in Arizona because the sunshine is motivational.

  Plus I have a shitton of extra time, and Thunderbird is so close. 

  

  Far left is Sunrise Mountain, middle is Cholla Loop, and far right is Arrowhead Point. All connected by the Coach Whip trail.

  

  Another angle view of the same three in the same order.

  You would never know from the above panoramic photos, but each summit is market by an American flag. This made it more fun for me, because I can’t say the view from the tops are anything to loose your pants over. Instead I used the flag as my victory reward. I did all of these hikes solo, and this park is well populated so I always felt safe.

  Each hike gave me a bit over 5 miles by starting where I did on the Coach Whip, but you could easily do more than one mountain at a time. 

  First up for me was Cholla Loop – a 3.6 mile loop with an elevation of 1350′. The overall gain is a mere 561′ making this trail suitable for most everyone. I started at the same location each time, giving me a few extra miles. This was when I realized there were multiple summits, and this was when I decided to hit all three before I left.

  

  Next hike was somewhat unplanned. I set out with the intention of just walking the Coach Whip (which I did a few other times that I’m not counting) but ended up turning the wrong way. I was heading towards the summit of Sunrise Mountain, and ironically as I hit the summit the sun was starting to set.

  Sunset on Sunrise.

  I wasn’t planning a full hike, but one thing led to another. I still got 5 miles in on this hike, but had to call for backup because it was getting dark. Instead of walking back another mile and a half or so on the Coach Whip, I got picked up at the Sunrise Mountain trail head. Shout out to my dad and stepmom for coming to save me from coyotes and creeps. This trail is a 4.3 mile loop (I loved the loops!) with a gain of 626′.

  

  Lastly I ventured to Arrowhead Point Trail, which was the shortest of them all with a smaller elevation gain, but the shorter the mileage/gain ratio the more it burns. It’s short, but it gets the lungs burning. This loop is 2.4 miles with a gain of 439′. I was fortunate enough to have the summits mostly to myself.

  I sat at this summit for a good 10 minutes appreciating my life.

  

  I’ve officially conquered all of Thunderbird Park, and feel I’m a partial subject matter expert now. I’m excited to continue hiking in various places around the US, and in Scotland. And of course anywhere else I decide to travel to, because the world is my playground.

  Q: Did you set any goals for the new year? I think goals should be sent all year long, not just at the beginning.

  

  | 41 Comments Tagged Arizona, Hike, Mountain, Solo Hike, Thunderbird Park

• Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 18, 2017

  If you’ve ever traveled with me, you’ll know I’m all about cheap hotels. Anything to save a buck that I can better spend on food or adventure. The way I see it, a hotel is a place to sleep after a day of exploration, and unless I’m planning to spend all my time inside (which I never do) I don’t want to spend much more than $70 a night.

  I actually want a camper van to eliminate hotels entirely for more local trips.

  

  The deal with this cruise however, was that I didn’t have a say in where we went after the sea portion of the trip was complete (we were on the cruise ship for seven days, and on land the remaining four. 11 days total for this Alaskan trip.)

  This was the first time I was glad I did not choose the place we stayed upon arrival in Denali, because hot damn the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge rocked my socks. 

  But how did we get there? We departed our cruise ship before the sun rose and drove 8 hours from Seward to Denali, where we would spend the next two days of our trip. Our vacation package included the Denali land tour, where we were able to spend a full day driving through Denali National Park.

  More on that later.

  

  Last night on the ship.

  

  This lodge/hotel/cabin/place I slept and ate and enjoyed a musical made me feel like I was 12 again going to camp. The lodges were scattered at the foot hills of GORGEOUS mountains, and felt like a mini college campus. There were lodges for sleep, lodges for eating, lodges for entertainment, and lodges for shopping.

  My favorite part were the giant trees that enclosed each area, tall enough to make following the path almost like a maze. 

  

  

  If that wasn’t enough, there were plenty of options to go for long walks and soak in the fall colors. Did I mention September was the best time to visit and see these colors? My dad and I were able to spend one morning walking around town and submerging ourselves into the woods.

  The walk to the trail area did not disappoint, the views were once again unreal.

  

  

  

  Our first night staying in the lodge we walked down the road to an area that had a dinner show. The show was informational, sharing the story of the first men to summit Mt. Denali (previously known as Mt. Mckinley.) The show was cute, and the area surrounding the theater was cozy.

  Mt. Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310′. Woof.

  

  

  

  Dining/entertainment area.

  This lodge would be the perfect location to relax and unwind. Plenty of areas to walk and explore, and tranquil enough to spend your time on site. This is the type of location I would spend more than $70 for. It was included in our trip, but if it weren’t I’d gladly shell out the pennies to stay.

  I continued to be amazed by how well planned this trip was. All the connections between land and sea were effortless for us. Literally brain off.

  

  

  The lodge is connected to Princess Cruise ships, which are connected to Holland America, but you don’t have to take a cruise to stay here. They also own nearby railroad systems, but again you don’t have to take a cruise to ride them.

  What a business these cruise companies have created, all owned by Carnival. 

  

  

  

  I would love to come back here one summer and spend a season working. One thing that resonated most with me about Alaska, and a lot of the people I met, is that many people arrive for a few months out of the year to work the summer season.

  This speaks to my nomadic soul so, so loudly. 

  

  I’d happily slang some coffee as a barista in the dining lodge with these views. I can still see the yellow trees. Sometimes I get caught up in the societal schema that dictates what the meaning of success is. I quit my corporate job because I wanted more flexibility to travel, and my idea of success is the experiences I have under my belt – not the size of my paycheck.

  This means I’d be happy to work a seasonal job fit for someone ten years my junior, because the experiences it would provide outweigh the professional world I left. The only schema we should fall prey to are the ones we set for ourselves. I’ll be back here someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.

  Q: Would you rather come in the summer and have sunshine and blue skies, or in the fall with overcast and fall colors? Fall for me, no competition.

  

  | 35 Comments Tagged Alaska, Cruise, Explore, Hike, Holland America

• Lake Angeles

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on August 29, 2017

  I used to be extremely active. One season of my life I was training for my third half marathon while completing the Insanity DVD’s, and this was completely normal for me. I was never not doing something intense. Then I lost my period, and it would take another few years for me to realize perhaps it’s time to take things down a notch.

  

  Don’t get me wrong, I love the euphoria that comes from an extreme cardio session, but my body has been trying to tell me to take it down a few notches and I’ve chosen not to listen. It amazes me how loud and clear our bodies will communicate to us if we listen, the problem is that we’re usually so focused on other things we don’t hear the warning signs.

  The go go go mentality comes into play for me whenever I go for a hike as well, the mountain has to be bigger and badder than the one before or I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much. The mountains aren’t close to me, so I’ve always had a certain rule when choosing trails.

  

  I LOL’d at this sign, if you look closely next to the 3.7 someone wrote “More like 5.”

  My rule is that when it comes to a hike, I need the time spent on the trail to be longer than the time it took to drive there. On average, it takes me about two hours to get to a good hike meaning the actual hike will ideally take 3 hours or more. This means the trail needs to be at least 7 miles RT or more. 

  I realize how ridiculous this all sounds. I can’t say all my marbles are straight, but I’m actively working on pushing them closer together in a somewhat uniformed line. I don’t hike as much these days in an attempt to re-balance my body (still no consistent periods, but I feel we’re getting closer) and I really don’t enjoy running so that had to go too, but if I find a friend to tag along on a hike I’ll go.

  

  Before setting off to conquer Lake Angeles, I found myself slipping into old habits. Originally when my friend asked if I wanted to go for a hike, I got onto the Washington Trails website to find a big and bad hike to conquer. I must also mention I’m not at all in the shape I was when I was running half marathons and doing Insanity, meaning big bad hikes are more painful than enjoyable these days.

  

  I originally chose a different trail to explore. Higher elevation, and longer distance. Because, why not. I woke up at 3am the morning of the hike with a lump in my stomach telling me this was not the trail I wanted. I was dreading the adventure, and that’s no fun. I remembered that I’m trying to respect my body and not destroy it, and made the change to Lake Angeles last minute.

  At 7.4 miles RT with an elevation gain of 2350′ this was more than enough. It kicked my out of shape butt in all the right ways. This also happened to be the week that Washington was hit with a shitton of smoke that was pushed our way from the BC wildfires, as you can see in all of these photos, so taking it easy was ideal.

  The smoke gave me terrible headaches. I can’t imagine what it was like in Canada. 

  

  The point of this post is to remind me, and to encourage you to listen to our bodies. When things are out of balance it’s for a reason and the only way to know is to slow down and listen. It’s a challenge for those of us with obsessions or addictions to certain lifestyles, but without challenges we will never grow.

  We are constantly bombarded with people telling us that we are lazy if we don’t want to workout, or unhealthy if we want to eat the cake, but at the end of the day only you know what’s best for your body and soul. For too long I told myself I was lazy if I didn’t go for a run, or climb a bigger mountain, but you can only force something for so long before the joy is zapped from it.

  

  Hiking is meant to bring peace and calming (with some blood flow) and satisfy my urge for exploration. It shouldn’t be just a way to sweat. I’m reminding myself to stop and smell the roses, not just view them from the top. Hiking is so much more enjoyable when you savor the journey, and it just so happens this is a metaphor for life too.

  Rest if your body tells you to rest, move if your body tells you to move, eat the cake if your soul tells you to eat the cake, or avoid the cake if your body tells you the sugar is not working for you. Listen to your body, it’s smarter than any media article or science guru combined. The key is learning what to listen for.

  

  Life is not about perfection, all we can do is strive to improve who we are today from who we were yesterday. Just be sure to give yourself grace along the way. 

  Q: What activities are you not enjoying lately that you used to love? For me it’s running. So now I bike!

  

  | 62 Comments Tagged Hike, Lake Angeles, Life, Mountain, PNW

• Lena Lake – Getting My Feet Wet

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on April 19, 2017

  Lately my hiking adventures have taken me places I’ve already been before. There’s nothing wrong with this, but I have missed the excitement that comes with seeing a new trail for the first time. When I go on solo hikes I prefer going to trails I am familiar with, but sometimes a hike with a friend is what the soul needs.

  

  My favorite way to catch up with friends is by submerging ourselves in the woods. Jessica and I headed to the Olympic Mountains a couple weeks ago and hiked our way to Lena Lake. This trail is popular, due it its gentle elevation gain (only 1300′) and beautiful lake, but I was jazzed to find it wasn’t overly packed.

  

  The hike is 7.2 miles RT, and thanks to the ease of the climb it only took us about three hours. I enjoyed the hike so much I went back the following weekend for a solo hike. What I love most about the Olympic Mountains is that even when you find yourself at a popular trail, you are fully submerged in the woods and can go miles without seeing anyone else.

  

  These are a common find in the Olympics. Not sure what the story is. 

  

  I was amazed to find how much the trail changed in one week. When Jessica and I went there was water covering nearly 80% of the trail. I was fortunate for my waterproof shoes, although they gave me a gnarly blister. Nothing a bunch of ferns can’t help.

  

  When I went back for my solo adventure the water was nearly gone, and the areas of rushing rapids had completely dried up. This makes me so excited for summer hikes. The perfect trail for getting back in hiking shape, this trail allowed me to get my feet wet literally and metaphorically.

  

  

  This is from the first hike, on the second hike all that water was GONE. Like magic.

  The first half of the trail brought us on a winding series of switch backs. The colors of green were so intensely vibrant and lush, thanks to our long and wet winter here in Washington. I was in awe of the freshness they provided the air, my lungs couldn’t get enough.

  

  Once we passed this bridge (which I was obsessed with) the switchbacks became less prominent as we climbed closer and closer to the lake. A handful of people were at the lake each time I went, and when I’m on a solo hike the sight of other humans is appreciated.

  The first trip to the lake we found snow atop the far off trees. 

  

  

  

  The following week the snow was nearly gone. Seven days later, seven days closer to summer, seven days worth of higher temperatures. Above photos are the first week, below shot is the following week.

  

  Oh look, no snow! 

  Jessica and I spent a solid chunk of time at the lake while we waited for her Jet Boil to heat some water. While we waited, we made friends with the locals. I’ve only ever had a Grey Jay close to my hands once, and there was an apple core between us.

  

  This time, I tried to let them land on my palm, but I panicked and they flew off. The result was an extremely flattering photo of me. We can’t all be modern day Snow White’s.

  Maybe next time. 

  

  I felt the talons wrap around my fingers, and I impulsively screamed. I had no control over the sounds. Or this face.

  

  This hike was great, definitely one to add to the list for all types of hikers. Perfect balance of nature and sweat. I’ll be back for both solo and accompanied hikes. For real adventure seekers, the trail continues onto Upper Lena Lake, a 14 mile RT (3900′ gain) trail, as well as to The Brothers, a 13.2 RT (6050′ gain – woof) trail.

  Next time I go I’d like to camp at Upper Lena. Stay tuned for that adventure. 

  

  

  Q: Would you let a Gray Jay land on your hand? 

  

  | 56 Comments Tagged Explore, Gray Jay, Hike, Lena Lake, Olympic Mountains

• Poo Poo Point – A Place to Purge your Thoughts

  Posted at 6:45 AM by Brittany, on March 3, 2017

  Last week I found myself on another solo hike. Over the last couple years my confidence in hiking alone has gone down, something my parents will surely appreciate. I’ve noticed that while I still very much enjoy going alone (as in without any personal friends), I enjoy having other people around.

  It makes me feel safer, it makes me feel less isolated, and it makes me feel connected.

  

  What I love most about hiking alone is that I don’t have to engage in conversations. In my day to day life I talk to people a lot, and this can be quite draining. I relish in the moments of silence. I’ve always been the one that friends come to when they need to vent, and I enjoy being that support for people, but sometimes it can be too much.

  

  I’m burned out on being the ear for people to blab at, and aside from my mom and hired professionals I don’t really know how to be the one venting to others. I have empathy for most situations I get myself into, but my meter of open mental space has been pushed past the full line.

  

  I’ve started to put in the work it takes to expand my circle of people. I want people in my life that ask me how I am doing, how I am feeling, and genuinely want to understand what I am experiencing. Relationships are so important to our existence, but only if they are of good quality. Think about the last time you had a conversation with a good friend that left you feeling warm inside.

  Those are what we need in life.

  

  I have no problem ditching people that suck more than they give, and I’ve gotten quite good at it over the years. My tolerance for this negativity is nearly nonexistent. There are a handful of people that have slipped through the cracks though, and it’s taken a myriad of health problems for me to realize who needs to stay and who needs to go.

  I simply do not have the extra energy it takes for these kinds of people.

  

  He can stay. I don’t know him, but if he can carry that parachute up a mountain he’s good people.

  

  When I opened my computer to write this hike recap I did not intend for it to go this way. I don’t often think about what I am going to write, I just go with whatever my fingers start typing. I think the bottom line for what I’m trying to say is that it’s easy to get sucked into black hole friendships. It’s not always clear, but I challenge you to become more aligned with your gut feelings.

  As for me, I won’t be feeling bad when I decline hiking with a friend and want to go alone. Not that I ever really do…

  

  I’ve hiked this trail a handful of times – it’s close (in relation to other places I go, but this one is still an hour and a half drive away) it’s short (4 miles RT and takes me about 2 hrs), and it’s a butt burner (just under 2k eleveation for just under 2 miles up.) Despite having been here multiple times I hadn’t seen the paragliders take off, until this trip.

  

  

  I don’t know if this is something I could do, but it was sure fun watching other people. The weather was great, bouncing between sun and clouds, with the perfect amount of wind for these brave souls. Some guys were going up multiple times carrying their packs on their back. Talk about motivation to get into shape.

  Although it would be terrifying to take that jump off the edge, I can only imagine the solitary feelings that comes with floating alone in the sky. 

  

  Being alone in the woods gives me time to process my thoughts, and hot damn there can be a lot at times. I’ve recently discovered I have ADD, which makes a whole heap of sense for some of my tendencies and traits. I’m always working hard to quiet my mind, and solo hiking is one of my outlets for this. And meditation – a constant work in progress.

  In sum, it’s not necessarily personal if you want to be alone. Don’t feel bad about turning down invites, telling someone you’d rather be alone, or anything of this nature. When a roaring fire starts to die we casually add more fuel. This allows a steady balanced burn with minimal work. If the fire is complete burned out it takes a lot more energy to get it started again. People are the same. Don’t burn yourself out.

  Also, yes – the trail is seriously called Poo Poo Point. Imagine the irony if this were the trail I was on when this happened.

  Q: Would you paraglide?

  

  | 59 Comments Tagged Hike, Poo Poo Point, Solo Hike

• The Grand Forest – Making Friends with Ferns

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 2, 2017

  I arrived at the forest around 10 am. I would later discover this time was comparable to the third bowl of porridge that Goldilocks tasted-not too hot, and not too cold. This arrival time was not too early, and not too late.

  

  Arriving at 10am meant there were other cars in the lot, but still a few spaces left. The parking is minimal here, and although I wouldn’t mind parking on the street, I do enjoy securing a space within the confines of an area where fast moving cars cannot nick the side of my vehicle. Other cars in the lot meant there were other people exploring the woods, which is a comforting sign for a solo adventurer.

  Cars in the lot, but a space left for me. Not too hot, not too cold. 

  

  I’d not yet explored this forest, but upon my arrival I was immediately overcome with feelings. Feelings of joy, feelings of excitement, feelings of energy, feelings of adventure. How had I lived so close to this forest, yet never stepped foot on its soil?

  

  These woods provided the illusion of being deep within the heart of a forest nestled below the mountains, but with a close proximity to the nearby roads. A common fear of solo adventurers is being so secluded that if something were to happen no one would know. These woods engulfed my being, but provided the comfort of safety should I need it.

  

  I arrived at the forest planning to walk, but the abundance of energy I received provoked me to run. Not hard, and not far, a simple thirty minutes which turned out to be one of the best runs I have had in a long time. The depths of the forest has a way of slowing down time. I didn’t focus on pace, I didn’t focus on distance, I simply focused on movement. What felt good, what didn’t? Time moved quickly and slowly all at the same time.

  

  The trails of dirt wove in and out of each other, reminding me of my childhood reading. I used to read books that allowed me to choose my own ending. “Go to pg. 167 for this kind of ending, or go to pg. 285 for this kind.” It allowed me to read and reread these books with a new story each time. The paths of this forest gave options that allowed me to cross similar paths from different angles, providing the continued illusion that this forest was larger than it really was.

  

  I crossed paths with a few people, but there was so much space between us all that it was easy to feel alone. My favorite. This came in handy for me when my run took a turn for the worse. Everything felt great, but I had consumed a beautifully balanced cup of coffee before arriving at the trail. I gave no extra thought to this decision as I allowed the full bodied notes of cocoa and nuts slide off my tongue. It was a harmony of flavor I tend to get lost in.

  It had been a while since coffee and running decided to scheme against me, but on this day they had. 

  

  There I was in the heart of this forest, with nothing but my car keys and a sense of endearment for my surroundings when the stomach discomfort hit me like a ton of bricks. I had no where to go but deeper among the trees. I prayed that the corner of earth I chose to stake claim of would provide me with enough privacy to release the demon within my gut.

  Runners trots are no joke my friends, there is no shame in this game. 

  

  I grew a new appreciation for ferns this day, we bonded on a level I hope never to bond with them on again. I can still feel the spores on my skin. I left a piece of me in the forest that day, and we are tied together in a way I’ll remember forever. Thankfully for the forest, ferns have the ability to absorb pollution. I love plants.

  

  Post expulsion I wandered the woods for another hour before calling it quits. I came upon abandoned sheds, the above tiny house nestled in the bushes, trails I didn’t get time to step foot on yet, and the below viewpoint. As I approached my car, others were waiting to claim my spot. Others had arrived to partake on their own adventure, I wondered if theirs would be similar to mine.

  I look forward to my next adventure in the Grand Forest, the trees and winding paths quickly became a local favorite, but next time I think I’ll finish my coffee before I leave.

  

  Q: Have you ever become one with the forest this way? Insert the *laughing with tears* emoji.

  

  | 33 Comments Tagged Adventure, Explore, Hike, PNW, Running

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 20, 2017

  1. My skin has been an absolute troll this winter, but I cannot blame my largest organ alone for it’s rebellious ways. By avoiding sugar and grains I’ve been able to begin balancing out the dryness, along with some help from a superlative skin balm.

  I’ve also been doing weird things like blending carrots and broccoli and lathering it all over my face. Ain’t nobody got time for chemical laden face masks.

  

  2. Two of my bathrooms are currently being renovated, leaving the showers in both of them inaccessible. I dabbled in the idea of not showering for a few days, but decided this was not the best approach for making friends. I’ve had to shower at the gym, which is fine, but I was not aware that they do not provide regular towels (they charge $2 – hard pass).

  Instead I gathered multiple mini towels to dry myself off because, free. 

  3. My hair has reached a length I quite enjoy. Showering at the gym is easy because I wash it maybe once a week and feel like I’m winning at life being able to do this. Also, I find my lazy eye to be prominent when I make the below face. No shame.

  

  4. In my last post I mentioned how I was in my second to last semester of school. Well, things changed and I decided to adjust my schedule from full time to part time this semester. To help balance my stress out this was the right move. I have seven classes left, but I’m in no rush.

  5. I report with a heavy heart that my dear friend Gizmo is peacefully being sent onto his next adventure today. He has reached a time in his life where he is having multiple health issues and due to his age and suffering, his dad decided it was time to bring him to peace. I spent one final weekend with him last week, and am so thankful I was able to go on one more walk with him.

  We were still matching. Rest in peace my friend, you’ve brought much joy to my life even when you were too needy. What can I say, dogs love me.

  

  6. Despite the above loss, I’ve been having the best week. This has been the kind of week where you spew happiness and positive vibes onto every one around you. Shout out to yoga, meditation, and avoiding grains and sugar.

  Ohh to have an autoimmune disorder. 🙂 

  7. I’ve been fascinated by frosted plants lately. The way the frost accentuates the life lines of leaves is like natures x-ray, helping the human eye get a glimpse of such a complex food making machine.

  

  From my Instagram on the above photo: Today feels like an intensified October morning. The sun is shining bright, but frost cloaks over the land like a tight squeeze from your grandma. The cold air bites my face with a sharpness similar to well aged cheese, but without the fear of what’s to come in winter because winter is already here. The cold air today brings no angst like it might in October, just excitement for what’s to come in the spring. I can’t imagine living somewhere without all four seasons, I love it here.

  

  8. I did some more planning for my Ireland trip this week. Aside from Clifs of Moher another outdoor highlight will be stepping foot onto Skellig Michael, an island off the southwest end of the country. Aka where Luke and Rey are in the final scene of The Force Awakens. I can’t, I just can’t.

  9. I got a new phone, which meant I needed a new phone case. This is in no way sponsored by Caseapp, I just legit love that I can take one of my own photos and put it on a case. I took a photo from this adventure and now whenever I look at my phone I am reminded of this weekend getaway.

  

  10. Speaking of the above camping trip, the girl that convinced me to go that weekend, my tried and true hiking partner, has started a blog! I could not be more thrilled. Her first post chronicles an attempted camping trip to the Brothers, a twin peaked mountain in the Olympics.

  Her story telling is great, and I felt like I was with her on the adventure. My favorite line from her story is, “At 5:30pm, I rolled back over to face my dad. It was still raining and he was passing the time by sitting there with his reading glasses on, reading his bible. I began laughing hysterically. I had known his pack was heavy but now visible saw why. He had packed his whole room…”

  Go check it out, and give her some blogland love!

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Adventure, Early Morning Confessions, Gizmo, Hike, Ireland, Winter

• S-NOOOOO

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 24, 2016

  My hiking adventures are coming to a stand still. Not permanently, but I can’t say I’m a fan of the snow and the white blanket of death is upon us.

  

  

  He loved it. I did not. Snow was not expected when we ventured to the mountains last week, but neither was getting stuck in the mud. The weather was dreary, but that’s not enough to stop me from an adventure. The plan was to explore a new trail, but plans quickly changed.

  The gravel road to the planned trail head was in terrible condition. We’re talking multiple mini lake like potholes, and soft mushy earth. This spells disaster when driving a car not equipped for the mountains. Fear swept through my body the entire time we attempted to find the trail head, fear we wouldn’t get past the mini lakes, fear we would glissade in the soft earth losing control of the vehicle and plummeting down the narrow side of the mountain, and fear the car would get stuck.

  Then, the latter happened. 

  

  After ten-ish minutes of heightened driving, the car got stuck in the mud. Momentary panic passed through our bodies, and after a few pedal to the metal attempts we were able to slip and slide out of the mud. We decided it was best to go to a trail we knew would be less sketch. With Jesus music blasting, and only a few external screams (with many, many internal screams) we made it back to the main road.

  Praise. 

  A tried and true trail, Mount Zion is not a difficult climb. 4.6 miles RT and a mere 1300′ gain, with the max elevation at 4274′. Typically I find that snow hits around 4500′ and above, but I stand corrected. Among all the snow was an abundance of Usnea, aka Old Man’s Beard. Known for its effects against certain bacterium, it can be used to fight sore throats, skin infections, inflammation, and more.

  So we ate some, because why not? 

  

  and yet, he’s wearing shorts.

  Quick and to the point, this trail provided just the right amount of burn. The snow covered the top completely (more so than in these photos), but there was only about an inch. Nothing we couldn’t trudge through. Any higher in elevation and a change of shoes would have been necessary. I begrudgingly accepted that winter is here.

  One perk of winter – my Friday evening commute, which gives me the below view. 

  

  We shall see how many more hikes I attempt above 4k’ this winter. Never say never.

  Q: Do you like snow? 

  

  | 70 Comments Tagged Hike, Mount Zion, PNW, Winter

• Navigating November

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 7, 2016

  With the blink of an eye here we are on November 7th. I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween, I stayed home and handed out handfuls of candy to needy children. I did wear black and orange striped tights to work on Halloween — tights that belonged to my sister, my significantly shorter than me sister, they ripped. In an uncomfortable location.

  I hated my commute that day. 

  

  Just because jack o lantern season is over doesn’t meant it’s time to put the pumpkins away. I found a place that honors October, November, and December all in one spot. We’re talking pumpkins in the front, Christmas tree’s in the back.

  When your seasons start to blur together.

  

  

  OK, I got my pumpkin patch fix for the year. Moving on.

  Work

  Work has been good, I’m finally at the point where I don’t feel new in my role. This is my first Christmas in the corporate building and they don’t mess around when it comes to celebrations.

  

  Play

  I managed three hikes last week. I’m trying to get them squeezed in before the white sheets of death plague us. I don’t like snow, I’m a Grinch.

  

  

  Don’t get excited, he’s my coworker.

  

  I’m severely out of shape, but can still manage to trudge along on some of the steeper hikes. The more out of breath I am the more of a reminder that I’m not moving enough lately. I’m the most out of shape (and heaviest) I’ve been in years, but the best part about starting at the bottom is there is no where to go but up.

  

  Eat

  Chipotle slapped me with the good karma stick yesterday and gave me so much guac, I surely had the equivalent of at least an entire avocado. Part of it was still in tact. Yes.

  

  I tried a new to me vegan place on the island. I’ve walked past it many times, but never bought a meal until now. It made my face all kinds of hot, but it was worth it.

  

  Life

  I recently watched Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary Before the Flood. I was enamored by the way he brought this piece to life with information from a myriad of sources. I believe climate change is real, and the devastation that we are causing to this planet is mind blowing. Even if you don’t believe in the science, I encourage you to watch.

  Even if you don’t believe this is happening, if you have a soul you must realize the damage being done to the earth in order to gather fossil fuels, the devastation to our forests (which house the trees to filter the air we breathe!) to make way for new buildings, and the extinction of rainforests that house many species. 

  No change is too small to help reverse atmospheric CO2 emission from fossil fuel use and forest/land destruction. I originally adapted a plant based diet for ethical reasons, however I cannot help but believe this lifestyle to be immensely beneficial for the planet. Factory farms (specifically cattle) produce ungodly amounts of methane (CH4) gas. According to Leo’s film, every molecule of CH4 is the equivalent of 23 molecules of CO2. Insane. 

  I encourage you to think about what small change you can make today to help restore decades of damage. 

  Wednesday I fly off to California for this girls wedding. I’m not sure what shenanigans I’ll get myself into with my free time, but you already know it’ll be posted here sometime the following week. Happy Monday – do something nice for someone else today, and let’s reduce those carbon footprints one step at a time!

  

  Seen on my commute.

  Q: What are your thoughts on global warming? All views welcomed here. 

  

  | 47 Comments Tagged Explore, Hike, Life, Vegan

• Talapus and Olallie Lakes

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on October 27, 2016

  Washington has had rain on the radar for the last week or so, but on the not so rare occasion the forecast is wrong (aka it’s always wrong) I take advantage of the incorrect report. Last weekend, October decided to play nice and remind me why it’s my favorite month.

  Crisp and cold air, with bright shining sun.

  Where’s the best place to go on a chilly yet sunny day? The mountains, for a lake hike. One lake is like a pancake, two lakes is like a waffle. I like waffles more than pancakes so when I find a hike that gives me not only one lake, but TWO within the adventure I’m sold!

  
  

  Social media never ceases to amaze me in its ability to bring people together. After many months of following each other on Instagram, Cailey and I met in real life a few weeks ago. She was just the spunky, upbeat hiking companion I was looking for, and she and I embarked on this quest together.

  

  Did I mention how amazing Washington is during the fall? This trail was very mild, which was a welcomed change from some of my typical hikes. 6.2 total miles and a modest 1,200ft elevation gain allowed my mental focus to soak in the trees around me and digest the conversations about food, dogs, and life.

  

  It didn’t take long to arrive at the first lake, and it showed up sooner than expected. I almost didn’t see it tucked down to the left of the trail, but after walking towards the opening trees I was enamored.

  A horseshoe like view with a dip in the middle of the mountain gave an awe worthy sight. A man and woman were to the left of us, enjoying a snack with their dog. If it weren’t for them, I’d not have realized this was the first lake. Often times on these hikes there are mini “lake like” bodies of water scattered among the trail, and I almost mistook this for one of those.

  

  In order to get the above photo I had to billy goat my way across a handful of wet logs. I saw my life flash before my eyes multiple times, and by my life I mean my body soaked from lake water. #worthit. I’ve perfected the billy goat, reminds me of this adventure…

  

  Another mile and some change up the path led to the other lake of the day. One thing I love about this area of trails is that there are many paths that intertwine together, making for endless possibilities. I had to laugh when I saw the sign that pointed towards Pratt Lake, also known as “the lake I thought I may die at.” #dramatic

  

  I plan to go back to Pratt Lake someday, but this trip was dedicated to finding Olallie Lake. At no point on this hike did I loose my breath to the point of not being able to speak, but my heart rate elevated a few times and my clothes needed a good wash when I came home.

  I sweat at the drop of a hat.

  

  Sunshine says summer, jacket says fall. 

  

  

  A beautiful day in the mountains with exceptional company. Filling my lungs with the open air and surrounding my sights with green sets me up for a week of success.

  Q: Would you balance on rickety logs to get a better photo?

  

  | 46 Comments Tagged Explore, Hike, Lake, Olallie Lake, Olympic Mountains, PNW, Talapus Lake

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