Tag: Hike

• A Weekend Away

  Posted at 9:45 AM by Brittany, on July 21, 2022

  I’ve always been a bit indifferent to holiday weekends. Most of the jobs I have worked don’t have holidays off, and they often feel like just another day of the week. I do love a good Thanksgiving feast, thrive watching my cat run through Christmas wrapping paper, and when I was a kid I felt like an all star staying up late watching Twilight Zone marathons on NYE, but these days I can take or leave most of the lesser known holidays.

  Fourth of July is typically my least favorite holiday. I don’t enjoy fireworks unless I am hot and sweaty after a full day at Disneyland, and I don’t have a big family to aggregate with for BBQ and brews. This year, things were a bit different. This year I am dating a human who works a M-F job, where holidays are a thing. This meant the Fourth of July weekend was a prime time for a weekend getaway.

  So we got away.

  

  Duncan has more of a Type B personality, while I am more of a Type A. This means I like control of the planning process, not that we needed to plan too much for a short weekend away. I made a last minute change in plans, taking us to the town of Anacortes, and this turned out to be such a lovely little reset.

  We arrived Saturday afternoon, and our first stop was to Mount Erie – the tallest mountain in Anacortes. This wasn’t saying much, as the peak tops out at 1300′, but after recovering from my second bout of Covid just a few days prior I felt the 1000’+ elevation gain. We took it slow, and savored the view from the top.

  

  

  After basking in our sense of superiority at the top amongst the other humans who drove up, we made our way back down and headed to our Air B & B. I found this Air B & B two days before we were to arrive, which was literally perfect timing. Someone had just canceled their stay, and the hosts put the spot back up for a discounted price.

  I happened to be the lucky soul who found it – talk about divine intervention.

  This Air B & B was PERFECT. I adored everything about it. It was small, and minimal, and bright, and OPEN, and airy and beautiful. Fully equipped with everything, including a fun couples card game that Duncan and I played. I would absolutely stay at this place again, it was just so wonderful.

  They even provided sleep masks because the skylights brought in so much natural light! Little touches do not go unnoticed.

  

  After dropping off our stuff we headed to the nearby grocery to buy some fooooood. We made dinner, watched some Netflix, played the card game, and headed to bed. The next morning we had a casual breakfast before driving to Whidbey Island for a walk at Fort Ebey. I had found this hike (more like a walk) a few weeks prior, but I knew it would require a weekend trip away as it was too much to drive in one day.

  The drive took about 40 minutes, and it was a rainy, blustery day, but we had a car full of snack and veins full of coffee. The trail was beautiful. Like something out of the UK. My only complaint was the amount of snails. It was like I couldn’t catch a break. If you read my last post you will know I JUST walked a trail where the slugs were endless, and I felt like my anxiety was in overdrive.

  Thankfully my lovely boyfriend hugged me and let me take my time when I had a full blown meltdown.

  

  

  

  

  I don’t claim to have a “normal” phobia, alas it is what it is. We made it out of snail territory and looped back on the beach for a relaxing walk back to the car. We hunted for beach glass, unique rocks, and pretty shells to take home with us. Duncan even got himself an eagle floof. We very briefly went to see one of the old military bunkers at Fort Ebey State Park before making our way back to the Air B & B.

  Duncan promptly fell asleep after eating an early dinner, so I made myself a Brittany friendly meal while watching Netflix and let the gentle giant slumber.

  The following day we were set to head home, but not before one more minor exploration. It was Monday the 4th, and downtown Anacortes was crowded for a parade. We headed to Washington Park for a loop around the area, which turned into more after getting a wee bit lost. Duncan spearheaded us out, and we made it back to the car and back home in record time.

  

  I tend to enjoy a busy vacation, with lots to see and do. Duncan enjoys more of a restful vacation, but he was a trooper and indulged me in my need to walk and hike and explore. This was just what I needed to scratch the itch. A weekend away keeps the wanderlust at bay, even if just temporarily.

  Q: Do you enjoy weekend getaways, or would you rather save everything for a week long trip?

  

  | 10 Comments Tagged Duncan, Hike, PNW, Vacation

• Guillemot Cove

  Posted at 7:00 AM by Brittany, on July 2, 2022

  I mentioned in my previous post that Duncan and I have a plethora of differences. One of the main areas we differ is what we prefer to do with our free time. When I have zero responsibilities the first place I want to go is outside. I want to hike, or bike, or explore a new town. Duncan is more of a homebody and he prefers calm and quiet times at home.

  This was one of the first areas of our relationship where we were able to practice productive compromise and communication – two fundamental building blocks of a healthy relationship. We spend most of our weekends together and try to spend one day doing an activity for me, and one day doing something chill for him.

  So far we have been able to make this work, while also communicating it’s ok if we do things separately.

  

  One of our most recent outdoor adventures was to a very chill, but equally beautiful walking area called Guillemot Cove. I had been here once before, but I hadn’t explored the entirety of it. There are multiple trails that lead into one large cove area, encompassing around 3-4 miles.

  It’s like a choose your own ending book.

  We pulled up to a surprisingly busy parking area, which shouldn’t have surprised me as it was a sunny Saturday. We don’t have a lot of that bright light in this state. We started in the woods, and took our first right taking us down the steepest part of the trail. From the woods we were thrown into an open area of tall grasses giving the first sneak peak of the cove on the beach.

  

  

  Despite how many cars we saw in the lot, we didn’t see too many other humans until the second half of our hike. It was as if Zeus himself was smiting me by bringing the humans out at the most inopportune times. More on that later. Our first destination was the beach – to see the cove, and my goodness it did not disappoint.

  I certainly have my moments of wanting to travel wide and far, but it’s close to home spots like this that keep me somewhat grounded.

  

  We sat at the beach for a bit while Duncan watched three Osprey hover over the thermal vents and dive for fish. While he was watching a live showing of National Geographic I was admiring the surrounding hills feeling waves of nostalgia for other similar landscapes I have visited throughout my life.

  Memories are both beautiful and soul tugging at the same time.

  

  

  After pining over the views it was time to finish the trails. This is where things got sticky. Right next to the beach is a Ridge Trail that climbs up for maybe 5 minutes, and then climbs back down making a loop. I could have done without this trail because there were no views, and at the top there were SO.MANY.SLUGS. I’m talking big, fat, banana, brown – just vile.

  The path was so narrow that I had to walk far too close to them.

  

  Duncan was my knight in green polo shirt on this hike because I nearly had a panic attack. From here on slugs seemed to overtake the trails, live ones, dead ones, tree ones, grass ones, and the people came out of the woodwork making the trails even more narrow to walk on. I can’t tell you how many times I had to walk close to a slimy spawn of satan.

  If you’re new round these parts, I have a phobia of slugs. It’s weird, I know.

  I wanted to show Duncan the stump house, which is what this hike is known for, so I sucked it up and we pushed on. A quick hello to the stump house (essentially a large stump someone built a little “roof” onto), and we headed back to the car. Away from slug city.

  

  After our hike we drove to a nearby state park for a picnic, enjoying the last bit of sunshine. It was a lovely Brittany day, and I am quite certain Duncan enjoyed himself too. Aside from having to hold my hand like a small child when I couldn’t walk over the fallen trees covered with slugs. But hey, love knows no bounds.

  Today we set off for our first weekend getaway since our vacation to Glacier/Sawtooth’s LAST SUMMER. My first mini getaway in over a year. I’ve been a mess of a human for months, and I am so ready to spend some time away from home in a new to me city. Let’s hope we find good coffee, good views, and some good times.

  Q: What’s one of your phobias? Please make me feel better about myself by telling me you also have a really weird one.

  

  | 24 Comments Tagged Duncan, Hike, Phobia, PNW

• Lake District National Park

  Posted at 2:00 PM by Brittany, on December 9, 2019

  For someone who loves national parks, I’ve shamefully not visited many in Europe. I drove through one in Slovenia when a bus driver tried to avoid traffic, but I don’t think that really counts. I spent a day in Berchtesgaden shorty after Slovenia, but aside from those two instances I’ve not seen any European national parks since I visited Scotland last October.

  When my friends and I decided to visit England we all agreed we HAD to see one, if not two national parks. 

  

  After a night in Highclere, we headed towards our next stop. The first area we visited was Lake District National Park, and we stayed here for two nights. Our Air B & B was adorable, and our host was a kind man that sounded Scottish. We stayed just outside of the park, because it was cheaper, and because the listing showed a sheep pasture in the backyard.

  I don’t know what it is about sheep, but I adore them.

  

  You can see one sheep up top in the field.

  Our first day in the park I tried to find a hike for us to do, and we didn’t have a specific plan, but I knew I wanted to see one of the many fells. To maximize time we chose a location that was about an hour from our Air B & B, and while it wasn’t a large mountain, it was considered a “must see for first time visitors to the Lake District.”

  

  

  We found the Loughrigg Fell Loop starting from the town of Grasmere, and spent a little over two hours walking the woods, and climbing hills to get an amazing view of Grasmere Lake down below. We sat at our self proclaimed summit for about 30 minutes before heading down to explore the town a bit.

  

  

  

  

  After we made our way down, we walked the town a bit and I found my way to Lucia’s Coffee + Bakehouse. AKA where I had the best scone of the entire trip. I would go back to Grasmere just for this scone. And for the cinnamon roll I bought for the following morning to go with my cup of coffee. I never knew I was a scone person until I went to England.

  This scone was the perfect mix of dense and soft, sweet and savory, warm and cold, it was just…perfect. 

  

  

  Grasmere is famous for their gingerbread and I bought one piece, but sadly I was not a fan. The shop is adorable, and the smells of sugar and ginger are intoxicating, but this was a hard piece of gingerbread. Almost like a chewy cracker. I like soft gingerbread, actual bread and not a cookie like bread. Does that make sense?

  

  

  All was not lost on the gingerbread front, I had my cinnamon roll to look forward to and it was worth the wait. It’s been a while since I’ve had a sugary treat first thing in the morning. My blood sugar is extremely sensitive, and sugar paired with caffeine is no longer a good option for me, but thankfully I didn’t crash too hard with this.

  

  

  Our Air B & B also had a creek out back, and while it was too cold to sit out there long term, it was nice to step outside with my coffee and hear the running water. Our second and last night at this Air B & B, we went to the only pub in the area called The Old Crown. It was a lovely place, with delicious food, and friendly staff.

  

  

  

  Our trip to the Lake District was short and sweet, but I know I will be back someday. The weather was perfect for our trip, and the endless rolling hills had me daydreaming of a permanent lifestyle driving on the right side of the car. I could easily spend a week exploring this national park. I don’t want to work in a cafe again after I leave my current job, but I could see myself working at Lucia’s Coffee + Bakehouse.

  Anything for the scones and cinnamon rolls. 

  

  We packed our bags and packed our car, and we headed towards Peak District National Park, our last leg of the trip and our second and drastically different national park in England. My idea of what it would be like to hike around England national parks ended up being a completely different reality, but it turned out to be a low key adventure I’ll never forget.

  Q: Cinnamon roll or scone? Why am I always asking questions about food….

  

  | 10 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, England, Hike, Lake District, National Park, Scones

• Appenzell, Switzerland – Pt. 1

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 24, 2019

  I’ve been living in Europe for five months now, and it took me five months to go on a trip that sparked a fire in my soul reminding me why I’m here. Don’t get me wrong, the opportunities and experiences I’ve had are amazing, but a lot of the travel I’ve done has felt rushed. I’ve been to Innsbruck, Venice, Prague, Salzburg, Luxembourg, Metz, and Krakow, but none of those trips felt quite like my most recent trip to Switzerland.

  

  Maybe it was the last minute decision – leaving no time to think about anything other than where I was going to sleep, maybe it was the company I had showing me solo travel isn’t something I need as much anymore, maybe it was the rental car providing absolute freedom without stress of transportation, maybe it was the lack of activities – the only goal was to hike, or maybe it was the quiet/isolated mountain town with no tourists.

  Whatever it was, this trip officially holds the top spot of my best trip since living abroad.

  

  My roommate was planning a trip to Appenzell for a few weeks to visit her friend from back in the states, and she extended the invite to my other roommate and I. My schedule doesn’t usually come out until a week in advance, so I didn’t know if I’d have the dates off until the week she was planning to go. The moment I saw I had the two days off, I booked a room in an Air B&B and mentally prepared for two days of hiking in the Swiss Alps.

  

  Appenzell is only a three hour drive from where we live in Bavaria, so my roommate and I left after work on our Friday to maximize our time off. We arrived in the evening, settled into our places of rest (we stayed in different places), and met back up the next morning around 10. The weather was rough our first day, but we didn’t dare waste the opportunity.

  It was raining and cold, but thankfully I’m used to cold and wet hikes. 

  

  

  Our plan for the first day was to summit the Ebenalp, 1644m into the clouds. Before starting our ascent we stopped to walk around the Seealpsee, an amazingly beautiful and moody alpine lake. The cloud cover provided a mystical feel, like a scene out of Lord of the Rings. The lake made a circular loop, but there were small electric fences around it to keep the cows in.

  We didn’t learn how to pass through them until the second day, and when I tried to move one of the fences I shocked myself. 

  

  After waking up all my nerves we decided to walk halfway around the lake and turn around to start our ascent. Mostly because I didn’t dare touch another electric fence. The rain started to slow down as we turned around to start our ascent, which was perfect timing because I was starting to get really cold. I lost feeling in my fingers, which isn’t hard to do (holla Raynaud’s), so I was welcoming the incline to come for some blood flow.

  

  The three of us ended up separating on the hike, moving at our own paces which was great. I settled into the middle and focused solely on putting one foot in front of the other. The hike wasn’t overly strenuous, but it was a decent climb. It was an easy path to follow, but there were still trail markers along the way that were fun to look for.

  

  The first 3/4 or so of this hike is in a wooded forest area with tree covers blocking the views of the surrounding mountains. Once the canopy of trees opened up the clouds started to clear providing an expansive view of the valley below. We stopped for lunch at Aescher Gausthaus, a restaurant built into the wall of the mountains.

  There are a few rooms in the restaurant people can sleep in, but most people stop here for the food. 

  Let me tell you all…the food was divine. I mean loose your mind divine. I had goulash for the first time and spent $24 on it, but it was worth every overpriced penny. Actually it was so good I wouldn’t say it was overpriced at all. It was hearty, flavorful, WARM, and fresh. Plus, I was on a mountain in Switzerland overlooking the alps so I could have been eating chalk and would have enjoyed it.

  

  

  I am still dreaming about that goulash, and this is coming from someone that doesn’t eat red meat nor typically enjoys the flavor of red meat. We sat at the restaurant for a good hour enjoying our pitstop before the last 20 minutes to the top. The staff was incredibly friendly, and our server was accommodating to my food needs which always helps me feel less anxiety when eating out with food sensitivities.

  

  

  The rain had completely stopped, but the weather was still ominous. Despite feeling like a soggy rat I was on cloud nine. Give me a good overcast and chilly day and I feel like I can hike Mount Everest. My body has become extremely sensitive to heat, and I thrive when it’s cold. We made our way the remaining distance to the top, where we spent an additional 30-45 minutes in awe of our surroundings.

  

  

  Cross marks the summit.

  

  

  

  I would have enjoyed a bit more visibility at the top, but I was thankful that it cleared as much as it did. I couldn’t help but sit and stare at the endless rolling hills and thank God for this amazing weekend getaway. I am thankful for my roommate, and her adventurous spirit, and for her invite to Switzerland.

  After our hike we walked around the tiny town of Appenzell, before heading back to my roommate and her friends barn house Air B&B where we grilled over an open flame. I bought chicken, they bought brats, and we literally made a fire in a cave like rock pit where we cooked over hot coals. I’ve never made chicken that tasted so good.

  

  

  

  A belly full of food, a heart full of joy, and a spirit full of adventure, I went to bed that night fully content. I learned on this trip that I am needing more human interaction than I thought I did, and after spending a majority of the last five years alone (by choice) I am seeing (and feeling) the value of being with others.

  The key is finding people who provide a genuine connection, a friendship with substance rather than just an acquaintance.

  Isolation is comfortable for me because it’s easy. It’s easy to avoid rejection from others when you don’t give them the opportunity to reject you, but humans are meant to be social. While I still plan to do things alone, I’m going to start emphasizing the importance of spending time with others. Thankfully I have a small handful of friends here (I can literally count on one hand) that I feel a connection with.

  If all else fails, I can always spend more time with the locals.

  

  Stay tuned for the second part of my trip to Switzerland, including my roommates short video compilation.

  Q: Do you prioritize quality connections with others?

  

  | 18 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Hike, Switzerland, Travel Abroad

• My First German Summit

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on April 29, 2019

  I’ve been posting about my travels outside of Germany lately, but haven’t said much about my time spent IN Germany. It’s so easy for me to loose track of the beauty around me because anytime I have three days off (sometimes even just two) I’m looking at other countries I can travel to. It’s funny how Germany feels like “home” and just like when I’m back in Washington, I want to get away from my home and into the world.

  

  Contrary to popular belief, I DO work here. I work close to full time averaging around 35 hours a week, but I make it a priority to get out and away as much as I can. Something as simple as a walk (or soon a bike ride!) into town is a helpful reprieve and reminds me I am in another country. The hotel I work at is American, and after a few days of not leaving the American military bases I am in dire need of an escape. Hearing people speak German, or exploring the alps is all I need to recharge.

  I’ve managed to get into the surrounding mountains a few times, and as the snow continues to melt I look forward to my summer of hiking in my “hometown” of Garmisch. My first taste of the alps was a short 30ish minute hike to what we call “the swing.” I have been to the swing twice, and the second time I happened to meet a German guy admiring the view. He casually mentioned he built the swing, and has only ever met American’s at the hidden spot.

  

  

  After I visited the swing I explored more of the area nearby. I’m literally surrounded by mountains, but have mostly stuck to a mountain called the Kramer. I plan to summit the Kramer soon, but my first semi climb on the Kramer was to one of the many hütte’s in the alps. One thing I love about the German mountains is that they have hütte’s all over them, which are restaurant cafe’s where people stop for a bite, a beer, or a baked good.

  

  

  I made my way up to Sankt Martinshütte on one of my days off for a view of the city and a cup of tea. It was a moderate climb and felt good to dust off my heart muscle after a sedentary winter. Both the swing and Sankt Martinshütte are accessible by foot from the hotel I live in/work at, and there are so many other trails nearby that will be great for a day off or for an after work decompression.

  

  

  My third mountain adventure, and first official summit since living in Germany was on the Wank. The Wank is a bit further (will be easy to get to when I buy a bike), so I drove with some friends the first time I explored it, and took a bus the second time. The first time I went I didn’t summit, I just went up part way to Tannenhütte for a post work adventure. My friends had a drink, and I soaked up the views.

  

  

  After figuring out how to get to the Wank I felt comfortable going alone the second time so I could summit. I was a bit premature with this decision, because there was still quite a bit of snow at the top. I wore trail running shoes with minimal traction and was a bit scared coming back down, but I was too stubborn to turn back without hitting the top. I was the first of my coworkers (that I know of) to summit the Wank for the season, and three weeks later others started to make the Wank their first summit of the season too.

  Shameless brag. 

  

  

  

  I met two German women at the top that thought I was crazy for not having the right shoes or any trekking poles. The Wank is 5840ft with about 3500ft of elevation gain. I was surprised I hit the summit as easily as I did. It was a push, but I felt stronger than I expected. It was probably the waffles and coffee I splurged on for breakfast. Thanks to Alfred, I felt the push after my hike (and thanks to my breakfast choice) and was out of commission for a day or so, but these things are just a part of life with an autoimmune disease.

  

  

  

  At the top of the Wank there is a hütte called the Wankhaus. It was closed when I went because I went before it was open for the season, so I’ll have to return sometime for a tea. I tried to hike the Wank again a few weeks later, but my body was not having it. I only made it 1/3 of the way up and had to turn back. I had a small pity party and then had to get over it. The hardest part about living with Sjogrens is listening to my body when it tells me “no.”

  

  View from my bedroom, where I spend a good amount of time resting.

  Any movement is better than no movement, and I love how the German culture in Bavaria is very active. I love seeing the locals out walking the trails. Old, young, dogs, pointy ear squirrels – you name it. Regardless of age, people are out walking the flat and manageable trails and sometimes I need those reminders that it’s ok to not always climb UP a mountain, but walking around one is just as beneficial.

  Admittedly it can be hard not to compare my abilities now to my abilities before I was diagnosed with Sjogrens. Mentally I still want to run all the miles, and climb all the mountains, but physically I just don’t always have it in me. I feel lazy when I struggle, but my fatigue can be so bad it’s hard to put one foot in front of the other. When I push too hard my joints hurt, my back aches, my organs feel funny, my lungs struggle to get air in them, my skin breaks out in itchy rashes, and then I take days to recover.

  Alas, I will not quit I just have to moderate. Without the climbs, there are no amazing views. 

  

  View of Munich from St. Peters Church after climbing 300 steps.

  All this to say life is Germany is moving along. I’d be lying if I said it were easy, and most days I struggle with my health, but I’m doing the best I can for now. Bavaria is beautiful, and I’d be remiss not to make the most of my time here. One day at a time!

  Q: Do you listen to your body when it tells you it needs to rest?

  

  | 17 Comments Tagged Brittanys Life Abroad, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Hike, Hiking, Solo Hike, Travel Abroad

• Partnachklamm

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on March 8, 2019

  I’ve become quite comfortable with public transportation around my small town area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GaPa), regardless of the language barrier. I know how to ask for an all day pass, I know where to get off if I am taking a train or another bus out of town, and I know how to get to some surrounding areas for exploration. Eventually I will invest in a bike because GaPa is a big biking town, but for now I explore by bus or by foot.

  One of my recent explorations was the Partnach Gorge, or Partnachklamm.

  

  

  This gorge was a quick 15-20 minute bus ride from the back gate of where I live and easy to find from where the bus drops off. This made it easy to visit after a day of work. Going this time of year meant that I was able to see the gorge covered in ice and snow, and when I say covered I mean cooovveerrredd. Basically Elsa came in and got real angry. I have never seen ice like this in my life.

  

  

  I tend to overheat when I hike, and I wasn’t sure how strenuous the walk to the gorge would be, so I underdressed. This ended up being an easy, mostly flat walk and I regretted my jacket of choice pretty quick. If it looks cold in these photos, it’s because it was COLD. The gorge is somewhat in a cave as well, so little to no sunlight hits the interior. Fitting for me to find a place where my exterior finally matches my interior.

  Joking…sort of. 

  

  

  It costs 5 euro to walk through the gorge, and round trip its about a mile. Once you reach the other end however, there are endless trails to explore. My friend and I walked on one for about 45 minutes, but had to turn around because it was getting dark. I can’t wait for the summer months when the sun stays in the sky until 9. Naturally walking on the trails made my cold inside light a small fire of happiness.

  The irony of my life right now is that back home in Washington I don’t care for the snow. I typically avoid hiking in the winter months because I have slight PTSD after getting lost once due to snow. I also just don’t enjoy trekking through knee high snow, so I don’t. In Germany however, there is something magical about the snow. I guess it takes moving to Bavaria for me to appreciate the white blanket of death.

  

  Walking to and from the gorge we passed by the Olympic Ski Jump, where the Winter Olympics were held in 1936. Next to the jump is a quaint restaurant called the OlympiaHaus, and they had delicious food! We sat at a communal table sandwiched between two German parties, and it was pure magic. I love getting away from Americans as often as I can, and sitting around Germans with their coffee and cake made me swoon.

  When I first moved to Germany I was intimidated and slightly anxious about living in a town where I don’t speak the language, but after living here for a month and a half I’m no longer phased. Thank goodness for that because it means I don’t mind exploring alone like I would back home. I look forward to seeing the gorge again in the warmer months, hiking the trails beyond the gorge, and gorging myself with food from OlympiaHaus again when the ice melts.

  

  Q: What’s your favorite season for outdoor activities?

  

  | 29 Comments Tagged Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Gorge, Hike, Partnachklamm

• 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.

  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

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