52 Hikes and Looking Forward

First things first, I did not complete the 52 Hike Challenge for 2022. I tried, for a few months, and subtly gave up. I don’t love Dallas/Ft. Worth hiking, I didn’t take a lot of trips, and I just wasn’t feeling the temperatures. The hikes that did happen in 2022 were great and mostly occurred in New Mexico while I still resided there. I did a few paddles early on in the summer, before it was too hot to enjoy, and then didn’t do much until late summer when I purchased a bicycle. All in all, it wasn’t a total loss but nowhere near what I’d like to accomplish.

If you haven’t heard, I’ve relocated to Olympia, WA. I now reside within a quick drive of more places to hike, paddle, or bike than my tiny brain can handle. The options for getting hikes in for the next calendar year are so abundant, so it will inevitably mean I probably do more than 52, which would be a welcomed change.

I’ve been wanting to live in the PNW for years now, and I’m not letting any opportunities slip away now that I’m here. I have a google map full of pins and several documents full of ideas. I’m ready to be overwhelmed with the beauty and access I’ve only dreamed of between my semi-annual visits. I’d fly in to Seattle or Portland at least twice a year to visit the mountains, woods, and friends up here and now I live right in the middle of it all. It’s a dream come true, it is something I know is a privilege, and something I will not take for granted. I’m lucky to have a partner who wants to do many, if not all, of these things with me, so that’s just icing on the cake.

If you’re in the greater PNW region and want to hike along, get in touch. The plan is to do a variety of hikes in a variety of places, vague I know. Some weekends it’s going to be as simple as going somewhere around town, but others it may be a bit of a drive or a camping weekend to see all the sights out there. There so many forest trails, waterfalls, mountain views, beaches, and winding rivers to see.

I feel a renewed zest for life since being here and I can’t wait to share the hikes, stories, and adventures with you all.

2022 Activities 5-7

So far, February has been quite good for hiking. A recent trip to Caprock Canyons State Park in Texas gave us two more for the year, with some amazing views along the way. With the end of our time in New Mexico rapidly approaching, we visited White Sands National Park near sunset for one last stroll in the desert before heading to Dallas/Fort Worth. Happy hiking!

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Activity 5/52 - Hike - Caprock Canyons State Park (Quitaque, TX)

Distance/Time: 3.07 miles

Trail: Hanes Ridge Overlook

I’ve hiked at Caprock Canyons many times, but I’ve never hiked this trail! It was straight up, about 600 feet, over rocks and dirt. We stopped many times to take in the view, catch our breath, and get a drink. Once up the most steep part, we had an amazing view above the ridges in the park. The hike is worth the effort, I promise.

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Activity 6/52 - Hike - Caprock Canyons State Park (Quitaque, TX)

Distance/Time: 1.5 miles

It was Sunday and we were spent from a weekend of hiking, hanging out around the fire, and sleeping during a windy night. We decided after packing up to go with my aunt on a short little hike around the rim on the Canyon Rim Trail. It was a short walk from our campsite to the trail and then a nice little stroll. We took the dogs and a beer and enjoyed the sunshine!

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Activity 7/52 - Hike - White Sands NP (Alamogordo, NM)

Distance/Time: 1 mile

On our last weekend in New Mexico, we hit up our third national park together for a sunset hike on the dunes. It was a cute little stroll with the dogs. The amount of people on a Sunday night was a bit shocking, but it was sunset on a holiday weekend.

2022 Activities 3 and 4

The first weekend of February brought us closer to being “on track” for our 52 hike challenge. This coming weekend will bring a few more hikes and then we’ll be mostly good to go moving forward. We visited two nearby national parks and they did not disappoint. Happy hiking!

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Activity 3/52 - Hike - Guadalupe Mountains NP (Salt Flat, TX)

Distance/Time: 2.34 miles

Trail: McKittrick Canyon

This particular Saturday was a whirlwind. My partner was supposed to be in Indiana, but flights got messed up and he was home. We had reservations for Carlsbad, but missed them and decided to head back to Guadalupe Mountains for another hike. By the time we got there, the day was winding down and McKittrick Canyon gates close at 4:30 pm, so we didn’t have much time to hike. We hiked the trail and stopped at the riverbed for a break in the sunshine. It was a nice little hike, more sunny than last time, and a different view in the canyon. The McKittrick Canyon trail is mild, though we had some icy spots, and mostly flat. It’s suitable for all sorts of hiking experience levels.

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Activity 4/52 - Hike - Carlsbad Caverns NP (Carlsbad, NM)

Distance/Time: 3 miles

We made it to our reservation and walked down the natural entrance. We meandered down, in awe of the formations and just how far we were going in. It was nice to show my partner something I love and something so spectacular. This marks our second national park together as we quest to see them all. Carlsbad Caverns will take a couple of hours to get through, but it’s something new around every corner. Make sure you look up when you’re there, as the stuff on the ceiling can be just as amazing to see. If your knees don’t like downhill, you can enter with the elevator instead of the natural entrance.

2022 Activities 1 and 2

It’s a new year and new set of activities for the 52 hike challenge. This year I will continue having an open mind on what counts as one of the 52 hikes. Paddling, hiking, trail runs, bike rides, and more will count. The goal with my version of the 52 Hike Challenge has always been to get outside and see the world. If the events I participate in do that, I’m good with counting them.

January 2022 included two hikes with my partner Randall. We have plans to complete this challenge together this year and we’re going into February with a plan to adventure even more.

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Activity 1/52 - Hike - Ocotillo Nature Trail (Carlsbad, NM)

Distance/Time: 2 miles

This trail is a little gravel path that winds up the hillside and takes you to a high point and view of Carlsbad. We did this trail at night, with the dogs, because of work and whatnot so the view was especially cool. The activity itself was not difficult, but it was dusty and dry. Enjoy some of the photos!

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Activity 2/52 - Hike - Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Salt Flat, TX)

Distance/Time: 2.38 miles

This hike started with good intentions, and ended with good plans to return. I think the original thought was to hike through McKittrick Canyon and have a nice picnic at the Pratt Cabin. As we drove, other trails looked more enticing so we shifted our plans to hike the Devil’s Hall trail. We started off, with plenty of snacks and water but only brought sunglasses. The sun was sinking, and the canyon walls made it darker faster. We hiked just over a mile and decided it was getting too dark in sunglasses (we both wear prescription sunglasses) and it was time to just have a snack and head back to the car. This is where we planned to return for this trail, and others, before we leave New Mexico. Flexibility is an important part of adventuring and our safety and enjoyment are top concerns making the decisions to come back easy!