In September of 2022, I hiked up to the top of Multnomah Falls. The trail was a series of switchbacks with great views along the way. Enjoy a few photos!
On Tuesdays, I’m going to probably overshare a little more about me. Some of this may be common knowledge, but to those who are new, hello and welcome to the shit show. Also, gratuitous photos of myself at the end because I can.
If I’m getting coffee, it’s more than likely going to be iced. The time of year and outdoor temperature rarely matter in this choice. I am impatient and do not like waiting for scalding hot coffee to cool down.
Halloween is fine, but I’m more of a “fall guy” than a “Halloween guy” but I love watching scary movies. Winter/Xmas is more my jam and I’ll Griswold the shit out of my house, too.
I’m a morning person - I like to get up early and get going on stuff for the day. I get more work done, more writing, and more household tasks done before noon.
Sunrises are superior for me. I’ll say yes to a sunset, don’t get me wrong, but I’ll be more excited about a sunrise.
Saying yes more than no doesn’t mean I’m a yes man - I’m still making informed decisions out here. I want to experience more things and meet more people, so saying yes opens those doors. Is it always a great choice? NO. Do I learn from the questionable choices? ALSO NO. (kidding, of course I do)
If it’s between a road trip and a flight, I’ll probably drive. Now, there are exceptions to the rule, but I find driving more convenient most of the time. Stopping along the way or taking a scenic route isn’t an option when flying, so I do enjoy car travel more.
Revisiting somewhere I love is my travel guilty pleasure. Many of my visits are brief, so I enjoy going back and taking more in a second, third, or fourth time. Along with this, if I can take someone to a magical place for the first time and I’ve already been there, I’m so in.
My job is not who I am. I am not one of those people who IS their job or their job IS them. It is simply something I do every weekday to make money and survive. I like it, I like my coworkers, I like the subject matter, and I am lucky.
If I’m the driver, I like to stop to take pictures in front of signs or I crane my neck to look at the sights. I love to see what’s going on and I’m always looking out the window on a road trip - safely, most of the time.
I recently flew to Seattle to meet my BFF Squad for a long weekend of adventure. Every year, we get together to take an adventure - a camping trip, a full on road trip, or destination adventure - to hang out and catch up. Seattle is one of my favorite places to go, mostly for the area around it, but also now for what the metro area has to offer. We explored, got the views, found the beers, and had a great time. Our Chrysler Pacifica minivan took us from the airport to a Mariners game and then onward to the Olympic Peninsula. Enjoy some photos from our trip. I already can’t wait to get back to my happy place in the northwest. This is my general take on the trip, with my views. My friends may have other opinions, which is okay.
I arrived a night earlier, because the flight was better so I settled in and got the rental minivan
Had a total Dad/Minivan vibe and I was okay with it
Our hotel for Night 1 was the Embassy Suites near T-Mobile Park
The hotel was perfectly located for easy food and access to the Mariners game
The prices were not bad, but parking is not included (pretty typical, really)
Tourist sites visited
Pike Place Market - the gum wall, various eats and drinks
Ghost Alley Espresso is pretty delicious for coffee
Discovery Park (lighthouse, beach views, and a view of Rainier)
Gas Works Park - very neat art and views of the city
Fremont Troll - classic little creeper under an overpass
Kerry Park - excellent views of the city and Rainier (cute neighborhood too)
Breweries Visited
Fremont Brewing - easily one of the group favorites for the trip with a wide variety and an amazing patio
Optimism Brewing - another instant favorite with a delicious variety and big, open space and the coolest gender neutral bathrooms I’ve ever seen
Had an excellent dinner at Two Doors Down (scrumptious burgers and great beers/ciders on draft) near the hotel/stadiums
Attended a Mariners game - was a bit sunny, but lovely
Ran in to my friend Fredi from Texas who was in town and spent a while catching up - such a nice surprise
The day was long - lots of driving, walking, drinking local beers, and sunshine so we hit the hay pretty early
We decided to find some lighthouses as part of our adventures which included beach visits to the kind of beaches that required sweatshirts (the best kind)
We hit up a few breweries and cider places as well
I shared my favorite cider place Finnriver Cidery & Farm with them and they loved it for the food and drink
Port Townsend Brewing for a brief sampler (excellent porter and stout)
Propolis Brewing was a different breed of beer and I was here for it - sours, fruity, spruce tips, SO GOOD (easily one of my new must-visists)
Discovery Bay Brewing - such a fun patio and tasty beers
We stayed in Port Angeles at the Olympic Lodge - fun story, Molly and I stayed there in 2009 with our friend Kevin on one of our road trips
We had dinner at the local pub Joshua’s (again, a revisit for Molly and I and pure nostalgia)
Definitely not as I remember it - less daylight next time
It was another long day of driving, beaches, beers, and sunshine
We started the day with drive through coffee from a coffee hut - so good
This is an essential for coffee lovers when in the PNW
Iced coffee is better, always, fight me
Ventured around the peninsula through Forks
Stopped at the Tree of Life and soaked up the fog on the beach
Made our way to the Maple Glade Rain Forest to take in the greenery of the Quinault area
Had lunch at the Pacific Inn Pizza (another revisit after years)
I’ve not taken most of my besties here for mediocre food (at best)
Stopped out at Rialto Beach - nice and cold/windy!
Came back to town to have a beer at Barhop Brewing
Cheesy bread looks GOOD
Made the decision to go up to Hurricane Ridge
the views and sunset were phenomenal
Met some fun people who painted rocks and left them in public places
Dinner at McDonalds because everything was either over an hour wait or closed
My only gripe w/ Port Angeles
I started to write this months or years ago and finished recently for my appearance on A Life Outside Podcast. I was honored to join two authentic adventurers to talk about new places and the hope that comes with the adventure through life. Go give it a listen, if you’re into podcasts, or check out their website if you prefer to read. Enjoy!
This is my first clear view of the mountains leaving Denver. Imagine this, in person, driving 70 mph.
The trip I begin the story with was included in my series about the four trips that really started my fire for adventure. Read all about them by clicking through the photo below.
Do you remember the first time you saw a mountain? Maybe you were lucky enough to be born near one, or maybe you traveled across the country in your 20s like I did to see the snow capped majesty. I grew up, and spent my entire life until my mid 20s, in the state shaped like a mitten, surrounded by the Greatest Lakes in the world. We didn’t have mountains, in the traditional sense, so I had never witnessed the glory of something like the Rocky Mountains or the Cascades. In college, I met a few adventurous souls who hadn’t seen much either and we made it our mission to cross this country and see as much of it as we could.
“We crossed into Colorado early in the morning, hitting Denver after sunrise. The Coors Brewery, in Golden, was still closed, so we kept pushing west and that’s when it hit us - the mountains. We’d been seeing them as we crept around the north side of Denver, but there they were right on the road in front of us. We had the perfect weather for seeing mountains for the first time - sunny with blue skies and mild temps.”
That’s an excerpt from my journal; it goes on to detail the excitement surrounding mountain tunnels and other delights. As I mentioned, it was one of the most sensational moments of my life. My buddies and I all grew up in MIchigan, with limited travel before college. My family “vacationed” close to home, so I got excited to see a new town or a different Great Lake. The only mountains I had viewed up to this point had been in books, on Encarta 96 Encyclopedia, or road atlases. I grew up with rolling hills, forests, many lakes, and open fields. I went to college in the early 2000s and new friends were met and many of them were adventurous in spirit like myself. We neared the end of our college experience and hadn’t done much over the various spring breaks. Two of my closest friends, even to this day, and I made a plan to road trip to Colorado to see the mountains and meander our way down from there.
It’s amazing when you meet people who want to adventure in similar ways but also haven’t seen much (if any) of the places you want to see. The trip in 2007 across the country was full of firsts. Mountains, ocean (for me), palm trees, and the desert landscape. The mountains were not necessarily the thing on the trip I was most excited about. I rarely visited an actual big city, had never rented a car, crossed multiple state lines, been west of the Mississippi, or really much of anything. When we arrived in Colorado, we were underwhelmed by the east side; it was cow country and flat. But, the second we hit Denver, I felt the grand presence of the Rocky Mountains. (the photo at the top of this is my first “real” view)
Fast forward to 2020. We enter a pandemic, and go on lockdown. How do adventurous souls cope with lockdown, we plan. I got a little tipsy one night with some friends over zoom, because why not, and we booked flights to Seattle from our respective cities for later in 2020 when we thought it would be safe to travel. As the pandemic evolved, we had times when we thought the trip wouldn’t happen, even having one of the friends backing out with respect from the rest of us. I still planned. I planned until I couldn’t plan anymore because it kept the hope alive that I would adventure and see new things - new mountains. I booked refundable airbnbs, some nonrefundable campsites, and made backup plans for the backup plans. My Google doc was lengthy, with options for rainy days and trail closures. I got excited about backup plans because it meant not a moment would be wasted if this adventure happened. Guess what, it happened. It was the part of 2020 when it felt like things were turning around, and we traveled as safely as possible. The trip started with new-to-me trails in the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, near North Cascades, and an ocean view Airbnb. The days went on and evolved, including a hike on the famous Skyline trail on Mt. Rainier for the first time ever as well as showing my dear friend the special places I learned about from friends and their guidebooks years before.
For me, trips mean hope. Hope to see new things, hopes to learn more, hopes to live in this world the best way I know how. Planning these trips gives me hope that there is a future, there is a tomorrow, but also keeps me grounded in today. It took an evolution of travel over 15 years to learn how to love life a little more, push out the negative as best I can, and focus on the excitement of now and tomorrow. I moved to New Mexico from Texas this year and the hope has been renewed within me. There’s more to see than weekends available, and for the first time in ten years I feel truly hopeful again.
I’m listing ten of my favorite spots to hang out outdoors in Texas. These locations are in no particular order. Texas was home for nearly ten years, and it wasn’t until the past few that I really got out there and explored. I’m glad I did, but I’m also looking forward to the natural wonders of New Mexico.
This park has great trails but make it a point to hike to Fern Canyon if you can, it is worth it
I’ve hiked and camped here and can testify that it is quiet and pleasant, but tent camping is pretty close together
Many of the camping areas don’t have good shade, and a lot of the hiking doesn’t either, so don’t forget that sunscreen and extra water
You can read about my one hike or that other hike or that nature writing challenge I did
TX State Parks Website
I believe some people call it the “Grand Canyon of Texas” and it is pretty cool, but people gotta slow down
The initial descent into the canyon feels like you’ve left Texas
Trails and camping in this park are great - with plenty of variety
Read about my hike there or my other blurb about it or my other hike write-up
TX State Parks Website
This is a broad location, given the size, but I’m saying the whole place is worth it every time
Camping in the Chisos Basin was the coolest - watching the sun come up over the mountains
Hiking in Santa Elena Canyon area was a highlight for me, as well as pretty much everywhere else
I have not had the privilege of backpacking, but it’s on my list and I’ve heard good things
National Park Service Website
Another vast location I’ve had limited, but good, times at is this little gem
I hiked a couple of trails, while sick one weekend, and fell in love because I watched the sunrise and the moonset all in the same time frame.
I can’t wait to be located closer to these so I can explore further
Go in the morning, watch the mountains turn gold from a west Texas sunrise and you will NOT be disappointed
Read about my hike here
National Park Service Website
Big trees, creeks, boardwalks, sun through said big trees.. a magical place
I visited in the winter and fell in love, imagine the other seasons
I hit two areas - Beech Creek and Turkey Creek - both offered plenty of space to walk amongst the trees. (Beech Creek is a small chunk, and a short trail)
National Park Service Website
This location was an instant favorite - tall pines, pleasant drive from DFW, and quiet enough
I remember the trails being a little confusing, but nothing too bad
Looks like a great place to camp, though I haven’t had the opportunity - gotta plan way (up to weeks or months) ahead in Texas to reserve a spot
My friend Amanda shared this place with me and I am so glad she did.
This place has it all - lush waterfalls, open trails, and places to swim
I visited early in the morning, for a half day, but would love to get back someday as there is so much left to explore
The park on land seemed alright, I didn’t spend much time there.
I kayaked from one point, across the lake, and down the river
I saw birds, enjoyed a breeze, and would recommend it for anyone looking for a variety kayak that includes open water and a gentle river
TX State Parks Website
I never though Texas could look so magical with moody fog and cypress swamps
The kayaking looks phenomenal, I’d return just for that
The trails were nice and the vegetation was the highlight for me
TX State Parks Website
I’m going to give an honorable mention to Sea Rim State Park because it was a spectacular place that overwhelmed my senses in a good way. It’s on the Gulf of Mexico, has kayaking inland with plenty of birds to look at, and just makes you feel so small and unimportant in a good way. The reason I’d say it’s not in the top 10 is because of the location; you have to drive through ugly infrastructure to get there. TX State Parks Website
Hueco Tanks State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park
Devil’s River State Natural Area
Davis Mountains State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park
First, I’m writing this for myself. If you don’t want this kind of content, don’t read it. Second, I’m writing this to have some sort of reference point that is not my personal journal since I have several journals floating around because I’m bad at being consistent. Third, I’m fine and will be fine. Life is truly good, even if it’s got some little spots that really fucking suck.
I’ve been trying to figure out what’s good and what’s not for me in my life. I’d spent years tracking my exercise and steps as well as sleep. I love data, in theory. I love data when I’m doing regular exercise and getting regular sleep. I don’t like looking through the data when I’m sleeping 2-3 hours per night or being so overwhelmed mentally I’m too tired to do anything in the form of even a long walk.
I’ve tried to track daily things since February, and have had a bad record of doing so. I’ve recently updated my info and it’s just very bleak compared to years past. I feel it in my body, I feel it in my brain. I’m foggy. I’m slow. I’m a little more plump than usual. I’m just not feeling very myself. My body is over it and so is my brain. My brain, though, is a little asshole too. It’s not as though I don’t want to go for a walk, run, bike ride, or hike, it’s my brain being like “just lay on the couch and eat ice cream” so it all snowballs out of control.
I’m making myself go to the trails this weekend. I want to get some fresh air, challenge myself a bit, and get my dog out and acclimated to hiking again. I want to pick up the trash along the way and fulfill my duty as a Groundskeeper for 2021. I want to be outdoors with people I enjoy in a place away from the office hell of home or work.
I feel myself coming out of whatever it was holding me back. I feel a little more fresh, but still a little foggy. I’m trying, and pushing myself. I’m journaling my thoughts and feelings. I’m taking note of my moods, my foods, my drinks, and my time.
Things I have not given up on (maybe the only things truly getting me through)
Looking for the moon each morning
Getting lost in a sunrise
Watching the sun set over the horizon
Going out to see the stars (and moon) on the last dog walk of the night (they’re much more clear here in New Mexico)
Sleeping - it’s not always great, but it always happens eventually.
Things I will try harder to do, despite any of the bullshit in my brain
Take that dog for his 4 mile daily walk
Restart Couch 2 10K YET AGAIN
Get over to the apartment gym for some rotations
Make better food choices at home
Drink less alcohol (hasn’t been a problem, but certainly not always the best choice)
Hike every weekend again
Maybe bike to the office in my new small town
Here’s to a better March and a better outlook for 2021. Here’s to getting back to a routine, back in my groove, and back to reality. Here’s to balancing work and life and having some weekend adventure. If you need me, reach out - no matter my state I’m always here.
I’ve got road trips on my brain, again.
Do they ever leave my brain?
I’m longing for one of those GOOD road trips that involve little planning and maximum adventure. Back in the day my buddies and I would get in the car and plot out some stops and fill in the rest as we went. We made minimal hotel reservations, didn’t know when or where we’d stop to eat, and didn’t much care.
Read about the four trips I did with some best friends as I transitioned from college to real life.
Memorable trips more recently include drives back to Michigan, trips to Missouri, long hauls to the Redwoods and Oregon, and shorter ones to places like Big Bend or New Mexico. I have the Redwoods on the brain today, but who knows where I’ll be tomorrow? Daydreaming is getting me through this time of quarantine.
My Top 5 States (in no particular order)
Washington
Michigan
Oregon
New Mexico
Minnesota
Some honorable mentions are Alaska, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Nevada. I have yet to truly dive in to Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas. I haven’t done much out east, either, and it shows. I am not opposed to the east side, I just love what I find in the west. I think my top five list is based on accessibility - it’s easy to explore in those places, or I have connections. We have family in Alaska, so if it were a top six it would be on there. Alaska is expensive to get to and expensive to navigate if you want to get off the beaten path. The west is best.
I’m so excited that two of the trips I have planned for late summer/fall are to Washington. Some friends and I are going to camp on the beach in Olympic National Park, hike through the forests of Rainier, and anything and everything in between. Then, I get to go back a month later to run my first 10K up a mountain in the same area! Have I mentioned I love Washington?
Travel is clearly my escape. I know it’s a privilege, and it can seem very annoying to whine about canceling trips. I posted a similar statement on Twitter, only to be refreshed at the responses. I hadn’t thought that people, like myself, prioritize trips in their lives over other things and events. I forgot that trips to nature are the literal escape our brains need sometimes and it’s okay to miss it or to have feelings about it overall.
We’ll all get to travel again, when we get a handle on this virus. One way or another, the world still spins madly on. Enjoy some photos from my favorite states.
I typically get to Minnesota every year at least once. You know those friends who become family? Well, I’m fortunate to have those in Duluth, MN. My best bud, who went on all of the road trips with me, has family and a cabin up there which allows for awesome escapes.
Enjoy a little recap of 2019 in Minnesota.
This trip required a flight into the tundra known as Minneapolis The flight was delayed and so was our arrival to the Land of 10,000 lakes. We rented a Chevy Silverado, because we needed 4-wheel drive anyway, and headed up to Duluth. We didn’t get in until late, didn’t get up to Duluth til very late, and probably had more of a nap than a sleep. After coffee and packing up, we headed up to McFarland. We always stop at the Gun Flint Tavern in Grand Marais, MN. If you don’t stop there, does a trip to the cabin even count? They have great brews on tap and excellent food and are busy all year, so plan ahead if you stop by. From the tavern, it’s a short walk to the municipal liquor store and co-op if you need supplies.
Once to the lake, winter trips to the cabin require snowshoeing across then up the hill to the cabin. This year was eventful, to say the least. To start, there was a lot of snow and it was very cold - all good things for going across a frozen lake in the winter. Apparently, though, there was some slush under the upper crust of snowy ice creating a slushy lake on top of the actual ice, which was very thick. My snowshoe went through the upper crust, into the slushy lake on a lake, and slipped off my boat and floated away. I was worried I was going through the actual ice and entering a true emergency situation, but when my knee slammed down on the ice, I knew figured I was pretty safe. I worked to get out of the situation, but it was not easy as I broke through in every direction. Eventually, with a little help from Kevin, I got to the surface and freed myself from my lonely snowshoe. The snow on top of the lake wasn’t too bad, so a pair of snowshoes was only an added convenience. Bitter cold, wet, and frustrated, I made my way to the forested lakeside and up to the cabin.
A fire was built, frozen clothes stripped away, and dry clothes put on. Consumption of beer was immediate but warming of the cabin took what felt like centuries. Eventually dinner was had, more drinks were had, and laughter ensued about the incident earlier in the day. We made it before darkness, which was pretty early, and that’s all that mattered.
After a couple of days secluded from the world, we had to head back to reality. The trek back across the lake was only mildly annoying and there were no more issues. Back in Duluth, we had an evening to rest before driving back to Minneapolis to catch a plane. Of course we needed a good dinner and some beer, so we ran to Wisconsin to get the lowest legal beer prices around. It’s the little things - snow, seclusion, friends who became family, and low legal beer prices.
There is nothing quite like a whole week off the grid. My job became overly stressful and I was looking forward to five days without notifications, emails, or contact of any kind. Kevin and I decided we were going to drive up to Duluth, then the cabin, for this visit. We wanted to bring Chewy to the cabin to experience true freedom, so driving was the only way!
It started off in a typical fashion of hanging out with the family and stocking up in Wisconsin with the lowest legal beer prices. We made our way up the North Shore with our usual stop in Grand Marais at the Gun Flint Tavern, Municipal Liquor, and grocery store. It was a sunny day with blue skies, mild temps, and plenty of fresh air. The road to the lake was dusty, as usual, and we had to stop at the usual overlook for a quick break. We arrived at the boat launch, unloaded the boat, loaded the boat with supplies, and began our journey across the lake. As we approached the dock at the cabin property, we noticed it looked a little funny. Upon closer inspection, it appears part of the dock was washed away making transferring supplies a little more difficult than usual. I misjudged the balance of the dock without decking and tipped the whole damn thing and landed in the water. Brisk is one word to describe the water when one is used to Texas temperatures.
We made a classic mistake by drinking too much beer the first night. It was a pretty quiet couple of days in the beginning as we nursed hangovers in our 30s and laid low for a while. I explored the woods around the cabin a little and eventually we made it over to the Border Route Trail to do some hiking. The weather was mostly good, cool, sunny. A major project we had to do while up was to reinstall the composting toilet and it was accomplished in a day. Nights were spent by the fire, making food and having beers while Chewy the dog begged/listened to the woods. At one point, we swear we heard a moose trudging through trees in the distance, but it can’t be confirmed with a visual.
Eventually, we had leave the cabin and all of the beauty of living off the grid. We packed out the trash and closed everything up and made our way across the lake. We spent one last evening in Duluth, with a little outing to Canal Park Brewing Company. It was a cool, windy evening on Lake Superior, but the beers and food were great. Since we drove this time, we could take it a little easier as we headed south so we made a stop for lunch at Bent Paddle Brewing Co in one of my favorite parts of Duluth. There was a pizza food truck and plenty of beers to choose from, so it was what some would call an extended lunch. We met a fun bartender, who actually lived in Michigan before, which just added to my instant love for the brewery and brewpub atmosphere. It’s always hard leaving Duluth for me because it’s somewhere I feel home and could see myself living out the rest of my life. It was Saturday afternoon and we made it back by Sunday morning which gave me a quick turnaround for work on Monday.
What a trip this was, living off the grid and reconnecting with Minnesota. So many great sunrises, sunsets, and moments in between. I look forward to 2020 visits to Minnesota, sprinkled between other adventures along the way.
I keep saying that Friday I’m embarking on my first backpacking trip… that’s not ENTIRELY true. Back in 2010, my best bud Kevin and I did a “backpacking” trip (click here to see that post) at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It wasn’t too far in, about a mile, and we took only regular sized gear as well as beer. It was a nice change of pace from state park camping, and afforded us a quick hike to the beach. All in all, I’d say it was a great intro to overnighting with a backpack. Each time we go to Kevin’s family cabin in Northern Minnesota, we also sort of “backpack” in. We are miles from phone service or actual utilities and we have to take everything by canoe/boat or sled, then on our backs, to the cabin. I was letting the anxiety related to the idea of backpacking get to me, mostly underestimating my own ability to persevere through situations. I am no quitter, I do push through, and once started, I don’t give up. I can’t wait to get to it and hike a few miles (4-5) to a campsite and explore the wilderness in Arizona this weekend.
Enjoy a few photos of previous “backpacking” trips, and know I’m going to call this upcoming weekend my first time because it will be with new people and more than a mile from the car or boat dock.
I had all sorts of anxiety about work this week. It’s my second week at a new job, and it was an information overload during week one. I wasn’t totally freaking out or anything, but I wasn’t jumping out of bed with excitement to go in to the office. I heard some of the guys come in around 7am so I thought I’d shoot for 730 to test the water so to speak. Simply waking up at 6 has me less anxious, despite the uncertainty about the new job. I slept better, even after getting to bed late. While I lose the half day Friday I once had, I often just drank the afternoon away and ended up feeling gross. I’m looking forward to more sleep, a steady routine, and still having fun. Yeah, I won’t be able to fly out at 1pm anymore, but I will likely be more well rested to maximize the hours I do have.
I'm still going to spend my weekends the same way, I’ll just have to fly/drive through the night on Fridays again to make it happen. The beauty is, I can fly in Monday mornings and just come in later if necessary as work allows. Here’s to flexibility and maybe getting enough sleep!
What would you do with an extra hour of sleep? Are you a weekend warrior? If so, what are your tricks?
Inspiration can come from many places and this time it was a simple message from someone in the online outdoor community who I admire so much and want to camp/hike with eventually. I don’t think the message was intended to be motivational, but here I am writing a little blurb about how it lit a fire under my ass.
I really want to be able to start somewhere at dawn, hike all day, gain thousands in elevation, camp, and hike back out. I think the pros call it “backpacking” or something, but yeah, that’s what I want to seriously get in to and I’ve been saying it for a while. This fall the plan is to hike to Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park as well as do several practice backpacking runs in local state parks with “primitive” hike-in sites. I’ve never been more motivated to do these things because next year, I want to head to the real mountains (you know, the ones with snow on top and stuff out west) with people and feel completely limitless.
Cooler weather, though it’s still really damn humid
Fall hiking and camping ahead
Family camping weekend
Potential trips to Minnesota and Washington in October
People that just keep livin’ and making the best of life
I’ve been on a quest to get healthier and I’m at week 10 with a little bit of a stall, but that’s being revamped too. I’m not exercising enough and I’m not even close to hiking enough. It’s been hot and miserable and I’ve been relying on it as my go-to excuse. I’m sure there’s a pattern of this behavior, if I looked back, because this is how I operate. I get lazy, bored, blah blah blah.
It’s not about the pounds for me and I need to convince myself of that. I just want to be healthier and able to go up that mountain or live past 40. I’m not an all or nothing guy and I shouldn’t treat adjustments to eating and exercise that way either. Everything in moderation, avoid excessive crap, at least walk an hour a day, and continue training for the 5K.
I’m not sure if this is motivation for you, but know that I’m rooting for you in whatever you’re doing and I’m here to say GET IT! Work hard, forgive yourself, and keep going!
I created this website to share my thoughts and adventures both for myself so I could remember them and for people who wanted to read about them. I don't force it upon people, though I do share links a lot, and I don't pressure anyone into reading the posts. I do this "blogging thing" because I want to. I enjoy writing pieces about myself, which makes it a little self-centered, and that's okay too because I pay the annual fees and I do all of the work. I want to write silly stories, share my sometimes beautiful photos from 10 years ago because I miss the good ole days, and make more memories to write about with the people I meet along the way. Pretty standard life stuff, right? Right. Goal achieved - do what you love and who cares about the rest.
Imagine the surprise and excitement I felt when I was asked to join a larger, more seasoned network of outdoor bloggers as a contributor. That's right, I'm officially a part of Epic Social as an Adventurer. Epic Social is a community of people connecting through the outdoors and everything that entails - product reviews, adventure recaps, words of wisdom, etc. Being a part of this larger organization allows me to learn skills in marketing, social networking, and writing while getting to share my stories to a larger audience. I'm so excited to see what I can bring to the table for the group and to see how I can be pushed creatively going forward. I'm pumped to have future projects, what can I say?
Because I started writing, just doing my thing, and following my thoughts I get to participate in something larger than my website alone. Because I just did it, stopped worrying and wondering and just did it, I get to do even cooler things than I ever thought possible. Do what you love, even if you don't think you're going to go anywhere. Do what you love, even if you don't get paid for it. Do what you love, even if it's on the side while you do something you don't love for the bills. Do what you love, and find that confidence within. You don't have to appeal to everyone, you don't have to be the best at everything, and you don't have to be the website with most views to do what you love. No matter what happens as I become involved with Epic Social, I'll still be here writing down my thoughts, taking okay pictures, and sharing my life on my website because I enjoy doing it. Follow along, join me, and do some epic shit.
July 7, 2018 marked the first year of life with Oliver the Outback. It’s been a beautiful year, filled with commutes and adventures, and I am beyond happy that I chose Subaru. At the one year mark, I had over 28,000 miles on the odometer and countless hours of rocking out to my jams. (Check out my 6-month update here)
Going forward, I have a few trips in the back of my mind that I want to take that Oliver the Outback will be perfect for. Once the weather cools, we'll hit up the campgrounds out west in Texas, and visit Big Bend. Until then, I plan to make an appearance in the Santa Fe National Forest and take a quick trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Here's to another year of safe commutes and amazing adventures!
A year ago my other half and I were probably napping after our flight back from Alaska. We spent about 10 days visiting with his family, exploring the land, and loving life. I can't wait to get back up there, so I'm sharing a few photos to relive the moments until then. Enjoy!
Quartz Creek Campground - Kenai Lake
A quiet morning on Kenai Lake - Quartz Creek Campground
A foggy view just south of Seward
Sea kayaks with a view - Seward, AK
A view of Exit Glacier on the way up to get a closer look - Kenai Fjords National Park
Byron Glacier
I have the 2.5i Limited in black with warm ivory interior named Oliver the Outback and it's been my favorite car to own to date. I've had a lot of hand me down cars, unreliable used cars, and a couple of newer cars more recently that have just not stood up to the miles I put on with commuting and adventures. This car is comfortable to ride in, offers good visibility, has almost 9 inches of ground clearance, and the sunroof I require for all of my cars. This is the year of adventures and Oliver the Outback will be front and center.
The climate control, display, and everything else is just fine. The leather is holding up, even with a dog constantly drooling on the seat in front of him, the rubber floor mats are a big bonus, and the sunshade really helps here in Texas. The Outback is utilitarian in design, but comfortable and nice to look at. I love that the mirrors have turn signal indicators in them and I love that the taillights are LED with YELLOW turn signal lights. I think all turn signal lights should be yellow, in all cars, but that's just me.
At just over six months of ownership, with 13,300 miles, I'm already looking forward to the next 10 years. I truly love this car enough to want to keep it until it doesn't want to go anymore. Looking ahead, I hope to get a cargo rack or box for the roof, possibly upgrade the fog lights to match the headlights, and get a set of better tires when these stock tires wear down.
I've created a website, if you haven't noticed, and it's pretty fun so far. I loved having blogs on WordPress, but for the money I was going to spend to increase my storage there, I thought why not spend a few bucks more and get an entire website that could host both blogs, various other content, and have my own domain name. So, here we are all fresh and new. Forgive me as continue to learn how to do this and as I continue to make it as easy as possible to navigate.
I thought about just using this website to share my hiking journey with anyone who wants to follow along, but figured adding other topics would be more fun for me. As with my WordPress blogs, I am doing this for me. I don't hate the attention (let's be real), but this is for my own documentation and record keeping more than anything else. I wanted an organized way to look back at the things I do so I can reflect, plan ahead, and just plain remember things that slip my brain.
Bookmark me if you'd like, and if not, that's okay too. I'll share all hiking and writing updates via my social media pages, so they'll always be floating around out there somewhere. I have a year to see how this works, and if it doesn't feel enjoyable or feasible anymore, it'll end as it should in a fireball of destruction. Kidding, I'll just lose the domain and life will carry on.
I'm working on migrating some more important writings and travel posts, so they'll appear but I will not share them on Twitter as they've been shared before. Look for them in the next week or so, if you want to look back. Most things have been migrated over, and are already on here.
If you enjoy this site, don't hesitate to let me know. If you think it needs work, keep it to yourself - just kidding, I don't mind constructive criticism. I'm not looking to use this platform to make money (yet) or become famous on Twitter, I'm just documenting my journey and sharing things I find entertaining, useful, and inspiring.
If you want to hike with me, find me on Twitter or use the Contact Me form I created. I'd love to connect with people interested in the outdoors or people that may know great spots here in Texas to take a hike. I'm working on a tentative schedule for 2018, though spontaneity is usually more my style. I'll share some ideas once I've done a little more research, so stay tuned!
If you've read this, I wish you well and invite you to check back soon!
**Seeing can mean believing... more of my opinions on inclusiveness in the parks.**
I know some people who have gone to National Parks. They have seen the majestic beauty, right along side me, and have proclaimed how beautiful it was aloud. These same friends, they don't really go to National Parks that often or at all anymore which is okay. These people saw the beauty, believe in the beauty, and will remember the beauty of these wonderful places forever. THIS IS IMPORTANT.
A National Park may not be their family vacation destination every time, but they may return someday. These people understand the importance, value, and impact these places have on the general population. They get it - because they've been there. Because these people have been there, they get why it's important to protect and fund these places. These people then connect National Parks and the preservation ideals to other natural areas that need preservation. It can build.
Visiting a National Park, once or twice, has left an impression on these people. Will they return? Maybe. Will they remember the good times there and what those parks stand for? Definitely. It just takes one time, even if nature isn't their thing, for someone to fall in love with the idea of National Parks, Monuments, Forests, etc.
Plant the seed and see what grows. We need to continue to get people of all areas of life/status/etc to these place to see for themselves - maybe only once. Maybe it isn't their thing, but maybe it is. Even if it isn't their thing, they'll remember the trip and could see how important these places are for our country.
It's amazing to me that I can remember so much from such a brief visit to a National Park. I was thinking back to my first trip to Death Valley National Park today and I can remember it all like we drove through yesterday. I remember the Devil's Golf Course, Badwater Basin, and Stovepipe Wells. I remember hugging my first redwood just days prior up in Redwood National Park. A year later, I was camping in Arches National Park after an edge-of-your-seat drive through a blizzard in the Rockies on the way there. I remember the trails we hiked to go see the various arches and landscape views as well as the campsite and the view from the tent. I remember it being something like 11 degrees and very windy with some icy spots on the trails - and a funny sign warning of falling on ice. I remember the BLM land on the Loneliest Road in America - US 50 - and the campsite there with snow. We pitched the tent, dug a trench to divert any melting snow, and made a fire. That night, the sky was so clear and full of stars. You could see US 50 for miles, and in that one night I only remember seeing two cars in the distance.
I remember something from each visit to Redwood National Park and I remember our brief drive through Olympic National Park. I remember the moss growing on the old wood - making everything pop with green. I can't recall a more worthwhile hike than the one Delicate Arch, despite not really knowing much about where we were going. I can still picture Bryce Canyon, covered in snow, from Inspiration Point. The hoodoos poking through massive snow drifts below is a sight forever burned into my brain. Snow melting, muddy trails, and the spray of waterfalls in Zion in the early spring only make me want to return.
I could go on, and on, about things I remember without even a picture to trigger it. I have so many memories from trips to National Parks. I've experienced visits as brief as a drive through with stops at scenic lookouts to camping overnight. The experience doesn't matter, as long as it happens. If we get people that may not be able to or people that don't really know too much about the parks to the parks, they may have these little memories to hold on to and may be more inclined to help preserve them. If people can develop memories or find meaning in these places, they may be more willing to join the fight to fund, protect, and expand them. We must continue to fight to get EVERYONE out to the parks. We must continue to fight the current administration and their desire to shrink, drill in, and/or eliminate these places. Together, through collective thoughts and actions we can make these parks accessible to all people and create new ones for the future while securing proper funding. I believe it is possible, do you?
Copyright © 2024 52 HIKES WITH MIKE, All rights reserved.
