Weekend Warrior: Snowshoing in the Cascades!

welcome to winter adventuring!

 View of Silver Peak, Snoqualmie Region, Central Cascades, Washington

Snowy winter wonderland!

Pacific Crest Trail, Central Cascades

Saying there's a lot of snow is one thing...  Not being able to use the restroom? Owned!

Life Lessons: Practice Wellness

People frequently misunderstand wellness as only meaning physical fitness.  And where this is an important aspect of one's life, it's equally important to remember your own mental wellness.  There's nothing better than cleansing the body with a rigorous 15-mile approach hike and then sitting on the lake shore with nothing but the wind and birds for music to clear your mind.  Some of my most calming and self-clarifying moments have happened in the mountains.  Whether it was sitting on the banks of an alpine lake, on the top of an Appalachian Trail summit, or basking in the Caribbean sun on a beach after snorkeling in crystal clear water.  Go out and treat yourself to self-discovery.  It does a body good!  Be well.

Life Lessons: Listen Hard.

You'll never know what you might discover.

Two summers ago, I camped in Badlands National Park.  During the night, two thunderstorms rolled through, the lightening brightening the tent so much I could see every single detail and the thunder was so loud it shook me to my core.  I lay there taking in the sheer power of the storms and marveling at the way weather could make me feel.  I awoke early that morning to hit the road and while packing the tent, a pack of coyotes began howling on the ridge overlooking our site. They were communicating with others outside their group and it was enchanting.

In August, I backpacked up in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.  On the shore of Waptus Lake, I was alone.  Or at least there were no other hiking parties set up within earshot.  Late in the night, I awoke to hear a wolf howling over the mountains.  Shortly after another from the opposite direction answered him back.  A chill passed through me, but not from fear.  But rather it was a sharp reminder that I was in their territory; I was the visitor and that I should always remember and respect that.  The next morning, a disgruntled bear roamed the opposite lake shore, voicing his opinion at our presence.

If you never stop to listen to the sounds around you, you miss an integral part of experiencing the world.

Life Lessons: Walk to the edge...

... it should take your breath away!

I've always tried to do just this.  When I summit a mountain or jumped out of an airplane my first time skydiving, I knew life was good.  The edge of your own insecurities is where life begins.  Never forget to live.

Life Lessons: Live with intention.

Intention: a course of action that one intends to follow; an aim that guides action; an objective.

Of all the advice that one can receive, this, I believe to be the most valuable.  To live day by day without the drive to be the best you can be, then what is the point of living?  Follow your dreams and inspire others to do the same.  Whatever you decide to do, make it mean something to you.  Live everyday to its fullest and go to sleep with no regrets.  If you can do this, then meaning will find your life.  This simple mantra is something that I recite to myself daily and I hope you will too.

Welcome to Adventure!

My whole life has been filled with adventure.  From going to college, to moving across the country, and getting engaged, but also camping around Europe, backpacking Canyonlands NP, and thru-hiking the Loyalsock Trail in PA.  Thanks to my wonderful parents, who exposed me to the beauty of the outdoors, I've spent most of my 26 years exploring the world around me.   Now that I'm living in the most exciting place, in my opinion, in the United States, I figured I would allow myself a personal adventure of blogging my adventures.  Sounds interesting, no?  As we are approaching the new year (and the end of the world, jk), I've decided that I need to take control of what is really important in my life: my health and my life of adventure with my future husband.  So this is it: inspiration to live by, places to drool over, and my own adventures to excite the mind.  Everything is always "ask anything" so come with me and explore, enjoy and protect what makes our hearts beat faster!