Chasing Fall at these 10 National Parks Here is a quick breakdown of 10 National Parks nationwide known for stunning fall colors! Do note that the times are historical estimates, and you'll want to do some research on the specific places, as the weather plays a big role in when colors change. 1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina) Peak Time: Late September to early November Details: The park has a wide range of elevations, so fall colors start in the higher...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Five Days in Alaska Jaimie and I just returned from five amazing days in the Alaskan wild. We spent four nights in Port Alsworth, a small community in the middle of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. From there, we took float planes to different Lake Clark and Katmai areas to watch brown bears in the wild and see the dramatic Alaskan scenery. This was my third time visiting Alaska, and it continues to dazzle. Seeing such remote places as they have been for hundreds or thousands of years...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Happy August 1! How it's already August, I don't know. Summer seems to be flying by, though I'm telling myself we still have plenty of time to enjoy the good weather. As for me, I'm in San Diego this weekend at a bachelor party for one of my closest friends. While this isn't a 'quiet weekend,' it's a 'calm weekend' as it won't involve backpacking 15+ miles. I haven't been to Southern California since I moved out of Santa Barbara, and it's pretty nice to be back on the coast. 10 Awesome...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hi ya'll! This one's short and sweet. Today is the start of Amazon Prime Day, and I wanted to pass along some nice deals for ya'll in case you were on the lookout for some adventure items. Amazon doesn't carry the best of the outdoor gear for hiking/backpacking but you can still find some good outdoor adjacent stuff. If you want to shop on your own, click here, and I'll get a small commission if you buy something. Outdoor and Photography Items On Sale RTIC Coolers 22QT, 52QT, 65QT up to 21%...
3 months ago • 3 min read
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and have adjusted back to life without a day off this week. We've been sweltering in Seattle's heatwave (no true AC in our unit), but it's finally abiding. But all that heat means melting snow and the official arrival of summer up here. I cannot wait to hit full throttle on the upcoming backpacking season! Mountain Safety Tips Let's talk mountain tips for those hitting the trails. 1. Get off ridgelines and summits by 1pm This is my biggest...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Summer hiking is in full swing across the country, and I'm sure you've seen some questionable hiking etiquette so far. Over the weekend, I was in the Washington Cascades and encountered a group that was blaring music and yelling nonstop. They weren't even angry yelling—they were just yelling as they talked because their music was so loud. It was NOT ideal for the situation. So, I figured, let's do a brief refresher on hiking etiquette. I'd love it if you could forward this to a friend or...
4 months ago • 2 min read
A year ago, I spent 10 days traveling around Iceland on the famous Ring Road. We saw more glaciers and waterfalls than I'd ever seen before. We experienced untouched lands, soaked in hot springs under the midnight sun, and drove the country's longest F-Road. It's genuinely one of the most magical places I've ever experienced, and I want you to have a similar experience! Get My 10-Day Iceland Guide for just $30 I told many of you I was working on an E-Book/Guide, and while it took way longer...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Happy Friday, ya'll! I'm currently in Bellingham getting ready to summit Washington's third-highest peak and volcano, Mt. Baker, in the North Cascades. It's my first true mountaineering trek, and I'm ecstatic and somewhat nervous about how my body will hold up. I've been hiking a ton lately, but this will be the most strenuous thing I've done since cancer and transplant 16 months ago. I'm going with a guide and team, so I'll have company and should return with lots of photos and memories! How...
4 months ago • 3 min read
We might have four more days until the official start of summer, but I bet we're all in summer mode now! This means hiking and backpacking season is here. But are you in shape for what you want to accomplish this season? Living in Seattle, we have some hibernation issues that increase our blubber during the winter months, as the gloom and rain keep us from being as active as we would like. That means that we have to build back our strength without getting hurt before our epic summer...
4 months ago • 3 min read