At the end of July Duncan and I took a trip to Mount Rainier, with the expectation of hiking one of the many lovely trails on the Sunrise side of the park. The park has two main “areas” and most of the popular trails start on either the Sunrise side, or the Paradise side. Last September we went for a hike on the Paradise side which is significantly larger as far as parking and accommodations, and when deciding what time we should leave to arrive for our hike this year we based everything off of those aforementioned facts: September, Paradise.

Duncan likes to sleep in, while I am content leaving the house at 0500 to ensure we beat the crowds. In order to find a middle ground we left around 0700 with the intent of arriving around 0930. This is what we did last time, so it should have worked well, right? Turns out July is not September (duh, July is far busier), and the Sunrise side is not Paradise. The Sunrise side has significantly limited parking meaning we arrived to find ourselves in a line of other cars, waiting to get past the gate.

NO, no, no, noooo.

After waiting for 30 minutes or so, I asked a passing park ranger how long we could expect to wait, and the words that came out of his mouth put me into a tunnel of darkness – “three hours.” Absolutely the heck not. Thankfully I was next to a pull out, and with no plan B we turned around and started driving. We had no cell service, no idea of where else to hike, and I was starting to have a melt down.

I don’t handle changes of plans very well, especially when I have no way of finding an alternative.

I ended up driving the ENTIRE PARK over to the Paradise side which was MADNESS, before settling on a random trail off the side of the road. We walked through the woods passing a few small waterfalls, with the goal of finding Narada Falls. Ironically Narada Falls in accessible just off the road, but something about hiking to it make it all the more awe-worthy once we arrived. We hiked from Carter Falls to Narada Falls clocking about 6 miles with 1300 ft of elevation gain.

The trail overall was so-so, would not do again, but the day was beautiful and I had a good sport of a passenger. If only he could say the same about me. I was admittedly a pill the majority of the afternoon, but once we were able to get out and start walking I think I turned it around. I don’t know, you’ll have to ask Duncan.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. It is now September (good time of year), I have two willing humans wanting to leave at 0500, and there is rain on the forecast. A recipe for success. My friend Caitlin and her sister Christina met me at my house for an early departure to hike once again on the Sunrise side of the park. This days adventure was a walk to the Berkeley Park Campground, with an offshoot to the Fremont lookout on the way back.

All three of us were a bit trepidatious due to the weather forecast, but we decided to go anyway. We arrived at the parking lot by 0730, and the entire lot was swallowed by a thick cloud. There was plenty of parking, but the air was chilled and I quickly discovered I did not dress warmly enough. I was certain we wouldn’t have any views that day, but karma was on our side. As soon as we started hiking the sky opened up.

The Berkeley Park trail took us through open meadows and away from the mountain for a unique view of this park. We hiked 4 miles to the campground area, had a snack, and headed back towards the Fremont Lookout. I originally wanted to do the Fremont Lookout Trail as a sunrise hike, but we would have to wake up around 0100 for this, and honestly I don’t think I care enough to watch a sunrise. The views from the lookout were just as lovely during the normal hours of the day.

We savored the view for all of five minutes before the wind took most of our warmth and I could no longer feel my fingers. We made our way back towards the parking lot, making this hike a total of 10.75 miles and around 2300 ft of elevation. This take two of recent visits to Mount Rainier went much better than the first, and a large part of why was because I lowered my expectations.

These two hikes might have been different in all ways – different weather, different company, different attitude, but there was one commonality between the two. There is a local shop 30 min outside of the park that sells ice cream, and it is well worth the splurge. This recent hike my hands were too cold to eat one of my snacks, so I got vanilla ice cream to top with my snack. Absolute win.

The perk of being an adult is that you can reward yourself whether your attitude is positive or negative, and I rewarded myself after both hikes.

Q: Do you like arriving early places before the crowds, or would you rather sleep in and arrive when you arrive?

I have been making a habit of visiting Trader Joe’s about once a week in the last year, and on each visit I was counting down the days until I saw the sign. The sign that indicates the changes of seasons, the Holy Grail of the modern day basic American woman, and the source of a multi month giddiness I know I am not alone in…

Hello. My name is Brittany, and I loose my marbles over the beginning of pumpkin season.

The thing is, I don’t actually consume most pumpkin items. I’ve never even had my own pumpkin spice latte (I have had sips, but it’s not for me for a handful of reasons.) For me seeing this sign is an indication that calmer days are coming my way. The busyness of summer adventures are coming to an end, the rainy days are on the horizon, and the much needed rest my body seeks is more acceptable to my go, go, go mindset.

I love fall. This time of year always feels cleansing to me. A time to appreciate the changes of colors in nature, heartier seasonal foods, and there is a sense of joy that fills my soul when I see pumpkins sitting outside every grocery store. What can I say, I am a sucker for large orange spheres. Walking into Trader Joe’s with the smells of cinnamon brooms and the sights of every gourd imaginable makes me feel like a kid again.

I don’t care what this says about me, I will take any source of excitement I can get.

Pumpkin season also starts my adventurous attitude with food. I typically keep things strict with what I eat, but I let my hair down this time of year through Christmas to taste some forbidden fruits. There are a handful of seasonal treats I avoid, but there are a handful I don’t avoid. I had been waiting 365 days for Trader Joe’s to bring back an item I discovered last year, one I consumed many times.

And in typical Trader Joe’s fashion they did not bring back my beloved this year.

As my luck would have it anytime I find a decent gluten free item, it’s limited. I fell in love with a local muffin company a handful of years ago and they no longer exist. I fell in love with Trader Joe’s gluten free pumpkin bread and it no longer exists (at least not at my local store.) This bread was hands down one of the best store bought loafs I have ever eaten. It’s hard for me to find a treat that not only tastes good, but doesn’t leave me feeling like I consumed an entire fifth of vodka the night before.

Alas, I must move on and continue to seek a new seasonal treat. There are some items that are seasonal, but they’re items I would eat on a normal basis. Add a seasonal flavor to something and I am all over it. Sometimes they are a win, and sometimes they are such a huge loss that I wish teleportation existed so I could speak face to face with whomever created such an abomination.

Tasty treats aside I also look forward to an annual visit to a pumpkin patch/corn maze. The weather has been a bit finicky in Washington, but I hope to get lost in a maze soon. I last all of 15 minutes before I stop trying and begin allowing Duncan to guide me out. I just like to wander. The pumpkins, the flannels, the boots, the corn, the leaves changing – all of this is the beginning of a magical few months of holiday seasons.

I never used to be big on holidays, but as I get older I look forward to them. I don’t care for the consumeristic aspect of them, in fact I abhor that correlation with holidays, but I love the sense of togetherness it brings. I love the fun activities available, the foods, and sometimes even the weather. I savor October and November and I look forward to many pots of homemade applesauce, nights of wool socks and movies, stormy afternoons while I snuggle with my cat, and all the decorated porches.

If anyone out there knows of a good gluten free item I must try (yeah yeah I know I can just make my own and I DO, but sometimes a girl just wants to buy an unhealthy treat), please let me know. Or just share with me your favorite fall treat you like to consume.

Q’s:

• Do you like fall?
• Do you get seasons where you live?
• What’s your favorite fall treat!?

1. I have one last hike I want to share from the beginning of October, but it’s been so long since I’ve popped on here that I think an Early Morning Confessions post is in order. Somehow it’s already mid November, and almost time to scarf down pounds of turkey. It’s also almost time to be thankful Duncan is nearly one year older. Confession: I’m older than my sweet, young, boyfriend.

Any guesses on how much of a gap we have?

2. Speaking of the almost birthday boy, we managed our annual trip to a pumpkin patch just before Halloween. The pumpkin pickings were slim at this patch, and it looked as if a tornado had ripped through the farm leaving rotted gourds in its wake. We managed to find two small rejects that we turned into starry eyed puke faces.

3. One of my coworkers is constantly recommending off the cuff movies to me. I have watched most of the ones he has suggested, some I have ruminated on after watching, but none more than the one I watched most recently. I wanted to watch Midsommar since first hearing about it, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into with that movie.

It was one of the most disturbing movies I have seen in years, and yet I obsessed over it for a week.

I don’t watch scary movies. They are absolutely not for me. I will envision scenes for far too long causing extensive fear of the dark as a full grown adult. This was a horror movie of sorts and although I cannot handle true horror, the psychological thriller aspect of this movie captivated me. However, I was thankful my coworker warned me of a specifically gory scene, I don’t like gore either.

Has anyone else seen this movie?

4. My cat is doing much better these days. I think I have dialed in what he needs in his geriatric stage of life. He is playful and eats well, seems to feel ok, and loves to snuggle. Now that the colder months have arrived he is a sucker for the space heater. He sticks his paws right under the vent that blows hot air, and the image kills me every time. I also bought him a heating pad because he is spoiled and he is my child.

5. My dad came to visit at the end of September and spent a few days falling in love with my cat. He loves my cat so much he almost stuffed him in his duffle bag to take back home with him. He also went into full dad mode analyzing my car to ensure it was in top shape (I have driven the same car since 2008, and I absolutely love it.) One of these statements is true, and the other is not.

Any guesses?

6. My friend Sam and I took a day trip to Oregon the weekend before Halloween. Our goal was to visit Halloweentown, aka the town of St. Helens. For my fellow millennials who grew up in the 90’s you might remember this Disney channel movie. We rewatched the movie before going to Oregon and it was just as terribly great as I remembered.

It was fun to see the filming location right in the center of town, and movie aside this was an adorable place.

7. On this trip to Oregon we also stopped in Portland for Sam to visit Powell’s Books. I knew Portland would have some gluten free goodies, and I found a bakery around the corner from the bookstore. I was flabbergasted by the prices of the goods, and although I do better with gluten free than gluten full, I was not about to pay copious amounts of cash to feel like crap. I settled on a $6 scone that thankfully blew my socks off.

It was worth every single repercussion.

8. My friend Caitlin and I have been staying active despite the rainy weather. I am thankful to have a pal like her who is always up for an outdoor adventure. She has the sweetest adventure pup, and that means a lot coming from a cat lady.

9. Staying active in the fall and winter months is imperative for my mental well being. I have started running more regularly again in an attempt to mitigate any seasonal sadness that is inevitably coming my way (I run year round, but only 1-2 times a week when it’s hiking season). Last year I did a run streak starting on Thanksgiving where I ran everyday for 39 days.

A handful of those days I only ran one mile, but it was enough to keep my spirits high. I have decided to start the streak early this year, and this year my goal is to run at least two miles most days. I won’t be upset if there are days I only manage one mile (hello PMS week, I’m looking at you), but I’ll shoot for two.

I’m on day 8, wish me luck.

10. This year I got back into reading and it has been an enjoyable way to avoid too much time on social media. Social media does little to no good for bettering my life, and while it can be fun to scroll mindlessly once in a while, I do my best to not be on it too much.

I tend to obsess over stories that haunt me, and the book that destroyed me most this year was: A Little Life. There are so many trigger warnings for this book, and I found it to be a sad story along the way, but it wasn’t until the end that it broke me. I sobbed for probably 10 minutes straight, and I was sad for a week. I don’t recommend this book because it’s filled with trauma, but I have never read a book where the main character stuck with me long after reading.

I am glad I read this one. Books and movies that make me feel things are usually worth it for me. Real life is messy, I need messy stories. Sometimes.

Q’s:

• What’s your confession?
• Have you read any books lately that you recommend?

It’s the second week of December, and in Washington the rain is heavy, and the clouds are dark. I don’t mind this weather (yet), but I do find myself reminiscing on the brightness of fall. Two months ago my friend Caitlin and I went for one final big hike, and today I am going to share that story. It’s not often I see a hike that is four hours away and wrangle someone into coming with me, but per usual Caitlin is my go to gal – up for any adventure.

Our original plan was to do this hike (driving included) in one day. We would get up before the birds, drive the long haul to the North Cascades, hike 11-12 miles, and drive home. We would be tired, but we could do it, right? This trail is one of, if not THE most popular trail in the North Cascades meaning we had to ensure getting to the trail early, or we risked having to park on the already too tiny gravel road. In order to ensure we had a parking spot we decided to find a cheap Air B&B and drive up the night before.

We found Lolita, a 1979 Airstream for a whopping $70 a night.

Lolita was cozy, but the bed was rock hard and I slept maybe a total of 3 hours that night. We woke up around 0500, and headed straight for the trail head. Thankfully I had enough caffeine and adrenaline to get me going, and I was stoked to only be driving two hours instead of four. We arrived at the trail head around 0700 with just enough time to snag one of the remaining parking spots.

The lot was filling up fast, but thankfully for the majority of our hike we didn’t run into too many people.

This hike is popular because there are two main options: hike the Cascade Pass Trail which is a moderate 7 mile round trip hike to a beautiful overlook, or continue on to the Sahale Arm which is an additional 5 miles round trip (plus about 2000 feet more elevation.) I would say half of the people who come to this trail stop at the Cascade Pass. The views to Cascade Pass are beautiful on their own, but I cannot imagine coming all this way and not continuing on to the Sahale Arm.

Caitlin and I specifically saved this hike for the first week of October because it is well known for having amazing fall colors. We could not have gone on a better day, the temperature was perfect, the sun was bright, and the colors were intense. If we had waited just one more week we would have been hit with snow.

We arrived at Cascade Pass just under two hours after we started. This is when the wind started to pick up, and it only got stronger the higher we got. I was continually taking my jacket off and putting my jacket on in an attempt to combat the heat from climbing and the chill from the wind. We took our time to stop and savor the views along the way, all the while playing leap from with one woman who was wearing the same jacket as me, but in a different color.

We savored the view of the above lake both on the way up and on the way down. This lake would be our focal point for the majority of the second half of the hike. At one point I even saw myself rolling down the hill, falling into the lake. More on that later. Overall I felt great on this hike, physically I had energy, and mentally I was stoked. We were having fun and the landscape could not have been more beautiful.

Until…

I eventually reached a point where each step felt like I had bricks tied to the bottom of my feet. My lungs felt like someone was sitting on them, and the air around me felt tight. I often struggle accepting when things are physically challenging for me, so I was getting frustrated by the fact that Caitlin seemed unfazed while I was having a hard time.

Turns out we were nearing 7000 feet of elevation, explaining why I was struggling with air.

Ultimately it shouldn’t matter, but I was comforted by this justification for my breathing. As we continued on we weren’t sure of where the end was. We just kept putting one foot in front of the other, fighting the wind, and admiring the brave souls who camped overnight. I cannot imagine sleeping with that kind of wind all night. We finally came to the end of the obvious trail, and met the portion of trail that was predominately boulders. This was a “choose your own path” type of trail, and when a pair of men passed us to the right, we chose to follow them.

Mistakes were made.

While Caitlin billy goated her way after them, I began crawling as the “trail” became tighter and the rocks became smaller and more slippery. We were on an edge that made every single hair on my body stand up as I shook with each crawl. I am a dramatic child when it comes to trail edges, and I was starting to struggle. Caitlin sensed my struggle, and was also convinced we took the wrong side. She didn’t have to tell me twice about finding an alternative route, but before we turned around she snapped the above photo of me while I was trying to find my footing.

I almost look like I know what I am doing. Thankfully I did not in fact roll down the hill into the lake.

We found a far better path, but my adrenaline was still high. We were both exhausted and unsure if we wanted to continue the final 0.3 miles to the “summit.” We had made it to the main view point, we were moving slow with the altitude and fatigue, and I was a bit shook by the trail edge. We sat at our chosen end spot for 20 minutes, eating snacks, before deciding we were too damn close to stop there. We were going to stop at the proper summit even if it took us an hour.

Turns out it only took us an additional 10 minutes or so. This is a reminder that our brains often tell us something is harder than it really is.

The final push brought us over a ridge that allowed us to see what most people come here for – the Sahale Glacier. We couldn’t see the glacier from our original stopping point, and while I had no desire to walk onto the glacier, seeing it was worth the extra trudge. We clocked in around 12 miles with 4000 feet of elevation when we made it back down, and the entire hike took us around 8 hours. This was by far the best hike I have done in a while, and I am so jazzed Caitlin and I made it happen.

The drive out was just as much of an adventure as the drive in because people had parked on both sides of a tiny road. We knew this was happening ahead of time thanks to multiple trail reports, all the more reason we wanted to arrive early. I cannot justify parking like an asshole, and it was sketchy trying to squeeze between two cars. It felt like driving on a back road somewhere in the UK.

Our four hour drive home turned into five or six thanks to Seattle traffic, but Caitlin and I were riding the high of our hike the entire drive back. It doesn’t take much to make me a happy camper. A quick overnight trip for a beautiful hike is almost all it takes to reset my factory settings when I am feeling off. This was my first hike in the North Cascades, and I can assure you it will not be my last.

Q: Anyone else reminiscing on fall? It’s my favorite season, but I do try to savor each season for what it brings.

1. Well, well, well. It’s been a while. Between house projects and needing to update my MacBook I disappeared for quite some time. I don’t have anything exciting to report, but because I feel like checking in we are going to travel back in time to last month.

2. I managed to find the most decadent, delicious, astounding gluten free pie that disappeared just as quickly as I found it. Seriously, what’s with me and finding treats I enjoy (and that don’t make me feel like a bag of bricks) suddenly disappearing? Perhaps next holiday season it will return…

3. My Christmas gift to myself was $3,000 worth of car repairs. I’ve had the same car since 2008, and I hadn’t needed any major work until now. I suppose it was long overdue, I am amazed at the longevity of my beloved. $700 of that bill was for new tires, which I suppose doesn’t count, but the timing of the remaining work racked up the bill. I needed a new alternator and a new radiator.

The only reason I knew there was an issue was because of a funny noise. She now purrs like the day she was manufactured. I hope for many more years with my granny mobile.

4. My car has taken Little and I on many wonderful drives together, including my current favorite core memory. I wrangled my mom, my sister, Duncan, and my child into the car and we went to look at Christmas lights. Little was more enthralled by the car headlights than the actual Christmas lights, but it was a magical hour nonetheless. The gang was all there.

5. When I moved back to the states at the end of 2020 I moved back into my childhood bedroom. My plan was to resettle into the area and then try to find a place to live. Turns out renting an apartment is something I couldn’t justify with the $1400 price tag, so I stayed with my mom and sister. Helping them and being close to family just continued to feel right. My older sister has autism and helping provide care for her is easier when living under the same roof.

At this rate I’m not sure I’ll ever leave. Just kidding. I think.

6. With that said, my childhood bedroom needed some help. I wasn’t planning to stay long, but suddenly three years went by and I was still occupying the space. On December 6th I was laying down looking at the walls and decided I wanted to rip the wallpaper off.

Much to my surprise it came off with ease, and I decided to go get paint.

Three days later my small space had a fresh coat of paint. What a difference this has made, and I am so happy I decided to impetuously give my room a facelift. There is one small area of the wall my lovely mother wanted to keep, a mural she painted fully equipped with drawings from when I was too young to know drawing on the wall was wrong. It’s an atrocious eye sore, but I’ve come to accept it.

I have since painted another room in my moms house, so basically you can now call me Bob Vila.

7. I started a run streak in the middle of November with the goal of running everyday until the new year. I completed my goal and ended the streak on Jan 2nd. I ran 56 days in a row, and truth be told I wish I would have kept going. There were only a few days I didn’t feel like running during the streak, but I was always able to manage one mile on those days.

I ended the streak with the idea that I might want to train for a half marathon, but I find myself fearful of the training process. My body handles running shorter distances everyday better than running longer distances every few days. This is something I have come to accept about my Sjögren’s, but I hope to eventually push through the fear of flare ups and just go for it.

I’m now running a few times a week, while I figure out my next goal.

8. While cleaning out my closet recently I found a costume I made when I first started my current job. I was there for a week when I discovered they dressed up for Halloween (something I have come to detest.) I was new and wanted to attempt the tradition and I made myself a snail costume.

It only makes sense that I dress as my biggest fear…ironically I adore Halloween, I just don’t love dressing up at work. The DIY snail found its way into the recycle bin, but not before I snapped one final photo.

9. I think my dream job would be to help willing people declutter their lives/homes. I say willing because if someone isn’t ready to let go of things, the process becomes more difficult. One of the current house projects I am working on is helping my mom declutter her space. 30+ years of belongings need to be sorted through and organized, and nothing brings me more satisfaction that organizing.

This was our plan when I moved back, but it took some time for my mom to be willing to jump on board. Patience has never been my virtue.

10. One of the perks of going through old boxes is finding absolute gems of photographs. I think I found my favorite class photo of me as a child – from the silk blouse, and the red overalls, to the scowl on my face with my hands in my pockets. This feels like an accurate depiction of who I am as a person.

Can we also take a moment to appreciate my Lord Farquadd haircut? My mom gave me this same snip for years.

Q: What’s your confession?

And finally, there is a moment to stop and breathe. Kind of. The last two months have been a whirlwind to say the least. I think perhaps this will be my new normal while I continue to live life with a geriatric cat. It sounds funny to refer to him as geriatric, as if he should be using a cane to walk. Alas just as it is with people, cats of his age are indeed geriatric by definition.

My child recently turned 16, and while overall he is doing ok, he is not without his struggles. Some of these struggles are thanks to his mother (aka me), who recently attempted to change his food, resulting in a trip to the ER. Twice. The recent food swap gave him a multi day run with constipation, something he hasn’t struggled with since last May.

Unfortunately I deviated twice from the food I know keeps him regular, hence two trips to the ER.

“But Brittany, if he was eating a food that helped him poop, why would you change it?!”

I’m so glad you asked. I am fairly confident the food that helps him poop makes him slightly nauseous. So I tried to find something else. I spent months before all this trying to find a food for him that also supported his kidney disease, to no avail (he is a picky little bugger.) So I switched him to a food that helped his nausea…but then he went and got his colon stuffed like a manicotti noodle.

The first time we went to the ER last month he was backed up for six days, and when I took him in I was advised he would need to be anesthetized for an enema/manual extraction. He made it out alive, and he came home with pupils the size of saucers and a swollen anus. All of this transpired on my birthday. Three weeks later he was backed up again, this time for five days. The price tag was cheaper on the second visit, but the anus was just as swollen.

Lessons have been learned, and I will never, ever, swap his food again. Or maybe I will, it’s been such a struggle finding the sweet spot for him with food.

I ended up having to cancel an overnight trip I booked on my birthday, and while I was a bit bummed, my mom and Duncan made up for it by smothering me with sweet treats. Nothing soothes a sad soul quite like sugar and chocolate. There is a bakery near my house that has excelled at making gluten free brownies. Not only do they taste amazing, they also don’t make me feel like I’ve been caught in a stampede of elephant seals. A double win.

It has been over a month since this most recent drama started with me and Little (my cat), and I finally feel like we are in a good spot. For now. The guilt I felt from causing his constipation is finally starting to wane, and he still purrs on my lap as if nothing happened. My anxiety has calmed a bit, and I feel more comfortable leaving him for the day knowing he is back on a normal poop path.

I could barely leave him to go to work I was so worried. Anxiety ain’t easy y’all.

To make up for my missed birthday adventure, or just because it was an excuse to get more sugar, a couple weeks ago Duncan took me to another gluten free bakery 50 minutes out of town. I made a pit stop at Trader Joe’s to buy myself a new tiny plant, meaning we arrived at the bakery too late in the day. Most everything was gone, but the two cakes we got were unbelievably delicious.

Unfortunately within 30 minutes of finishing my cake the elephant seal stampede hit.

You win some, and you lose some. My local bakery with the brownies is always a win, and The Wrens Nest was sadly a loss. The cake was delicious, but ultimately if I feel like a bag of trash after I eat something it’s an automatic no for me. The ambiance of this bakery was WONDERFUL though, and I would come back for a coffee because the vibe was too good.

I’m thankful for each mini adventure these days, as I am finding it harder to leave my house lately. I feel the clock of life ticking as each day passes, and I am wanting to spend as much quality time with my cat as possible. I know one day he will no longer be around, and I don’t want to miss out on too many moments. Most of my days feel as if I am waiting for the next shoe to drop, but he is worth the effort.

Time is something none of us can get back, and I want to be intentional with mine. For the first time in what feels like ever I am living day to day. I am unable to look into the future as I so often have in the past. I struggle with the idea of planning any vacations because the anxiety of leaving my cat for more than one night is too much. I’m in a floating limbo right now, and while I am still working on the concept of living in the moment, I think living in the day is a good place to start.

Time is likely one of the best gifts we can give to those we care about, be it a pet, a friend, or a loved one. When I find myself getting worked up over things out of my control I try to remind myself of what’s really important in life. Spoiler: it’s not work, it’s not thoughts of anxiety, it’s not an unexpected change in plans – it’s the simplicity of time spent with others, and time spent with ourselves.

Q: Do you consider pets another family member, or do you consider pets more of a convenience? Like a barn cat to catch mice, a dog for protection, etc. I have an arguably unhealthy attachment to pets, especially the one I have now.

The month was May, and the year was 2008. I don’t recall exactly what I was doing, but I vaguely remember I was outside my moms house as it was a beautifully sunny day. My mom had been gone for the majority of the morning singing at a wedding, and when I saw her car pull into the driveway I smiled and waved as I normally would, having no idea what was about to come next.

My mom opened her car door, and nestled above her forearm was a tiny black kitten with ears twice the size of his head. I was confused as to who this tiny kitty belonged to, and the moment my mom said she brought this small bat like fur ball home for me I immediately panicked. I was not prepared for another cat (we already had one at the time), and I can’t believe that for a brief moment in time I did not want this small black cat that would later become my best friend.

Thank goodness my intrusive thoughts didn’t win.

Although I was taken aback by this new arrival, I quickly got over my initial anxiety of another cat and welcomed him to the family. He immediately fit in, and was an absolute menace from day one. I couldn’t have asked for a better cat. Fast forward many years, many ailments, and many memories later – my sweet, spunky, spicy kitty has officially made it to the age of sixteen.

We assume he was around 8 weeks when he came home with my mom in May of 2008 (he was one of many kittens roaming the property at the wedding she was singing at), meaning he was likely born sometime in March of 2008. Last year we decided we would celebrate his birthday in April to meet somewhere in the middle. This year we celebrated again, and will continue to do so for as long as he decides to bless me with his presence. I adore cats, I live for cats, but I never saw myself as someone who would regularly celebrate a cats birthday.

But now, I can never look back.

We chose the first Sunday in April to celebrate, and I bought cupcakes and coffee for my family. For Little I bought fish flakes and a party collar, while Duncan bought him a new whale toy and a catnip filled log thing. Truthfully nothing compares to the cigar Duncan bought him last year, but these are a close second.

We decided before sitting down to eat and sing HBD we would take Little on a birthday drive.

After we drove around it was time to put on the party collar and indulge in some tasty treats. My local cupcake shop does an amazing GF cupcake (the same place I get the brownies from in my previous post), and let’s be real – any excuse for a cupcake is a good excuse. I can blame this on my cat all day long, but really I just needed a cupcake.

I’ve thankfully been back on track with Little and his diet to ensure he is no longer getting constipated (if you’re confused by this comment, see my last post), so I plopped a can of his wet food onto a plate and smothered it with fish flakes before sticking a candle in the top. I sent a photo of this cat “cake” to one of my friends and she said at first glance she thought it was apple pie.

I’m sure he wishes it was.

I can’t help but laugh looking at these photos, I am fully aware of how ridiculous I am in wanting to celebrate a cat. However, after the last few years of ups and downs we have had – every single day I have with him is a blessing. I will continue to celebrate his added years as if they were collectable figurines worth hundreds of dollars with zero shame.

Some people have human children, and some people have cat children. I’ll let you guess which person I am.

Happy sweet sixteen my Little, I am so thankful you were brought to me all those years ago with your tiny head and big ears. You are my best pal, and I love you more than all the cupcakes in the world.

Q: Have you ever had a birthday celebration for a pet? Would you?

Duncan and I first met in October of 2020. We met at my current workplace, and he was assigned to train me for a few hours – something he obviously hated doing. I’ll never forget the way he rushed through customer transactions in a way that offered me little to no knowledge on how to perform the tasks I needed to learn (this is how I prefer dealing with the public as well.) It wasn’t that he was bad at his job, he just couldn’t be bothered to train the new gal, and quite frankly I don’t blame him for that.

What he did offer was amazing banter from the start, and I immediately felt comfortable with him.

We quickly became friends and for three months at work we would chat when we had the chance, until one day at the end of January 2021 he invited me on a hike with two other guys. The four of us spent about two additional months going on weekly hikes and I lived for these adventures. I was freshly back in the area, had very few friends, and was mourning the loss of my “previous life.”

I was elated to have found a group of pals to go on adventures with so quickly after moving back. Not to mention I already had a ridiculously pathetic school girl crush on Duncan.

Then, one week in March our hiking group wasn’t able to go for a hike – so Duncan and I went alone. From there we hungout a handful of times just the two of us, banter at an all time high, having a good time learning more about each other. After a few weeks of this I knew enough was enough, and we had to have a chat. I could tell something was brewing, so I told him how I felt with no intention of dating him (despite having a crush, I was not at all in the market for a boyfriend, but I learned many years ago to always tell people how I felt.)

Alas, it seemed Duncan had a different idea.

He suggested we try dating, just for a bit to see how it goes. Before I could digest what was happening I said yes. What started as more of a summer fling between two people who were not looking for a relationship, has turned into three years of partnership with someone I love very dearly. While we never know what the future holds, I’m thankful we took that leap three years ago to see what might happen. Duncan has since obtained a much better job where he has been the last two years, but I’ll never let him live down that day of training.

We decided to celebrate three years together by visiting Leavenworth, where we spent our first weekend away together in 2021.

We both took a Thursday and Friday off work and left Thursday morning. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive on a weekday from where I live, and we left with enough time to stop by the grocery store in town before heading to our first of two hikes for the weekend. We hiked this same trail when we visited in 2021, and this is the perfect time of year to see the yellow flowers pop.

The Icicle Ridge Trail is about a 5 minute drive from downtown Leavenworth, making this one of the most convenient hikes in the area if you want to stay downtown.

After this hike we checked into the LOGE, aka the REI of hotels where we stayed last time. What I like about this hotel is that they offer both communal and private bathroom rooms. If I were staying there solo I would opt for the communal bathrooms because it saves about $50 a night. Duncan prefers a private bathroom and I don’t dare tell the working man no.

This isn’t sponsored by the LOGE, but it should be.

I love staying in downtown Leavenworth because I can park my car and not worry about using it again unless I am going out of town. Our second day in the area we did in fact go out of town, and this was the highlight of my year thus far. The bar was pretty low as my year hasn’t been overly exciting, but we drove about 20 minutes out of Leavenworth to the town of Cashmere for one of the most beautiful hikes I have done in a while.

This area of Washington has thick green hills for miles, and often reminded me of another country. From Ireland, to Germany, to Romania – I was enamored by these views. I cannot wait to return and sit amongst these hills. We opted for the Spring Canyon Loop Trail, which was an amazing 8 miles of walking with just over 2000′ of elevation. I could not have asked for a better anniversary hike.

We spent our second evening binge watching Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO and snacking on anything we could. Our third and final day was reserved for wandering downtown Leavenworth before we headed back home. I have been to Leavenworth a handful of times, but I have never walked into the shops. I wanted to spend the afternoon wandering, and that is exactly what we did.

We started our morning with an hour or so walk by the river which is right behind the hotel. Perfect location.

Then we each got a coffee, and I ended up buying some local fudge. From there we walked around most all of the stores before stopping for a sweet treat at The Gingerbread Factory. We walked in and the moment I saw gluten free gingerbread cupcakes I knew I had to buy one. Duncan got a chocolate croissant the size of a newborn foal and we people watched while we ate our baked goods.

I am thankful we went on this trip for a plethora of reasons, but mostly because it helped me to quell my separation anxiety with my cat. This was the first time I have left him for more than one night since May of last year (if you’re a regular round here you’ll know he has had some health struggles.) Deep down I knew he would be fine with my mom, but letting go of control over my child is H-A-R-D.

Duncan has been a huge support with my overwhelm and I’m glad he was able to get away for a weekend too.

Duncan and I were the most unexpected pairing. We have an age gap, we have different hobbies, and we were both happily single. Consistent communication and occasional compromises have brought us this far. Thankfully we both enjoy hiking, and this year he has the bug more than ever before. I look forward to many adventures together, it’s going to be a fun summer.

Q: How did you and your significant other meet? OR if you’re single, how would you WANT to meet your significant other? Also if you’re single, embrace that life – I am blessed to have a fellow introvert for a partner and we spend just as much time apart as we do together. Alone time is so underrated.

So, I ran another half marathon. These are words I never thought I would write again after my last half marathon in October of 2014. It has been just shy of ten years since my last half, so how and why did I find myself running another one after all this time, and why didn’t I run one sooner? Well, let me tell you.

My journey with running went from all in to all out over a few years, but ultimately what caused me to stop all together was the onset of an autoimmune disease diagnosis. I’ll spare you the drama of those details, but now that I am older and wiser I can confidently say this was a classic case of “too much.”

Too much running, too much caffeine, too many 3am wake ups, too much stress, too much sugar, so on and so on. My body was in a full blown storm and each run caused flare ups that I didn’t know how to manage at the time.

I took running off the table sometime in 2016 when I couldn’t find a good balance, and when I was starting to dread the idea of running. It took me a handful of years to realize a simple shift in my efforts would allow me to not only run again, but to run further distances. I started running again somewhat regularly in 2021, but instead of trying to be “faster” I exclusively tried to keep my heart rate below a certain number.

Higher heart rate for me = too big of a cortisol spike = a small flare up = anxiety = not fun.

I continued on this low HR, low milage running journey for a few years because I continued to tell myself there was no way I could possibly run another 13.1 without causing problems. Then 2024 hit, I was about to turn 35, I was stale, unable (or rather unwilling) to travel far because I have a geriatric cat whom I adore, so I did what any sane person would do when they need a change.

I signed up for a half marathon.

I was done telling myself “you can’t.” Running sometimes sucks, and it’s uncomfortable, and even a bit painful at times, but those side effects always pass (unless you have an injury which is another story.) What sticks around is the knowledge that we pushed ourselves to do something we didn’t think we could. A half marathon in the world of running isn’t the biggest feat, but for me it was something I didn’t think was going to be possible.

If I can take one thing away from this experience it would be that my brain is forever my worst enemy. I let my fears and anxieties often dictate what I do, but usually when I push myself outside of my comfort zone I come out on the other side mentally stronger for it. I didn’t run fast, but I ran, and I am proud of destroying the mental barrier of “I can’t.”

OK. Gushy stuff aside, let’s talk about the race!

I chose a half in the city of Yakima, about three hours from where I live. The stars aligned with this run because what gave me the final push to register was finding a hotel within a two minute walk of the starting line. Call me crazy, but half the stress of showing up to an organized run is trying to figure out where to park. With that obstacle out of the way all I had to do was put in the work for training.

I did a 12 week training program, the same program I used to run my very first half marathon, and aside from a few skipped cross training days I followed it to a tee. My training had its ups and downs, with a few moved around long runs, one epic meltdown with so many tears I could have flooded an ant village, and a lot of random foods consumed.

Fueling was the hardest part for me with this training, and for the race I brought one of my favorite foods to eat along the way.

I stuffed a bag of mashed potatoes into my running vest because I won’t eat those garbage filled running gels. However, I am terrible at fueling while running and I didn’t suck any down until mile 11. This also happened to be the hottest weekend we’ve had all year, and with terrible fueling and overheating I had a hard time focusing on the beauty of the trail around me after the first few miles.

Hooray for me and my heat sensitivity!

Miles 1-3 were a breeze, I was vibing to Taylor Swift and loving the views of the river. It was still early and the heat hadn’t crept up yet. Miles 4-6 I started to feel the heat and my pace slowed a bit, I definitely started the race too fast and was going to pay for it later, but I was still going strong. Mile 7 I caved and drank some Gatorade which helped for about 5 minutes. Miles 8-10 I was playing leap frog with a woman and telling myself to make it to the next rest stop for another Gatorade.

Miles 11-12.5 I was deep in the pain cave. My hips hurt, my back hurt, the heat was strong, and I was gassed.

Duncan came with me, and I texted him at mile 11 to let him know I was within 20 minutes of finishing. The final push from 12.5-the end was all mental. I felt like my legs were moving through molasses, and thank goodness for this song. I played it over and over and over and over just to keep my feet moving to the beat. Seriously though, what a BOP.

I told myself I never have to do this again, just keep going and the sooner you get to the end the sooner it’s over. I saw Duncan waiting for me about .3 miles from the end, and this gave me the final push I needed. I finished 13.2 miles (course was a bit off) in 2:23 with a pace of 10:52. I went into this run with ZERO goals, zero expectations, but in the depths of my mind I knew I wanted to maintain a pace under 11min miles.

I immediately took my shoes off, sat in the grass, and watched other runners finish their run for about ten minutes before walking the two minutes back to my hotel for a shower. My original plan was to walk around the area a bit before driving home, but the heat was so oppressive we decided to head home early. Sitting in a car for 3.5 hours after running a half marathon was arguably more difficult than the run.

Would not recommend.

It’s been a week and a half since this run, and it only took me 24 hours before I started looking for my next one. It’s amazing how quickly we forget the pain or discomforts of running and want to go through the mental push all over again. I know I want to do another half marathon, I just don’t know when. My summer is reserved for hiking as much as I can, and I don’t want any training to interfere with that.

The training for this was more difficult at this stage of my life than when I was in my 20’s. My diet is drastically different, my energy reserves are fewer, and I have to be mindful of every daily decision to ensure I can train successfully. By the final month of training I was more than ready to be done. It was just as much mentally draining as physically, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

My goals with running now are to focus on better form to help minimize hip/back pain (I have a lingering disc issue I am constantly nurturing), maintain running 3-5 miles with ease, and to keep experimenting with foods to find a good balance. If only I could just eat a bagel like every other runner. I’m stoked I pushed through this barrier, and I’m even more stoked that my 35 yr old brain could care less about being a slower runner.

Shoutout to Duncan for being the lone sheep on the hill waving to me at mile 1, and welcoming me in at mile 12.8. I’m thankful he was with me, and even more thankful he forced me to wear my hydration vest. I’d have been dead without the consistent water. Perished on the side of the valley.

Thanks for reading my journey. Take this as your sign to do whatever it is that you’ve been telling yourself you cannot do. I’m willing to bet your brain is just as much of a liar as mine is at times. This was my seventh half marathon, and it was likely more meaningful to me than my first. For so long I let Sjögren’s tell me what I could and could not do. Alas, Sjögren’s can suck it because it turns out I can still run 13.1 after all.

Q: What is something you’ve done recently that you’re proud of? Let’s celebrate together!

Somewhere, somehow, and someway I managed to forget that Duncan would have Memorial Day off from work. I always have Monday’s off, and lucky for me most of the major holidays fall on a Monday. When I realized Duncan also had a three day weekend, I decided to plan a very last minute overnight trip to Eastern Washington.

I got off of work on Friday, booked a hotel, and we left Saturday morning.

I’m finding it helpful to have getaways somewhat planned ahead of time. By that I mean I have a handful of hikes saved that require more than a 2.5 hour drive. Most all of my weekend getaways revolve around hiking, making it easier to choose where I want to go. For this overnight trip I chose to go see the White Bluffs. All it takes is for me to see one photo of a good hike (or in this case a walk) and I will plan an entire day/weekend around this location.

This is the third time in one month I have made the trek to Eastern Washington, and it proved to be the final straw for my lower back. The continual 3.5-4hr drives (one way) did a number on my muscles and this adventure was ever so slightly tainted by the discomfort. Alas, we still had a great time. The journey to the bluffs was an adventure unlike one I’ve had thus far in my life.

The winds off the Columbia River were stronger than I anticipated. Wind alone is not a big deal, but the sand blowing into the sides of my legs and face at what felt like 100 MPH were not only painful, but disorienting. We were also warned by fellow walkers that they had seen a rattlesnake, adding to the heightened awareness of our surroundings.

Despite the wind blowing tiny spherical daggers into my skin, this was an epic adventure. The dunes were much cooler than I expected, and the surrounding views were just what I was hoping for. We stayed on the dune just long enough for me to summon a Sandworm while looking for Paul Atreides, and for Duncan to rescue my hat after it blew off.

The walk back to the car turned into sporadic jogging and occasional pauses to wait for our vision to be cleared. The wind started to get even worse, and I was thankful to be almost done with the sideways sand. I didn’t find the Fremen, but I did leave with 2lbs of sand in my ears that took me days to clean out.

All in all this visit to the dunes was worth it. Even though I lost a hubcap along the way.

We spent the night in the town of Othello, which let me tell you is nothing to write home about. We had a cheap bed to sleep on and a bathroom to shower in (fully equipped with a cracked leaking toilet) and that’s really all I could ask for. After a full nights sleep I woke to find my car had not blown away in the wind, and we set off on our second adventure.

Next up was a 25 minute drive north to Blythe Lake. I typically read trail reviews like I’m studying for a test, but I somehow glazed over this one. Thankfully I had battery on my phone because this trail turned into a walk through wild, trail-less terrain that required me to follow the little blue dot multiple times on the AllTrails app.

This started simple enough, an old road led us up to a decent view as we continued to wrap around the nature preserve.

We continued to play “where’s the rattlesnake” throughout this walk, but truthfully I was more concerned with ticks. The shrubbery was sharp at times, and I couldn’t tell you how many spur like needle things I had attached to my socks after this. Spirits were high despite the rogue wandering, until we came to an opening providing a view of where we parked.

From here we had to make our own path, and as one AllTrails reviewer said the trail became “a crapshoot.” Truthfully this was kind of fun, but I was ready to be done after a couple hours had passed. With no clear trail to the bottom of a moderately steep drop off we decided to make our own. And by we I mean Duncan saw a path someone else had gone on after I can only assume they were fed up.

Am I glad we did this one? Yes. Would I do it again? Definitely not. The views were quite something though.

From here we made the trek back home, and despite the back pain I still carry two weeks later (the joys of aging?) this was a fun overnight away. The story doesn’t stop here though. Remember how I lost a hupcap? Back in 2012 my car lost a hubcap for the first time. Then in 2014 a secret santa brought me a new one. Shortly after this wonderful gift, I found a hubcap on the side of the road that looked to be similar to the ones on my car.

Naturally, I kept the hubcap just in case I needed one someday.

A decade later, this slightly cracked and discolored hubcap that has been living in my garage is having its moment. These hubcaps sell brand new for $55. That is insane to me. I’d rather drive around hubcap-less than spend that kind of money on something aesthetic. The amount of joy it brought me to use this once lost hubcap is indescribable.

She ain’t perfect, but it’s better than the before.

I’m not typically one for last minute trips, I need a tentative plan and I don’t like flying by the seat of my pants. This getaway was a small mix of both spontaneous and planned. I already have another hike trip up my sleeve should the last minute opportunity present itself. Or when I can wrangle Duncan for another two night getaway. Only time will tell which comes first.

Q: Do you prefer spontaneous adventures, or preplanned? I can do shorter trips with some spontaneity, but longer trips I need to plan.

If you don’t like cats, skip this post and come back next time.

It’s absolutely no secret around these parts that I am obsessed with cats. I am also obsessed with coffee, and when you pair the two together in one location I am over the moon with joy. Duncan and I found a cat cafe a couple years ago and while I enjoyed visiting, it was a bit sad to only have a few cats to socialize with. Seattle has some larger cafe’s with upwards of 20+ cats, but I have zero desire to go to the city these days.

A couple weeks ago my friend Laura and I were trying to decide on somewhere to meet between the two of us for a hangout. We chose to meet at Ziggy’s Cat Lounge because she loves cats and coffee just as much as I do. While I didn’t love that coffee was extra at this cafe (the last one I went to included coffee in admission price), I am happy to support a good cause and to play with cats.

The americano I ordered was delicious though, worth the $4.

First impression was great. I could see multiple cats from outside of the building, and the main lobby next to the cat room was large, welcoming, and full of black cat decor. After we ordered our drinks we went into the cat room where we had 45 minutes to socialize with the cats. There were 10-11 cats on this day, more than I could have imagined. All the cats were great, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t immediately choose favorites.

I’ll give you one guess as to which colored cats were my favorite…

Shocker – Pawl and Clawdia, the two resident black cats were my favorites. Pawl was like the dad who wandered around making sure everyone was where they should be, while Clawdia chased a red laser beam like a drug addict searching for drugs. The little grey and white one was equally playful, and my other favorite. Please don’t tell him I have forgotten his name.

Cassie is holding a small toy in her left paw. She carried this thing around like she gave birth to it herself, and at one point got it lodged under a giant cat wheel (think hamster wheel, but large and for cats.) I saw my opportunity to save her kin, and freed the toy from its dungeon. She didn’t give me so much as a thank you meow, but I know she immediately categorized me as the best human in all the land.

The above black and white kitty was a sweet one. That’s all I have to say about her. Although there was a grey and white 2yr old going on 16yr old curmudgeon who did not like this black and white sweetie. When the black and white babe climbed up onto the local cat tree, grey and white came out of his hole hissing the most non threatening breath of air I have ever heard.

I can’t say I blame him, living in a room with 10 other roaming felines has to take its toll.

Aside from that, everyone got along famously. The feeding and watering holes were frequented by multiple cats at a time without any fights breaking out. All but four cats were social and in the main lobby with us, the other four were in a staff only room. Because these four were also up for adoption we were allowed to take a peek and say hello to them.

Initially I was bummed we only had 45 minutes here whereas at the last cat cafe I went to we had a full hour. Then 40 minutes passed and I felt ready to leave. We said our goodbyes in the last five minutes and headed off to spend the rest of our day drinking more coffee and catching up on life.

But not before taking a photo with the epic mural.

And that my friends is Ziggy’s Cat Lounge. 10/10 would recommend. While I would love to adopt another cat someday, Little would claw my face off if I came home with another cat. Or maybe he would love having a companion, we will never know. I think he quite likes being the center of attention though, and I quite like keeping a hawk eye on his eating and bathroom habits without the confusion of another eater and pooper.

Somedays I think about volunteering at my local humane society, something I used to do in my early 20’s. Back then I volunteered as a dog walker, but truth be told it was a bit scary at times. After too many mornings where I was the only volunteer to show up I decided to stop doing this. They have a need for cat socializers as well, and this seems more my speed.

Until then, I will spend my dollars on donations and socialize my own little black spawn.

Q: This post is so niche, I know there aren’t many cat lovers who come by this blog, so I’ll ask this: Do you donate anywhere in particular that you are proud to support?

I have been in love with pairing coffee and a sweet treat together since I delved deeper into my love for a proper coffee tasting. Coffee started for me as just a way to get my body moving (in more ways than one), but turned into a social and almost spiritual experience for me. A warm cup of good coffee transports me to my happy place.

Sadly, I went without coffee for a period of time before finding the right balance of caffeine and the right blend of beans. Those were dark times.

When I moved to Germany, I worked in a coffee shop and discovered the German cultural tradition of Kaffee und Kuchen. Otherwise known as coffee and cake (I discovered Sweden also has a similar tradition called a ‘fika’ and at this rate I think most cultures have a time where they like to stop mid day for coffee and a sweet treat.) I am more than happy to oblige these cultural traditions I have picked up during my existence.

When my friend Caitlin told me her sister had somewhat of a lackluster birthday at the beginning of the month, I suggested we do what I would want to do for my birthday. Kaffee und Kuchen on a mountain. We ended up hiking to a lake, so we had coffee and cake at the lake. What a treat. Caitlin was in charge of bringing the stove/pot/coffee, while I was in charge of securing the cake.

I chose cupcakes because that was 10x easier than transferring a cake.

Duncan came with us on this adventure, and he opted out of a cupcake so I brought him a granola bar because I wanted him to participate in the candle lighting and birthday singing. I stuck a candle in his granola bar just as I did with our cupcakes. My cupcake was the bottom right of the above photo, a GF ube flavor. Would never be my first choice, but it was still quite delicious.

We hiked to Annette Lake in the Snoqualmie Pass region of Washington. This area is only about an hour and a half from us, and makes for an easy day hike. I have done this hike a few times, and truth be told it is far too popular for my liking. I think I prefer this one in the winter when the traffic is lessened. It was still a beautiful hike and always great to get outside.

This was my first time bringing a box of cupcakes on a hike, and thankfully my pack wasn’t uncomfortable. Caitlins sister knew we were going to make coffee at the lake, but she had no idea about the cupcakes. It was such a joy to see her face light up when I brought out cupcakes with lit candles in them and we started to sing to her. We all shared a good laugh at Duncan’s granola bar.

It took each of us all of 5 seconds to hoover our cupcakes, and despite how quick they were demolished they still tasted infinitely better than they would have at a lower elevation. It’s just science. The coffee was equally delicious, a medium roast with notes of oak, chocolate, and honey. I chose the blend because I am a picky lass when it comes to coffee.

After sipping and savoring we made our way back down to the car, and I am confident this was a successful birthday hike. Some people want to fly to Vegas for their birthday, and some people want to eat cake on a mountain. Both are valid, but I know which group I would rather spend time with. Any excuse for kaffee und kuchen is a good excuse.

I’d like to make coffee on hikes more of a thing this summer, but that means I’ll need to bring cake too. Oh no, twist my arm. Cookies also work, or scones, or donuts…

Q: Would you haul a box of cupcakes up a mountain to eat them at the top?

It’s been raining a lot this week – at the end of June and just days after the arrival of summer. The thing is, I’m not upset about it. My summer has started off on a lack luster foot this year, and while I plan to get out and hike as much as I can, I know this will be a low key summer all around for me. It’s bittersweet because I would love to hop on a plane and spend a month in Germany with my dear pal MaryBeth, something I have been itching to do for a while, but I know leaving my sweet fur child that long is not an option.

I have a six day trip planned in September and while I love having something international on my calendar (even if it’s just a road trip into Canada, anything outside of the US counts), I have some underlying anxiety about leaving my cat for that long. My only goal for this summer is to continue finding smaller day/weekend trips to keep my stale soul as mold free as possible. Sometimes life forces us to slow down, and that’s ok. Or so I keep telling myself.

A helpful tool for me when slowing down is a good book.

I recently got back into reading, and this has been a wonderful hobby to help pass time instead of lusting over traveling too far. I am amongst the millennial community who succumbed to one particular book series last year, and from there I took off running. I have read 36 books since January, and have had to change my reading goal three times. I will be changing it again as my current goal is 40 books this year.

I have become obsessed with Goodreads. Anyone wanna be friends on there?

For my birthday back in February, Duncan gave me a Barnes and Noble gift card and told me we would each get a copy of a book to read for a two person book club. I am usually exclusively a library girl (owning books gives me clutter anxiety), but I loved this idea. We chose Watership Down and while we have been slow to finish, it’s been fun to discuss with him as we go.

Speaking of Duncan, he has been quite the handyman around my moms house lately. He fixed a leaking tub spout in the bathroom a few months back, replaced a cracked toilet, takes care of the grass in the backyard for me, and helped bring home some gardening materials. We have one trough filled with broccoli and other similar vegetables, but I need one of my own for potatoes.

My main hesitation are the slugs. I do not mess with slugs, hence the copper tape in the below photos.

This post is like a scatter of word vomit because I feel like I am currently running on a hamster wheel. I am going through the motions to exist within a society that I don’t really enjoy existing in. I strive to play by my own rules, but there is only so much of that I can feasibly do. I don’t relate to most people I encounter, I prefer a simpler way of life, and spending all my time working for someone else until I die is not my path.

I’ve been seeking the best fit for me for a while now, but I suppose it becomes more complicated when you feel obligated to stay close to family.

When I do find the rare few people I click with I hold onto them tight. My friend Caitlin turned 30 this week and we went on a whale watching adventure to start the celebrations. Truth be told I am indifferent to whales and I am even more indifferent to spending four hours on a boat. This tour was two hours too long, but it was good to get out of town for a day. It was also a good metaphor for my current life.

Sometimes we want to be somewhere else, but we learn to make the best of where we are until we can change our situations.

I sound dramatic, but I would have done this all over again because it was special to my good friend. Sometimes it’s more about the people we are with than the destination/location. Caitlin is the real deal because she saved the day with a spare hat and sunglasses for me. What kind of putz doesn’t bring these two essentials whale watching?

As someone who is usually overly prepared I don’t know who I am anymore.

Each excursion I take on a water vessel confirms that I am hands down a mountain/forest lover vs. a beach/water lover. We saw one pair of humpback whales waving their fins, but I was more interested in the sea lions we passed living their lives on a buoy. I strive for that kind of carefree life.

I’ve spend the last decade of my life navigating the thoughts of whether or not I am missing something vital to succeeding in modern life. I don’t want kids, I don’t think I want to get married, I don’t want a traditional career, I have revolved my life around my aging cat, I prioritize flexible schedules, and I’m not waiting until I am 59.5 to start living freely (I’ve at least been maxing out my Roth IRA contributions since I was 23) – and yet these are all things I have chosen because they are what I want. Not what someone else wants for me.

However, sometimes it’s hard to not feel like I am failing to progress as a fully functioning human adult, but that’s my ego talking.

That’s my mini rant/vent session. I don’t have much else. I’m just out here doing my best to find pockets of excitement in my day to day life, and change what I can (because change and knowledge are where I feel revived.) I hope everyone’s summer is off to a good start, please share with me any upcoming plans you may have.

Q: Current book recommendations? I like science, psychology, romance/romcom, mind benders, and WWII books. I do not like horror, thriller, or extremely dense reads.

1. My last post started with a statement about the weather. It was drizzly and dreary throughout June, but I didn’t mind it. I must have jinxed the atmosphere because almost immediately the temperatures skyrocketed into the mid 90’s. For about three weeks we have had uncomfortable temps in Washington, but I finally caved and bought a portable AC unit.

Verdict is still out on if it’s helping the 1400sqft house.

2. Temps are hot, but Duncan and I managed our first bike ride of the summer together. I often reminisce about my life when I rode my bike everywhere for two years, but sadly where I live now is not conducive to this lifestyle. Thankfully I know a few areas where we can bike that are safe and end with beautiful views.

3. Remember after my half marathon when I said I wanted to maintain running 3-5 miles with ease? Yeahhhh, I stopped running all together and have switched my focus to hiking. I’ve realized I like changing my sport up depending on the season. I might run here and there, but my focus is now on incline walks to have an easier time on my hikes. I’ll probably pick up running regularly again in the late fall. Who knows.

Variety is the spice of life.

4. I am incapable of going into a store that sells plants without looking at the plants. I am at full capacity, and yet I will find a reason to buy another one. I’m like a child at the checkout begging for a candy bar. Just one more plant, please. Duncan and I went to Home Depot for a drill bit recently and I HAD to have this small plant.

5. I have been blessed with nice skin for the majority of my life, but this doesn’t mean I am immune to the occasional zit or blackhead. No matter how many times I tell myself to leave the problem area alone, I always end up picking or popping. No one around me is safe either, specifically Duncan. He too has nice skin, but when I see a bump ripe for the picking he knows he has to run.

I’m gross, and I am aware.

6. My mid July was jam packed. My dad came to visit for five days, and just after that I drove down to Portland to spend 24 hours with two old blog pals. Lily is a swimming machine and swam the Portland Bridge Swim – an 11 mile open water swim under 11 Portland Bridges. Megan was her kayaker, helping her to refuel and keep her safe.

I was the post race out of town accomplice along for the ride.

We’ve known each other since 2011/2012, and it is fun to think back on how many pals I have made through this blog. While they no longer blog, I am thankful to have kept in touch all these years. We shared a couple meals, went for a walk around the city, had a sleepover, and tromped through Forest Park before saying our goodbyes.

7. It’s nice to see friends and family, but admittedly after the above mentioned week of socializing I was mentally fried. I had a few days where I needed silence and a dark room. In reality I was PMSing during this time, Little had a minor health snafu (he is fine), and I was exhausted from the heat. My equilibrium has since been reset and I feel back to normal.

8. One recent morning I was out in my backyard looking at the plants and growing vegetables when I noticed the biggest slug crawling on the base of the planter containing zucchini. Thankfully Duncan was on his way over, because I have the biggest, most irrationally ridiculous fear of slugs. Little and I watched from afar making sure Duncan properly removed the slug from the premise (don’t touch it with hands, but don’t kill it.)

I’m still haunted by this moment.

9. There has been a lost cat poster on the mailboxes around my neighborhood for a couple weeks now. A chunky black girl kitty, and my heart breaks for her owners. She got out one day and never came home. I continue to send hopeful thoughts her way. I have been extra emotional over these types of things lately. Sad video on social media about a pet? Game over – I’ll be sobbing.

10. My friend Caitlin and I embarked on a hike at the beginning of the month we have been wanting to do for quite some time, however it did not go as planned. Within the Olympic National Forest lies a crashed B-17 that was once a search and rescue plane. This plane was rescuing 8 people during the winter months in 1952, but after heading back towards its home base the plane clipped a ridge in the Olympics and skidded into the forest killing 3 of the 8 passengers.

The remnants of this crash remain on the Tull Canyon Trail, bringing hikers from all around to view the wreckage. We had been wanting to find this plane for years, and we finally chose this trail as one of our summer hikes. What we did not do was thoroughly read the trail description, something I typically do obsessively. As it turns out the trail you start on turns into a network of other trails. We missed the trail we needed to be on and continued two miles farther than where we were supposed to turn. All that to say we did not find the plane this visit, but now we know where to go and will return.

I was mega bummed we were so close (we saw the turn off on the way down), but it was a lovely day nonetheless. Another 10 mile hike through the Olympics.

Q: What’s your confession?

I tend to change with the seasons both mentally and physically. My moods change, my activities change, and my habits change. I find that living in a state with four seasons allows me to appreciate the changes, and allows me to let go of what no longer serves me. When summer hits I know I will stay up later in the evening, feel naturally a bit more joyful from the extra vitamin D, and most importantly my hiking shoes get a lot more use.

I still hike year round when possible, but in the summer I can climb into the mountains that were once off limits because of snow. I appreciate the seasons forcing me to wait for these moments each year. In a world surrounded by instant gratification I enjoy the delay. Waiting for an adventure makes the journey that much sweeter.

When it comes to choosing a hike, I am one who reads trail reports like I am studying for a college exam. I need as much information as possible to feel prepared and to quell my anxiety. Once I find a trail that is up to snuff in my book I wrangle a willing participant and venture to the mountains. Lucky for me, last summer I befriended my coworker Caitlin and the rest has been history.

She is just as eager to hike as I am, which lets Duncan off the hook for weekly excursions.

Our first bigger summit of the season happened to coincide with the first 90 degree day of a very hot week. We left as early as possible to beat the heat, and overall we were successful. Caitlin, her sister Christina, Duncan, myself, and Caitlin’s sweet pup hiked to the top of Mount Townsend, a trail I have done a handful of times now.

This is a great hike to welcome the season, with spectacular views of the surrounding Olympic mountains.

The day was certainly hot, but when we are on mountain time there is no rush in getting to the top. Gone are the days I used to hike just to rush to the top. There was once a period of my life where I hiked solo a lot. I enjoyed this season of my life, but just like the seasons of weather – things change.

I enjoyed hiking alone and going at my own pace, but the reason I started doing it was because I couldn’t find any willing participants. Now that I am older and wiser (and far more anxious) I avoid hiking alone. I am thankful to have met both Caitlin and Duncan in the last few years, because now I never have to go alone.

While summer is likely my least favorite season, I take full advantage of the longer days. Summer months bring early starts to beat the crowds, and less fear of trying to beat the darkness of the setting sun. We only saw a handful of people on this hike, allowing us to find our own pocket of solace at the summit. We snacked, we savored, and then we sauntered our way back to the car.

Day hikes like this are the perfect summer excursion for me because I have something to look forward to on my weekends, but I am home in time to snuggle with my kitty in the evening. It’s taken me a while to appreciate the simpler things in life, but sometimes all it takes is a hike in my own backyard (metaphorically speaking of course) to bring me to life after a long week.

While I am ready for the high 80 / low 90 degree days to go away, I plan to use them to my advantage on some of these hikes. Insert alpine lake here. More on that in my next post. Who doesn’t love a good cold plunge after a grueling hike.

Q: What’s your favorite season? Hands down fall for me. I don’t care that it’s only August, I LOVE seeing all the fall themed items in the stores.

Just on the outskirts of my most beloved town of Leavenworth sits a bumpy, pot hole filled road that leads to one of the most popular hiking trails in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. I have lived in Washington for most of my life, aside from a couple temporary moves for jobs, and the hike to Colchuck Lake has been on my radar for many of those years.

The main deterrents for why I had not yet hiked to Colchuck Lake were: distance (three and a half hour drive to trail head from my house), road to trail head (no way my Toyota Camry would make it), and popularity (trails are popular for a reason, but I loathe huge crowds while hiking.) All that said, I knew I still wanted to hike this trail at least once in my life. Lucky for me my pal Caitlin has a car made for roads like this, and she matches my go getter attitude when it comes to hiking.

This meant we decided to leave at 4am on a Friday, and drive the three and a half hours to the trail head to beat the crowds.

We arrived around 0745 to find the parking lot full, but we only had to park a few spaces down on the road. Caitlin has done this trail before, and she told me parking on the road backs up multiple miles during the peak weekends in the summer. We arrived at a good time. Despite doing this hike at the tail end of July, I was shocked to discover how cold it was at this time of the morning.

The temps were in the mid 30’s and it took me close to an hour to fully warm up my fingers and my legs.

The first couple miles of this trail pass through wooded forests with tall trees and lush green plants. The trail is moderate for these miles and doesn’t begin to climb until you’re out of the trees. From there the lush green disappears, the trees get shorter, and the legs feel wobblier. We took our time getting to the lake, and we arrived around 1020. The downside of arriving this early was that the lighting was terrible.

The upside was that there were minimal people at the lake and we were able to find our own pocket to sit.

We snacked and savored the view for about 20 minutes, all the while I was gathering the courage to get into the water. The hike warmed me up, but it was still slightly cooler than I would have liked in order to dive head first into the water. In all reality, I never dive head first – I walk out and take far too long to commit to the cold because I am a wimp. Alas, I always submerge myself eventually.

After sitting on a rock contemplating when I wanted to shock my body I finally decided to pull the trigger. If the sun is shining, and the temps are above 70 I will without a doubt get into the water. I try to collect alpine lake swims like 1999 Pokémon cards. Gotta catch em’ all.

Caitlin eventually joined me in the water, and we played mermaids for quite some time. I found it difficult to get out of the water once I was in. There are few things more invigorating than a cold alpine lake surrounded by mountains. I finally dragged my soaked skin out of the water to dry in the sun, and I was thankful I had my jacket once again.

I needed my jacket for another couple miles after we left the lake despite a comfortable 70 degree wind and sunshine.

Colchuck Lake was just as beautiful as I expected, but I think I enjoyed the second half of our hike more than this lake. The trailhead for Colchuck begins at the trailhead for Lake Stuart, another lake within the forested area. The trail comes to a fork about 2 miles in, and this is where most people go to the left and head towards Colchuck.

We decided that we were going to hike to both Colchuck and to Lake Stuart since we were already in the area.

The additional hike to Lake Stuart only added another 4 or so miles, and while overall this was doable, once the heat kicked in and the bugs started to party next to our faces the slog became tough. The main trail to Lake Stuart isn’t anything to write home about, but just under a mile or so into this portion of the trail the forested surroundings open up to one of the most unbelievable meadows I have ever seen. I am still dreaming about these views.

The trail is barely visible amongst the brush, but this added to the fully immersed sensations of being in the meadow. If it weren’t for the incessant buzzing of bugs trying to feast on my flesh I could have stood here for hours. We trudged on another mile and some change before seeing Lake Stuart in all his glory. Not quite as in your face as Colchuck, but beautiful nonetheless.

I appreciate a modest lake.

Lake Stuart was quiet and we only saw one patch of campers in this location, allowing us our own pocket of nature. We sat here just long enough for me to eat 3/4 of an apple before making our way back through the meadow, and back to the car. We arrived back to the car around 1545, making this an 8 hour excursion covering 13.1 miles. The most beautiful half marathon I have walked in years.

You can see the official trail details if you click here. Just know AllTrails is notorious for being off on milage.

Just when I thought the hike couldn’t get any better, we encountered a chipmunk at the tail end of the hike with cheeks stuffed to the brim. I am still laughing at the sight of his swollen cheeks, but I was too focused on him begging for more food to snap a photo. This will be one of the mental snapshots that will forever live within my memories.

We ended our adventure with a walk through the town of Leavenworth for a cup of coffee and a scoop of ice cream from Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co. I had been wanting to try this ice cream since Duncan and I were in Leavenworth back in April. I didn’t get any then because I had already eaten a cupcake the size of my face, and while it goes against my intrusive thoughts I do in fact have self control over my sweets intake.

The ice cream was worth the wait, and you may tell me it’s boring to get vanilla flavored ice cream, but I will tell you the best way to test ice cream is by getting the basic flavor. That and I just like vanilla. Too many bells and whistles in my ice cream and I’ll feel 10x worse than ice cream already makes me feel. This pit stop was the perfect ending to an epic adventure. We started the drive back home around 1730, and I arrived back to my fur child just after 2100. A full day, a full belly, and a full spirit.

Q: What is your go to ice cream flavor? Vanilla for me these days, but back in my heyday I was known to go for cookie dough, anything with peanut butter and chocolate chunks, or cookies and cream.

This summer has been the season of the lakes for me. My activity of choice changes with the seasons, and summer is reserved for hiking as many places as possible. While I prefer hiking in the fall, summer hiking means I am far more likely to submerge myself in a body of water. I have managed a few more lake hikes since I last posted, one of which I swam in.

All of these hikes I have done before (and blogged about!) so I will share the link to the previous adventures because I like looking back in time.

First up I ventured to the Olympics for a tromp up to Lake Angeles. I did not swim in this lake because it was under 65 and I was a wimp. We did see one swimmer, and I commend him for his bravery. Caitlin, Duncan, and I had a lovely time on this adventure. We saw a multitude of frogs, very few other humans, and had coffee and ice cream after we finished. I was wild and chose a honey lavender flavor, but it did not sit well. This is why I stick to vanilla.

Hike Highlight: spending time giggling with my two favorite people. Read about my last venture to Lake Angeles here. (I was much more philosophical in that post. lol.)

Next up was a trek to my favorite alpine lake within the Alpine Lake Wilderness. I used to embark on this trail solo after a long week working at Starbucks, and it holds a very close spot in my heart. I wrangled up three of my coworkers (including Caitlin because duh) and we headed to Melakwa Lake on a Friday morning.

I almost didn’t make it out the door however, because look at what I had to say goodbye to…

I warned my other two coworkers who had not been hiking much that this trail was relatively steep, but they were up for the challenge. Despite the fact that I had done this trail many times, I had not been since they reconstructed the parking. I was thrown off by this and ended up taking us on the adjacent trail adding another 2 miles to our day.

While this made for a longer hike overall, I was jazzed we made this detour because I had never ventured down this other trail. This 2 mile out and back leads to Franklin Falls, and I can’t believe I never took the time to make this detour on my last few visits to Melakwa Lake.

We managed around 12 miles total this day, and while one of my pals was in a good bit of discomfort after, she is still up for another adventure. We spent just enough time at the lake for three of us to swim, snack, and SAVOR the surrounding beauty! No ice cream after this hike, how sad for me.

Hike Highlight: swimming in my favorite alpine lake. Read about my last trek to Melakwa Lake here.

Next up was a stroll to Snow Lake, one of the most popular trails in the Alpine Lake Wilderness. I was quickly reminded why I do not hike this trail on a weekend, alas I wanted my Monday – Friday working boyfriend to go with us on this hike. I also saw a woman hiking up with a cat in a mesh backpack, so I guess it was worth it.

We started early making the hike up pleasant because we didn’t see many people. We secured the perfect spot on a rock by the lake to drool over the view before heading back to the car. This hike is more of a moderate one, which is partially why it’s so popular. Caitlin, her pup Poncho, Duncan, and I ventured off for this stroll on a Sunday. Never again.

This was another chilly day so we did not swim in this lake either, which is a bit of a bummer. Last summer Caitlin and I hiked to Snow Lake, and continued on further to Gem Lake where we did swim. I have yet to swim in Snow Lake, so next year it will be a must. Coming back down after we enjoyed our snacks was a nightmare. There were more people than a big city train station and I was loosing my mind. No more popular weekend hikes for me, sorry Duncan. Also no ice cream after this. I am deprived.

Hike Highlight: cat in a backpack. Read about my first stroll to Snow Lake here. So young, and my photo quality was so, so bad.

Lastly a quick honorable mention. My mom spent a week in Glacier with one of her girlfriends last month, which meant I got to stay home with my sister. For those of you who don’t know, my older sister has autism. My mom and I tag team taking care of her, and while she will never be fully independent she is relatively high functioning.

She loves going on adventures, and was keen on the idea of going for a hike with me and Duncan.

We took her to a moderate trial, and while I dressed her myself I was shocked to discover just minutes before arriving at the trail head that she had changed out of her Nike shoes and into her Converse shoes. I refused to turn back, so we hoped for the best. Turns out she was more eager than both of us to get to the top (perhaps because Duncan told her she could have a Beanie Baby from our bin in the garage after), and her shoes worked fine.

Hike Highlight: watching her trail blaze like a pro.

Q: Do you prefer savory or sweet after a long physical endeavor?

I try to visit Mount Rainier as least once a year, typically towards the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall. This year due to increased traffic, Rainier required a timed entry for the peak weeks of the summer. I had zero desire to get a timed ticket, and I knew if I wanted to visit I would have to arrive before 0700 when a ticket was not required.

A perk of living in the same state I suppose, more flexibility.

In order to arrive by 0700, my gal pal Caitlin and I left at 0345 on Sept 2, which happened to be the last day of needing a timed entry. It also happened to be Labor Day, and we were hoping the end of the holiday weekend meant fewer people. Thankfully we were right, and overall we did not encounter too many other humans. We didn’t encounter too many non humans either.

We started our hike around 0630, and the dark sky gave the mountain a beautiful blue hue.

We chose to do a trail we had both done before, but I had not done this hike since 2015. The Burroughs Mountain Trail was my very first hike at Mount Rainier, and how fitting that in 2015 I did it on a holiday as well. This time we did the looped trail which took us along the opposite side we came up providing different views I hadn’t seen before.

The hike up starts moderate, but begins to climb as you head towards Second Burroughs. A lot of people choose to stop here because the view is stunning no matter how far you go. We sat here just long enough to refuel our stomachs and enjoy the view, but our plan was to continue on towards Third Burroughs. If you have enough gas in the tank when doing this trail, continuing on is a must.

We encountered a few other hikers, one of which we played leap frog with to Second Burroughs, but overall it was a quiet hike. This is one of the many perks of starting before the sun is fully awake. We made it to Third Burroughs and momentarily had the entire area to ourselves. The climb up is a bit steeper than the climb to Second Burroughs, but the views are significantly more magnificent.

The view from Third Burroughs feels like you’re sitting right on top of the mountain. Being this close gives me a false sense of distance, and it seems like the summit isn’t all that far away. In reality I would probably cry attempting to summit Mount Rainier. I do not like snowy crevasses. Or heights. Or snow covered heights.

Basically what I’m saying is that I’m a wimp, and I wear it with pride.

We sat at Third Burroughs for a while to refuel again, and if you clicked the above link to see my first visit to this trail you will see I ate a Larabar on that adventure (you will also see poor photo quality and me with a bob haircut vs a pixie cut.) I seem to have started a tradition of taking photos with my Larabars in beautiful locations, and this trip was no different.

Food just tastes better when you are in nature looking at epic mountains.

After enjoying the view we made our way back towards the trail before splitting off onto the loop. From here the trail became lush and green, and the day grew much warmer than either of us anticipated. We are officially in the season of constantly changing temps throughout the day.

This took us 5 hours and 36 minutes including our breaks at each Burrough, putting us back at my car around noon. We clocked in at 9.47 miles, and the last mile I was powered exclusively by visions of vanilla ice cream. One of my favorite reasons to go to Rainier is the ice cream spot we stop at after we are done. This local shop has amazing ice cream, and I look forward to it the day before we leave.

I brought some butter toffee cashews from Costco to go on my ice cream, and I made the right choice.

I’m not sure if I will make the trek to Rainier again this season, but maybe I can drag Duncan just for another excuse to get this ice cream. He too is motivated by treats, and there are so many trails to explore. I used to drive three hours to Portland and back in one day just to eat, so I don’t see how this is any different.

Just one week after this adventure Caitlin and I packed up her CRV and took a road trip to Banff, AB. We arrived home this past Saturday, and I cannot wait to share the photos and stories from our short week hiking in the Canadian Rockies. It feels so good to have a pal to road trip with for an exhausting yet exhilarating adventure of non stop hiking.

Q: Would you rather fight for a timed slot, or arrive before the sun to avoid the crowds?

When I was in my early 20’s I took a weekend trip to Victoria, BC. My pal and I took a boat from Seattle into Victoria where we spent a couple days wandering the city. I can’t recall many trips to Canada prior to this, but it was time I had a proper visit to this neighboring country of mine. At the beginning of the year my dear friend Caitlin asked me if I wanted to go to Banff with her in the fall, and it seemed like a no brainer.

If it weren’t for my sweet geriatric cat this would have been the easiest yes. Someone else wants to drive, someone who hikes just as frequently as me (and at the same pace), someone who is chill and I enjoy spending time with…yes, yes, yes. Although I did said yes, my anxiety leading up to this trip was gnarly. Leaving my cat with my mom for six days was hard.

Thankfully this trip was great, my cat was fine, and I wish I could go back and do it all over again.

Banff had been on my bucket list for many years, and rightfully so. This area of Canada is unbelievably beautiful, but what I learned quite quickly was that the entire journey getting to Banff was going to be progressively scenic. The drive from where we live to where we were staying in Banff was about 10-12 hours depending on traffic, and we decided to break the drive up into two days.

We drove around 8 hours the first day to a mountain town called Revelstoke. We spent one of five nights living large in a nice hotel, and it was in this town we pretended we were royalty. We left Washington around 0500, and arrived in Revelstoke around 1330. With plenty of daylight left we walked around the small town, grabbed a coffee, and headed to a nearby river for a 6 mile walk.

This town was cozy and quaint, and I can see why people flock here in the ski season. Our walk was wonderful, and the perfect introduction for the week to come. Truth be told one of my biggest worries for this trip was entering into bear country. We have bears where I live, and there are sightings all the time, but something about the Canadian Rockies screamed grizzly to me.

I developed a somewhat unhealthy fear of bears after falling down the Grizzly Man rabbit hole. If you don’t know who that is, give him a Google. Since I became obsessed with his story I have been terrified of bears. I carried my bear spray with me almost everywhere, and I even slept with it in the tent. More on that later.

After our long walk through town and on parts of the Greenbelt Pathway we headed to our fancy pants hotel to soak up our last night of luxury before four days of tent camping. We stayed at the Basecamp Resorts property in Revelstoke, but this company has locations all over Western Canada. We stayed in the plebeian micro apartment, but they have luxury suites that were far beyond my willingness to pay.

Overall this hotel was worth the cost, had beautiful river views, a proper kitchen to cook dinner, and the most amazing hand soap I have ever used/smelled. Too bad the small bottle would have been $20. We savored the space for as long as we could keep our eyes open before heading off to bed. Our plan for the following morning was a hike in Mount Revelstoke National Park before making the final drive to Banff.

Revelstoke was lovely. I would absolutely return to this town and also to this hotel. The coffee shop we visited had multiple Australian employees, and it had me daydreaming of the days I too moved around to different states or different countries to work. I think of those days fondly, and while I may not be getting any younger, I think there are more of those days in my future.

Next up: hiking in Mount Revelstoke National Park

Q: Do you have a normal, healthy fear or bears, or would you be constantly on edge knowing they might cross your path?

If you read my previous post you will know my friend Caitlin and I took a trip to Canada with the intention of visiting Banff National Park. The entire goal of this trip was to hike as many trails as we could squeeze into four days. We spent our first night a few hours shy of the Lake Louise area in a town called Revelstoke.

In Revelstoke there was another national park we wanted to hike in, so as to experience multiple different parks within the Canadian Rockies.

We chose arguably the most popular trail in Mount Revelstoke National Park, seeing as there are few hikes and this is a very small national park. We hiked the Eva and Miller Lake Trail, giving us 11 miles to explore. We started the hike early as we always do, because trail reports indicated this was a popular spot. We wanted to ensure a place to park and avoid the main crowd.

The trail began through the woods, coming upon small meadows, and eventually opening up to expansive views of the surrounding mountains.

I was on high alert for nearly the entire first half of this hike. It was our first hike for the week, my bear meter was scanning a mile a minute, and within the first five minutes we stumbled upon bear poop right in the middle of the trail. Cool. Caitlin waved her magic hand over the dung to inquire if it were warm or not, and after we shared a laugh we continued on.

Finally when we made it to the first of these two lakes (Miller) I calmed down. We saw two other humans, and more humans always makes me feel better when I am in bear country. This lake was small, and the lighting was horrible so I did not take any photos. I did however take a photo of the facilities at this lake to show my plumber boyfriend.

Most luxurious toilet I’ve seen in the wild. The things I never thought I would photograph.

From here Eva lake is only a wee bit further, and is well worth the continuation. This lake was far superior in my opinion, and the perfect place to stop and eat a snack. The reflections of the surrounding trees provided the perfect symmetrical image to savor while eating my very first gingerbread flavored Larabar of the season. I wait all year for these spicy treats.

The trail makes an entire loop around the lake, offering different views as you go, but this initial view was my favorite. Close to the path leading to the lake sits a cabin where many previous hikers and campers have come. The inside walls are covered with messages and stories of those who came before us. The small table had a notebook for travelers, as well as some old candles to burn.

Many years ago I had a Canadian acquaintance who told me all throughout the trails and mountains of British Columbia sat little cabins like this where hikers could come and sleep. It sounded like it was a first come first serve/communal situation, and I remember being enamored by the idea of being able to hike deep into the mountains and always have a safe place to sleep.

Assuming you didn’t encounter any other psychotic hikers of course.

We walked the full loop before heading back towards the car. This national park had plenty of accessible views for people who were not as active as the hikers, and we wandered around the area near the parking lot before making the drive to our home for the next four nights. I could have sat savoring the views for hours.

We made it to the Lake Louise campground with plenty of daylight to spare, and I watched helplessly while Caitlin set up the tent. I’m half kidding, I did help her, but I had never set up her tent before and it was new to me. While I have camped in my life, it is never my go to choice when traveling.

I slept like hot garbage our first night, but I eventually settled into the routine of a campground and came to enjoy it.

We awoke early the next morning for our first day in Banff, which happened to be my favorite day of the trip. We hiked two trails in one day, the second of which being one I will dream about for many years to come.

Bear sightings: 0

Next up: Peyto Lake and Helen Lake.

Q: Do you like tent camping?