I did not grow up exploring the outdoors. I’ve discovered the absolute awe of being outside later in life. I’m now over 50, living in the PNW and incredibly fortunate that the mountains and the water are so close.

In 2017 I set out to do 10 hikes a year. Each year I’ve increased that number. Exploring new places and learning new skills. I adore being in the lush forests, scrambling over rocks and pushing my endurance to reach new peaks. But more than anything I appreciate how much being outdoors teaches me. Each hike. Each adventure is new. The same trail is never the same journey. There are so many glorious factors outside of our control. It’s been a process of learning to let go. Be open. Present. With a heart full of gratitude.

In 2021 I did my first backpacking trip in the enchantments and the north cascades. In 2022 I completed my first glacier hike up Mt Koma Kulshan. It was scary and exciting to make the decision to try something new. In 2023 completed the #52hikechallenge with women #over50outside. I finished the year with 60 hikes. Something I never thought would be possible a few years ago. It’s now 2024 and I’m in training mode for a few mountaineering objectives, skills building through the Mountaineers scrambling course and continuing to learn and grow with rock climbing.

I’ve documented my training to share my journey. I’m excited to share my new adventures with all of you 💕

With the loss of my job at the end of 2023 I knew that 2024 would be a year of transition. Last year I had intended to climb Mount Shuksan , but unfortunately the forest fires made the air quality today too dangerous. Alpine Ascents International turned the trip into a fantastic skills building course. This year I am excited to try and climb the mountain again along with exploring other mountaineering objectives.

Given I now have a flexible schedule, I am dedicating time to training, taking care of my body, and being grateful for the flexibility and the opportunity to be outdoors and in the mountains.

As always, one never knows if a summit is in the cards - but the journey of learning and preparing is always so special💕

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March 2024 - urban hill walk

My hiking season had a slow start. January I spent decompressing, and had the opportunity to go on a silent meditation retreat. The silence looks like a warm blanket, and the pause was a true gift.

In February I slowly begin hiking starting with weighting my pack with just 10 to 15 pounds. In addition, although I do not like running, I started to build my cardio base with very slow, 3 mile runs weekly

By March with a commitment to Climbing and Shuksan this summer in June I had to amp up my training and started with about 25 pounds walking of steep hills in my neighborhood. The goal is to increase the weight by 10 pounds each month.

Here’s to remembering to foam roll stretch and take care of my body as I continue to train.

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March - Joshua Tree

Rock climbing and yoga retreat

I wasn’t considering rockclimbing as part of my training per se, it turned out to be an incredible experience on so many levels!

I went with a group called she dreams of Alpine. There were about 18 women of mixed ages, and varying degree of experience rock climbing - with some who have never climbed at all! Everyone had a great time, and it was inspiring to see new climbers, taking on new challenges.

The retreat included yoga in the morning sunlight around 8 AM and then traveling to the crag where we had all day to climb. The guides were amazing and set up various rope lines for different abilities. I was very excited that the ropes included a fixed line so we could repel down. Repelling is a new skill for me, and I was grateful for the opportunity to learn.

I really loved Climbing and Joshua Tree the incredible views from the top of the climb, being in the desert and meeting new friends.

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Hike # 8 - Longs Pass. Not! —

April 7, 2024

Whelp. What was supposed to be a 7+ mile training hike with over 3,370 ft elevation gain turned out to be a an important lesson in preparation while driving in the snow.

On the way to the trail head, the forest road had patches of snow and ice. my Highlander initially passed easily over the snow patches, however, on one snow and ice patch the clearance of my car was not enough. The car high pointed over the very compact, icy snow to the point where my tires were not touching the road.

One major lesson was that given. This is April I did not have a snow shovel in the car. We tried to dig the car out with our hiking poles with limited success. I then tried to back the car up however, I kept revving the engine, and there was no traction. Eventually the car battery died and we were seriously stuck!

Another lesson is the value of having a satellite communication device. We both had garmins with us and my friend was able to text her husband through the device and he was able to get roadside assistance. We also learned that many tow trucks do not go to forest roads. eventually though he found a tow truck driver who is willing to come get us.

In the meantime, a truck that was returning back from being further up the mountain was trying to pass my stuck car. but then he got stuck in the snow, We helped him push his car backwards. initially he did not realize that my car was dead. He generously helped us by providing a jump. And here’s another lesson. It’s important to know how to jump your car. We had to read the manual, but figured it out and the jump worked!

At this point we only had to wait about 20 more minutes before the tow truck driver arrived. a fantastic dude name Matt who was able to pull me out of the icy snowbank.

All in all for having an emergency with a dead car in the middle of a snowbank it worked out fine! The area around us was gorgeous and after we got the car out, we stopped by Roslyn for a short hike and a fantastic meal.

I am extremely grateful for the strangers who helped us and my friends husband for navigating many tow truck companies to find us one willing to rescue us. This is definitely a lesson in paying it forward and being prepared.

Deets
-3.1 mi mini hike
-28lbs in my pack
-1 great tow truck driver
-2 helpful strangers who got my car started
-1 friends husband who got us a tow
-a fantastic meal in Roslyn
-and a great adventure friend. Together we stayed calm. Problem solved the best we could. And ultimately had a great day.

March training hike - Wenatchee crest trail

This is my sixth hike of the year. It was a stunning bluebird day. My friend Erin is excellent at finding trails that are not crowded with great views. We have been very lucky with our hikes and this was no expectation!

While I carried my snow shoes they were not needed - my boots & spikes were fine. On the way down the sun was shining and the snow was slushy making it a fun and slippery trip back to the car.

Overall, it was an incredibly stunning day !

Deets
-6.7 miles
-780 ft elevation gain
- 32lbs pack weight
-gorgeous views

Training while traveling - w/o April 15th

5 days in DC /MD

In the past travel generally meant getting in walks, but not dedicated training time. This trip in addition to time with family and friends, I tried out a few new workouts.

-inspired by a coach from my gym (fuel house) I modified a strength work out that is basically 40 min of stepups with weights and every min a get down/get up with the weights. I was at my moms house so used two of her small dumbbells that I could hold together on one hand (7lbs). And increased the height of her step up by stacking two big books under each side. It worked for the most part!

-I opted to bring my larger backpack and took one slightly rainy late afternoon to do a weighted neighborhood hill walk. I filled the pack with 2 gallons of water plus hand weights (24lbs). I listened to an incredible podcast with Dr Stacy Sims while going up and down hills. Highly recommend her for women’s training and nutrition wisdom!

-the day before I left town I took an orange theory class. I haven’t been to OT since pre pandemic. I still had my punch card which they honored. While the orange lights. Fast pace and loud music feels very millennial… I really enjoy it. Stacy Sims talks about the value of HIIT and the class works well for me to push into those higher intensity zones.

While the trip had some ups and downs. I was grateful for these workouts. The best way for me to prepare for mountaineering is training (and resting. And good nutrition). And it felt good to be able to do that while traveling 💗

April 20th - snow workshop

Mountaineers scrambling course

As part of the mountaineers scrambling course, there is a snow workshop where we put into practice snow travel skills including safe glissading. Walking with crampons in balance. Ice ax self arrest In various positions.

While I’ve done all of these skills before. The mountaineers teach with a specificity that I really appreciate. For example, I’ve walked with crampons and an ice ax. But the particular foot work and rhythm of being “in balance” was new to me. Similarly I’ve been taught ice ax self arrest. But have not practiced doing it going down a hill. And while the slope was not steep. Going down felt scary enough!

My big lesson was to not overthink it. As being in my head slowed me down. I want to continue to build this muscle memory. Which I know will mean continuing to practice🙂

It was the first time using my new mountaineering boots and crampons. Which overall felt good. And while we only wound up walking a little over 2 mi. I forgot how exhausting it is to walk in snow! It felt like excellent practice for upcoming trips 🏔️

The big up was making a new friend whom I carpooled with. We hope to do the final class together. The down was some scary feedback about Mt Hood. Which was probably good as it inspired me to learn more about the risks of the pearly gates and think through mitigation planning. Safety is always first!!

Hike #10 - Malcom Mountain -almost

April 27, 2024

This was my first scrambling trip with the Mountaineers. The idea was to practice our snow skills, including ice axe arrest. Unfortunately the plan to Summit iron peak was not feasible as the road was not passable because of too much snow. We instead opted for Malcolm mountain and had a great time getting to the base and then scrambling up to the Ridgeline. The views at the top were lovely despite the cloudy day. However, there was no snow, and so the leader made the decision to try another peak. Down we went and then up the trail up to Johnson Mountain. We did find snow, and had opportunity to practice walking inballance with our ice axe. At times the trail was steep making good practice for traversing. We got about 700 feet from the summit, and our leader decided as it was getting late the best decision was to turn around.

It was a wonderful day, despite not having the opportunity to Summit A good leader is capable of making tough decisions, and in this case, I appreciated the attention to safety and concern for the group

Overall, we hiked about 6.4 miles with around 1847 feet of elevation gain.

Hike #11 Sauers Mountain —

May 3, 2024

Last year by this date I had done so many hikes! It is kind of amazing that at the beginning of May I am only a number 11. That said, this hike was pretty spectacular. I am also grateful that I am beginning to get out to the mountains now every week. And hopefully that trend continues as I keep training for mountaineering objectives this summer

But back to this incredible trail that was full of the most amazing, bright, yellow wildflowers. They look so happy against the blue sky and green trees. It is hard not to feel joy when looking across such a beautiful landscapes.

The trail was surprisingly more steep than we expected, but it was a lovely and somewhat tough hike up to the summit. At the top we had views of glacier Peak, and what we think was mount baker.

On the way down, we had met two lovely old ladies. They began their hike down before us. However, after a very steep section, we saw one of the women who reported to us that her friend was injured. Tina and I went over, assessed her condition and began to help clean and treat her wounds. She fell head first down a steep section of the trail. It was gratifying to be able to use my first aid equipment and to be able to help this lovely lady who unfortunately had a bad fall. After treating her she reported that she was still feeling nauseous and dizzy. not a good sign. When she stood up, she had trouble putting weight on her left leg, which had also gotten scraped during her fall. We realized then there was no way she could make it down the mountain.

I was very impressed with my friend Tina , who immediately told everyone that she was making the call to 911 Truly there is no reason to wait to call for help. Once we knew that an emergency response was on the way Tina and I settled the woman on the ground with her friend nearby to help. We were able to give her many of our supplies including a headlamp and snacks, and Tina even gave her an extra pair of pants, as she looked quite cold sitting down and waiting for Help to come. However, she was stable and it is a wonderful that 911, and the mountain emergency response team was able to arrive so quickly

Tina and I then made our way down the mountain. We stopped to take silly photos with the beautiful flowers and made it down safely in no time . As is our tradition following the hike, we went to find a place to Cold Plunge . We drove into Leavenworth and walked down to the river and got in. The water was absolutely freezing, but also refreshing after a long day. Somehow it feels euphoric to be able to walk into such Cold water, even for just a few seconds.

Overall, we hiked 9 miles with over 2000 feet of elevation gain. It was indeed a spectacular day.

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Hike #12 Mt Si

May 5, 2024

The training benchmark is up the mountain in two hours. It was a rainy day. The trail was a muddy. Almost everyone was carrying weighted packs. It was a good day. Slogging up when most hikers were warm and dry at home.

I love Mt Si. No matter how many times I make my way up the endless switchbacks, I breathe. I feel fortunate to be there. In the beautiful forest. I didn’t want to get in my head and feel anxious about the time. I was super grateful my friend Becky joined me. Chatting as we climbed was helpful. And I kept a steady pace vs an all out push

The top was all socked in. Cold and wet. But we gobbled a few snacks. I put on another layer and we made our way back down.

Stats
-2.18 moving time to the top
-carrying 30lbs
-3108 ft elevation gain
-8.45 mi total

I’ll keep at it. And will try again. I’m close. And the training continues. Onwards!

2023 - 52 hike challenge

#over50outside

Well…. Here we go!

A dear friend encouraged me to apply to the women over 50 - 52 hike challenge late last year. At first I was apprehensive, not so much about the physicality of the challenge, but rather the time. And well….life. Could I make it out to hike. Every. Week?! But after I applied, I began to get more excited about the potential of being accepted. I adore hiking and being outdoors -so why not!

I was thrilled to learn that I’m part of the 2023 cohort and I kicked off with a gentle and beautiful solo snowshoe hike around Gold Creek Pond east of Snoqualmie pass. In fact I had so much fun, I added an additional lap for a total of 3.70 miles.

A word about clothing:
-while I had warm gloves, next time I’ll also bring glove liners as my hands got warm
-layers, layers, layers. We all know. But it can be hard to figure out what works best at the start of a new season
- I was pretty happy with base layer + prana wool sweater (used from @wonderlandgearexchange) + puffy Patagonia jacket (geartrade.com) which I then swapped out for basic REI rain jacket once I warmed up but wanted to keep dry. Bottoms included title9 fleece hiking pants (used thriftup.com) and REI rain pants to keep dry. Combo worked well!

A word about bodily functions:
-as an over 50, I apparently need to pee more frequently (thx menopause 😔) but I was so excited to get to the trail head, I did not stop en route
-unfortunately right as I got to the pass there was a huge backup (semi jackknifed into a snow bank). Through 20+ min stop/go over the pass. I held it. And breathed. Lesson learned: go when you need to! Luckily I made it to the exit and when I turned on to the fire road there were several portapoties
-I’m a HUGE fan of pstyle pee funnel (dream of being sponsored by them ;) best way to avoid wet cold toilets. Stand!

Already looking forward to my next hike. I’ll be tracking my jounrney. Onward! #52hikechallenge2023 #over50outside

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I feel so lucky to live so close to Discovery Park. The stunning bluffs and beach trails are my favorites. Within a 5 min drive from my house, I csn access so many trails within the 534 acres of the park.

The hike today was with a colleague. A perfect walk&talk meeting in such a great setting. We got lucky as the rain held off until we were almost back to our cars. I never get tired of this magical place!

#3 hike - 01.07.23

Hex Mountain

It was a very wintery day in the PNW. After trying to drive to Mason creek trail head (the road was closed), we headed east in search for better weather. Hex mountain is gorgeous and on sunny days sweeping views of lake Cle Elum and at the top a stunning view of Mt Rainer. Today however. There was no sun. And the higher we climbed. The stronger the wind. Due to my friends hurt hip and the snow pelting our face at high speeds, we turned around about 1/2 mi from the summit.

5.8 mi - 1848 elevation gain

Lessons learned:
-goggles would have been helpful
-hat with a Pompom does not fit well under jacket hood (need a beanie next time)
-liner gloves + gloves don’t work great. Next time I’m bringing mittens!
-I always start with too many layers! Base layer + hard shell jacket worked well

-snowshoeing up a mountain is hard work!

It was a fun day. And a good reminder that it’s not about the summmit (especially today with very low visibility!). Onwards! 🙂

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#4 urban hike - 01.13.23

Rainy walk through Queen Ann

Very PNW day! Soft and steady rain. Even in the rain we had a fantastic time. A very
productive and energizing conversation about data and measurement. I adore these meetings that get us away from our computers.

4.46 mi

Not bad for a Friday 🙂

I loved this hike. The falls were stunning. And the snowy walk through the woods and by the rushing creek was glorious. However, if you are in a glass 1/2 empty mood - be warned of the ~2 mi of walk on a paved forest road & crowds on the weekend. That said I took advantage of the sun being out (no rain!) and had a late start, which meant avoiding the biggest crowds. Absolutely needed micro spikes. A few hikers ventured without but were slipping and postholing in the deep snow.

6.97 mi
2.5 hrs walking time
Jaw dropping awe of the waterfall!

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This hike! So lush and stunning. Gentle, windy trail that runs next to the river. The water is crystal clear and the trees so green and soft. Beautiful mountain peaks dusted with snow loom overhead. I adore this trail. Excited to come back in warmer weather and hike to the hot springs.

Deets
-11.23 miles
-973 elevation gain
-rain that turned to snow at our turn around point
-yummy snacks and my tiny stove to make hot chocolate/coffee to warm us up
-glad I brought hand warmers and plastic tarp to protect packs during our break
-wish I brought mittens (along with my gives)
-wore all 4 layers on top. Which did a great job keeping me warm and dry.

Highly recommend this gem! 💕

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Luckily the rain held out. This was a beautiful hike with a friend who was full of good news stories that lifted my spirits. I wasn’t sure how far we would go but spontaneously turned on Strava. We wound up walking 4.35 mi in 1.25hrs.

She took me through the cemetery with beautiful old trees. Fascinating graves. Tracing the history of Seattle with names such as Renton and Phinney. We then came to Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee’s grave site. Others were there to visit and leave gifts. The graves are placed ontop of a hill over looking a beautiful view of lake Washington. From there we traversed through Capitol Hill winding through the Greenway. Full of lush trees. All in all a
fantastic way to kick off the weekend!

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Oh my gosh the WTA and AllTrails post made it seem like this hike was untenable with the downed trees! Yes, there’s several downed trees across the trail. But very easy so scramble over or under.

I love this hike. It’s my third time to do it. First time in winter. So fun to see the lake totally covered in snow! The snowy part of the trail was fairly firm. Snowshoes not needed. Just micro spikes. I love the walk through the forest and then the pop of amazing views above the tree line. Mt index was out in all her glory. So stunning.

Deets
- Strava said 9.9 mi but that seems quite /overly generous
-2258 elevation gain
-4.47 hrs
-gorgeous views with blue sky amazing luck

Excited for more winter hikes! ❄️❄️❄️

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Hike # 9 - Mt Si

Mt Si is the perfect training hike. It never gets old for me. No matter how often I hike up the many switchbacks. I love the forest and the reward of the rocky top. No views today. Lots of mist and snow!!

Deets
-8.3 mi
-3145 ft elevation gain
-4.3 hrs

Big shout out to #outdoorresearch one of the generous sponsors of women over 50 #52hikechallenge. The super strand jacket is the perfect weight to keep warm. But not too heavy. And I love the gortex jacket. I stayed dry and comfy!!

The sky could not be more blue today! It was a stunningly sunny day. I feel so lucky living close to the mountains. It took just under an hour to get to the trail head. And once you start climbing it’s insane snowy beauty. All around.

The deets
-9 miles
-1985 ft elevation gain
-snowshoes needed at higher elevation
-views of Mt Tahoma (mt Rainer) and many other peaks
-lunch by the frozen lake
-pure bliss!

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THIS park. Minutes from our house. It is pure beauty. Big bluffs looking out over the sound with the Olympic mountain in the distance. Endless trails through beautiful forests or down to the rocky beach - where if you are lucky you can see the powerful Mt Tahoma from the shores.

Today was supposed to be a short walk with a dear friend. It’s our go to walk & talk spit. With a full agenda of work and personal catch up. We got lucky With the weather. Rain stopped and by the end the sun was out. After she left I decided to take one more loop on a new trail. 5.01 miles total.

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Hike #12 - Florida

Boyd nature reserve & fort desoto beach

#11 combining two short “hikes” from my trip to FL to see my dad. Boyd nature reserve where my boys and I searched for gators 🐊 and a gorgeous beach walk in Fort Desoto national park. Total 3.1mi. It’s FL. So really no elevation gain 🤣 While I wanted to get my dad out as well. We did manage a small walk around his community. Sometimes. It’s the little ones. That feel big. Grateful for time with family 💕#over50outside #52hikechallenge2023

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Hike #13 mount Entoto - Ethiopia

03.02.23

Hike #13 mount Entoto, which overlooks Addis Ababa -the capital of Ethiopia. Inspired by the 52 hike challenge, I was able to take a few hours off work to hike with a colleague. I had packed my #outdoorresearch hat and #osprey light pack so I could represent on the trail 🙂.

We got in 5.4 miles in 1.38 min. The trail is relatively flat but with an elevation of around 9,500 ft - it made for a good lung workout!

Super grateful the timing worked out to have a few hours unscheduled. Perfect window to get up to the mountain. Despite an exploding inbox, the time in nature is always the right decision for me. Nature soothes!

#over50outside #52hikechallenge2023

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Hike 14 - Poo Poo point —

03.11.23

Hike #14 Tiger Mountain /Poo Poo point. Cloudy day, but no rain. Always feels great to get outside! I love these gentle foothills so close to Seattle.

Deets:
-My Strava said 11.5 mi and my friends Gaia said 7.3. Such a huge difference!
-1733 ft elevation gain
-3.10 hrs

This would be a fun sunset hike especially in the late spring to watch the paraglider take off!

#over50outside #52hikechallenge2023

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Hike 15 - Talapus Lake —

03.18.23

This day - Gorgeous bluebird day! Absolute perfection. Typically the hike to Talapus lake is short/easy. But in the winter the fireroad is closed, so you have to hike up to get to the trailhead. Which was clearly a deterrent given we only saw 2 other hikers the entire day as we were decending from the lake. Snowshoes were a must along with poles. Going through the forest was breathtaking with the mounds of snow. And crossing the thin log bridge was both fun and slightly scary. We also needed to jump a snow bank with about an 8 ft drop to get to the lake! So much adventure.

The lake is frozen over. Covered in snow With a stunning mountain on the far side. All of it was beyond spectacular!

Deets
10.31 miles
1647 ft elevation gain
5.21 hrs moving time. Full of great conversation!

At ~60 degrees long sleeves base was plenty. As we soaked in the sun ☀️

Truly a special day!

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Hike 16 - Discovery & Kerry park 3.25.23

And the BIG climb was up the Columbia tower!

I did not hike in the mountains this weekend because on march 26, I climbed the Columbia Tower. This fundraiser to support the fight against blood cancer. I was incredibly inspiring and hard. I was so glad to have had the opportunity to join my gym FuelHous’s team. Everyone who climbed had a family member or friend who either passed or survived cancer. It was a team full of heart and strength 💕

Deets
-788 ft vertical elevation
-69 flights
-1311 steps
-my time was ~25 min
-over $1k raised from the amazing generosity of family and friends!!

-the weekend also included 5.3 miles of walking to Kerry park (talking to each of m parents on the phone as I walked) and a beautiful walk in discovery park with a friend

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#17 Mt Si 4.1.23

The kick off of training!

I have two big adventures planned this summer that I’m very excited about! For both I’ll need to comfortably carry ~45lbs in my pack up steep elevation. Building on my training last summer, I’m kicking off in April starting with carrying about 15lbs. I’ll aim to keep carrying this weight for the month for all hikes and adding in some stair climbs and urban hill walks. I’ll increase the weight by 10lbs each month until I reach my goal.

I was excited to start with a solo hike on what appeared to be a bad weather day - as that’s also part of training! However despite the heavy rain on the drive to the trail head, the skies cleared as I switched back up the mountain. Until the top where gentle snow began to fall. Stunning!

Deets:
-7.95mi
-3173 ft
-moving time 4hrs
-pack ~15lbs
-hot mocha at the top!

Microspikes were needed. Excited about my new OR jackets and new Oboz water proof hiking shoes thx to #over50outside #52hikechallenge2023

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Hike #18 04.09.23 —

Discovery Park

I didn’t have time to get out to the mountains today, but incredibly lucky that a beautiful park is just minutes from my house. I adore Discovery park with the sandy bluffs, lush forest, rocky beach and the endless trails. It felt good to be out, despite the rain. Grateful for my OR rain gear that kept me warm and dry! Just as I got down to the beach and rounded to point by the lighthouse, I saw three seals splashing in the water. Such delight!

Deets:
-4.79 mi
-489 ft elevation gain
- 1:45 min walking time
-carrying ~18lbs

Hike # 19 & 20

Yurt adventure

This was an amazing hike to the most adorable Yurt on the Mount Tahoma Trail System. We hiked in microspikes and then snowshoes on the first day as the sun made the snow a bit soft. The weather was spectacular and while I was going uphill I was only wearing my base layers.

The Yurt is Nestled in the snow at 4,100ft. The trail is wide and groomed for skiers and the way up involved climbing some pretty steep hills. But the reward was so worth it. The Yurt is full of thoughtful details from the xtra slippers and rain boots to the racks to hang wet gear in front of the fire. The kitchen is stocked with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, spices, etc. Even the outhouse is adorable with a motion detector inside light, posters on the walls, hand sanitizer, and room spray! The sunset was gorgeous and we were lucky to have a clear night sky full of stars.

The deets;
- Carrying ~30lbs
-Day 1: 6 mi, 1795 ft elevation gain
-Day 2: 6 mi, 794ft elevation gain

Such an amazing experience! #52hikechallenge2023 #over50outside

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Hike #21 04/17/23 —

St James Park, London

After a transatlantic flight that landed in a surprisingly sunny London, I knew the best way to recover was a long walk. Luckily I was staying close to a park and Buckingham Palace. I delighted in the many birds, the gorgeous flowers and the joy of so many people enjoying nature in the middle of the city.

Deets
- 6 miles
-almost no elevation gain
-finished with a sushi dinner
-headed back to my hotel and thankfully had a good nights sleep!

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Hike 22 - Hex Mountain —

4.29.23

Hike 22/52 - what an insanely gorgeous day in the PNW. Avalanche risk is high with warming temps. So I headed east of Snoqualmie pass to Hex Mt to avoid the crowds. It’s a lower risk climb and despite carrying micro-spikes and snowshoes (and about 20lbs) we managed with kick toeing in boots only. Several trees are down and it’s a steep climb to the top. But ohhh the views! Pure joy!

Deets
-Total 8.07 miles
- 2694 ft of elevation gain
-carrying ~20lbs
-a little over 4.5hrs of moving time

#over50outside #52hikechallenge2023

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Hike 23 - 05.07.23 - Teneriffe falls

A wet, wonderful and hard climb

First. I neglected to say this on social media… training is hard work. The kind of hard I enjoy. Building towards a goal. But challenging in every moment as you move up the mountain with weight on your back. As people passed me I felt compelled to say, oh go ahead of me. I’m carrying a weighted pack. Although after several times of this exchange. I thought why the fuck does it matter? This is my own journey. They don’t care whose moving at what speed. And I do my best when I’m in the moment. Focusing on form. Breathing. And the beauty all around.

I also pushed myself out of my comfort zone by taking a different trail down. This may not seem like a big deal, but in retrospect I realized that the unknown (of the trail) can be hard for me - along with feeling a uncertain on a less populated trail (fear of bears or lions. Oh my!). Amazingly this turned out to be my most favorite part of the day. Despite the insanely powerful waterfall at the top. This slow, windy and quiet trail through the forest was stunning and peaceful.

The deets
-6.76 mi
-1746 ft elevation gain
-3.18 hrs moving time
-carrying 30lbs

Lessons - I was so glad I had brought my overnight oats in the car and ate at the TH before the hike. It was pouring when I reached the top part of the falls (a typical snack break) but I wasn’t hungry. So I (literally) soaked in the view for a few min then headed down. Also, for peace of mind. I’m going to bring my garmin in reach on all hikes. While I didn’t need it, hiking on the unpopulated loop trail -having it would have provided me a bit more peace of mind 🙂

Onwards ⛰️

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Hike 24 Rattlesnake ridge

5.12.23

The most gorgeous weather today. Hike with two teammates after our annual employee week. It was the perfect way to wrap up after 4 days of in person meetings! The mountains always soothe.

The three of us plus my colleague’s dog, took off with enthusiasm up the mountain. I’ve done this hike so many times. On sunny clear days, it’s so stunning at the top. That said I was over confident. Sure I could keep up even with the weight I was carrying. Very humbling that the way up was challenging! Not sure if it was the heat. Or that I had just come from PT. Or just a day when things felt tough going up. Good to learn to be gentle with myself and take the hard days with grace. Of course if was heaven at the top. The way down was smooth. And I treated my self to my first paddle of the season after the hike in the blue blue water!

The deets
-5.59 mi
-1178 ft elevation. Gain
-carrying about 30lbs
-2.22 hrs moving time

Hike 25 05.13.23 —

Mother’s Day weekend

Gorgeous short hike to Marymere Falls with the boys. The falls are beautiful and it was a lovely winding walk through the woods. The boys and I hopped the fence and made our way down the base. Exhilarating to be so close to the cool spray.

Deets
-2.52 mi
-1.1hrs
-377 ft elevation gain

External link

First time hiking with women over 50 52 hike challenge cohort! It was nice to connect and meet other women who are part of the challenge. Although Dirty Harry’s is a close hike, it was my first time. Exit 38 is known for climbing and it was fun to see the climbers along the trail. Excited to climb outdoors soon!

The balcony has a lovely view. We all had on our OR caps. Very branded

The deets
- 5.84 mi
-1490 ft elevation gain
-3hr
-lots of great conversation
-fantastic tips about the wonderland from Michele whose a mentor and very experienced hiker

Hike 27 - 05.29.33

Pratt Balcony

I was not planning on hiking 2x this Memorial Day weekend, but when my friend txted to ask… how could I say no?!

She suggested this beautiful very short hike. Ironically all the other close by trails were packed. But when we pulled up the the lot for this hike, there was only one other car

The sun was out and the first was catching beautiful light. We did the hike 2x with the incredible view times 2!

Deets
-5.46 mi
-1335 ft elevation gain
-2.12 min
-lapped 2x
-soaked in the gorgeous view

Hike 28 -camp Muir - Mt Tahoma

O6.03.23

I’ve had this hike on my list for a long time! I also was excited to get above 10k ft elevation in prep for Mt Shuksan later this summer. I went with a group who were training for a Rainer /Tahoma summit. The leader was fantastic. Well prepared and highly experienced. We also got very lucky with the weather, it was a spectacular-crystal clear bluebird day!

I had a hard /fun rockclimbing session the day before. But didn’t think twice about it. Until I got in the mountain. And wow, was I moving slow! My legs were sore from the get go! It was hot. The snow was so bright. And the climb was way, way, way harder than I was anticipating. Good lesson for me to remember to rest the day(s) before a big hike!

It’s beautiful and seemingly never ending climb up the snowfield to base camp. I completely collapsed when I made it up! Literally just laid down on the ground with my head on my pack and soaked it all in. Luckily my friend covinced me on the way down to put on my rain pants and try glissading. It was fantastic to glide down the mountain. Fun. Fast. Efficient!

The deets
-7.89 mi
-4646 ft elevation gain
-6.7hrs
-carrying about 20lbs

Would like to do this one again! Hardest climb so far this year! Total type 2 fun 🤩

External link

Hike 29 -Maury island marine park

06.05.23

Took the day off work for an outing with my mom to Vashon island. Remarkably I had never been before! It was a gorgeous day. I adore a ferry ride and it was fun to have such a great view of Mt Tahoma /Rainer having just hiked up to Muir base camp 2days prior

We picked a small hike by the water with amazing views. We saw a small harder snake, potentially mountain lion poop and eagles 🦅

The deets
-2.84 mi
-453 ft elevation gain
-1.1 hrs
-carrying 25lbs

After we stopped by the most gorgeous garden center and then got delicious Turkish food. It was a beautiful day 💕

Hike 30 - Ancient Lakes —

06.11.23

Following the most incredible night at the Gorge to hear Joni Mitchell play a show for the first time in 20 years. Along with the spectacular Brandi Carlile and guests Annie Lennox and Sarah McLachlan - I took advantage of being in eastern Washington to hike. I got a late start. And it was hot. Which is a bit intense for these highly exposed trails. I opted for something short with a nice reward (aka waterfalls!). I still get nervous solo hiking on new trails. But luckily no issues. And although there weren’t that many people out. The hikers I saw were all friendly. It’s a stunning area!

Deets
-2.87 mi
-436 ft elevation gain
-1.2 hrs moving time
-carrying about 22lbs
-endless joy under the waterfall

External link

Hike 31 - Discovery Park —

06.12.23 - carrying 32lbs

Training hike with my mom. She sweetly carried a “sympathy” pack to my heavy one. Although not that far, going up and down the stairs to the beach was good training. It was a gorgeous day. Again reminded of the breathtaking beauty of the PNW. And how this stunning park with sweeping views is only a five minute drive from my house

The deets
-3.65 miles
-410 ft elevation gain
-1.4 hrs
-boundless beauty to soak in with my mom

Hike 32 - Nisqually nature reserve

06.19.23 - carrying 30lbs

I have been wanting to go to this nature reserve for a long time. I love the idea of walking on boardwalks through the wetlands. It’s a flat trail. And my moms last day of her visit was the perfect time to explore the reserve. The tides were low and the weather warm. We say many smallish snakes warming themselves on the sides of the gravel trail leading to the boardwalk. One over the wetlands at a distance there were about 9 eagles 🦅 and of course seagulls and other birds. It’s a beautiful place. After the hike we went to Gig Harbor for a delicious lunch. A beautiful memorable day 💕

The deets
-4.58 mi
-36 ft elevation gain
-1.5 hrs
-30lbs pack

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hike 33 - Mt Defiance - carrying 20lbs

Up the old trail and down the new

A totally gorgeous day! After being sick in bed for 2 days. I was feeling better and excited for the chance to hike this beautiful mountain with a friend. We opted to go up the old trail which I hadn’t done before. It’s hard and more vertical than the new trail. But follows alongside this stunning waterfall deep in the forest. The last bit up to the Mason lake main trail was a along. Once at the lake we took a quick break to refuel, then carried on. It was not easy. And despite having hiked it last year with ~35lbs. This time, it felt just as hard (or maybe even harder given I had been laid up in bed for the past two days!). As it happens. Sky stayed clear. And the view at the top was stunning!

Deets:
-10.37 mi
-3730 ft elevation gain
-20lbs pack weight
-a ton of gratitude for the ability to hike onnthia gorgeous mountain 🏔️

External link

Hike 34 - Turtleback Mt Loop —

The sacred land of Orcas Island

I decided to head out to Orcas Island for a solo camping trip July 3-4th. Although I was car camping at a very cool spot admits beautiful cedars (thx you Hipcamp), I only brought my backpacking gear. I wanted to “practice” for Wonderland carrying my pack , setting up my tent, cooking on my jet boil and assessing my supplies.

Turtleback is an ancient mountain with a variety of trails for hiking , biking and horseback riding. While there were a few cats in the lot, once I got past the first lookout point I didn’t see anyone else on the trail until I was on my way down. I get a bit nervous about wild animals. And realized I forgot my garmin inreach. I braved on through the woods and thoroughly enjoyed the solitude and beauty of the land!

Deets
-7.06 mi
-1316 ft elevation gain
-carrying ~28lbs
-no big animal sightings
- incredible paddle on my SUP post hike

Hike 35 - Mt Constitution

Beautiful Moran State Park - Orcas Island

Hiking up this mountain to the old stone lookout tower was the impetus for my trip. I’ve wanted to visit Moran State park for some time. And it did not disappoint! It’s so beautiful with dense forest, many mountain lakes and sweeping views from the summit. I parked at the lake and did the loop trail. Again, once I got past the first turnoff to head up the mountain I only saw one other couple on the trail. While it generally felt like a moderate hike, the last 1.02 miles switch back uphill and was a real bum kicker! Views at the top made it all worth it. And the stone tower built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps offers 360 views.

Deets
-8.13 mi
-1877 ft elevation gain
-carrying 28lbs
-most incredible post hike SUP and cold lake swim!

Hike #36 - Deception Creek backpacking trip

July 8-9th

Practice trip for the wonderland trail. This beautiful, lush forest trail runs next to deception creek off hwy 2. It’s relatively untraveled trail. We only saw a few people on the trail and had the campsite next to the water to ourselves. It was fantastic practice with Kelsey. I got to test my gear. We discussed WT trip prep, including meal planning and navigate downed trees and pesky mosquitoes ! However unlike the WT we could light a camp fire which was delightful 🙂

Deets:
12.43 miles
2150 ft elevation gain
Carrying ~30lbs
2 days
1 milkshake post hike

Excited for the upcoming adventure 🗻

What a beautiful way to spend a Friday! After a busy “foundation week” it was an absolute delight to get out of town and up to the mountains with my incredible team (minus 2 who couldn’t make it and plus one adorable pup). This point is the launch place for paragliders and we got an opportunity to watch several take off. Breathtaking! Most importantly I adored the chance to connect outside of the office. Taking time to enjoy the views and serenity of nature. A true treat!

Deets:
7.2 miles
1748 elevation gain
Carrying snacks for everyone!
Many wonderful memories 🙂

External link

Hike #38 - day 1 Wonderland Trail

July 20th - sunrise to white river

Nervous and excited to start this 9 day / 8 night journey around the magnificent Mt Tahoma / Mt Rainier. Incredibly grateful to Kelsey and her husband for driving up the day before to get the permit and drop off the food caches. This made our first day unrushed. We had an easy, short and mostly downhill hike to our first campsite.

Deets:
3.1 miles
0 elevation gain
Carrying ~35lbs

Hike #39 - day 2 Wonderland Trail

July 21 - white river to I-bar

Big day 2! After an unrestful sleep (this will be a theme) at this nice front country campground (bathrooms with soap and running water!) we set out for what we knew would be a tough day. Not only was it a long hike, we were anticipating several snow crossings at panhandle gap. The hike started off gentle following the river in a beautiful forest. We then came to a river crossing over a log bridge, which was slightly tricky to navigate. After that was a climb through meadows filled with beautiful wildflowers and a challenging 9 switchback climb to summerland camp. Here we regrouped. Had lunch. Stretched. Caught our breath before heading up to the panhandle after a stop to filter water at a picture perfect stream. The terrain began to change as we climbed higher. We got lucky and saw wild mountain goats in a field across from the trail along with a few adorable marmots. We then came to first snow crossing which was surprisingly easy. I kicked stepped tracks for my friends to follow. The next crossing took us to a steeper crossing which was much more challenging at a sharper grade. I went first. Following our theme for the trip: slow & smooth. Kicking deep steps for Kelsey and Colleen to follow. We made it safely across and continued climbing until we eventually wound our way down to Ibar (Indian bar campground). It was dark by the time we set up tents and cooked a quick dinner around the base of the bear pole. A long and exhausting day, but filled with stunning scenery.

Deets :
11.7 miles
3500 ft elevation gain
35lbs pack
3 snowfield crossings
1 beautiful heard of goats
Less then 4 hrs of sleep (it took me forever to finally fall asleep!)

Hike #40 - day 3 Wonderland Trail

July 22 -Ibar to maple creek

After a fitful night sleep it was nice to get up and have a less strenuous day of hiking ahead of us. I even got to enjoy my coffee and morning meditation before packing out (this would be the first/last sitting meditation of the journey). We met a lovely gentleman hiking solo who gave us tips about water sources along the way. We had a downhill hike (nice for my friends but unfortunately painful for my knees) to Nickle creek which proved to be a great place to not only filter water but soak our feet. After regrouping we had to navigate a downed log bridge that we saw others walk across. However it was tilted at a very precarious angle and so we opted to scoot across more safely on our bums. Maneuvering from the log to the trail was a bit tricky, but we managed. From there it was an uphil climb to our campsite. Thankfully we got in well before dark and had time to explore and make dinner before turning into our tents for the night

Deets:
10.4 miles
2000 ft elevation gain
35lbs pack
Another restless night of about 3-4 hrs of sleep

This was one of long, hard days! However it was also a special day with a stop at Longmire to pick up our cache, meet Stacy and sadly say goodbye to Colleen. The day started with Kelsey making friends with a lovely guy who was hiking with a group named Byron (he appears later on the journey too!). They are both early risers. Byron gave us important advice about a landslide we would need to cross along the trail. We packed out and headed to the trail. In just about 2 mi we hit the first landslide that was tricky but passable. Shortly after came the next slide. This one was much steeper with loose sand. A guy who was on the other side helped coach us and our first trail friend was behind Kelsey and helped her secure her poles. Colleen went first and despite being a bit afraid of heights got safely across. I went next with my poles tucked behind me. Kicking hard into the mountainside to get a foothold. Even the larger rocks to hold onto were sometimes unstable. I was grateful for my rockclimbing experience, knowing to test holds. Kelsey followed directly behind me. And thankfully we all made it across. In retrospect this was the most scary part of the entire 93+ mile trail. I don’t mind hard. But this was unsafe and I felt incredibly fortunate that we navigated it without injury. Later we learned from a ranger the slide happens every year. The mountain does not want the trail there. Eventually there will be efforts to reroute (but sadly lack of funds is delaying the work for several years). Once we let the adrenaline out we continued on. Eventually connecting with Stacy At reflection lake. It was a sunny beautiful day and the mountain was out in all her glory. We hiked all together to longmire where we went through our cache. Organized our food for the next leg of the journey and Kelsey made us all a delicious and hearty chowder soup with fresh avocado. We then said a teary farewell to Stacy and Colleen as Kelsey and I headed back on the trail. We had another 3+ miles up to our campsite. I set a slow and steady pace. It was a calm evening hike and we made it to csmp well before dark. As a last surprise for the day there were two other women staying at the campground and Kelsey knew one of them! She happens to also work at the foundation! We marveled at the serendipity of it all as we headed to sleep.

Deets
14.4 miles
4000 ft elevation gain
~36 lbs (xtra food) in our packs
-another night of 3-4 hrs of sleep for me 😞

External link

Hike #42 - day 5 Wonderland Trail —

July 24th - pyramid creek to south puyallup river

Grateful for a slightly shorter day, we started off the morning with our campsite friend. Took a picture we plan to share in the foundation newsletter and then headed out on the trail. This was our first overcast day. But the cloud coverage and eventual gentle rain felt nice as we began our uphill trek. We passed devils dream campsite which lived up to the name as it was filled with aggressive misquotes! After putting on our headnets and lots of deet we managed to get through the swarm. We then came to a series of sweet meadows full of flowes and a delightful log cabin. This is Indian Henry’s cabin which now serves as a ranger station. We took cover and ate lunch on the porch while chatting with Emily, the ranger. From there we headed back out eventually making our way to the first of two suspension bridges on the trail. This is a 200-foot suspension bridge towering 165 feet over Tahoma Creek, Kelsey and I were learning about our opposite fears (I love the thrill of the bridge. She does not like it. And I am scared of bears/other predators and she loves them). We both made it across and continued on the trail to camp. We stopped just before our campground to filter water and make dinner. Kelsey read an Eastern European poem as we waited for our camp meals to rehydrate (one of my many favorite memories from the trail). We got to camp and began to set up out tents just as the rain began to fall more steadily. Our tents got wet and we spent a cold night waiting out the rainstorm

Deets
9 miles
3300 ft elevation gain
35lbs pack
2 wet tents

External link

Hike #43 - day 6 Wonderland Trail

July 25th south puyallup river to golden lakes

This day started out wet from the rainy eve and unfortunately tiring from another night of minimal sleep. Thank goodness for hand warmers as they helped tremendously to take the chill away. The best aspect of the morning was this absolute magical rock formation across from the outside toilet. It was mesmerizing and I wished I could have stayed longer to explore it close up! We packed up our wet gear and hit the trail. We had heard about a lovely waterfall at the north puyallup campground , which we targeted as a perfect lunch spot. After a lot of downhill (which my knees do not like!) we eventually found the waterfall lookout spot. The sun was out and Kelsey smartly took out her tent to dry it out. We ran into a woman who was hiking alone on a 4 day loop. She was super friendly and we enjoyed eating lunch all together and doing some much needed stretching. It turns out she’s a volunteer for the park and had lots of great info. AND as we got to talking more I realized we know many people in common as she works in international public health. Another serendipitous meeting and a lovely new trail friend! Following our break, we made the long, slow climb up to Golden Lakes. Kelsey and I eventually went ahead as we were eager to get to camp while there was sunlight to dry out our tents and have dinner by the lake. Stefanie, our new friend showed up at camp not long after us and we all enjoyed a relaxing dinner watching the sunset over the lake.

Deets:
11.8 miles
4100 feet of elevation gain
~35 lbs pack
-1 wet tent!

External link

Hike #44 - day 7 wonderland trail —

July 26th - golden lakes to mowich lake

Whelp, I should have aired out my tent as Kelsey did the day before. Instead my still went tent was cold and damp. I woke up after only a few hours of actual sleep (even with the 10mg of melatonin and one tablet of Benadryl that Stefanie gave me ) feeling pretty miserable. Luckily it was one of our shorter days. After morning coffee and tucking away a delicious egg and spinach wrap that Kelsey made for me to eat on the trail, we packed out. A midpoint stop was a campground notorious for having a collection of bones under the group camp shelter. We were curious to check it out. The empty camp site had a slightly spooky feel and sure enough we found several bones that were on a log and more under the shelter. As if a larger predator used the space as a den. After taking a few pics, we headed back out and made another slow and very, very long climb to mowich lake. We had a cache waiting for us filled with birthday fixings for the next night and other treats. We met a nice ranger who told us about what to expect on the trail ahead. We went through our cache at her /the rangers cabin and happily gave her our xtra food. She returned and treated us to a delicious, fresh cucumber! A wonderful treat! Kelsey made us nachos with black beans and cheese for dinner. And once again we enjoyed our feast on the shores of yet another beautiful mountain lake. This one is large and exceptionally clear. It’s also a front country campground. I’m eager to return with my paddle board at a later date. Our tent neighbors were two elderly spunky women in their 70s! They were enthusiastic about hiking and gave me great advice to not stop enjoying the outdoors, no matter your age! We tried to get to bed early as we knew the next day was a big day (my bday and our longest and hardest hike of the trip!).

Deets
10.2 mi
2600 ft elevation gain
1 big cache of food!

External link

Hike #45 - day 8 wonderland trail

July 27th - mowich lake to mystic lake

THIS day! Kelsey calls it a fever dream! So many things happened. It was gorgeous. Terribly hard. Frightening. Exhilarating.

Here’s a summary rundown:
-woke up freezing and cold. Feeling exhausted from yet another night of not good sleep
- we headed out before 8am (later than we wanted as I was moving slow in the chilly morning air)
-amazingly the sun came out, it was warm and bright by the time we got to spray park with the mountain out in incredible beauty
-despite my fear of bears, I knew how much Kelsey wanted to see one. And so during my silent waking meditation I wished for a (safe!) bear siting
-after crossing the first meadow, we got word from hikers that indeed a bear had been sited near the trail
- in about mile or so, we finally (Kelsey has been wanting to see a bear from the min we started the wonderland) we came across a midsized cinnamon colored bear. Eating grass (?) and entirety uninterested in the small group of hikers that stood by to watch. Kelsey got many pics and I moved up the trail awa. From the bear
-following the bear there was one stunning mountain top view after the next. Just absolutely breathtaking beauty all around!
-I wore bright red happily birthday sunglasses and was tickled with every hbd wish I received from fellow hikers
- we then began to climb to higher elevation and at the top of a steep hill a man sat at a nice resting spot. As we approached Kelsey realized she knew him! It was Ben. An amazing human and fellow activist at their city council. She was over the moon!
-but it gets even better. We chatted with Ben who said he was hiking with a group. And then. Came Byron! The man Kelsey met several days ago early in the morning. They were hiking on the opposite direction as us and we were delighted our paths crossed! Byron wa. Then over the moon to see Kelsey! It was a fun reunion. I passed out sour candy Turtles (like cupcakes for my bday) and we relished the serendipity!
-Kelsey and I then headed off. On a long. Downhill hike. With a lot of elevation loss. My knees were not happy. But we took advantage of the sunshine and dried out our tents during a sunny lunch break
-we saw stunning rivers of wildflowers and made our way down to the carbon river. For yet another suspension bridge
-it is here or fears collided. Kelsey’s of the long swinging bridge and mine because the people who had just crossed said there was a bear on the other side!
-sure enough as I crossed I could look down and there was a large brown (not a grizzly) bear meandering by the river!
-Kelsey and I regrouped and realized we had to walk the trail past the bear. I made noise (singing it’s my birthday. Please don’t eat me!) and we made our way back up a steep trail. Keeping an eye out for the bear. We eventually saw it. Still by the river. Kelsey got some pics and I kept my distance
- we continued to climb the train and after another 15 minor so. We spotted yet another bear by the river! Just as big as the last. I was so nervous it would come up to the forest but luckily it stayed below the trail and we safely made our way past
-the train began to climb steeper. Kelsey reassured me that bears do not like the higher altitude. I took over leading and we kept a slow and steady pace on the ascent.
-next thing I know I spot movement on the Ricky trail ahead. And sure enough it’s. Another. Bear! This one way a smaller bear ambling right along the trail. We gave it space and it eventually wandered off
- we kept making noise abd a careful watch as we proceeded
-next we got to the sight of a slide we had been warned about. I was very nervous it would be dangerous like the first one. But it was perfectly fine. With a lower alternative and easily passsble route. We crossed smoothly and made our way to the campsite. Met a few campers and told them about the bears
-from there we had another 3.5 miles of sharp elevation gain. To get to our campsite
-I prayed the entire time for no more bear sightings and to make it to csmp before dark
-remarkably we managed an excruciating climb and got to the serene mystic lake in time to enjoy a birthday feast of salmon tacos. Beer/cider and a delicious chocolate cheesecake csmp dessert
-after dinner it did get dark and we had a bit of a hard time finding the campground whic is a hard .2 mile downhill trek from the lake. We were exhausted and disoriented
-eventually we found a campsite and got our tents set up in the dark. Kelsey got help from lovely strangers finding the bear pole wa

and generously hung out bags as I got settled in my tent
-finally it wa our last night on the trail. After a truly memorable day!

Deets
14.4 miles
5300 feet of elevation gain
1 long suspension bridge
4 bears!

*Winner of my best (hardest & scariest) hike of the year!!!

Hike 8 - bear sightings

Last day on the trail. I was truly amazed we made it this far. What a journey it has been. And to top off the day, Kelsey met her friend Meghan (whom she knew wozld likely be on the trail) but unexpectedly was at our very campground! They enjoyed breakfast together by the lake as I slept in, finals getting a solid 5 hrs of sleep! After packing up and making coffee, Kelsey introduced me to Meghan and her partner Summer. The four of us hung out for a bit before we headed up to the lake for my promised lake swim. I had been wanting a lake plunge but we always got in too late or left too early to make it happen. I was excited to get a chance to jump in under the warm morning sun. After a quick dip we said goodbye and headed out for the final leg of our journey. While not our longest day we hit one of the highest elevation points at 6700 feet. Along the way we passed the Winthrop glacier. The trail took us so close we could see it melting and the rocks sliding. It was a powerful reminder of the fragility of the mountain. And how critical it is we protect the mountain and support our national parks (stay tuned for suggested action!). We finally reached our peak elevation and began the descent toward sunrise. We could see the firelookout and recognized the familiar trails we had both been on previously near sunrise. It was an odd feeling to be so close to finishing such a powerful journey. I was both exhausted and sad that our time on the mountain was coming to a close. As we climbed down we got very lucky and saw a heard of mountain goats and several adorable marmots (but thankfully no more predators!). We stopped at a place on the trail where I had taken my mom a few years prior. We had seen some wonderland hikers. We talked to them briefly and I confessed to my mom that I too was interested in the possibility of hiking the trail. At the time it felt almost an impossible goal. And then there we were. Almost done. With fellow hikers congratulating us. The lessons I learned are still to fresh to articulate. I’m continuing to process all that I learned. For now. I can only say I am deeply humbled and honored to have had this incredible experience walking around such a powerful mountain. I’ll forever be in awe of the experience.

Deets
9.3 miles
3000 feet elevation gain
1 heard of goats
Several marmots
Many adorable chipmunks that seemed to be cheering us on
2 very tired feet with one blister
Grateful hearts for making it around safely 💗

External link

Hike #47 - off hwy 2

Weekend deload hiking trip

It felt great to get back to the mountains with a very light pack and explore some easy, short trails off hwy 2. I met a friend and took in a few gentle hikes: 1) deception falls interpretive trail (short and gorgeous. The powerful falls never disappoint!); 2) iron goat trail (super cool flat hike that goes past old mining railroad tunnels); 3) hidden lake by lake Wenatchee (short hike to a small sweet lake) - we car camped there and then the next day headed to Stevens Pass for hike 4) along the PCT.

It was a treat to be back in the mountains. The second day the weather turned sunny and we walked up the mountain along the PCT. We even got to talk to a few through hikers. It’s amazing to think they have been waking from Mexico and we’re getting so close to finishing at the Canadian border. It continues to pique my interest. I am still feeling drawn to doing it one day!

Deets (just from the pct hike as I didn’t track mileage on the others)

-4.9 miles
-1293 ft elevation gain
-2.32 hrs
-lots of beauty and friendly thru hikers!

Grateful for every moment in nature!

External link

Hike #48 -testing out mountaineering boots —

Discovery park

I’ve done this hike many times since I started the challenge. Although I don’t count all of them as it’s a short ~3+ miles. Last one I counted was a heavy pack training hike. This one I’m counting to mark the last prep hike for mt Shuksan. I got very lucky and a colleague lended me his daughters mountaineering boots and crampons. I had tried them on but wanted to get at least a few miles in the boots to make sure they fit well on the trail. It was a beautiful early eve after work and I still pinch myself that I live 5 min from this spectacular park. The boots felt great. I hiked down to the beach and strolled around the shore. Mt Tahoma was out in all her glory. It was warm and the beach had a handful of people taking in the beauty. Best HH spot!

I hiked back up to my car feeling excited about leaving in 2 days for the AAI mt Shuksan climb!

Deets
-3.6 miles
-700 ft elevation gain
-1.5 hrs
-happy feet!

External link

Hike #49 - Mt Baker

08.22.23

Whelp…. Mt Shuksan got smoked out! Wild fires burning in the north cascades sent hazardous smoke across the mountain range. Mt Shuksan had an AQI ~200 /in the purple range (“very unhealthy”) the day we we’re supposed to start our climb. We met the guides at the trail head the morning after a fun and informative rocks skills class at Mt Erie. We were all feeling the smoke and visibility was very low. Gathering in the parking lot we all talked and aligned with the guides sage advice that it wasn’t a good/safe day to climb. They suggested heading back to Mt Erie for more rope and rock training. It turned into a super fun day Learning rope work, crevasce rescue (practicing from trees) and my fav a chance for everyone to top rope rockclimb (I do love it!). We headed to deception pass (luckily the guides snagged the last available camp site) and then the 6 of us (all women’s climb) headed down to the beach for a cold plunge at sunset. Followed by mod pizza and a beer. Ending to a great day. We woke up hoping for better air quality and the guides suggested we head out hwy 20 towards Shuksan. We gathered at the most amazing gluten free bakery in Concrete to wait out the smoke. Sadly after about 2hrs the guides determined the air quality was not improving and so they created another ropes trying class at a nearby lake. Truly making lemonade out of lemons! We got lots of practical hands on skills learning to tie into a rope, travel as a rope team, and execute a crevasce rescue. I learn by doing and getting the chance to practice these skills was incredible. We ended the day a cute mountain restaurant then headed to a campsite near mt baker (there’s a story about an old man. Well meaning but sexist comments and karma that I’ll tell you about if you’re interested :)

Day 4 we took our skills to the glacier. With lighter packs (guessing around 20+lbs) we headed out to baker emmons glacier. It felt good to get a hike in along this beautiful trail. We stopped by the glacier to boot up and headed out on the glacier. They provided more practical and helpful training on the rest step - an essential mountaineering technique. Practice on ice was so beneficial. And then we got to practice ice climbing (belayed on a top rope) which was super fun!

While I am disappointed that climbing Mt Shuksan did not happen. I could not be more impressed with the agility of the guides to turn the situation around into a fun and productive learning experience. Everyone in the group had the best possible positive attitude. I honestly think I gained more from not getting the climb including the criticality of an open mind and a deeper appreciation that with mountaineering comes so much uncertainty with conditions. For me I am on a constant journey of letting go. Being present to the moment. And full of gratitude for each precious moment.

Deets from the hike
-6.88 mi
-2496 ft elevation gain
-9hrs total including glacier training time
-full heart for a wonderful experience

I had shared this simple framework that I learned from a young woman during an REI snowshoe course last year that I love: safety > fun > goals

External link

Hike #50 - Granite Mountain —

09.02.23

I adore this mountain. This is the third year in a row I’ve hiked up. Each year a different story. Each time incredibly rewarding. There’s a soft start through the forest, which then intensifies with switch backs. On a hot day, the shade provides welcome relief and the pine needles make the trail soft on your feet. You cross avalanche chutes making you speculate about dangers in the winter. And then above the tree line there’s a stunning alpine as the trail climbs up to a fire lookout with epic views on a clear day.

I had on a light back as the mountaineering season is over with the ambition of zipping up and enjoy the panoramic views at the top. Wow, was I wrong. After the trail began to incline. My heart was racing, I was fatigued and sweating generously -which I don’t usually do. Feeling bad about my absolute lack of ability to move quickly, taking paused to wipe my sweat and sip some water. I thought about what was going on with my body. After a while rather than keep pushing. I reframed my intentions and switched to a calm, meditative hike focusing on slow and deep breathing. By the time I was close to the alpine I felt a million times better and had a delightful hike up to the top.

A few retrospective lessons: 1) I started my new exercise sched, which I love. But had no rest days. My legs were tired right from the start; 2) I do not have an appetite early in the morning, but downed a big bowl of overnight oats at the trail head that sat like a lump in my stomach. Eating an hour before hiking would have been better; 3) I’m so lucky my health insurance covers PT. But I neglected to do mobility /stretches for the last few days. My knees and hips were hurting. I am constantly learning as I age I do better with daily mobility exercises.

Good thing slowing down helped. I’m so grateful for my daily meditation and breath work. It helps so much. I also felt glad to be on my own. I love hiking with friends. But also enjoy going solo. Being able to set a pace that matches how my body is feeling. Smoke from the wildfires had cleared. Mt Tahoma was out in all her glory and the views all around were spectacular

Deets
-8.6 mi
-3800 ft elevation gain
-paled in views from the fire lookout which sits about 5,600 ft.

I came down with ease and help of my hiking poles. It was a hot and bright sunny day. I swing by lake Sammish for a paddle and swim on the way home. One of my most absolute favorites. The cold lake water feels so good on tired muscles. All in all an incredible day 🏔️♥️🏔️

This lake could not be more perfect! Absolutely stunning blue. The climb was initially easy, but then the last ~2 miles were pretty vertical and over many obstacles. It was fun to scamper up tree roots and rocks. And the effort was so worth it. This might be one of my most favorite summer hikes, in part because I brought an inflatable butterfly floaty. Despite the waters cool temperatures- Floating was pure delight! I can’t wait to returnfor an overnight backpacking trip with lots of time to swim and check out rampart lake as well.

Deets
-8 miles
-1978 ft elevation gain
-light pack with snacks and flotation device
-tons of summer bliss!

Hike #52 Maple Pass Loop

10.07.23 gorgeous larch march!

Timing worked out incredibly well to take a Friday off work and join the PNW Alpine Women’s Hiking and Social Club on a trip to Maple Pass in the north cascades. This was my first time joining for a group hike and I’m so glad I did! Maple pass is several hours drive from Seattle. It was wonderful to carpool and even better to meet such amazing women. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Seeing the larches has been a long term goal of mine and they were every bit as stunning as I anticipated. This hike is absolutely beautiful- even with the crowds. There’s something special about the pull to get outdoors and see these spectacular trees at their peak (although I’m very glad we avoided going on the weekend!). It was a full day with a delightful stop on the way home for dinner. So fun to make new hiking friends!

Deets
-6.84 mi
-2251 ft elevation gain
-many golden larches!

Hike #53 frog mountain

10.09.23 - mistakenly thought this was my 52nd!

Whelp- I counted wrong. I thought frog mountain was my 52nd hike! It’s a new trail and it was delightfully not crowded, Full of golden and red fall colors it’s a perfect day hike. Given I thought it was my 52nd I brought the “do not open till you complete the 52 hike challenge” envelope. At the top of the mountain my friend Erin filmed the big reveal- a finisher medal! I was proud to have completed the challenge (+1) and excited to keep on hiking!

Deets
-8 mi
-2198 elevation gain
-1 finisher medal
-lots of congratulatory smiles!

Hike #54 Heather Lake

10.21.23

Another fun outing with the PNW alpine women’s hiking and social club! This time a beautiful moderate hike up and around Heather Lake. Liz, who organized the hike, was testing out coaching while hiking services. It was nice to connect with the other women and talk about challenges we are facing as we made our way up the trail. I was delighted to meet a former foundation employee and hear about her experiences transitioning away from her job. Trail talk is always so rewarding!

Deets
-5.21 miles
-1227 ft elevation gain
-a few minutes collectively sitting in silence and soaking in the scenery

Hike #55 Margaret Lake

10.28.23

Despite being just over an hour from Seattle, I had never been to Margaret Lake. This was my goodbye hike with my former boss as she was getting ready to leave Seattle. We started off early and it turned out to be a spectacular sunny day in the mountains! The morning light through the trees was beautiful and we were treated to a nice view of mt Tahoma. What we were not expecting was all the snow! I had brought my spikes but left my gaiters in the car. I was not prepared for winter hiking! Nonetheless it was stunning despite my wet socks. A truly perfect PNW adventure!

Deets
4.63 mi
1942 ft elevation gain
Lots of snow ❄️

External link

Hike #56 - Mt Si —

11.24.33 - almost made it up to haystack

This was an incredible solo hike. Because of the valuable lesson I got as I was trying to ascend haystack. While I’ve hiked Mt Si many, many times - I’ve never gone to the top of haystack. That is until this beautiful sunny day. I loved hiking solo and taking my time (training weighted climbs will come next year). I was wearing new hoka boots which are cushiony and way more chunky then my typical trail runners. I had decided I would give haystack a try toda given the weather was good and I was not in a rush to return to Seattle.

The trail around the back of haystack was easy enough to find and there was initially one other person going up. We were then joined by a father and on who wound up being my buddies on the way down. I was not prepared for a class 3 scramble. I had somehow envisioned there would be a trail all the way up. The scrambling pushed me but as long as I was focused I felt pretty confident making my way up. That is until the very top. Which is completely exposed. I got up just shy of about 15 feet from the top. But my intuition was telling me to stop. I felt clumsy in the bigger boots and was terrified of down climbing and slippery off the face of the mountain. While im sure I could do it. I realized that today was not the day. And the real challenge was trusting myself and knowing when to call it.

The father and son descended with me. Which was tricky. But not as bad as I was anticipating. He suggested he should have encouraged me to keep going. But honestly I was glad I stopped. I know I’ll do more scrambling. But I was comfortable knowing I made the right choice for me to not summit.

Deets
8.5 mi
3419 ft elevation gain
Grateful for a safe trip down!

External link

Hike #57 bump and grind

12.03.23 - Palm Springs, CA

Over an amazing birthday weekend celebrating my friends 50th birthday we soaked in the California sunshine and went on some fantastic hikes. This one started literally just out the front door of the Airbnb and wound it’s way up the dry mountains with a fantastic view of the valley from the top. The trails are shared by mountain bikers and trail enthusiasts. It was wonderful to see many fit older hikers enjoying what I imagined to be an active retirement. What a wonderful way for katie to celebrate 50!

Deets
5.63 mi
1207 feet elevation gain
Sunny weather and a cool dip in the pool when we got back

External link

We took two vans full of 14 of katie’s friends to celebrate her 50th hiking in JT. The landscape is fascinating. It was so fun to explore the trails and I can’t wait to return to rock climb!

The full group hiked mastondon loop trail with its scenic lookout points. Then a group of us stayed on to go further into the park to hike split rock trail while the others returned to relax at the Airbnb. On the way to split rock we stopped to see the poisonous cactus (do not touch!) and had fun walking through the amazing rock formations (some resembling faces while others looked remarkably like genitalia!). My favorite though was a little carved out home that I tucked myself into. JT is spectacular especially at sunset. On the way back to our car I met a climber who gave me tips about routes. I’m planning to return in March. Excited!

Deets (both trails)
-5.1
630 ft elevation gain
Lots of fun!

External link

Hike #59 - rattlesnake ridge

12.23.23 - sunset hike

While the days are short I’ve been wanting to get in a sunset hike. Rattlesnake is perfect, not too far, beautiful views, and a well worn easy trail. We started hiking a little after 3:00 and got to the top to watch the sun slip beyond the horizon. It was a clear night with the moon glowing and the sky golden to the west. There was a big family all enjoying warm drinks watching the sunset. A treat after the 2mi hike up. While it was still lift as we started to descend, it didn’t take long before it was completely dark. I had headlamps which were essential to make it down safely. I’d love to go back with the boys for another sunset winter hike in the new year

Deets
4 mi
1160 ft elevation gain
Hot mocha in my fav thermos
Gorgeous views!

External link

Hike #60 - Mailbox Peak

12.29.23

I had really wanted to wrap up the year with a final challenging hike. Mailbox peak is definitely hard, but the winds (25-30mph at the top) made it extra spicy! It was hard going from the boulder field on up to the summit. I had to hold on to a big rocks when the gusts got strong! Hiking up the old trail through the forest is tough. It’s basically straight up. Over tree roots and tight switch backs. But ohhh the feeling of reaching the mailbox! I had two stickers from my friends daughter one said “Be Bold” and the other said “Be Brave”. Excellent mantra for my hike up. I decorated the mailbox with them and mailed my 52 hike challenge patch as a wrap up to the year. And the challenge. I never expected to get in 60 hikes in a year. Not in my wildest dreams! Each one was hard. And rewarding. I always leave the trail wanting more (well after a good rest!). I’m so grateful for the opportunity. Here’s to more happy trails, learning and listening to the forest, winds and rivers. And always. Always. Recreating responsibly.

Deets
-4000 feet elevation gain
-9.9 mil
-up the old trail and down the new
-mailed one patch and one lucky striped rock

Onward towards 2024!

#52hikechallenge2023 - complete

60 hikes * 423.9 mi * 99,129 ft elevation gain

2022 - Mt Baker training

Moving into the second phase of training. I didn’t make it to the mountains this weekend (too much snow!). Instead I opted for hill walks in West Queen Anne. I increased weight to 20lbs using 2 gallon water containers that fit snuggly into my pack. Plus an additional bottle got me to 20.

Highlights: cool temps and listening to Brandi Carlile’s Broken Horses audio book. She’s such a compelling storyteller. Plus she sings! Highly recommend.

Lowlights: bourgeoning blister on my right little toe. I think my socks are slightly too big and may have caused some friction. Will need to try a different pair!

Other reflections:
- I forgot chapstick! I always like having it on me/accessible when I hike
-my recent splurge -smartwool long sleeves light weight T-shirt is fantastic/very breathable!
-Broken Horses = a great distraction
- working on weighted front foot /more glutes!

Onward 🙂🏔

Earth day 🌳 🌎🌿

Perfect PNW day to hike up Wallace Falls! Light rain, lush forest, powerful waterfall and breaks of glimmering sunshine

Deets:
-dumbbell + gallon full of water
-plus more water for drinking, lots of layer options, and tons of snacks
-poles were great, especially uphill in the mud
-approx 5.6 miles up/down

Lessons: rain jacket hood is too big /covers my eyes! Need to remember to bring a cap!

Last time I did this hike was in 2016 with my boys for Mother’s Day. It was fun remembering how we stopped and played in the stream, how my eldest basically ran down the mountain and then would hide behind big rocks boulders to jump scare us (works on me every time!). It seemed like a long hike and was fun to return with a friend, it’s a beautiful hike and I felt confident and capable in upping my weight.

Next hike, I’ll be trying for 30# - with some stair /city hills prior.

Onward 🙂

I took this hike as my baseline. I wasn’t in a hurry, rather curious about how long it would take to reach the top? How I would feel with weight on my back? And did I prepare well?

The deets: 2 hrs and 7 min up to the top. Slush and snow made it slower going higher up. I carried 10lbs (water + dumbbell). 3150 feet elevation gain.

Lessons: glad I brought so many layers. Used fleece. Rain jacket and puffer at the top. Plus hat and mittens! Poles were a must. Micro spikes would have been nice, but I forgot to bring. Wish I had a change of shoes and cozy joggers for the ride home (next time!).

Despite reports of rain and ominous looking clouds, we were fortunate for some small peaks of blue skies at the top. Lots of people but it rarely felt crowded. I made a new friend on the way down. An adventurous grandma who recently moved back to WA and loves to hike. A total inspiration!

Bridal Veil Falls and lake Serene

#mtbaker #training 6.19.22

Wow! I wound up carrying more weight than I planned! I set out on a perfectly PNW rainy Sunday towards Index. I was ready for a weight jump to 35# as I’m just a little more than a month away from the Baker climb. Skies cleared as I got to the trail head. Parking lot was only 1/2 full and it felt like a perfect day to train.

The deets:
-10.6 miles
-2000 ft elevation gain
-and I carried a whopping 41 lbs up AND down the mountain
-it took me forever (~7hrs!)

I had planned to use weights plus water I could dump at the top. But I could not figure out how to get the very full water container into my bag. So I used iron weights instead (plus drinking water. Jackets. Snacks. Etc). Going up was beautiful. Falls were raging and the forest was so lush. The hike has what feels like a million steep wooden stairs. Which was basically like more weighted step-ups than I’ve ever done! At the top of the mountain the visibility was low. Lake Serene was still mostly frozen. But it had a cool mystical feel. And it’s always nice to sit on the big boulder and eat a snack before heading down. But down. Was. Hard! Rocks were super slippery. Bag felt super heavy. And stairs felt super steep. It was very slow going. As much mental toughness as physical. Staying present and just keep moving forward!

Tips
-the $6 cap to my water bladder mouth piece was ridiculous but worth the cost in keeping it clean
-I’ve been adding nuun hydration tablets. Today was orange immunity. Did the trick
-I also got Clif caffeine shot blocks. Wild cherry. I had one going up. And one going down which helped.
-wish I had a protein bar in my pocket. I waited to eat till the top. Meat stick /pear /kind bar. Was good enough. But I was super hungry by the time I finally (!!!) made it back to the car
-last 1.5 mile down I listed to Brandi Carlile’s audio book. Totally saved me. Not sure I would have made it without the storytelling
-I keep seltzer. Flip flops and chocolate in the car. I keep forgetting a clean shirt. And comfy joggers for the ride home. Next time!

All in all it was a great day 🙂

Away from the PNW peaks, we spent spring break in DC. The week was full of sunny warm days and the cherry blossoms bursted into bloom throughout our stay 🌸

I worked in some light training:
- 4 miles in rock creek park
-a great HIIT fuelhouse class /zoomed in from my moms backyard!
- hauling 20lbs in a walk through Croydon Creek
-exploring Cacapon state park, WV
-and a spontaneous moment when my mom and I laid down under these glorious trees to just BREATHE- taking in the bright blue sky, pink blossoms, yellow daffodils, and sweet green leaves on the trees

The week also included no morning alarm/sleeping in, no rushed schedules, no work and most importantly time with family and dear friends 🙂

I’m rested and ready to get back at it! I’ve been listening to a few podcasts (check out the links page) absorbing advice on training (more cardio) and healthy habits. Excited for my next mountain climb!

External link

It’s May 1st. I learned a lot this week. It’s frustrating to slowdown training. However, preventative health care is a sure fire way to keep us going longer!

For various reasons (fear, Covid, work) I have canceled several colonoscopy appointments in the last 1.5yrs since turning 50. This was the week to keep my commitment to true (not fun, but necessary) self care. And despite the challenging prep, there was a tiny part of me that enjoyed the excuse to (literally, ha!) sit on my ass, purge and binge TV (Bridgerton) and podcasts (Glennon Doyle) and take care of my body. I’m very grateful for good friends, dear family and health insurance!

Additional deets from the week:
-I started out with my first 30# weighted beach walk @ Carkeek (lesson: KBs are uncomfortable weights to carry!)
-last class @versatile-arts. I signed up for the next session, although trapeze and silks are not quite sports specific training, it’s type 1 fun for me!
-Mikes @fuelhouse yoga was the perfect Sunday morning feel good session
-Kubota garden walk (pic) reflects all that’s promising with spring
-I geeked out calendaring out my May training

Reflecting on the procedure and a conversation with a friend about Atomic Habits- while I’m looking forward to training hard, I’m also taking steps towards letting go and embracing rest.

Here’s to aging with grace & strength 💕🏔

Gains! Mt Si - May 21st

#mtbaker #training

Last time I hiked Mt Si was early April to kick off my training. It felt great to be back on the trail. The snow has melted from the top and it was a beautiful sunny spring day. Most exciting was my strength gain. I went from carrying 10lbs in March to 28lbs! With a friend’s encouraging coaching, I also moved up in time, reached the top in 1:46.

Some things I’ve learned:
-progressively increasing the weight by about 10lbs each month
-stair climbs mid week feel helpful in building endurance
-poles are great! Don’t leave home without them
-water bladder with nuun hydration tablet helped keep me sipping slowly throughout the hike
-I didn’t eat enough breakfast! I would have been better off with more protein in my system
-yay for post hike flip flops, a can of cold sparkling water and salted chocolate almonds!

I also did not quite have my backpack adjusted correctly. I was carrying too much weight on my shoulders. I need to keep working on the adjustments (see link for tips). My next right thing this week is to try loading & adjusting at home to dial in a better fit!

As the weather finally is turning to spring, I’m excited about trying out more hikes while increasing weight. And remembering to foam roll & stretch 🙂

Happy hiking!

What a beautiful and challenging hike! Despite the hot temp (~85F) there was a lot of slippery, soft snow on the trail. Skies. So blue. Mountains so magnificent. Trees so green. It was fun, albeit a bit tricky, to navigate the switchbacks carrying weight and not slipping into a tree well! I learned how to kick my toe into the snow for traction, anchor the poles, keep my back towards the mountain when crossing waterfalls (had an almost slip when I lost balance) and go slow/don’t rush and risk losing my footing.

The deets
—~7 miles (too snowy to get all the way down to the lake)
-carrying 38.9 #
-~1800 elevation gain

Snacks on the top with gorgeous view of the snowy lake. I off loaded ~8# of water for the way down and put on micro spikes. The traction was helpful. Super happy for having the gear.

Very thankful for the opportunity to be out on such a gorgeous day. Great coaching (kick in the snow!) as we hiked. Not falling into the waterfall (phew!) and while heavy. The weight felt manageable (gains!)

Counting down and excited to keep training with weighted packs whenever I can get out to hike.

Onward. With grace & gratitude

Long story short. After 2 days of being sick (horrible reaction to Covid booster. All the typical symptoms, plus extreme nausea), I had planned to hike Hex Mt. It was a gorgeous sunny day. I was feeling better and ready to get back to training!

We started off and knowing my body had been through a lot including 1.5 days of not eating) I opted for slightly less weight in my pack then I carried during my last hike. However, each step from the start of the hike felt hard. I was going so slow! My pack felt so heavy! I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the top.

It’s hard for me to give up on a goal. I didn’t want to quit. But I knew my body was just not fully recovered. We kept going and I decided that at the turn off from the fire road (which is unmarked. It’s another story about how we got a bit lost trying to find it) to the turn off up the trail, I’d drop a gallon of water.

It was totally worth it. Hike was still hard. But doable. And the views from the top were amazing! Gorgeous Mt Rainer on one side and Mt Stewart and other peaks on the other side. And best part, on the way down we passed a group who had run out of water and were hot and exhausted. I gave them the rest of the water in my pack and told them where to find the other gallon I had stashed under a tree along the trail. Best use of using water for weight training!

Deets
-7.5 mi
-2,700 elevation gain
-28# for 1.7 mi and 20# for the rest of the way up
-chilled out at 5034 (highest point) to soak in the views, snack and meet other hikers (including a geologist who knew the names of many of the near by Mountains)

Turned into a great day! ☀️⛰

While we all knew it was coming. Waking up to the news was heartbreaking. Government controlling womens bodies. Forced pregnancy. My mother and millions of others fought so hard for our rights. Now stripped away. It’s infuriating. Luckily I work with amazing. Passionate colleagues. People spoke up. And by the early afternoon we had organized lists of organizations for those interested in providing financial support to support safe abortion, advocacy and voters rights. It’s a small step, but felt better than crawling into a balls of utter frustration.

After that. It was time to hit the trails. I know one of the best places for my self care is in the mountains. However, I was unprepared for the steep terrain and how physically and emotionally exhausted I felt. I had been in DC for work the previous 2 days and had not had more than ~5 hrs of sleep for the past three nights. I hadn’t eaten much. And I forgot to put snacks in my bag! It was a freakin slog. I was hot and moving sloooow. But the falls. Oh the falls. Spectacular! The hike down was cooler. I was calmer. And I felt glad to have powered through. We’ve got a fight ahead of us!

Deets:
-5.6 miles (according to WTA)
-carrying about 22#
-1585 elevation gain

First international travel since Covid. I forgot how hard it is on my body. Nairobi is 10 hours ahead of Seattle. Basically almost two days of travel. Not counting delays (I had a 22hr delay in Doha on the return). I struggled with sleep once I arrived in Kenya. The first night I only had 3-4 hrs before I had to get up for the start of the meeting. I was exhausted. My body felt completely unregulated. Jet lag is no joke!

But despite the challenges, there were many highlights:
-incredibly inspiring meeting, where I learned a lot
-clinic site visit that blew me away with the level of high quality integrated care
-reaffirmed my love of travel
-Nairobi has an elevation of ~5,800 ft which is great for mountaineering training
-despite limited sleep, I got in 3 workouts in 4 days - elevating the treadmill
- I was grounded in Doha on the way home and was able to get in another treadmill workout, plus treated myself to a massage at the airport hotel spa
-incredible serendipity to see a dear friend for dinner before my departure from Nairobi. A true reminder of the beauty of the journey.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to take this trip. To the boys dad for coming to Seattle while I was away. And to the boys for staying in touch and caring for the kitty and my garden.

I’m feeling a little nervous about picking up training now that I’m home. I’ve not been able to carry weight this entire week. I also know I’ll be battling jet lag for at least a few days. And while I’d love to focus only on training, I’m also coming back to a busy work schedule for the next two weeks.

My plan: breathe deep. Get in as many hikes as possible. Wear 35-40# pack on hikes & walks several times a week. Mobility/ stretching / foam rolling as often as I can. Eat well. Drink lots of water. Sleep. Calm.

Onward. With grace & gratitude ❤️

Cable line trail - 7/19/22

Masochist hike!

Wholly shit. This hike is crazy hard. I heard it’s good for training. But wow. It’s basically straight up Tiger mountain. Like a 45degree angle incline all the way up! Carrying weight was intense. It was a serious grind!

After huffing and puffing for 1.5hrs finally got to the top. Amazing views of Rainer and the cascade range. You could also see Tacoma to the south and downtown Seattle to the north. We hit the top around sunset. Everything was glowing!

But… that also meant once we headed down the light was waning. And going down such a steep trail required lots of concentration. By about 1/2 down it was getting darker. Super grateful my eyesight is ok. And also super mad at myself for forgetting to bring my headlamp! It would have come in handy! I basically prayed the whole way down. One careful step after the next!

Deets
-2022 ft elevation gain
-just 3 miles
-carrying about 38#

This hike felt so challenging. Like eat your spinach. It’s good for you. But (if you’re a kid) not always pleasant.

If you want a challenge. This is the hike for you! Pic doesn’t quite show how vertical and rocky the trail is.

External link

I returned from Kenya on 7/10 and on the following day did little Si with about 25#. It felt good to be back on the trail but also hard. I was moving slow at first feeling nervous - wondering if I’d be able to get back to longer hikes with more weight.

That Saturday, we were heading to Mt Defiance for a longer hike, but it was rainy and gray. Rather than deal with the rain, we opted to head east, over Snoqualmie pass. On the east side it was sunny and dry. We hiked longs pass. I had no idea what to expect. It’s a beautiful, not too long hike. It opens up to the most incredible panoramic view of Mt Stuart at the top of the pass. Picture doesn’t do it full justice. It was breathtaking! This might be one of my fav hikes!

Deets
-~7 miles
-carrying about 38-40#
-2100 ft elevation gain
-highest point 6250

There are camp sites at the top of the pass that are calling my name. For another time!

Onward!

External link

Last big training hike

Mt Defiance -7/23/22

This was a great last big training push. Super fun and hard hike. Big steep climb at the top. Gorgeous fields of wildflowers. And despite lots of bugs, especially around the lake, the hike felt great

Deets:
12 mi
Carrying ~32#
3684 ft elevation gain

Hard to believe it’s my last big hike before Baker! I’m what Glennon Doyle calls scited (scared/excited). I’m so grateful I was able to get in so many incredible hikes. The PNW is stunning. It truly feels magical to be able to walk up to these elevations and soak in the gorgeous views!

I’m focused this week in wrapping up work. Drinking lots of water. Mobility. And some neighborhood walks.

Breathing deep.

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-defiance

Taking collective action through friendship

Bday get out the vote pro choice fundraiser

As I turn 52 on the 27th I invited and I invited friends to join me to take collective action.

This is such a challenging time as our rights are being stripped away and our democracy is on the precipice of decline. Rather than feel defeated, I can think of nothing better than gathering with amazing friends to focus on what we CAN DO to raise our voice (and our glasses). We will not stay silent. We will act. We will vote – and move forward with compassion, integrity and inclusivity.

Deets
What: Pro-Choice WA Fundraiser * Get out the vote * Celebration
When 7/25 from 4-6pm
Where: Betty - 1507 Queen Anne Ave N – outside back patio - as COVID transmission is on the rise

We were joined by Kia Guarino -Executive Director of ProChoiceWashington.org who was amazing in sharing the work they are doing and how we can all help advance and defend abortion access for everyone.

In addition, King County election closes on August 2nd. This is a critical time to vote - to ensure our elected officials are working tirelessly to support and defend our rights. My friend, Tyler Crone, is running for the open seat in the 36th District. She also shared her wisdom more about why voting this election is so critical, the platform she is advancing, how not every democrat is the same and how hospital mergers with religious institutions are taking abortion access away even in our progressive county https://www.electtylercrone.com/

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Mt Si

April 2, 2022

Little Si with Laura and Maxie

Friends since we met during a semester abroad in Kenya -1990!

REI snowshoeing - Mt Rainer

Super fun day exploring Mt Rainer

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Wallace Falls

Such a perfect PNW hike. Kid friendly. Go as far or near as you’d like. Stream to play in and the waterfall is spectacular!

The big day!

Summiting Mt Baker with a group of amazing women

I can’t believe after months of training the big trip up a majestic mountain actually happened! I’m still in awe. There’s so much to say, but my big takeaways are;
1) Alpine Ascents guides (Rachel, Val, Lauren) were fantastic, skilled and kept everyone safe up & down the mountain. The entire group of 9 women ages 20-60 summited!
2) I thought I’d feel euphoric at the top, but actually it was the whole experience that felt amazing. From the gorgeous hike to base camp, to sunset watching, to climbing to new heights.
3) Its totally possible to learn new skills as you get older. Turning 52 and using an ice ax and crampons for the first time was exciting. I was super nervous as we began to descent but after some tips from Rachel, I learned to dig my heels in and move with confidence through the steep snow
4) Training totally paid off! Moving up in carrying weight each month was a great approach. My body felt strong /capable. Even the hardest section (the Roman wall) felt manageable- that is until I got super nauseous (unclear if it was low blood sugar, altitude, heat??) but luckily we moved slow, I breathed through it and it passed before we reached the summit.
5) I wish I had packed more and better snacks! With 10 min breaks on the rope line to put on a warm jacket, pee, eat, sit/rest -quick calories are important. I had a few bars but next time will want more salty and fat options as well
6) and my super cool tent mates who already had mountaineering experience inspired me with all their mountain climbing stories. I learned a lot throughout this entire experience and I’m looking forward to future climbs!

The deets:
-hike up to base camp 2,775 elevation gain and about 3.75 miles
-pack weight between 35-38#
-4:30 am departure for the summit climb on 7/31 - pack ~15#
-4680 elevation gain - about 3 miles
-summited at 10:40ish -elevation 10,786
-gorgeous sunny warm day with winds at the summit around 25mph
-from base camp up to the summit and back down took us about 9.5 hrs
-best night sleep ever that eve with a leisurely pack out time the next morning
-8/1 hikes back out to the trail head with a full packs and the group in excellent spirits

I am so glad I took the leap to do this trip. I adore being in the mountains. And the chance to climb glaciers is a whole new experience! A profound thanks to my family and friends - I couldn’t have done this without you 💕🏔💕

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMYLzYCknExUWvgVlClYa46djeQx243v3_MX1ET5emdjZrJf8yJ4S6Ai9nyzAaQSg/photo/AF1QipP7C_VkddrukGcPAX47EiyUTBIDFZbLk-n-I0Dp?key=U005bk9SbHNsamV2VHhaeUN2WUpjaW5aN01rZWNn

Getting started

Adventures in the outdoors

2024 adventures

March 2024 - urban hill walk

March - Joshua Tree

Rock climbing and yoga retreat

Hike # 8 - Longs Pass. Not! —

April 7, 2024

March training hike - Wenatchee crest trail

Training while traveling - w/o April 15th

5 days in DC /MD

April 20th - snow workshop

Mountaineers scrambling course

Hike #10 - Malcom Mountain -almost

April 27, 2024

Hike #11 Sauers Mountain —

May 3, 2024

Hike #12 Mt Si

May 5, 2024

2023 - 52 hike challenge

#over50outside

Hike #1 - 01.03.23

Gold Creek Pond, WA

Hike #2 - 01.06.23

Discovery Park - 4.6 miles

#3 hike - 01.07.23

Hex Mountain

#4 urban hike - 01.13.23

Rainy walk through Queen Ann

#5 Franklin Falls - 01.14.23

Snowy trail to the falls

Hike # 6 middle fork Snoqualmie river trail

01.21.23

Hike #7 - Capitol Hill urban hike

Walk through the greenway and a visit to Bruce Lee’s grave

Hike # 8 lake serene 01.29.23

Gorgeous snowy hike up to the alpine lake

Hike # 9 - Mt Si

#10 kendall peak lakes

2.11.23

Hike #11 - 02.17.23

Discovery Park

Hike #12 - Florida

Boyd nature reserve & fort desoto beach

Hike #13 mount Entoto - Ethiopia

03.02.23

Hike 14 - Poo Poo point —

03.11.23

Hike 15 - Talapus Lake —

03.18.23

Hike 16 - Discovery & Kerry park 3.25.23

And the BIG climb was up the Columbia tower!

#17 Mt Si 4.1.23

The kick off of training!

Hike #18 04.09.23 —

Discovery Park

Hike # 19 & 20

Yurt adventure

Hike #21 04/17/23 —

St James Park, London

Hike 22 - Hex Mountain —

4.29.23

Hike 23 - 05.07.23 - Teneriffe falls

A wet, wonderful and hard climb

Hike 24 Rattlesnake ridge

5.12.23

Hike 25 05.13.23 —

Mother’s Day weekend

Hike 26 - 05.27.23

Dirty Harry’s balcony

Hike 27 - 05.29.33

Pratt Balcony

Hike 28 -camp Muir - Mt Tahoma

O6.03.23

Hike 29 -Maury island marine park

06.05.23

Hike 30 - Ancient Lakes —

06.11.23

Hike 31 - Discovery Park —

06.12.23 - carrying 32lbs