the dirtbag sisters

The Art of Epic Birthdays

2016-06-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Summer sun never quits in ALaska

I've been lucky in life. Not everyone gets the opportunity to experience the world like I have and I'm eternally grateful. Some of my good fortune has to do with circumstances aligning in my favor, like internships for school and summers at camp. The other extraordinary events only happened with the dedication and devotion of two amazing individuals: my parents. They wanted my sister and I to explore the world and helped in every way imaginable to make that a reality. From cowboy camping in diapers on the boardwalks of Yosemite Valley and weekend beach excursions to Wildwood, to private beach camping in the Virgin Islands and spring break trips snowboarding in Quebec, my parents made it happen (Captain).

Denali green camper bus

But among all these incredible memories, I, personally, hold three of these trips close to my heart.

An 11-year old girl staying wildly at the entrance archway to Zion National Park
A smiling 13-year old wearing her new dress on the chilly shores of the North Sea, Holland
A tearful, grateful 30-year old dwarfed by the tallest peak in North America

These moments all have two things in common. My parents made them happen. And each moment occurred on my birthday. It wasn't intentional, I assure you. My parents obviously never planned on having kids with summer birthdays and therefore I can't connect these vacations to my birthday, specifically. But for me, it's been a memento that's begun to impact my future trips.

Denali

As the months sped towards my 30th birthday, I knew I needed that year's 'big day' to be something special. And what began as a solo Denali expedition, turned into a mother-daughter co-birthday adventure. With my mom also celebrating a milestone birthday in 2016 (I won't say which one), it only seemed appropriate that she join me. And her and my dad made it happen.

McKinley Bar near Wonder Lake

Toklat River Bar

I checked another state and national park off my bucket list (although I will be back someday), we saw Denali (which only 10% of visitors get to see), and we met some truly amazing people who helped celebrate our birthdays with beer, cakes, and songs in more languages than I can count. And just like every birthday prior and everyone yet to come, I was surrounded by love and the knowledge that I have parents who still find it a priority to make everyone of my birthdays, epic.

Nick (Alaska), my mom, me, Gabriel (Brazil), Marjolein (Holland)

Scouting Nockamixon

2016-04-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

April 17th started out like any ordinary day. Little did I know that that day would be one of the best of my life. As I said, it started out like any other...with me hitting the snooze button on my alarm. Typical really. Shawn and I were heading out to scout a new kayaking location for my job and I really did not want to get out of bed, let alone kayak. He let me sleep in a bit before coaxing me out of bed (I'd come to learn that he had already been up for hours). We eventually made our way out the door and soon found ourselves in the rolling hills of Bucks County beside the vast reservoir of Lake Nockamixon.

The day shone bright and clear; the beautiful spring day a backdrop to a memory that will last a lifetime. I went about my mission to scout out this location as a potential site for our adventure programs. We visited a few different boat ramps around the lake before settling on the perfect spot. Haycock Boat Ramp sits at the north end of the lake; a bit secluded away from the main marina. With the spring sunshine warming up the day and the beauty of the lake calling to me, we pushed off from the ramp and kayaked up lake.

Sundays in mid-April aren't the busiest of times on this lake and the quiet around us was welcome. Just Shawn and I and the great outdoors. Wildlife danced along as we paddled across the calm water. Herons, ducks, and turtles, oh my! This would be a great spot to bring our adventure groups. As I was enjoying the leisurely paddle, Shawn was practically buzzing beside me.

Floating along side each other, basking in the sunlight, we started to chat about the beauty of the lake and the spectacular weather we were blessed with that day. I smiled over at him and said what a perfect day it was and how happy I was in that moment there with him. Shawn was wearing the biggest nervous smile I've ever seen on his face and pulled out a small, red box. How could this moment get any more prefect?

The words, "Will you marry me?" Through my tears and happy giggles, I'm sure I managed the word "Yes!" Shawn had completely and totally surprised me. I later learned that he had been hiding the ring for a couple weeks, waiting for the perfect moment. Also, that very day, he had slipped out of bed to meet my parents for breakfast at 4 o'clock in the morning and managed to make it back into bed without me realizing he had left! He definitely found the most perfect moment. It doesn't get any better than two people together, enjoying the wonders of nature and each other. April 17th, 2016 will go down in the books as one of the best days of my life.

My Summer in Stehekin

2015-11-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

I can't begin to write about all the incredible things I did in my five months living in Stehekin. But here's a highlight list of the most incredible summer!

star-lit hot tub chats with my roommate, Morgan (interrupted only by occasional frigid plunges into the lake)
berry picking, bike riding, and swimming with Stephanie
a little girl who told her parents, "I wanna grow up to be like Carlyn"
a guest capsizing a canoe... and a kayak... twice...
dinner and game nights at the Flop House with the bakery girls
Harvest Fest with Kelly (and our balcony giggle session)
solo Rainbow Lake overnight "It's in the name!"
seeing bear prints on Monday beach while watching the spawning salmon with my husband (not a boulder, but just as good)
nightly dinners, movie nights, and parties in the Hobbit Hole
intimately getting to know my boats (Japhy, you're still my favorite!)
slack lining with Hannah and Bren
juggling nights watching Elsa improve and playing with Mischa
Cleatus and Bonham's aquatic shenanigans
journaling on the Lakeshore Trail overlook
morning yoga on the docks
watching the seaplanes coming and going (or really watching the guests get really excited about it)
watching a lightning storm start a wildfire
watching the progression of wildfire over two months
square dancing at the orchard
helping an 80-year old woman live out her dreams of kayaking across the lake to see the pictographs

stay together

learn the flowers

go light

- Gary Snyder

Fall Lessons in the North Cascades

2015-09-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

The moment after making a vital decision there's a thought: "I did the right thing." Almost instantly afterwards, there's another: "Did I do the right thing?" Which is usually followed by "You're an idiot." Here's a funny story about the day I made a huge mistake, resulting in the lose of many needed hours of sleep. When you get lucky, you learn lessons.

A solo 40-mile back country trip into the wilds of North Cascades National Park was something I'd been thinking about all summer. I didn't have a partner, but I had a plan and that seemed good enough for me.

Pelton Basin in the dawn light

The Plan: I'd leave the night before and camp at Tumwater: the last front country site you can drive to. I'd wake early and hike 17 miles to Pelton Basin. The next day I'd do the short 3 miles to Sahale Glacier and the 3 miles to Horseshoe Basin and sleep at Cottonwood Camp. Next morning would be only 12 easier miles back to the bus and home for a shower and dinner.

But as the rain woke me from my sleep at Tumwater (cause of course I didn't put on my rain fly), I knew the trip was doomed from the beginning...

If you've ever hiked a mile in the pouring rain, you can begin to imagine how miserable it was to hike 17 miles in the rain in early September. It's exactly as fun as it sounds.

So coming into camp, knowing I'd be alone (or so said the ranger, cause the popular short route to Sahale was closed), I was ready for a quiet night. But what I got was a packed campground, a windy tent site, and frozen feet. And because I had to put my tent as far from the bear box as possible and my body was borderline hypothermic, I was in no mood to trek back up the hill to put my food away. Enter my bad decision...

Lying in my tent, with my head not five feet from my food bag (that I never touched, cause I was too cold), listening to the yells coming from the other inhabitants around me, was enough to question every decision I've pretty much ever made. 'They're scaring away bears. Every five minutes. God they are persistent little buggers. Maybe they'll stay up there with them and not venture down here...' Needless to say, I'll never not store my food properly ever again.

The funny part of the story comes the following morning, when the other inhabitants of the campground were actually NPS rangers doing trail work. They were shocked to see me, since the easy route there was closed and needless to say, my ego was stoked as they were impressed I'd come from Stehekin the previous day. Alone. But the real kicker? "Hey! We wished we'd known there was someone else here! You totally couldn't joined us for a beer. We were listening to the University of Washington football game!"

My sleepless night... brought on my beers and football... not bears...

Well, I can't fault them for it. They sure sounded like they were having a good time, now that I can put it all into context.

Horseshoe Basin

So to wrap it up, I skipped Sahale Glacier, stopped by Horseshoe basin on the way down, and booked it back 20 miles in only 7.5 hours. My sleeping bag and most of my stuff was wet, so there was no way I was spending another cold night in the wilds.

Highlights from the return journey: Cascading waterfalls in Horseshoe Basin, the growling black bear on its hind legs not ten feet away, and the older couple who rescued me and bought me dinner at the ranch. Oh, and the fall colors didn't suck.

Luckily all I lost was a good night's sleep. But I've learned that you're never too tired to properly store your food.

Solo Summit

2015-09-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

There are moments in our lives when we look at a challenge and say: I want to conquer that. When the prospect of moving to Stehekin was becoming a reality, I set myself a goal. One monumental, but obtainable goal: to climb Mt. McGregor.

At 8,122 feet of elevation, over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, and 8 miles of switchbacks, McGregor is Stehekin's badass guardian. I knew I wanted that summit and it became my singular summer goal. But I had no idea just how fantastic the experience would be.

Tuesday August 18, 2015, 7am. I'm awake early, mostly from jitters. I didn't think I'd be nervous, but there I was, lying in bed, contemplating my choices. All my fears quickly washed away when I boarded the bus and received plenty of encouragement from Ronnie, our bus driver, and the firefighters and fellow hikers on the bus. After that, I was ready.

Reaching outside of your comfort zone is a scary experience. I've hiked alone plenty of times, numerous distances, trails, difficulties, ect. I've even backpacked by myself once. Three miles from the parking lot and civilization, but the howls of coyotes too close for comfort were enough to keep me awake most of the night. However, I wouldn't swap the experience for anything. And I realized, as I was bouncing along in that big red bus towards the trailhead, that those solo trips were preparing me for this one.

Eight miles and 6,000 feet is a long way to battle with your own mind. There were plenty of times were I thought to myself, 'You can stop and no one will be the wiser' or 'Turn around now and no one will judge you.' But I would know. I would know I didn't make it. And that singular thought is what kept my feet moving up that damned mountain. With a partner, it's harder to say no. When your only combatant is your own thoughts and your own conscious, that is the true test of your will power.

Yeah, I'm kind of a badass.

When I finally reached my campsite at Heaton, after hours and hours of merciless switchbacks and August heat bearing down on me, I screamed. I found a campsite over-looking the trail I'd just battled and I yelled into the abyss. I was thankful that I had made it, thankful that I was physically capable of making it, and thankful that I'd chosen to do this by myself. For nothing in that moment would compare to sitting in the dust and dirt, staring at the setting sun over mountains and glaciers, knowing I just beat my own mind. Yes, I still had to summit. Yes, I still had to get through a night, alone on the edge of the world. But in that moment, little else mattered.

Sunset from Heaton Camp

I fared the night better than I expected too. With only small rodents and birds to keep me company, it was easy to get some sleep. And when I woke up at two in the morning, needing to pee, I wasn't scared to wander into the trees to find a bush. And when I came back, I was greeted to the most incredible spectacular view of the Milky Way. With no light pollution and a slivered moon that was already beneath the mountains, I found myself in awe. Glad that I didn't need my rainfly, I fell back asleep to the shimmering of the stars.

I wanted to be on the trail at 5am, but I guess my tired muscles had other plans. Instead I was on trail by 6am and heading towards the summit. Now, in a perfect world the trail to the summit would have been a nice, graded path with a wee scramble at the end. Nope. I was not that lucky. After a half mile of crusty, dusty, steep trail I was face to face with my worst nightmare. A scree field, large enough to make grown men cry. The kind that moves with a mere look. Don't get mad at it or it will bury you in jagged little demons. But brave the treacherous field I did. Though to be frank, I was more worried about climbing back down that section...

100 yard scree field and 1/4 mile Class 2 scramble to the summit

When I cleared the scree field, I approached the section I was most looking forward to. A quarter mile scramble to the summit that weaves its way around two minor peaks. The scramble is marked by faint, almost non-existent orange arrows, creeping along cliffs and boulders. Most of the sections had wonderful hand holds that allowed for a smooth climb to the top. Only a couple areas were slightly too exposed for my comfort. But thankfully I wore my approach shoes, so the sticky rubber enabled my fears of falling to be quelled.

After a momentary vocal battle with a marmot and a necessary photo op with a glacier, I pushed to the summit, my feet following the magnetic pull of the radio tower situated at the top of the world. I had done it. I had reached the top of Stehekin's massive sentinel. So what's a girl to do when she reached the summit of her single summer goal? Have a dance party of course!

Victory dance on the Summit of McGregor to "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

After a much need breakfast and lots of photo ops, it was time to head down. Like my mother so wisely says (and something I kept in mind the entire trip up) "Going up is optional. Going down is not." And honestly, as I said earlier, I was dreading going down that damn scree field. And I was right to fear it. I'd put my hand on one rock and twenty would move around it. I sent more time pulling my hands and feet from mini rock slides than anything else. Definitely the scariest part of the trip. But once my feet hit solid trail the rest was easy going.

Summit Radio Tower

I made it back to Heaton Camp and packed up my things. There was no way I was dragging 30 pounds of gear up that mountain so I left most of it at camp, toting only the lid of my backpack as a should sling. It actually worked out considerably well and I never felt it mess up my balance. I had summitted and returned to camp, ready to head out by 10am. And now... the easy part. Or so I thought.

When you are hiking uphill, your muscles are forced to work extremely hard moving you forward. However, when you are traveling downhill, there are no active muscle groups working. Its just gravity. So, why does it hurt more to go downhill? Because apparently your muscles are working on keeping your body upright and that takes more effort. Or something like that. Either way, it only took me a mile to realize that downhills are the devil. And my knee seconded the accusation.

Sandalee Glacier on the North Face of McGregor - I touched it!

I returned to High Bridge by 2pm, successfully completing the descent in half the time it took me to summit. And by the time I got down, the only thing I had energy left to do was remove my shoes and flop on top of a picnic table to await the arrival of the bus. I had told Ronnie (since he would be the one driving the bus on my second day) that I would be back before the final bus left High Bridge at 6:30pm and that if I wan't there, something was wrong. But luckily, nothing went wrong and I was there for the 3pm bus. And Ronnie was all smiles and congratulations when he saw me.

It really is another world up there.

As I rode the bus down from High Bridge, body sore, and emotions high, I was reminded of just how lucky I am that I have the opportunity to pursue such lofty dreams. I have a supportive family, an amazing husband who has absolute faith in me and my abilities, and a strong friend network. Without their help and encouragement, I wouldn't be where I am today. Standing on top of the world. Later that night, I ran back into Ronnie. He told me that it took a lot of guts to do what I did and that he was tremendously proud of me. I got similar responses from my sister, my parents, my husband, and my friends. That was the icing on the McGregor cake. The perfect end to the most wonderful day.

Summit Fever!

The Meaning of MoWo

2015-03-04T21:12:00.004-08:00

Camp Mosey Wood, set in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, is a place where the fun never stops and nothing ever dries. Ten summers of my life were spent within the camp bubble, hiding away from the outside world, finding peace in nature. So many people have come into my life through camp, and I couldn't imagine life without those chapters. Now that "I" has become "we", I figured it was time to introduce my other half to the joys of MoWo. The best (...and only) time to do that was family camp.

After the long car ride filled with way too much traffic, we finally saw that old sign welcoming us to camp. Driving up the road felt like coming home. As we drove through camp, I was bubbling over with excitement. There were so many things to show Shawn, so many stories to share. How was I going to start explaining the magic of camp...and where? Deerwood seemed like a good place to start since I had spent most of my time in that unit.

We hiked up to Deerwood and settled into tent #1, home indeed. Rolling tent flaps is like riding a bike...something you never forget. The familiar scent of damp forest and canvas filled my nose. It was a smell I hadn't realized I'd been missing. After unpacking we headed down the road back toward central camp, all the while pointing out different sights to Shawn. "This is Pathfinder...that's Stonewood...oh, and that's where we had a code V!" We wandered around for awhile before ending up in the dining hall. It was there that we met up with some friends, the Laudenslager family and my old college friend, Dave (small world!). Reunions are wonderful, especially at camp. The opening meeting came with more reunions of old staff friends and the weekend schedule. We headed back to Deerwood early to get a good night's sleep for all the fun that awaited us the next day. I had forgotten how peaceful sleeping at camp is; the night breeze carrying the whispers of creatures in the dark, the slight chill of mountain air against your face while the rest of your body is snug in the sleeping bag, the crazy-loud noise of the bed springs whenever you move an inch.

A cool, damp morning followed and we reluctantly left our warm sleeping bags for the promise of a warm breakfast. Camp food is always worth leaving your sleeping bag. We decided to start our weekend off with a hike, the Yellow Trail. Don't ask me why, maybe we needed a little punishment right off the bat. If that doesn't make sense to you, then you have never hiked the Yellow Trail. You always get lost, end of story. Just lost enough that you start to worry. It didn't take long to find the trail again, crisis averted. The end of the trail brought us to Jacob's Ladder, a rock outcrop just beyond Deerwood. We climbed around for a bit, looked for the cache and admired the chalk work on the stone. Enjoying the tranquility of the woods, we sat in silence. Hiking back to central camp, we decided to head to the archery range to find our inner Katniss. Who knew Shawn was such a good shot?!

The remaining time before lunch was spent shooting round after round. We set off for lunch with a couple of bull's eyes under our belts, feeling pretty badass. At lunch we caught up with the Laudenslagers and made plans for the afternoon. Swimming was next on the agenda, but the cool air made us rethink that plan. Sophia didn't seem to have a problem with that. She splashed away in the chilly, lake water, but knowing her mom, she's probably half fish! I didn't make it past my thighs and Shawn barely got his feet wet. After that failed attempt at swimming, we headed over to the boathouse. I must have thought the water would be warmer over at boating because I suited up for my first try at stand up paddle boarding (or SUPing for you hip folks). And try I did, and by try, I mean fell...a lot. SUPing was a lot harder than I thought it would be and let me tell you, the water was NOT warmer over there. After a long struggle, I managed to stand up a couple times. I'm pretty sure Shawn was laughing on the dock. And go figure, Shawn stood up on his first try; SUPing must be his thing!

Smiling and a little damp, we headed back to Deerwood for rest hour. Having fun is hard work! Dinner quickly came around and we made our way to the dining hall. Another surprise visitor showed up, Oz! Dinner was delicious, of course, but hardly the end of our day. Climbing wall was up and running in the pavilion. Shawn got a chance to test his fear of heights...on a smallish scale, and he did so well!

I think it's safe to say, we both slept well that night. We awoke to another cool, damp morning; this time it was a little harder to leave the warmth of our sleeping bags. But there was breakfast somewhere, so we ventured off. The rain held off so far and we hoped for a bit longer too. After breakfast, we made our way to high ropes. I definitely didn't miss the hill up to the course. It's a steep one! We made quick work of gearing up and off he went. It was time for him to face his fear on a much larger scale. I had no idea that I was dating Spiderman! He completed the high ropes course in record time and only "kinda" screamed like a girl on the swing (just kidding, it was a very manly roar...followed by "weeeeeeee!"). By the time family camp rolls around next year, he'll be ready for the dueling ziplines! Once back on solid ground, we left high ropes and headed down to Trexler for some good old arts & crafts. Lunch was next, and soon we would have to say goodbye to camp for awhile.

After lunch we said our goodbyes and left with the promise of next year. We took one last walk out to Chapel for a little reflection. The overcast sky hid the sun and seemed to echo my mood. We were leaving this place shortly, for time had passed too quickly. My only wish (for my invisible wood cookie) was that I had shown Shawn the magic of this place. How you can escape the distractions of the outside world and find peace within yourself.

Family camp had been a wonderful way to share a place so dear to my heart with the one that now holds it close. The weekend there was just a tiny taste of the adventures that camp may hold. But Mosey Wood has not always been fun for me. At times it has scared me, challenged me and taught me new things about myself and life. Camp has taught me how to be strong when I am afraid, how to challenge myself and love who I am, how to make sisters with total strangers. Camp has taught me that it's okay to be out there on the loose, for not all who wander are lost. Camp has taught me to always have stars in my eyes, that love is the greatest magic there is and that our lives are made up of little chapters. I hope that everyone has their own "camp"; a place that shapes who you are, challenges your way of thinking, where you can grow as a person. And I hope Mosey Wood can continue being that place for me (and hopefully my future children) for another 75 years!

High Adventure on the Appalachian Trail

2014-12-27T21:05:00.003-08:00

My alarm went off early. I didn't sleep well, mostly because I'd just spent the previous 48 hours traveling across the country and visiting family. But the main reason is that I was going backpacking and I'm wired. I am going with my sister and getting to combine two of my favorite things (backpacking and spending time with my little sister) was cause for excitement and for being very impatient. Now here we were, finally, loading up her little neon green compact and heading to northern Jersey of all places to hike a 20-mile section of the Appalachian Trail, through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

It felt just like old times. Talking about boys, life, and singing our favorite songs (which is an eclectic mix of country, folk, rock, and Disney). My husband was so gracious in agreeing to drive with us so we could park my sisters car at the ending trailhead and then shuttling us to the northern trailhead: Crater Lake. As I kissed him goodbye, I knew seeing him the next day would be cause for celebrating a well-accomplished adventure.

As he drove his mom's Subaru down the dusty road away from us, there was a fleeting feeling of fear. Not for being alone, but that our only way home was to walk the twenty miles back to the car. The entire journey was now determined on our ability to traverse the New Jersey terrain back to Pennsylvania. I guess I should preface my sister's frustrations of the initial few miles. I had chosen this section because the terrain was pretty level. "It's a ridge walk," I had said. "Get high, stay high." Well, part of that was true. But as we trudged up the first of many grueling uphills, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty. I should have known better; I knew the Appalachian Trail is just a continuous string of PUDs (pointless ups and downs), but I guess I was feeling optimistic.

But as we crested our first ridge and looked out to the rolling hills of New Jersey on our left and the green peaks of Pennsylvania to our right, we knew this was going to be a trip for the books. And was it ever! Even for mid-September everything was still green and gorgeous. The infamous "green tunnel" was very prevalent and we spent miles walking under the shaded trees along the well-worn footpath. The white blazes never led us astray and as we came into camp on that first day, we were exhausted and all smiles.

Unfortunately the price to camp at the AMC Mohican Outdoor Center is a little high, so we continued on, passing the 1300 mile point of the AT, drawn colorfully onto a wooden bridge in what looked like marker. On our descent into the Mohican Center we passed several flat exposed ridge areas, perfect for camping. So logic would assume that the trail leading up and out of the valley on the other side of the center would provide us with similar accommodations. We were so wrong. Every clearing we passed was either on the hillside or covered with sharp rocks. The sun was starting to set and we needed to find something or the night was going to be very uncomfortable.

Finally a little side trail opened up to reveal a secluded little area, thick with picker bushes that would have to do. After setting up the tent and making dinner, we proceeded to amuse ourselves with the task of hanging up the bear bag. Jersey is known for its black bear population and we weren't going to take any risks. But there weren't a lot of options. Thinking back on it, we probably should have video taped it and sent it in to America's Funniest Home Videos. We were sure getting a good laugh from it!

We both slept well. Or at least I hope we did. I think I gave my sister my puffy as a pillow sometime in the evening because it had gotten cold (she was using her liner as a pillow). But the next morning we were up and moving pretty quickly. The air was damp and chilly and we decided to wait to eat until we could find a sunny ridge in which to stop on. Little did we know that ridge would be just up the trail (the perfect camping spot we just missed out on).

We quickly realized that day two was going to be ten times more beautiful than day one. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the morning fog was hanging low in the valleys, and the day wasn't too hot. The trek up Raccoon Ridge would give us the most stunning vista, but not before giving us our first fright. Not a bear. A Southbounder (a thru-hiker of the AT going from north to south). I had stopped to remove a very large branch from the trail and all the sudden, there he was, causing both of us to jump in surprise. And then he was gone, charging up the trail. Just goes to show the stamina one acquires on a thru-hike. Entering New Jersey and never even pausing on a long uphill. Someday...

But anyway, like I was saying, the view from Raccoon Ridge was extraordinary. And we weren't the only ones sharing the view. There was a team from Hawk Watch observing the migrations. And another Southbounder! With a little break and ton of pictures, we headed down the other side. For the next eight miles, it would be mostly down, which was actually worse than the ups. The main reason? You may know that Pennsylvania has a AT nickname: "Rocksylvania." Lots of boulder fields, trails filled with large rocks, small rocks, rocks that destroy your shoes, rocks you have to hop, rocks you want to kick (those ones make you fall)... And apparently New Jersey never got the memo that the rocks stopped in Pennsylvania. I've hiked portions of Rocksylvania and this section of Jersey might be worse. And yes, I tripped. And yes, I fell. And yes, it hurt. But it wasn't my fault! The forests are just that amazing, you can't take your eyes off the green that's surrounding you!

Probably the highlight of the trip, was our lunch break at Sunfish Pond. As a National Natural Landmark, it was sure to be beautiful. But it was so much more. The bright late summer sun was shimmering across the water like a million little bugs and the grassy field was so inviting, that we sat in the grass and ate lunch and just wasted time. At 3.5 miles from the trailhead, it's an easy enough day hike, if it weren't for the 3.5 miles of uphills of the way there... This is the section of the trail where we saw the most people. We only ran into four previously, but now it was every turn. We even gave some corrective advice to some people who clearly didn't know what they were getting themselves into. It gave us a good laugh and also a feeling of accomplishment, since we had hiked 16 miles to see that lake, rather than the measly 3 from the parking lot.

In the end, we made it safely. My feet have never been that happy to be dunked into a freezing cold stream and my tummy never so happy to be filled with instant mashed potatoes. And even though we cursed the last three miles of straight downhill and we limped all the way to the car, we were smiling the whole way there! We were sore and our pains had pains, but it was incredible nonetheless. And I wouldn't have traded the time with my sister for anything.

Summer at the Center - Part 2

2014-09-27T08:50:00.001-07:00

Attention animal lovers - you're going to love this next part! As I stated in Part 1 of this post, I didn't get to mention my favorite part of the job. Aside from just teaching the youngsters about the environment, I got to show it to them. Within the ten plus acres of the nature center, there are many opportunities to incorporate hands-on activities into your lesson plan. If you are talking about wetlands, take a walk to the wetlands. Same with the pond, the stream, the forest...you get the point. If you're talking about animals, take the kids to the animal room. The animal room?!?! Oh yeah, we got animals! Handling these guys and caring for them was my favorite part of the day because let's be serious - I'm an animal lover!

GVNC is home to a variety of animals, and I'm not talking about the ones that roam the grounds. We've got tons - mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, insects! There are no fish though (sad face from the marine biologist). Not only had I been gaining valuable teaching experience, I was also learning about animal care and handling. Now let's head to the animal room!

Rosie - red-tailed boa

Rosie is about 9 feet long and she's pretty heavy, but don't tell her I said that. She is probably the largest animal at the nature center and the kids love her. I've had some interesting encounters with Rosie this summer...let's leave it at that.

Tony - tiger salamander

This little guy is just adorable - even more so when he tries to nom on your fingers. He's one of the two amphibians we have at the center. Tony shares his home with his fellow amphibian, the tree frog. I think someone started calling her Tiana, but I'm not sure if that stuck. At any rate, both of these cuties get tons of attention!

Terry - tarantula

While Terry is pretty badass, I tended to steer clear of him. Aside from feeding him, I enjoyed admiring him from behind the glass. He did molt over the summer, leaving us with an awesome exoskeleton.

Andy - chinchilla

Oh my goodness, these girls couldn't get any cuter! Without a doubt, my favorite animals at the nature center. I really enjoyed feeding them from my hands. There is no way to fully describe their level of adorableness. Still cute even after they pee on you - that definitely happened a few days ago.

Ava - chinchilla

Sierra - chinchilla

Azul - blue-tongued skink

This guy is another favorite of mine. Azul is super chill, so he's easy to handle. And check out that blue tongue - sweet!

Maize & Cobb - corn snakes

This is a pair of well-named dudes...get it? They are pretty mellow which makes handling easier. Cobb's face is peeking out from under Maize's body. Cobb has the regular coloring for a corn snake, but Maize is actually an albino. Neat!

Boss - hognose snake

Boss is the smallest snake at the center and cute to boot. He's also pretty laid-back, but super curious. He likes to investigate as soon as you open his tank.

Right above his tank is the home of the legless lizard, Legolas. He escaped in December and then randomly showed a few days ago. He is already planning his second escape.

Jennifer - rabbit

We have two rabbits at the nature center. Jenny is by far the friendlier of the pair. I think I just got on her good side though. How you may ask...treats!

Snickers - rabbit

Yeah, this is her most common position. She is super adorable, but very temperamental. The kids do love her though!

Shelley & Lola - box turtles

These are the female eastern box turtles housed at GVNC. They are sweet and put up with a lot of shenanigans from Franklin (the male box turtle). Shelley is on the right, Lola is back to the left. Sadly, Lola is blind, so I'm glad she has a safe home.

Franklin - box turtle

Enter Franklin the trouble maker. I mean, look at him...you know he's ready to make a mess. He has been separated from the girls for awhile now - couldn't keep his claws to himself.

Tsar - Russian tortoise

On a related note, meet Tsar. He's a lean, mean, eating machine! He goes to town on those greens as soon as the plate hits the floor. Tsar is adorable, especially nomming away.

The crickets and Madagascar hissing cockroaches we keep are right below Tsar's tank.

Spike Jr. - bearded dragon

Spike is a pretty awesome animal. He is super chill and loves his crickets. We had a little bonding time over the summer!

Curry - ball python

Curry is probably my favorite snake. She is sweet and laid-back, so I enjoy handling her. We did some bonding as well!

Boz is the other ball python that lives at the center. He's a bit feistier than Curry, so I steered clear of him.

There are two other snakes housed at GVNC, but I don't have any photos of them. Ebony is the black rat snake and Baron von Pine is the pine snake (quite properly named).

Those are all of the animals we care for at the nature center. Wait...I mentioned something about birds, right? GVNC's Bird of Prey Center houses permanently injured raptors. Since they can no longer survive in the wild, we care for them. They are beautiful birds, but also really intimidating. Most of these birds are pretty large, even the smallest of the birds of prey (BOP) are fairly big. And have you seen their talons?! It was a very interesting experience to handle these creatures. A thick leather glove was a must, but even though I was protected against the sharpness of the talons, their grip was strong enough. And catching them was a bitch! Let's meet the BOPs!

Broad-winged hawk

One of the smallest of the BOPs at GVNC.

*Note - None of the BOPs have names because they were never meant to be pets. These birds came to us from the wild, therefore no names.

Bald Eagle

This guy is probably the largest bird at the center and the most intimidating, but still magnificent.

Barn Owl

She is my favorite bird and the one I handled the most. She is also the only fully flighted bird at GVNC (no injures). Being born at the center with both parents unable to teach her the ways of the wild, she would be unlikely to survive on her own.

Great Horned Owl

There are two of these owls at GVNC. They are pretty cool and I love their fluffy feet!

Peregrine Falcon

These falcons are about the size of the broad-winged hawk, so they are on the smaller end. Don't let that fool you though! A pair of these beautiful raptors live at GVNC.

Barred Owl

These guys (there are two) have the classic owl call. One of the barred owls at GVNC is missing an eye, making his chances of survival in the wild quite low.

Black Vulture

Vultures are pretty big birds with a "don't mess with me" face!

Red-tailed Hawk

There are three red-tailed hawks at GVNC. Two of them have the classic coloring of red-tails while the third is leucistic. Instead of just missing melanin (which would cause albinism), this hawk is missing all skin pigments. So the last red-tailed hawk is bright white. Absolutely beautiful though!

Those are all of the animals I helped care for this summer. The summer of 2014 absolutely flew by. While I was sad to see summer end and the nature center quiet down a bit, I am always ready to welcome autumn. I am also excited that my time at GVNC has been extended and I will continue my experiences throughout the fall (which I'm already enjoying so much!), but more on that later. Over and out!

Summer at the Center - Part 1

2014-09-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

After a very short-lived banking career, I stumbled upon an amazing opportunity that was practically in my backyard! Barely five minutes from my front door lies the Great Valley Nature Center. For the summer, GVNC opened its doors to me to become an environmental educator. With ten plus acres of beautiful scenery to explore, I had a feeling I'd love this place. Before I knew it, I felt right at home. The adventures this place had in store for me would lead to a fantastic season.

Coming into the season late, I had to play catch-up. My training was three days of shadowing instead of three weeks of staff training, and the next thing I knew, I was teaching my first lesson. It was a great feeling knowing I was finally getting to use my college degree! Throughout the summer I had a chance to teach lessons about animal habitats, wetland ecology, endangered animals and so much more. Every day was a mix of lessons, crafts and games devoted to the specific topic. These nature programs were a great way to teach new ideas and get the kids excited about the environment.

Teaching lessons wasn't the only thing I got to do this summer. If I didn't have a nature program, I had an adventure program that week. These kids were older and went out of camp everyday. I got to have the adventures with them because some of the places we went I had never been to either. One day we visited the Lehigh Valley Zoo in Allentown. This zoo was excellent; it's on the smaller side, but had a great variety of animals. The kids loved it too, especially the merry-go-round. Figures!

We also explored places like Crystal Cave near Kutztown, went whitewater rafting down the Lehigh river (that brought back memories from MoWo), canoeing at Blue Marsh Lake in Reading and soaked up some rays at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey. Hiking was a must at some point, so we also headed up to the north lookout at Hawk Mountain. Other adventures included trips to Dutch Spring in Bethlehem and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square was my last trip out of camp this summer. The kids did better with this one than I would have guessed, but still, flowers don't hold the attention span of preteens very well. My camera and I, on the other hand, had a blast! I snapped about 200 photos that day - I never could say no to a beautiful flower...or butterfly!

With the adventure camps, we got around! Between my traveling adventures and the nature programs I taught, this summer was jam-packed with learning and fun. I got a boat load of experience in such a short time, and boy did that keep me busy!

Oh! I didn't even get to mention my favorite part about the job...

Stay tuned for Part 2!

The 4 Amigos

2014-09-04T22:46:00.001-07:00

It was spontaneous, last minute, planned the day before...

That's usually how the best adventures begin. And that's how this story starts.

We all set off after work on Saturday. Kelly and her boyfriend, Brian, and Kyle. We knew where we were going, but a Saturday afternoon in the middle of summer, we knew we were heading for a crowded affair. And we were right. By the time we got to Cooper Lake, all the spots were full. We kept driving and ended up at the Salmon la Sac campground. Full. About to give up, we spotted a small roadside camping area, with one opening. We thankfully had a spot for the night.

We began setting up the tent, which proved to be a most amusing event. One of my companions may have ripped his shorts while pounding in a tent stake. But he took the banter gracefully, unconsciously knowing that soon we'd all be doubled over in tears, laughing til our sides hurt.

After our camp was set up, we started our fire. With some hesitation, of course. We went to check the boards for news of any fire bans, but there weren't any. We kept the fire small and began dinner. I guess I was having a bit of an off night with dinner, because everything turned out a little...charred. Except the potatoes. They were just under cooked. "It tastes great, but..." turned into a running joke. It led for some rather hilarious talk. The chicken kabobs were delicious, however, and we didn't go hungry. After gorging ourselves on s'mores, we wandered off to bed and slept deeply. Well, all except one of us. Kelly and Brian brought a hospital mattress (twin sized) and I guess one of them hogged the bed.

As we packed up our things in the morning, Kelly realized she had accidentally locked her car keys in her car. The sight was something to behold. Brian and Kyle attempting to pry down the passenger side window while Kelly and I ran around the car barking orders. Okay, we were trying to be helpful. After awhile we used pieces of wood to widen the the door to get a stick through the opening. We were struggling to push the lock button with a stick when we, the victorious females, decided to try opening the door handle, which would automatically open the door. Oh how we all congratulated ourselves over our victory!

Now that the excitement had died down, we settled into making breakfast. French toast and bacon. Yum! After eating, we packed up the car and hiked down to the river. It ended up being a beautiful day and the water was clear and cold. It was a wonderful end to a great adventure.

Fleeing the 'Burg

2014-08-14T19:48:00.001-07:00

Fight or Flight? When confronted by a conflict, which one do you choose? Well, when confronted with the notion of staying in the blazing heat of the 'Burg or escaping to the cool, relaxing forests... the choice to flee only seemed reasonable. And it was a great decision!

Although the clouds were out, the day was cool and inviting. My friend Liz and I chose an awesome campsite that was situated in its own little glen. We couldn't see another campsite anywhere, although we could still here people. It was definitely more crowded than it was the previous week. The week before the Fourth of July was getting busy quickly.

We set up camp, built a warm, cozy fire, and made a yummy stew with crusty bread. We talked around the fire for a few hours and then exhaustion settled in and we crawled into bed. We both made the joke that we never sleep in late when we're camping. We would be up at 8 and ready for breakfast and a trip down to the lake.

As I opened my eyes, I knew I had slept well. So well, if fact, that it was already 10am! So much for up with the sun! We boiled some water and ate oatmeal and drank coffee. The day was looking better than the previous.

We packed up and were out by noon. We stopped by the bridge out of the forest and were treated by some amazing views. With smiles wide on our faces, we drove back to town with another adventure tucked tightly in our memories. A simple overnight was all we needed to recharge our batteries.

Summer Firsts

2014-07-20T21:32:00.003-07:00

When you think of summer, what things come to mind? Picnics perhaps. Definitely vacations. Long days filled with summer sun and crisp nights of stargazing. There's probably swimming and of course, no school. For me, thoughts of summer are focused on one area of entertainment specifically: camping. Okay, so it's really camping, hiking, and backpacking (but they all kind fit into the same category). So when the temperatures started climbing and the cool forests and frigid mountains lakes started calling, I jumped at the opportunity to get out.

I grabbed my friend, Kelly and we headed into the mountains: up to Copper Lake, a walk-in campground on the southern boundary of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. With the sun shining and the warm wind in our hair, we sped off, leaving the dusty Ellensburg heat behind.

Summer firsts usually start in June. First lake swim, first hikes, first summits, first camping trips. And the glorious thing about the firsts of your summer is that you'll probably miss the crowds, who peak in late June through Labor Day. The best camping spots and secret swimming holes are yours. And that's exactly what we found at Cooper Lake: our own personal paradise. Cooper Lake has a plethora of beautiful campsites, some more private and some very large. After venturing around, we finally found our perfect campsite. It had a gorgeous view of the lake and a decent walk to the bathrooms. We unpacked the car and proceeded to take some pictures of the lake.

Despite being twenty yards away form our campsite, we neglected our food just a few minutes too long. And what were the results? The overfed chipmunks of Cooper Lake, stole my Reese's. They ate one on the picnic table and then stole another. That's right. They ran off with a Reese's peanut butter cup. Those little bandits. Note to all our readers: Please don't feed the wildlife. Under any circumstances. Thank you.

Feeling the loss of our beloved treats, we proceeded to set up the tent and started our fire. The bugs weren't horrible, but we weren't taking any chances. We got the fire up to a small roar and then started making dinner. Dinner was, by far, the best part of the trip. It was mouth-watering and delicious and aromatic and every raccoon's dream. Baked potatoes with sour cream, corn on the cob, and BBQ chicken: all over the fire! Amazing!

The stars were out in force, but we were exhausted. We crawled into bed and passed out within minutes. That might have something to do with the air mattress for were sleeping on... I did wake up sometime around midnight to the sound of a dog barking forcefully. I doubt it was a bear, more likely a raccoon. But what it was really, was the sounds associated with irresponsible camping. The barking continued for five minutes and I guess the dog eventually scared off the people's intruder and I managed to fall back asleep. Another note: Please don't leave your food unattended. Keep it sealed inside bins and coolers and if you leave the site or it's time for bed, please, PLEASE put your food and kitchen gear into your car. And if you don't have a car, please hang a bear bag. A little extra effort won't kill you and it'll prevent animals from become habituated to human presence.

When morning arrived, we were happy and refreshed. The air was chilly and that made it all the better. We made a fire and started breakfast. The result? The Great Pancake Calamity of 2014. (This stemmed from our giggle-fest on the way to the lake after reading "Maybe you get bad customer service because you're a bad customer" article.) The bacon turned out fine, but whether the pan was too hot or the pan was too small, what started out as making the most delicious white chocolate raspberry pancakes, turned into scrapping mush into a bowl. Our pancakes looked more like a casserole than anything else. But I'll let you in on a little secret. They still tasted incredible!

We finished breakfast and packed up the car. Someone mentioned that there's a little outcrop that has some amazing views at the northern end of the lake. So we hiked to the edge of the water and low and behold, one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. We talked with a couple, who were fishing, for a little while. They caught a nice looking trout, which, sadly, already had a hook lodged in his gills. The poor little guy.

When summer begins, it's so easy to get swept up in the anticipation of all the exciting things you want to do. But never forget to appreciate the early days. Get out into the wilderness early in the summer and appreciate the solitude, the quiet. Because in just a few short weeks, those pristine campsites will be filled with sloppy, noisy campers and their annoying children and pets. Take advantage of your own summer firsts.

High on Bowman's Hill

2014-07-14T18:09:00.001-07:00

With such beautiful weather on this fine day, my mother and I set out to have an adventure. Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, in New Hope, PA was our destination. The 134-acre preserve is home to a fantastic variety of plants native to the Delaware Valley region of Pennsylvania. And if anyone knows my mother, you know that plants are kind of her thing.

As we drove into the gated preserve, we were greeted by a sign that read "Native Plant Sale". I knew right then and there that this place would be perfect for my mom. After signing in at the visitor center and grabbing a trail map, we were off! We headed down the Cabin trail to a stone bridge crossing over Pidcock Creek. As we hiked along, we relished in the blissful quiet of the forest; the only sounds to be heard were the whispers of the light breeze through the trees and the occasional chirp of a nearby bird. The brilliant yellow flowers of the prickly pear cactus were the first to catch our eye. The petals peeked out from beneath a small tree right along the main trail. We snapped a few photos of the beautiful blossom and hiked on. We ventured on down the main path until we came to the Medicinal trail.

We hung a right to explore some native flora that have therapeutic value. As we followed the trail through the trees and along a small brook, we discovered a few witch-hazel shrubs. A little further down the path we found a bit of bloodroot. We meandered our way back to the main trail. We walked a quick loop through the laurels, but alas we had missed their blooming.

Now I would have to disagree with the woman at the visitor center about the next leg of our adventure. Although I'm quite sure this picture does not do the hill justice, you'll just have to take my word for it. When we asked how to get to Bowman's Hill Tower, the woman said to follow the main path out of the preserve. She said the path got "a little" steep...that mountain we had to climb was not "a little" steep! As we exited the gated preserve, the path curved up. We now had to share the road with the occasional car. When the road finally leveled off, we paused to catch our breath and wipe the sweat from our faces. We were now in the Washington Crossing Historic Park where Bowman's Hill Tower sits atop the mountain. The large stone tower was built to commemorate a lookout point of Washington's troops of the Revolutionary War.

After only 128 steps (or a quick elevator ride), we had an amazing view of the Delaware River and the surrounding area. On a clear day such as this, we could see at least 14 miles in all directions. I can only imagine how pretty the view is in autumn. We spent a bit of time checking out the view; took a couple selfies and enjoyed the breeze atop the tower. After counting all the steps down to the base, we took a break for lunch.

The hike back down the mountain wasn't nearly as bad. Once we met up with the main path again, we continued exploring the side trails. We combined a few paths and walked along the Fern and Gentian trails. We got to enjoy the natural beauty of the ferns while listening to the croaking of nearby bullfrogs and the buzzing of damselflies darting to and fro. The Gentian trail circled around a small pond full of large wetland plants. Finishing that small loop, we found ourselves back on the main path, and we made our way to the Pond trail. Along the way, we

stopped to smell the roses...quite literally. Pretty pink blooms lined the road; they smelled sweet and perfect. This pond was probably my favorite part of the preserve. It was surrounded by so many different types of plant, and the peaceful babbling of the water from the upper to lower pond created a beautiful, relaxing scene.

On the walk back to the car, a large hawk flew over our heads and landed not too far off. We tracked him down to a nearby tree and watch him for awhile. It is quite amazing to see wildlife, especially large birds of prey, up close. He quickly caught sight of something far more interesting than us and swooped away. Back at the visitor center, we had our chance to hit up the plant sale and check out some smaller birds.

We wrapped up our adventure in the town of New Hope. A very unique spot if you ask me. It's rich in early American history with a new age vibe, add a couple of biker bars and voila! My mom and I each discovered a couple of cool finds hidden away in the cluttered shelf of antique shop. All in all, a successful adventure and great mother-daughter time!

Ellensburg Highs

2014-07-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

"The higher the altitude, the better the attitude."

Some of my favorite words to live by. So, when the dry desert hills of Central Washington were getting me down, I decided to make for the hills.What makes up the recipe for a great summit hike? A Nalgene, maybe a snack, definitely a camara, and a friend in tow. Exhibit A: my new friend, Liz!

Clear days make for epic summit views and today was no exception. Blue skies, fluffy clouds, and endless views. The heart-thumping rush to the top of our small mountain was met with jaw-dropping views of the Stuarts and Mt Rainier. We sat on the bench, chatting for a good long while about life, love, and happiness. The light breeze was a nice respite from the heat of the June sun and the mountain air was crisp and clean.

While I find beauty in the shrub steppe environs of Ellensburg, Washington, there will never be anything to replace the snow-capped peaks and green tunnel of the mountains. Whether I'm deep in the Appalachian hills or high in the Cascades, the overwhelming smell of pine and the soft soil beneath my feet with always grip my heart with such force to draw me back again and again. So give me vast views and tiny flowers, towering trees and sturdy trails. Let me breathe deep the fresh air and I'll be happy.

"Of dirt you're made and of dirt you will return."

Introductions: Fossey

2014-06-18T19:54:00.001-07:00

I have many names: daughter, sister, wife, lover, friend. My legal name is Carlyn. But the name I think I identify with most is Fossey.
Dian Fossey, one of Louis Leakey's angels, was sent into the depths of the African jungles to further our understanding into gorilla behavior. Along with Jane Goodall, who studied chimpanzees, and Birutė Galdikas, who studied orangutans, these three women pioneered the study of animal behavior. Fossey's work was dedicated to studying the mountain gorillas of the Virunga Volcanoes in the Congo. She founded the Karisoke Research Center and spent many years observing her precious gorillas. She began to focus on the illegal poaching and bush meat trade within the national park and she soon made many enemies. After Christmas in 1985, Fossey was found murdered in her cabin, presumably by some of her enemies made through her interference with the poachers. She was independent and strong-willed. She courageously lived everyday with the dedication of making the world better. Her last diary entry made clear her understanding of her life and the importance of her kind of work:

"When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future."

After attending Camp Mosey Wood, a Girl Scout camp in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, for five years, I knew I wanted to be a camp counselor there. 2007 was my first summer and the best one by far. I always knew that I wanted my camp name to be 'Fossey" and I was glad that I was able to take my hero's name as my moniker. It was always an interesting story with parents and my campers and monkeys and apes are plentiful in stickers, pins, and other do-dads to adorn my staff tie. Through my years working at camp, I've come to understand my fellow Girl Scouts and the honor we seek daily. Especially within the words held most dear to us Girl Scouts, do I see the things I admire in my sisters:

"I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout."
~ The Girl Scout Law

I've been a Girl Scout for 22 years. I have a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Archaeology with a minor in History from Millersville University. I volunteered as a primate interpreter at the Philadelphia Zoo for a summer. I interned at the Bermuda Maritime Museum cataloging cannons and shipwrecks during the summer of 2006. I love to camp, hike, bike, climb, and kayak. I love to read, write fiction, and blog. I have an amazing husband and an incredibly supportive family. I've attested that when an ultra-runner and an ultra-swimmer have a baby, they make a backpacker. I live for adventure and spending time outdoors in the wilderness, deep in the forests, and high in the mountains. I'm currently pursuing a future in Environmental Education and Non-Profit Management. I hope to work in the promotion and conservation of national lands.

So what's in a name? A name is your character. A name is your core. Your name holds the power of your confidence and judgement. Who you were, who your are, and who you will someday be is within your name. I am 'daughter, sister, wife, lover, friend,' but I'm more than that. I'm a relic of my past and a changer of the future. I'm an independent of my own self and a dependent of my heart. I value opinion and am a conveyor of knowledge. I am brave, adventurous, loyal, and compassionate. Life is beautiful and every day I'm blessed with the knowledge that I'm alive and am influencing future generations of people.

My name is Carlyn. But I am Fossey.

Welcome to Rocksylvania

2014-06-17T18:24:00.001-07:00

Blue skies, low-80s, barely a cloud in sight - we could not have asked for a better day. With this beautiful forecast gracing our adventure, my boyfriend and I set out for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Hawk Mountain, famous for its vast birding opportunities, is located along the Atlantic flyway in the Blue Mountains and features a stretch of the Appalachian Trail. With beautiful scenic overlooks and a variety of trails to choose from, we were ready to hit the trails!

The trail name should have been our first clue. "River of Rocks" was its name and rock hopping was its game. After the gradual, wheelchair accessible climb to the South Overlook and the trail head, we were suddenly met with a steep, rocky descent to the valley below. As the trail leveled out, the real fun began. As we weaved through the lush, spring green forest, the trail transformed. Small, jagged rocks became large, glacial boulders. The ground beneath our feet became lost to the shadows of these ancient masses. The trail markers slowly disappeared from the trees around us and appeared at our feet. We began planning our moves by the shape and supposed sturdiness of the next rock. We hopped our way down the trail until sunlight stopped us in our tracks. The trail opened up along a barren field of boulders. The sun was hot against our skin as we ventured out of the shadows.

After a quick pit-stop to refuel and snap a selfie, we hiked back into the shade of the forest and continued on our way. As we leapt along the trail, we kept hearing what sounded like a babbling brook, but with no stream in sight, we were puzzled. We paused long enough to discover that this peculiar sound was coming from below our feet, beneath the boulders themselves. We could hear water rushing below us without a care in the world. Soon after some friends joined in the adventure. Peeking out from under a leaf we met a small frog. He was hopping along just as we were, but on a slightly smaller scale. We also ran into a rather large snake...right in the middle of the trail. Shawn might have stepped on him had I not pointed the reptile out.

Soon the trail rounded the end of the river of rocks and mirrored the back side of the boulder fields. With the heat of the day upon us and a chorus of bird song riding the breeze, we started the gradual climb back up the mountain. The trail reverted back to its former self. The large, glacial boulders that made up the valley behind us slowly shrank - the dirt began to show itself in longer stretches. Then, abruptly, the path turned up. Yes, up...like a 90° up. Steep was kind of an understatement. After the grueling climb to the top, we came to a crossroad. We had three options. Right would lead us away from our destination, wrong. We weren't sure where straight would lead us, wrong (although we would come to regret that decision). So we went left.

Welcome to the Escarpment Trail. A battle between hiker and stone. Boulders rose once again from the earth in large piles. Rock hopping was a thing of the past - we were now rock scrambling. We pushed forward on tired legs; up and down we went. Every so often blue sky peeked through the leaves, opening to another overlook of the valley where we had just come from. Several overlooks later, after a slight brush with an unfriendly sort of rock, we arrived back at the wide, well-worn ground of a more traveled path. Sweaty, bleeding (on my part) and grinning, we headed back to the car hand in hand, enjoying the high of fresh air and adventure.

We later learned that had we gone straight at the crossroad, we would have reached the main path just around the next bend. But hey, what's life without a little adventure?

Reunited in the Mountain Stream

2014-06-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

When my good friend took a break from thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to come into town for her college graduation, an adventure together seemed like a no-brainer. We previously had some exciting adventures: backpacking to alpine lakes, snowshoeing in the mountains, rock scrambling like bighorn sheep on a canyon wall, getting our car stuck in two feet of snow... you get the picture. High 75, sunny, breezy, Sunday's weather conditions were perfect for a beautiful forest hike.

We anticipated creek crossings, but the trail was overgrown and we couldn't go further than a mile. So how did we spend the afternoon? Swimming in the Middle Fork Teanaway River, although I use the term 'swimming' loosely. There's a perfect swimming hole right by the trail head: rock stairs into the water upstream, an 8-foot deep pool, and a gradual gravel exit downstream. The rocks above the pool hover at only two feet above the water, such a great place to jump into the snow melt.

We both hesitated for almost twenty minutes before I finally took a breath and jumped in. That breath was instantly jolted out of my chest and as I treaded water floating downstream I struggled to take in air. As I walked out of the freezing cold water, I was numb but still smiling. My friend also took the plunge and we shivered and giggled about the crazy and somewhat dangerous things we do when we're together. We sunbathed on the rock for an hour, drying off in the sunlight and then headed out.

We didn't get far. The name "Cheese Rock" was enough to detour us up the road further. After a steep climb half a mile up large slabs of granite, we were rewarded with a 360 view of the Teanaway that, like the glacial waters, took my breath away.

Invigorated by the cold swim and the thigh-burning climb, I couldn't help but feel stoked for summer. The days are getting warmer and brighter and adventure seems to be busting forth from every corner of the world. "The Mountains are Calling, and I Must Go." These words have been spoken and like a call to prayer, we are drawn into nature's church to seek the wisdom of the wilderness. Summer is here. Go forth and find adventure. Appreciate the beauty and covet the time with those who appreciate it with you.