join me for another year of many adventures 🥾✨🌲
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road trips, camping, national parks, backpacking, river dips, hiking, sunrises, cozy vibes, travel, crafting, adventure, granola girl, outdoorsy
My backpacks and if I recommend them 👇
Comment "BAG" and I'll send ya a link to all of these!
(and remember, if you're just getting started, the best backpack is the one you already have!)
from largest to smallest:
@ospreyeurope Aura 65L
> YES if you are a heavy packer or do winter backpacking!! just be sure to get sized!!
@rei Trail Co-op 40L
> MAYBE I think this one fits very specific needs that are not my own!
@gregorypacks Juno 30L
> YES YES!! I got this on a sale rack and have put 100s of miles on it and will put 100s more!
@rei Flash 18L
> YES but only if you need something packable and ultralight!
@ospreyeurope Skimmer 16L
> NO it’s not a bad bag but I think there’s probably better options for the size!
@salomon Active Skin 8L
> it passed the jump test but I need to test it more to see…but have heard great things (I actually did research on this one!)
Do you have a favorite backpack?? One that changed the game for you? Let me know in the comments!!
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Hiking, hiking packpack, hiking tips, hiking guide, backpacking, pnw, Washington state, outdoorsy fashion, outdoorsy tips
cancelling a summit attempt you've been planning for weeks is no fun! we were so excited to test out some new gear and get some training in on an iconic PNW mountain that is a bucketlist summit in itself.
luckily, permits for Helens are not impossible to get and we can likely find a new day to go, if not this year than next.
(btw - St Helens is not a beginner hike. have previous mountaineering experience or go guided if going on the winter route & know your hiking limits if attempting the summer route)
we're still hitting the trails this weekend - just not in the same way we originally intended, and that's ok!
did you get outside this weekend??
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pnw, mountaineering, hiking, day pack, hiking packing list, beginner mountaineering, granola girl, outdoorsy girl, hiking fail
this was so satisfying ✨
when charlie and i moved in together ~1.5 years ago we kinda just put all out gear on some shelves and called it a day. many camping trips with lazy unpacking later (because there was no system)...and we realized we were about to start our summer not knowing where ANYTHING was. so it was time to dump out everything and do a reset.
one day we will build ourselves our dream gear wall...but today, low on budget in this rental, a designated spot for everything in bins and crates we already had will work just fine.
now I just have to find all the gear that's made its way into the house and put it in its new home!
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outdoors gear, asmr, cleaning asmr, home organizing, how to organize outdoors gear, hiking, camping gear, mountaineering, garage organization, granola girl, outdoors equipment
your unemployed friend on a random tuesday 🪩
(was filming for a different reel and got tired and bored at the end and accidentally made this instead)
anyway first mountaineering trip of 2026 next week if weather allows! feeling so excited!!!
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mountaineering, pnw, hiking, midsize fashion, outdoorsy girl, mountaineering clothes, adventure travel
all the things taking up space in my brain right now 🙂↔️
let me know your current obsessions in the comments hehe!! or let me know the vibe you're holding onto for the change of the seasons - I'd love to know 🫶
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granola girl, books, everyday makeup, stress acne, unemployment, recommendations, hiking ideas, hiking fit, fit check, outdoorsy girl
our first mountaineering & car camping trip is right around the corner so it was time to wrap up our loose ends!!
Charlie & I have both done technical climbs/mountaineering before but never together, so we've been able to borrow each other's stuff until now. This year, we have trips together and trips that overlap so we had to bite the bullet and finally get 2 of everything!
Used gear shops in Seattle:
📍Wonderland Gear Exchange
📍Ascent Outdoors
📍Play It Again
📍REI Re/Supply (in REI stores)
Camping & mountaineering gear rentals:
📍Gearhouse
📍MTN Gear
📍REI
What adventures are yall planning this year?? I'd love to hear in the comments ✨
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mountaineering gear, hiking gear, backpacking gear, car camping gear, gear haul, adventure travel, summer adventure, mountaineering for beginners
it's azalea season in the PNW !!
azalea's are so nostalgic for me because we have them on the east coast where I grew up too...but never have I ever seen groves the size of the ones out here in the PNW.
my favorite places to see the azaleas blooming are Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle - or if you're further south, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in Portland is amazing (biggest groves I've ever seen!!)
I know there's spots all over the PNW, share your favorites in the comments!! (or don't - I get it)
as of April 30 - most of the flowers are bloomed but there were a handful of bushes still waiting. I think next week will be peak, and they should last til the end of May!
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pnw, visit seattle, washington state, portland, oregon, spring flowers, rhododendron gardens, azalea season, seattle parks, seattle itinerary, seattle trip ideas
if you also work in the creative digital space and also can't get hired because you're not a robot expert I highly recommend getting a hobby that the robots can't touch like making jewelry or knitting because I genuinely think my hobbies are the only reason I haven't completely crashed out yet :')
channelling miss kelly clarkson every day because I know this phase of life will make me a stronger, kinder human being which is more powerful than all of the robots combined.
and I'm sorry if you relate to this. you can only romanticize unemployment so much - I cry a lot. I'm very scared. the stress acne/breakouts....insane. living on hope for 9 months is exhausting. but for me, it's important to find moments of peace and joy in hard times, so hopefully you can take this as a sign to spend some time this weekend for yourself x
one of the most iconic hikes in the Seattle area, and for good reason...you can see 3 volcanoes from the 360 views from summit on a clear day.
I have had this one on my list for 7 years and I am SO glad I did not attempt to climb it that first summer in Seattle...this hike is HARD!!
I get why it's a gem, and why it's so popular. Most people we saw last weekend seemed super prepared, were crushing the steeeep and long uphill, and I didn't really see any trash. But there were definitely a handful of people who obviously did not realize what they were getting into...
4k vertical gain over 2.7 miles, 4k down over 5ish miles. Poles are amazing to distribute weight...use them! Take the new route down if you love your knees. The old route up is like 3-4 straight hours of stairmaster. It took me a few years to be able to do that confidently...but if I can get there, anyone can. Know your limits before attempting. Take breaks, and go slow. There is no rush :)
Visiting Seattle and not sure what your hiking "level" is? I recommend finding a hike with 1500ish feet of elevation gain over 3ish miles before attempting anything like this. Assess how you feel after. Could you do that 2-3 more times in a row? And a little steeper? Can you get down without knee pain? I guarantee you can still see plenty of amazing things no matter how "high" you can climb - there are hikes for everyone!
Anyway, this was my first major training hike of the year. The leggies are SORE today, but so worth it!!
details:
🌲 Mailbox Peak Loop
🥾 4k elevation, 8ish miles round trip
⚠️ rated HARD - not for beginners!
🌎 pack out your trash, don't feed the critters/birds at the top, bring an offering for the mailbox (like a sticker or postcard...NO food)
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pnw, pnw hiking, seattle hiking, hikes in seattle, washington state
I may have found the perfect day hiking bag???
I wore this for a 9 mile 4.5k foot elevation hike today and it did the job PERFECTLY. No sore shoulders, no chafing, no bouncing....just comfort and vibes. And I felt cute, which is always a win while hiking a 60% vertical grade.
I'm wearing the @salomon Active Skin 8L vest!! It holds all my things perfectly - minus the camera. BUT I was thinking if I went on a hike that I didn't need to hold all 3L of water, my camera would actually probably fit 👀 might have to try it soon!!
comment 'VEST' and I'll send ya a link to all the gear in this vid!
This purchase was a splurge for me and definitely NOT a hiking necessity but I used my @rei member dollars for it and I already know I'll be getting soo much use out of it :)
Would you swap your backpack for a running vest (for hiking purposes)??? let me knowwwww :D
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pnw, washington state, cascades, hiking, hiking gear, hiking ideas, hiking packing list, running vest recommendations
