Women Who Explore: Backpacking Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch

Women Who Explore: Backpacking Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch

Glenn and I recently enacted a “two week cooling off period” after we finish adventures.  It turns out that when we are riding high from our latest amazing experience, we can make somewhat questionable decisions about our next adventure. Case in point, before we had even gotten on our plane departing a recent visit to […]

Princess Pestilence

Princess Pestilence

It is my most fervent hope that everyone has the chance to have at least one magical person who comes into your life — at the exact moment you need them — and transforms everything for the better. Bea was that person for me.

On the surface, she was my high school English teacher. In reality, she was the cornerstone of the foundation upon which I’ve built the amazing life I have today. This is not an overstatement.

Everyone Belongs in Nature

Everyone Belongs in Nature

I was a bit lost after I quit my job in terms of figuring out how to still be a productive member of society. I knew I was passionate about traveling, especially to see the natural wonders of the world, and I wanted to continue working on advancing racial and social justice issues. Sometimes the […]

Going Dark in Antarctica

Going Dark in Antarctica

In 2017 I saw my first total solar eclipse. I had gone mostly because it was “something to do” and would include a camping trip in Central Oregon, which I’m always up for. I was prepared to be unimpressed (read more about my experience here). To my surprise, witnessing the sun completely blink out in […]

Khutzeymateen Grizzlies

Khutzeymateen Grizzlies

Nestled far up a misty river inlet, with bald eagles standing as sentinels along its banks, live the Khutzeymateen grizzly bears. I was lucky enough to visit these amazing creatures recently as I was turning 50 years of age. I’ve never been one for celebrating birthdays, so up until that point I had only planned […]

Sailing the Inside Passage

Sailing the Inside Passage

Glenn and I recently made a run for the Canadian border. We were still reeling from having to cancel yet another overseas trip due to COVID and were looking for an adventure to sooth our wanderlust. Canada had recently opened their land borders to vaccinated Americans and were no longer requiring a 14-day quarantine upon […]

Should I stay or should I go?

Should I stay or should I go?

“Because I am an entitled, self-centered American.”  That was the only legitimate response I could imagine giving the immigration officer when they asked me why I traveled to a country the U.S. State Department said I shouldn’t travel to because of the ongoing surge of the Delta variant. Two years ago, Glenn and I decided […]