Grand Canyon Sized Doubts

Grand Canyon Sized Doubts

Facing self-doubt and the physical toll of aging, Michele prepares for a demanding hike into the Grand Canyon, having previously completed it 30 years ago with much difficulty. After setbacks including an injury, motivation from friends and realization of her consistent activity help reframe her mindset. Despite enduring mental and physical challenges during the trek, upon reaching the bottom, she releases her self-doubt into the Colorado River. Emerging with renewed confidence in her body and abilities, she reflects on the empowering journey with her fellow hikers, overcoming her past limitations and looking forward to future adventures.

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 […]

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 […]

Limbo.

Limbo.

(Trigger warning: suicide) I inherited my propensity for intense and vivid dreaming from my mother. We would often regale each other with stories from our previous night’s escapades, and it was typically a draw to determine who had the most outlandish dream.  Like the time I dreamt I used the little salt packets I stole […]

Charmed, I’m sure.

Charmed, I’m sure.

I’ll admit it. I live a charmed life. Or, as a good friend of mine once lovingly told me, I live a life where “rainbows and unicorns tend to shoot out of my ass.”  I once did a past-life regression for fun (don’t knock it till you try it!) and asked my higher-self why things […]