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About
Adventures
- International Adventures
- U.S. Adventures
  - Alabama
  - Arizona
  - California
  - Montana
  - National Parks
  - Nevada
  - Oregon
  - Utah
  - Wyoming
VanLife
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Cactus —> Clouds & the only photos we took from

Cactus —> Clouds

& the only photos we took from one of the hardest day hikes in the US 🙃

Stats
🥾21 miles point to point
📈 11,200 ft elevation gain LOL
⏱️13 hr 55 min

The cactus to clouds hike is a STRENUOUS and very dangerous day hike that goes from the bottom of Palm Springs to the top of San Jacinto Peak. It’s one of the highest elevation gain day hikes in the US with a steady 8,000 ft climb in the first 10 miles 🤡

We’ve always wanted to attempt it, but never caught it in the right window… because it starts in the desert and ends in the alpine, the best time to hike it is when it’s hot too hot in Palm Springs, but also doesn’t have snow at the top of San Jacinto which makes for a VERY short window in spring and fall 😅

last week we saw an opportunity for a perfect weather window and TOOK IT!!!! We drove 8 hours, slept in our car, woke up at 3 am, hiked for 13 hr and then drove home the next day 💀 it was truly one of the hardest things we’ve ever done 😂

Full recap reel coming soon, but wanted to share the very few snaps we got :)

#cactustoclouds #dayhike #type2fun #hiking #hikingchallenge

just know there were plenty more “cactus stops” th

just know there were plenty more “cactus stops” that I did not capture on camera 😂😂😂

P.s. I LOVE sentry’s curiously and love for plants and animals. his ADHD makes him who he is and is one of my favorite things about him!! It’s NOT a bad thing!!! (I shouldn’t HAVE to say this but the internet is annoying lol)

#hiking #hikes #hikingtrail #cactustoclouds #hike

did you know all of these?! 👇🏼 Backpacking packs

did you know all of these?! 👇🏼

Backpacking packs have SO many hidden features so I wanted to share a few that we’ve discovered that have become the most practical on the trail 👀

1. Safety whistle
Usually on the chest strap the safety whistle is SO important to know about. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need help you can blow the whistle to get someone’s attention. OR use it as a deterrent to wildlife you might encounter on the trail

2. Water bottle side pocket
No lie I think this one changed my life 😂 not having to ask my partner to get my water bottle for me every 20 minutes is the best feeling everrrrr

3. Removable brain
This one is SO nice for when you get to camp and you want to take a side hike or bring a few things to a sunset viewpoint!! The brain on backpacking packs detaches and can become an instant daypack!

I know this series might not be for everyone and you might already know some of these, but these all about things we discovered on the trail that we wish someone had told us about sooner! So sharing for the people that might not know!!!

#backpacking #backpackinggear #camping #campinggear #campgear

I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to always ta

I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to always talk about the “good” that comes from having kids. Like saying you lost yourself or acknowledging that your life completely changed when you had kids somehow takes away the love you feel for them.

I, personally, am not someone who believes “having kinds won’t change a thing, you’ll just bring them along with you”. I believe having kids changes everything. Sure you bring them along but it’s never the same.

This is not to say that it doesn’t change everything FOR THE BETTER. but it’s still change.

There was still a “before kids” life that will be gone and I don’t think saying that out loud makes me a horrible person.

I KNOW how much I’m going to love our child (if we are lucky enough to be able to have one) but I also recognize it will come at a cost.

The premature grieving I feel is insanely weird and scary and quite frankly, kind of lonely and I just wanted to share in case it makes just one person feel less alone 🙏🏼

I also know that having children is a privilege that not everyone gets and just want to acknowledge there is a very sensitive nature around this subject 🤍

#sunrise #paddleboard #isup #morningvlog #sunrisepaddle

Choosing to wake up every day can sometimes be the

Choosing to wake up every day can sometimes be the hardest part & we should celebrate that win every single day 🤍

Reminding myself that the simple things are the most important in life 🙏🏼

They do WAY more than you’ll ever know 👇 (ad) Wor

They do WAY more than you’ll ever know 👇 (ad)

Working as a nurse at a ski resort for the past 3 years has opened my eyes to how resorts operate and the ONE thing I always take away from each season is how much gratitude I have for our ski patrollers.

Ski patrollers are the backbone to resort safety and operations and without them ski resorts quite literally COULD NOT open.

Just a few of their jobs
-on mountain first aid and CPR
-rescue and evacuate injured guests
-slope inspections
-avalanche mitigation (literally putting themselves at risk so YOU can ski safely)
-trail assessments and signage
-& SO MUCH MORE

They’re literally up before the sun to get the mountain ready for you to enjoy on your vacation and they’re trained to handle nearly any mountain emergency while keeping everyday skiing fun and safe. I just don’t think nearly enough people thank them for what they do!!!!

We wanted to share a little gratitude with our mountain team so we set up a big cookout with our @campchef gameday gridiron flat top grill & made smash burgers for the whole squad!!

We looove our gameday gridiron for big cookouts bc it has one large flattop grill making it SO simple to cook and clean for a ton of people without the hassle of a million dishes (& it’s portable!!)

So, a huge THANK YOU to the hundreds of ski patrollers across the country for everything you do!!! See ya next season!!!

#cookout #campcooking #tailgating #campstove #campingstove

2026 is the year we stop suffering in the backcoun

2026 is the year we stop suffering in the backcountry 🤝 #REIpartner

I always want to scream it from the rooftops that ultralight backpacking can be whatever you want it to be!!! Suuuuureeee, you can cut your toothbrush in half and ditch anything that brings you joy... 😂

But I am firmly in the camp that bringing a few “nonessential essentials” will not be the anchor to your ultralight setup!

So here are my favorite UL items from @rei Co-op that make sleeping outside a whole lot more enjoyable:

-NEMO Moonlite Elite Chair or foam sit pad
I genuinely feel like this is an ESSENTIAL because my 32 year old back does not take to using logs as a chair anymore. The Moonlite elite chair is 18 oz, and the sit pad is 5.6 oz so you can choose whichever one works best for you.

-Aeropress GO coffee press
There are so many different ways to make coffee in the backcountry but this particular method makes the BEST cup for the least amount of weight. The entire kit is 11.5 oz but you can actually shave some weight by leaving behind the lid, scooper and stir stick!!!

-Biotite charge 40 power bank
Keeps the phone charged on overnight trips! 9.4 oz

-NEMO fillo elite pillow
I will never not bring a pillow while backpacking!! Anyone who tells you ditching the 3oz pillow is worth the weight savings is lying to you 🫡

-Sleeping bags that zip together
Our favorites are the his and hers NEMO disco bags (we use the 30 degree ones in summer)

Backpacking is just not one size fits all! We all have different priorities and comfort levels we are willing to endure, so I ALWAYS suggest going to REI and asking a green vest expert to help you build out the perfect UL backpacking set up for you!

#backpacking #ultralightbackpacking #ulbackpacking #camping

the good thing about living in 800 sq ft… she’s ea

the good thing about living in 800 sq ft… she’s easy to clean ✨🫡

Happy Monday!!!

#housereset #aframe #aframecabin #mountainhome #mountainhouse

The best way to experience Yosemite is just to be

The best way to experience Yosemite is just to be IN it :)

#yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #camping #campingseason #camp

the most magical valley in the world ✨ Yosemite i

the most magical valley in the world ✨

Yosemite isn’t just for hikers and climbers, its for everyone 💕

#yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #camping #yosemitevalley #campingtrip

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