Hi Everyone! I wanted to give you all an update on what I’ve been up to the last couple of months before I take some time off from the blog. Also, I have a possibly exciting new venture I am proposing below, so be sure to keep reading!
I’ll probably return to blogging sometime in February when I start planning more for the Appalachian Trail, which I’ll be starting in mid April. Those of you who have followed my journal from the beginning know that I tend to only write about my long trips and I like to take a break from blogging when I’m in the “offseason.” I will still post updates and photos from time to time on my Walking With Wired Facebook page, so I won’t completely disappear. In fact those of you already following on Facebook will find this post to be a bit of a review of things you’ve already seen.

Since I’ve been back home, I’ve had a great time giving CDT presentations around Portland. I still have a few left in the coming months that are listed above. The turnout and feedback from the presentations have been beyond anything I ever imagined.

I did 3 local REI presentations with all three filled to capacity. Love the big screen and the “Wired-posed” crowd!
Presentations and Gear Talk for the Trails Club of Oregon at Nesika Lodge in the Columbia Gorge.

I’ve been getting many inquiries as to if I will be doing presentations outside of Portland. Nothing is planned at the moment, but I really feel like I could take it to the next level given the opportunity. I’ve even thought about attempting a “Triple Crown Tour” that I could do next fall in which I could take a month or so to travel around the country and present to larger groups on a grander scale. It’s one of those things that is easier said than done…but I’ve always enjoyed a challenge. If I were to do such a thing, it would require a grass roots kind of effort that I think we could all work together to create. I am just throwing the idea out right now to see if anyone has any bright ideas or suggestions. Feel free to email me if you do!

I’ve been working a ton to save up for the trail. A lot of people ask how I can afford to take off so much time to thru hike. Well, I work double in the months that I am home by substitute teaching everyday and then babysitting/nannying on weeknights and weekends. The one day I usually have off is Sunday and I’ve managed to get out on a lot of hikes since I’ve been home. The fall here has been unusually dry and I’ve been taking advantage of if before the rain sets in for the winter. I’m pretty worn out, but in a really good way. Really lovin’ life right now! Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure to show you why the Northwest made me fall in love with hiking! Happy holidays to everyone and I’ll be back in a couple months.

Click here to order your own customized stamp from my friend Funhog.

I went on a hike with Drop-N-Roll to find the Mt Hood Glacier Caves. Just EPIC!

Drop-N-Roll taking it all in.

I seriously think Drop-N-Roll Should submit this photo she took to a photo contest!
Another one of Drop-N-Roll’s great photos!

I took a map and compass class with the local Mazamas that was really well taught. It was a full day class that was half day classroom and half day in the field for application. Click here if you’re interested in taking the class yourself. Yes, it is ironic that I chose to do this after the CDT and before the AT where I won’t even need to carry maps.

Putting my compass to use!

And I’ve gotten in a few more hikes in the Columbia Gorge and around Mt Hood.

The Columbia Gorge looking down on Bridge of the Gods.
I just can’t get enough of the trees!
A hike to Devils Peak lookout tower with a view of the SE side of Mt Hood.

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Winter Break In San Diego!😎
What a great trip! With so much sun and great weather, it felt more like spring break than winter break. San Diego has definitely won us over. Here is a compilation of some of the many things we did. 
-Coastal walking 🌴🌊
-Biking around the bays🚴🏻‍♀️
-Revisiting the Pacific Crest Trail💕
-Exploring the city 🌇
-Sea World 🐬🦦🦭🎢
-Beautiful sunsets 🌅
-Puzzling:)🧩

#sandiego #winterbreak
Thanks for all the bday wishes! Since my birthday falls on a Monday this year, it was a great excuse to take an extra day off and make it a 3 day weekend🥳. I indulged in puzzling and pasta (artisan jumbo raviolis) over a great fall weekend. Today was a fun day of going to local places for bday freebies. Almost $100 worth of treats and there are more I can get throughout the month! Here’s the list for anyone looking for bday treats. 
*The hand-made artisan raviolis came from Foglia in Beaverton. 
-Dutch Bros
-Einstein Bagels
-Starbucks
-Jersey Mikes
-Baskin Robbins
-Baja Fresh
-Noodles & Co
-Pips (donuts)
-Old Spaghetti Factory
-Cheesecake Factory
-Dennys
The week got away from me and I meant to post this last weekend. Better late than never! Three weekends in a row spent in the Gorge. It’s been a great fall so far and we feel lucky to have all this nearby for quick excursions. Hiking in the gorge, camping at Ainsworth SP, checking out the “fruit loop” in Hood River, and a visit and some trail work at Nesika Lodge with the Trails Club of Oregon.🍁💛🍂🧡
#columbiarivergorge
We finished up our July trip with some days at Olympic National Park. The original plan included a backpacking trip to the Seven Lakes Basin, but we had to cancel it due to a foul weather front that moved through the days of our permit. Someday we will do that one. Once the skies cleared, we spent the remaining time we had exploring the Hurricane Ridge area. I’m a big fan of mountains, ridge walks, and clouds, so it was a good finale to this summer’s travels:)

Included in the photos is our campsite at Heart O’ the Hills Campground and the puzzles we completed over the last few weeks (many of them waiting out that weather the last few days🧩). #hurricaneridge #olympicnationalpark
We moved over to the east side of Mt. Rainier and explored the Sunrise area for a handful of days. Still many grand views of Mt. Rainier, but with even more wildflowers on this side. I even got to visit an old friend;) Feeling fortunate that the weather has continued to be clear, good temps, and minimal bugs. Summer break continues! #mtrainiernationalpark
Back in the PNW and taking a couple weeks to explore and relax at Mt Rainier Nat’l Park. Our first week was spent in the Paradise area of the park with impressive views of the south side of Mt Rainier. The weather was so ideal (and somehow no bugs!) that we easily spent half the day getting some much needed R&R at camp (especially hammocking and puzzling) before heading out for afternoon hiking. It’s great to have this area just a few hours from home. #mtrainiernationalpark
For the last leg of our Northeast Coast trip, we spent a few days camping at Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park. We did many of the recommendations for first time visitors to Acadia: popovers at Jordan Pond, hiked the Bubbles, rode bikes along a carriage road, toured around Bar Harbor and stopped for a whoopie pie, walked the popular ocean path, and went up to Cadillac Mountain at sunset.  Overall, a successful trip to the opposite coast. We look forward to finishing up the rest of summer break in the PNW!  #acadianationalpark
Next stop on our northeast coast trip, Cliff Island off the coast of Maine. We got a taste the island life from our amazing hosts Abby, Matt, Joan, and Scott: our own lobster boil, fireworks on the beach, a bit of sea kayaking, biking around the island, exploring the tide pools, puzzling, and collecting sea glass. The best part was reconnecting with Little Lottie who I cared for and bonded with in Portland during the first year of her life. It was great to see the world Lottie lives in now💕🦞🌊🐚🦀
Kicked off our summer break with an east coast trip this year. First up, a couple days in Boston. Great to see friends Andrea and @jdavischi85 again! We were happy to get our legs warmed up for summer hikes with walking and biking around Boston. Even got in some candlestick bowling and my first evah lobstah roll. A great start to our northeast part of the summer:)
Aunt Erin’s Portland Adventures, Days 7&8: Coast Camping Cont’d
The last two days of the visit were more camping along the coast. They were filled with all the things I’d hoped for the boys to experience. They made friends and played with the other kids at camp, feely rode bikes around the loop, played in the hammock, played soccer and frisbee on the beach, ate s’mores, ran over dunes, explored a low tide (Hug Point and Haystack Rock), had a foggy coastal day and a blue bird day, and slept in the trailer making it their little cabin. They really loved the trailer and it was super cute to see then use it so well. They had a great time and hopefully a memorable trip overall of all the things I love to share living in the PNW💚💙.
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