Back in August, Josh and I headed off to Iceland for two weeks of adventure and fun. (This is a testament to my laziness since it’s been a month and a half since we got back.) Up in the highlands, our first stop was Landmannalaugar. Our first day in Iceland was a bit of a wash. With ridiculous jetlag, we did nothing but sleep to try to recuperate for the upcoming two weeks. We woke up bright and early our first morning at the Reykjavik City Hostel to catch our bus.
As temps drop and the nights grow longer, it’s rough crawling out of my snuggly sleeping bag. Luckily, Cusa Tea is there to make the transition into the brisk morning just a bit easier with ready to drink tea in just three seconds, plus boiling water time.
As the sun sets on summer I’m finally getting around to talking about the trips I’ve been on. This past summer has been a bit of a lazy one.
I planned on climbing something every weekend, but I can count the number of alpine starts I got on 2 fingers. Instead, I filled my schedule with backpacking and train camping.
Every summer Alpenglow Sports hosts an annual, free Mountain Festival, filled with adventure and fun for people of all ages and skill levels. When I saw backpacking and backcountry gourmet on the menu, I was sold. If there’s anything I love almost as much as being outside, it’s food. And cats, but that’s a different story.
Alpenglow Sports partnered with Michelle from Adventure Dining Guide to lead a women’s trip out into the wilderness. The destination was originally Desolation Wilderness, but with the ridiculous snow year, plans changed to Watson Lake. It was a little closer and suited for women of all skill levels. Coming straight from sea level, I was a little grateful for the venue change and for being spared many miles of huffing at the back of the group like a fool.
This winter was a Sierra snow year for the books. I’ve lived in California all my life but don’t remember a winter where it rained for three months straight. All the snow meant my Sierra objectives were looking a little bleak and buried. I brushed up on my map and compass skills with REI and hit the trail in Mokelumne Wilderness at the beginning of June. My destination was a place I’ve never been: Fourth of July Lake in the Carson Pass Management Area.
