Hello October!

I am writing this post in the final dwindling hours of September. It is still warm and sunny in Portland, but I long for clouds, rain, and cooler temperatures. I am hoping that by eating comforting meals, the weather will take a hint! For example, a few nights ago Tim and I made the Snobby Joes recipe from Veganomicon. I turned mine into a bowl meal by adding roasted potatoes and chunks of avocado. It was pretty spectacular!

It’s been a remarkable past few weeks. I am falling into place at my new job and loving every minute. Tim and I went on a hike a few days ago and enjoyed lunch amidst lots of waterfalls.

And finally, I will be participating in the 2012 Vegan Month of Food! I always hesitate because it is a big time commitment, but I love the motivation and challenge it provides me. I tend to be a creature of habit, often cooking and baking my favorite recipes over and over. So, my theme for Vegan MoFo will be to make recipes I have never made before, making sure to use a different cookbook/magazine (from my ever-growing collection) each time. It should be fun! Check back tomorrow to see what sort of nonsense I stir up.

Over the River and Through the Woods

The sunshine made an appearance today! Tim and I took full advantage of abundant blue sky and went hiking in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (located in Washington state). The snow levels this time of year can make finding a trail difficult, so we opted for a lower level hike we had done before called Siouxon Creek. Despite our careful planning, we still encountered snow! It was primarily on the forest roads leading to the trailhead, but it dotted much of the trail as well. We weren’t deterred though-we had the trail to ourselves for most of the day!

This area is absolutely gorgeous. There are plenty of waterfalls, lush greenery, tall trees (Douglas Fir and Red Cedar), and chirping birds to keep hikers company. Plus, the trail parallels Siouxon Creek most of the route. Even though the sun was shining overhead, the forest was COLD! Winter hats, gloves, and fleece pants kept us cozy. And, monster-sized veggie sammies kept us fueled for the 7.5 mile roundtrip hike.

My favorite spot on the hike:

Horseshoe Creek Falls

Unfortunately, the last stretch of the hike was impassable due to a creek crossing over a massive slippery rock. The water level was too high for a safe crossing, so we stopped just shy of the last waterfall and had lunch before turning back to the trailhead. Want to know the funniest part? I was looking through old photographs and discovered that the last time Tim and I hiked this trail was exactly 5 years ago (well, minus 1 day, but still!)!! We didn’t plan that, it was simply coincidental!!

This hike was just what I needed to get me even more excited for warmer weather and lots of hiking and backpacking. Nothing compares to being surrounded by the comforts and sounds of nature.

 

Recent Eats and Happenings

Time keeps prancing along ahead of me, and I simply cannot keep up. These last few weeks have been busy, adventurous, and challenging. Most recently, I finished my first freelance photography project with a series of wedding/celebration cakes. It is so much fun to photograph pretty things that I didn’t have to create myself!! Here is one example:

Isn’t that a beautiful cake?

Tim and I also went on a day hike last week and spotted this waterfall hidden in the trees:

We had to step over a lot of fallen trees and slippery rocks (click the link, that’s where I went to university!!!) in order to get close, but it was worth it. We hiked a mile further down the trail and had lunch in a dwindling patch of sunshine that eventually disappeared.

I also photographed some recipes for the Food Empowerment Project website. This is an absolutely wonderful organization that “seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one’s food choices. They encourage healthy food choices that reflect a more compassionate society by spotlighting the abuse of animals on farms, the depletion of natural resources, unfair working conditions for produce workers, and the unavailability of healthy foods in low-income areas.”

The Food Empowerment Project website has a small, but growing recipe database. If you have vegan recipes (preferably with an accompanying photograph) you would like to share, definitely contact them. They would appreciate it so much!

Hazelnut Pesto (one of my recipe submissions!)

Champagne Risotto with Tofu & Portobello (I actually made this recipe without the alcohol since I don’t drink, and was still delicious!)

Next week I will have a new vegan product review, and quite possibly, a new vegan cookbook review too!!! Happy Spring (almost!)!!

Hiking in December

Hello everybody! It is hard to believe that December is coming to a close already. Sunshine has been making an appearance nearly every single day this month in Portland. Bright blue skies and some much needed warmth make hiking in December the perfect activity for escaping the holiday chaos.

Recently, Tim and I took advantage of a particularly gorgeous day and ventured off into the Opal Creek Wilderness in Oregon. We were the only people on the trail. It was chilly and icy patches dotted our path, but we still had a wonderful day admiring the beauty surrounding us.

I love when the sun’s rays cut through a dark forest!

By the end of our 7 mile hike I was losing energy. We usually pack a lunch to eat midway through the day, but it was too cold to stop for more than a few minutes at a time. Tim did make the mistake of asking me to carry a ziplock filled with tortilla chips. I greedily devoured them while he climbed down some wet rocks to take a photograph. Lesson learned? Never leave me alone with a bag of tortilla chips.

Can’t wait for snowshoeing!

Backpacking Essentials Part II: Components of a Pack

It’s time for Part II of my Backpacking Essentials series! Today’s post is all about what to pack for overnight (or longer) wilderness excursions. It can be very overwhelming trying to decide what gear, accessories, and clothing to take on a backpacking trip. Nobody wants to lug around a heavy pack, especially if climbing steeper terrain or hiking 6+ miles each day is on the agenda.

When Tim and I first started backpacking together our packs were significantly heavier. Over the years were have learned a lot and lightened our loads considerably, which makes for much more enjoyable hiking. As a petite woman barely reaching 5’2″, I like to keep my total pack weight between 12-15 pounds. This allows for more mobility, comfort, and endurance. Here are my pack essentials for a 2-3 day backpacking trip:

• Inflatable sleeping mat (Therm-a-Rest has an incredible variety)
• Compressible pillow (I have the smallest size)
• Sleeping bag (ours is homemade, very lightweight, and sleeps 2, so Tim and I can share it)
• Rain jacket and rain pants
• Extra socks (made from synthetic fibers, never cotton – cotton takes forever to dry and won’t keep your feet as warm)
• Long underwear top and bottoms
• Hat and gloves (depending on the season and altitude of the hike)
• Headlamp
• First aid kit (band-aids, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, safety pins, cotton swabs, etc.)
• Toiletries kit (small tin of toothpaste, toothbrush, tiny bottle of biodegradable soap, lip balm, sunscreen, insect repellent, toilet paper, and a quick-drying hand towel)
• Deck of cards (occupies time when you are lounging in your tent – Tim and I have made up so many silly card games!)
• Camera (the heaviest item in my pack)
• Pack liner (essentially a large plastic bag that goes into my pack first and keeps all of the contents dry)
• Pack cover
• Water bladder
• Food, split with Tim

Since Tim and I always hike together, we have the luxury of splitting our gear to fairly distribute the weight. Here is what Tim usually carries in his homemade backpack (ends up being around 18 pounds):

• Tent poles and stakes
• Tent body, rain fly, and ground cloth (we have a tent we made ourselves and one we bought – we love both and choose which one to use depending on the season)
• Backpacking stove (we have had ours for over 10 years and it still works well)
• Fuel bottle for stove
• Cook set, sporks (yes, sporks!), and cups
• Pocket knife
• Inflatable sleeping mat
• Compressible pillow
• Headlamp
• Water bladder
• Rain jacket and pants
• Extra socks
• Long underwear top and bottoms
• Hat and gloves
• Map and trail directions
• Food, split with me
• Pack liner
• Pack cover

I can completely understand how the cost of gear might seem overwhelming. Tim and I have owned our gear for over ten years so the initial investment has been paid off several times over. Here are some tips to consider:

1. Take your time when deciding which gear to buy. Read consumer reviews to get a better idea of how certain gear performs.
2. Visit a local outdoor shop and check out gear you are interested in – ask questions!
3. Take advantage of used gear sales, outlet stores, or friends who may be parting with gear that still has some use.
4. Try renting some gear and test it in the wilderness to see if you like it.
5. Don’t feel pressured to buy the most expensive, most popular gear. Buy what suits your own needs.
6. Try making your own gear, if possible! It is less expensive, challenging, and fun.
7. Borrow gear from friends/family if you can’t afford to purchase certain items.

Once you have your gear selected, you need to pack it wisely to ensure comfort and mobility. Filling a backpack requires some patience and practice. It is best to start by laying your gear out on the floor. Place the items that you won’t use right away in the bottom of your pack and end with the gear you will need quick access to. Also keep in mind that heavier gear placed in the bottom of your pack will balance your load better. I usually put my sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and pillow at the bottom and follow with long underwear, spare clothing, food, rain gear, and camera. Other essentials are stowed in the lid and side pockets of my pack.

Tim packs his gear in a similar manner. The best part about multi-day trips is that as the food supply diminishes, so does the weight of your pack! So… Eat up!

Hopefully this post will help get you out on the trail and snoring under the stars (or rainbows!) in no time!

Part III of this series will focus on clothing and footwear, so stay tuned!