For Serious Hikers Only

Trail Mix Brownies!

I felt a small wave of inspiration yesterday and created a new recipe for my forthcoming vegan brownie cookbook. It’s frustrating how easily motivation can plummet and then disappear. If Tim hadn’t been demanding treats these brownies may not have happened. I can’t recall ever taking brownies on a hike, but hey, why not? These have homemade trail mix in the batter and on top of the finished brownies -  twice the trail mix! I may experiment further with different nuts and dried fruits in future batches.

Brownies while hiking seems perfectly acceptable to me!

Up, Up, and Almost Away!

Last week Tim and I went on a backpacking adventure. Our original plan was flattened when the trail we chose turned out to be a mess of overgrown, tangled, scratchy brush that towered over my head in most places. It was disappointing to say the least considering the area we were in was gorgeous and crowd-free. Oh well.

Lost in the brush – can you see me?!

We turned around and immediately scanned our hiking book for another option. Luckily we weren’t too far away from Bend, OR, one of our favorite outdoor recreation destinations! Yay! So, we settled on camping that night on the banks of Devil’s Lake and then climbing to the summit of South Sister (Oregon’s 2nd highest mountain) the following morning. Good choice!

Full moon keeping us company by our campsite

Despite the never-ending steepness of the trail, reaching the top was a mighty wicked reward. We hiked the same trail six years ago and it was fun to revisit the area. The best part about the South Sister climb is that you don’t need any special mountaineering equipment (depending on the season, of course). You just need determination, lots of water, sustaining snacks, and a good set of lungs! The trail is 12 miles round trip and takes a whole day, but it doesn’t matter because the beautiful scenery makes you forget the struggle. Take a peek!

Early part of the trail – flat for maybe a mile…

Climbing higher…

A gorgeous glacial lake about a mile or so from the summit – Tim and I actually dipped into this lake on our way back down – it was FREEZING (literally). The day was hot and sunny and all the climbing made the quick dip a worthwhile decision!

Getting closer (see the trail cutting into the red rock near the top of the photo?)…

Tim climbing…

Tim walking across the crater of South Sister – we’re almost to the summit!!!!

We made it! Top of South Sister: 10,360 feet. You can see Middle Sister and North Sister behind us. If you look closely, Mt. Jefferson is a tiny speck above the point of North Sister. The smoke on the left of the photo is from a forest fire nearby. It was WINDY!

An unobstructed view of Middle and North Sisters

That’s the trip! The way back down was much faster, but harder on the knees. Thank goodness for trekking poles!

What are some of your favorite hiking places?

Who’s the Big Winner?!

Hello everybody! Guess what? It’s time to announce the winner of the Soy Candles by Phebes giveaway! Exciting! The winner is… Amanda! Congratulations! Amanda choose the Fig Tea & Cucumber candle. With summer in full swing, the scent of cucumber should keep you cool and comfortable! I will contact you by e-mail so we can arrange to have your candle shipped. Thanks to everybody who entered the contest. If you didn’t win, don’t fret – the kind folks at Soy Candles by Phebes are offering readers a special deal: Simply visit their website, buy three candles, and get a fourth free!  Mention that you found the offer on my blog and sit back and wait for your candles to arrive! Seriously, there are so many scents to choose from, you won’t be disappointed. These candles will relaxxxxxxxx you!

Speaking of relaxing, here are some photos from a recent backpacking trip Tim and I took:

Big Slide Lake (we saw osprey!)

We encountered some downed trees on the trail.

Heaps of fluffy green ferns lined the trail.

Snow covered parts of the trail, but that made it more fun!

A buddy we met at our campsite – he posed for at least ten minutes!

Our dinner: soba noodles, coconut curry sauce, kale, and bell peppers.

Our campsite with Big Slide Lake in the background.

Yay! We are planning another backpacking trip soon, so stay tuned for more pictures!! I hope everybody is enjoying some sunshine!

Summer Wrap-Up

It’s been a long while since my last post. Summer kept me busy:

EDITED TO ADD THE FOLLOWING PHOTO BELOW:

Visiting with my super awesome, lovely friend Celine;

Attending Portland Veg Fest;

Camping on the Pacific Crest Trail;

Hiking in the misty, foggy, rainy wilderness;

Enjoying the view from our campsite;

Picking wild huckleberries;

Goofing around to keep warm;

Protesting the circus in Portland;

More protesting;

Picking apples in Hood River, OR;

Visiting with my dad;

Eating yummy food at Portobello Vegan Trattoria in Portland (lasagna);

More good food from Portobello (portobello mushrooms and polenta);

Watching an approaching storm in the Columbia River Gorge;

Backpacking near South Sister (a mountain in Oregon);

Looking into the distance on the trail;

Enjoying the sun setting;

Munching on tasty bagel sammies;

More eating (post-trail food from Cafe Yumm in Bend, OR);

I think that’s about all I have for now. Summer was also lots of relaxing, bike riding, donut-eating, cooking, canning, baking, and spending time with Tim. Fall is my favorite time of year though, so expect a bit more of a post commitment this season!

I Saw Some Sunshine!

Hiking and backpacking are two of my favorite outdoor activities. Early summer weather is usually perfect for enjoying both of these. However, as I have mentioned in previous posts, the weather in Portland has been stuck in a late wintry phase for quite some time. While I love cloudy days, I am ready to immerse myself in the outdoors…away from the city.

Last weekend the sun made an appearance for a day, and my boyfriend and I took full advantage! Letting Tim chose the hike often results in overgrown, unmaintained, or very crowded trails (but beautiful nonetheless!). This time around, he choose a hike in Silver Falls State Park. More of a leisurely stroll than an endurance-busting hike, this trail boasts ten waterfalls (and it is just over an hour from Portland, which is nice)! We packed a lunch and walked the seven-mile loop taking in views. We even saw a girl in a flowy skirt and flip flops, which seemed a wee bit weird since the trail is wet and muddy most of the time due to all the water. Snicker, snicker…

I plan on baking up a storm this weekend so hopefully I will have some tasty treat photos soon!