Hike for Two

For the past two years I’ve been roommates with my friend, Sammy. We met at orientation the June before coming to Plymouth in 2015. But for some reason, we’ve never gone on a hike just the two of us…until this past Saturday.

We woke up around 8, leaving our apartment around 9, and headed to our hiking destination: Mt. Cardigan.

We took the West Ridge Trail up and looped around back down. This trail is ranked “moderate” on alltrails.com and is a 3.1 mile loop.

The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, and we were able to complete the loop with some sun still poking through the clouds. While going up, we past by some beautiful little waterfalls, while listening to all the birds sing. It was so relaxing to be able to casually hike this trail, not missing any of the hidden treasures we could have missed if we were hiking faster. Usually if we hike with our boyfriends, they tend to speed up the mountain. Or if we hike with a group of people, it can become distracting. Luckily, Sammy and I were on the same page, making the hike more than enjoyable for the both of us.

When we got near the top, everything started to open up (and get really windy). A fire tower sat at the peak while there was a 360 view of everything around it. We were both amazed.

This most likely had been my last hike in New Hampshire until the fall and I was happy it was with someone I’m happy to call my best friend. She’s been here for me since the day we met, running up to me at orientation because she saw me standing alone. She asked if she could stand with me and from there we’ve stuck by each other’s sides. It can be hard finding genuine people in college; everyone is so consumed with themselves during this time of change and growth and trying to find a place in this world, that people can turn out to have been deceiving, but I’m happy we’ve found each other to lean on.

Two years down, two to go…

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, check out this link for more info on trails! 🙂 –>here

Snack Time!

This week I took a stroll into the woods behind Langdon Woods to set up my hammock to take a break from all the work that’s been piling up due to the end of the semester. After some hours to myself, I decided it was time to head back to my apartment. Of course I took the long way, walking along the Baker River stopping to look at all the purple trilliums and trout lilies that recently bloomed. I was also happy to find fiddleheads in perfect condition for foraging!

For those of you who don’t know what fiddleheads are, they are the furled fronds of young ferns. The ones of the ostrich fern are the ones best for foraging. I had learned about these little ferns last year but never was able to pick and cook them. Now that I live in an apartment with a kitchen, I saw this as my opportunity to see how they were. I made sure I was picking the right type of fern and that they were bright green and still coiled.

taken from: https://fearlesseating.net/fiddleheads/

After picking a couple I brought them back to my kitchen, washed them off and popped them into a pot of boiling water, boiling them for 10 minutes. It’s important to boil them for 10-15 minutes to get rid of any toxins, bacteria, or viruses that the plant may have encountered from the woods and nearby bodies of water.

I then added some oil and butter and salt and tossed them into a stir fry with pasta, chicken, and some peppers and onions. The result: delicious! Not only did it taste great but it was also a cool experience to be adventurous with my food palate by bringing the gift of nature into the kitchen.

taken from: http://honest-food.net/fiddlehead-recipe-stir-fry/

***Remember to always be certain that the plant you are foraging is the right one! Some plants are poisonous and can easily be mistaken for plants that harmless. If you’re not positive, look it up or ask an expert!***

Want to learn more about fiddleheads? Check out this out!

Welch & Dickey

This past weekend my boyfriend’s parents came up to Plymouth to visit and what better way to show them the beauty of New Hampshire than going on a hike.

We decided to hike the Welch and Dickey loop. It’s a 4.1 mile loop trail located in Thornton, which is off of exit 28, only 2 exits north from Plymouth. The trail is rated “moderate”on alltrails.com

We got to the trailhead around 10am. There were some clouds in the sky but the temperature was in the 60s, perfect hiking temperature (for me anyways). As we started the trail, there were noticeable signs of spring poking its way up from the ground and on the trees, even though 2 weeks ago snow covered the ground.

When we got to the first opening we had a beautiful view of the road to Waterville and the other surrounding mountains. The sound and sight of birds were more noticeable up here and so was the wind. Although more clouds started to appear overhead, rain didn’t make an appearance.

A couple miles later, we made it to the first peak and then the second, both having beautiful views of the mountains.

Overall, this little adventure was a perfect bonding experience for all of us while being surrounded by the natural beauty of New Hampshire.

Having trouble finding trails? Check out AllTrails.com here!

Uh Oh

This past weekend I had a different kind of adventure…

I began learning how to drive stick shift. *cue the scary music*

This is something I’ve been terrified of doing and now, because my only way of transportation this summer in Colorado (besides a bike) will be a truck with manual transmission, I have to learn.

Day 1: Eh

I only stalled once on my first day which was cool. It was pretty tricky to start driving in 1st gear. Apparently my boyfriend’s truck is known for giving everyone trouble in 1st gear… so that’s good… but besides that, just driving around a parking lot in 1st and 2nd gear went okay, even if every time the truck jolted gave me a mini heart attack.

Day 2: Horrible

This day ended in some tears. I wasn’t able to successfully make it up a hill and lost track of how many times I stalled. Chris’s truck was not having it either. The smell from the clutch seemed like the truck’s own version of crying.

taken from cartalk.com

Day 3: Who knows

I haven’t made it to day three yet, but after Day 2’s fiasco I’ve learned a few things:

1. Nobody gets driving stick at first, it takes a couple tries to get use to it
2. There’s a lot going on with the peddles and clutch and everything, but don’t let that get overwhelming
3. If other people can learn how to drive stick, then I can too
4. Practice (and patience) makes perfect
5. There’s no need to put so much pressure on myself!!

Although this wasn’t a fun, “nature-y”/stress-relieving adventure, it was still an adventure in my life. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the hang of it by the time I get to Colorado so I can drive it to new adventures.

Spring is Here!…but so is schoolwork

This past week/weekend in Plymouth has been filled with the most beautiful weather of the spring yet. It actually felt like spring!!

The chances that you spent part, if not all, of your days outside are probably very high.

Nearing the end of the semester, it can get pretty stressful and hard to do anything and with beautiful weather and sunny skies it’s hard to focus on getting work done when you need to. Something I like to do to ease the stress for a little and don’t make it feel like I’m wasting a beautiful day, is to either set my hammock up, go for a walk, or sit by a river for a bit.

Set Up a Hammock:

First you get a hammock, second you find two trees that would be perfect to hang your hammock to, three, lay back and relax!

Go for a walk:

Whether it’s around campus, downtown, or on any of the trails that surround the campus, walking around enjoying the smells, sounds, and feelings of spring is a great stress reliever.

Sit by a River:

This is something I love to do especially when I’m overthinking. Sitting by a river and focusing on the movement of the water, the sound of it rushing, and feeling the vibrations on the rocks, always allows my mind to calm down.

This past weekend I did all three. It was a great way to relieve some stress.

Don’t feel the need to push yourself into a grand adventure, especially with work due. Even something simple like setting up a hammock or going for a walk can turn into an adventure for you.

Buttering Up

Because this is my first year snowboarding, this past weekend was the first time I’ve gone spring snowboarding.

The weather was a beautiful 60 degrees and sunny day with minimal people on the mountain: my ideal day.

11:00am, Chris and I headed to Waterville to start our day. This was the first time I had gone actual snowboarding with him so I was nervous, afraid that I talked myself up too much. Chris has been snowboarding his whole life and even almost went pro, so he’s incredible in my eyes. I didn’t want to hold him back or be constantly on my butt.

As soon as we got to the top of the mountain, the nerves took over me and I wiped out multiple times. Naturally, Chris came up behind me a sprayed me with snow; great boyfriend. After spraying me, he sat with me for a while letting me know that there was no need to be nervous and that we were just here to have fun and enjoy the gorgeous day.

After getting out of my head, I was able to snowboard without wiping out and enjoy the beautiful day. Once I got more comfortable with the conditions, Chris started teaching me some tricks I could learn: 180, buttering, ollie, tripod, and how to hit a jump.

 

Like I’ve said before, it’s scary trying new things, especially getting into something that seems like everyone’s been doing their whole lives. It’s easier said than done, but once you get over your initially fear and remember all that matters is having fun and making memories, everything gets a lot easier.

Adventures are Fun; Putting Yourself in Danger is Not!

With beautiful weather (hopefully) just around the corner, spontaneous hikes will occur.

Whether it’s a small or large hike, it’s important to remember to be prepared, so here’s another post on tips to keep you safe and prepared.

There are a few items that every hiker (or at least one hiker in a group) should have on them and they are “The 10 Essentials”

The 10 essentials:

1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter

(this list was brought to you by rei.com)

Ever since I can remember, my dad always stressed being prepared no matter what the circumstance. Before I left for my freshman year of college 2 years ago, he handed me something: a Nalgene water bottle he put together full of essentials.

Right off the bat there’s the Nalgene water bottle: perfect for when you need a place to put water into in case something were to happen to your other water bottle or if you even forgot one. There are even water purification tablets in there to purify your water.

Next, there’s a toothbrush holder with duct tape wrapped around it and band aids and Neosporin inside it. Duct tape is a great quick fix to use for numerous things such as patching a tent to covering up a wound. The band aids, one of the items I seem to be using the most, are great for helping cover blisters or covering up small cuts and the Neosporin is great to relieve pain and stop infections. There is also Advil in the Nalgene to bring down swelling, relieve pain, and bring down a fever.

Waterproof matches with a little bit of cotton are next. The little bit of cotton helps a fire start while the fireproof matches will help to start a fire for cooking, boiling water, keeping away animals, keeping you warm, or allowing you to see or signal someone else. He also put in flint and a lighter. It’s important to have a couple different ways to be able to start a fire because one way may not be able to work for one reason or another and starting a fire could save your life.

My dad also put in a whistle/compass combo for signaling someone, keeping away animals, and for navigation.

Next is an emergency blanket, or what some call a space blanket. This can come in handy for multiple reasons such as for warmth, protection from the sun, using it a a signal or even an emergency shelter. He included cord to help put up an emergency shelter, or tie anything up quick.

I haven’t used all of these items in the two years I’ve had them, but there could have been a possibility to. Anything can happen when you’re out on the trail and it’s better to be safe than sorry. The best part about little adventures is that they’re fun; putting yourself in danger is not!

Want to read more about the 10 Essentials? Check this out!

 

 

 

 

Scully

Finally spring is here…well at least spring break…

Over break I was able to visit my family back in Jersey where I got to spend time with my mom, dad, all of my brothers, and my aunt for one morning. Of course my golden retriever, Scully, was there, too.

Scully at Hacklebarney State Park

Scully’s turning 11 soon but has always looked like a puppy.

This break, Scully looked older than usual. With the few warts on her now white face, she looked up at me and looked so tired and old.

When she was younger, her and I would go on little adventures after I’d get out of school. I would take her on little hikes at different parks around my area. One of the places I use to take her was to this place called: Sourland Mountain Preserve. It has a bunch of narrow trails around the whole preserve that are easy to get lost up in if you don’t know the lay of the land. At one section of the preserve, there is a clump of boulders, where people can boulder, climb, or just hang out on. So one day I took Scully on one of the trails that went up to the boulders.

When we got to them, one of them called my name to sit on top. I placed my bag down next to the boulder, poured some water into Scully’s bowl and set it next to my stuff so she’d have some incentive to stay in place as I took a quick break on top of the boulder.

Scully after taking a tumble at Sourland

When I got to the top, I took a deep breath and absorbed my surroundings. Glancing back, I see Scully trying to climb up the boulder. Within that moment, she fell backwards, toppling over and hitting a nearby rock on the way down. I slid down the boulder to get to her side. She was all dirty and was clearly in pain but a big goofy smile remained on her face. We left after that, and she continued to limped around for the next week.

Looking down at her, I remembered her goofy smile that day and the rest of the little adventures we’d gone on. We just found out she may have kidney cancer. It’s surreal that she’s getting so old and may not be around much longer. I hope that she remembers our adventures, …especially the times when I didn’t put her in danger… because I know I’ll always remember.

Hooplah

This week I did something I wouldn’t normally do: I rock climbed!

On Sunday, my friends and I went to Evo Rock and Fitness Climbing Gym, located in Concord. Although it wasn’t my first time rock climbing, it was my first time climbing at a climbing gym and I hadn’t rocked climbed in over a year as it was.

When we got there we had to take a belaying test to make sure we were qualified for belaying each other. One person would belay and another would climb. Luckily I remembered how to belay, but when I had to climb, fears started to creep in. I have lost muscle since coming to college and combined with a slight fear of heights, and probably also combined with the fact that my friend was belaying someone for the first time, I began to get shaky looking up at that wall.

With a couple deep breathes, I calmed myself down enough to grab on to the wall. Move by move, I made my way up half the wall and did something someone will a fear of heights should never do: look down. The ground looked a hundred yards away, although in reality was probably 20 feet.

Nothing happened after that though. My fear seemed to vanish as I realized there wasn’t anything really to be scared of. I was able to make it up that wall along with other routes.

This was a great workout and something out of the ordinary for my friends and I to do and we had a blast doing it, that the next day me and some more friends decided to go again.

Chris finishing a 5.10.a

I was able to climb a 5.9 route while my boyfriend, Chris, was able to climb a course, named Hooplah, that was a 5.10.a. We’re both pretty proud of ourselves for being able to climb those rankings on our second time going.

I’m happy to have been taking advantage of what surrounds us at Plymouth and have been able to do things I don’t normally get to do. I can’t wait to go home for Spring Break and tell my family about it all.

 

One Big Adventure

This week I found out that I’ll be able to live in Boulder, Colorado this summer in a friend’s apartment. He’ll be living out of a van this summer in Wyoming and won’t be able to take his dog with him. He said that if my boyfriend, Chris, and I could take care of his dog, we could live in his apartment for free. How could we pass up that opportunity?

This past summer, Chris and I decided to take a spontaneous road trip out to Colorado a week before school started back up. This was the first time I had ever been there and the farthest place out west I’ve been.

Windmill in Iowa

We both live in New Jersey so it was a straight shot on I-80 to Colorado. Because we wanted to save as much money as possible, we slept in the car at rest stops, gas stations, or even a Walmart one night.

It took us two days to get to Denver, sleeping at a rest stop in Iowa the way there. We slept for about 4 hours, woke up to a beautiful sunrise over a corn field, and couldn’t contain our excitement to get there.

We stayed at Chris’s mom’s friend’s house in Denver the first night, stayed at a Bed and Breakfast another night, and slept in a tent every other night.

The first day we hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, where we camped at one of the campsite in the park for the next night. I got altitude sickness but besides that, my first hike and time camping in Colorado was beautiful.

Day three in Colorado we drove to the town of Golden, where we stayed at a B&B and went to a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater. A thunderstorm had come rolling in that caused a two-hour delay of the concert, but it was crazy to watch the lightening crash down from the sky.

Sunset at a campsite off the road

The next day, we decided to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. The weather kept changing over the coarse of the drive, even hailing at one point. We saw magpies, chipmunks, a herd of elk, and the first moose I’ve ever seen was standing by the road.

After spending a while watching the moose, we decided it was time to end our drive for the day. Without knowing where to sleep that night, we decided to start driving to Aspen, the destination we wanted to go to next and we were still 3 hours away. The sun was quickly setting as we drove past a campsite off the side of the road that we ended up setting up and sleeping at.

We woke up, made some pb&j’s and headed out on the road again. We drove up Loveland Pass, spent some time at the ponds up there, drove to Frisco and rented bikes, rode around town, got lunch, returned the bikes, then headed towards Aspen again.

Storm forming over Independence Pass

We drove through Leadville and were about to go over Independence Pass when we realized a storm was approaching and night was falling. This pass is very dangerous to cross and doesn’t even have guard rails at some sections. There was another campsite located right before the pass that we decided was best to stay at. We watched the storm cling to the mountains from our little tent, shocked that we only got a little rain from the outside of the storm.

The next morning, we drove over the pass into Aspen where we decided to go on an overnight backpacking trip on Conundrum Trail up to a hot spring. This was my first time backpacking. What other better first time than going in Colorado? The mountains surrounded us the whole time as we made our way into the middle of nowhere, no one in sight. We saw many little critters, wild flowers, and even a bull moose that blocked the trail at one point…terrifying but majestic. The hot spring felt amazing especially after a long ~10 mile hike. The night surprised us with a thunder-hail storm. As we huddled in our tent terrified of being struck by lightening, we smiled the whole night thinking about our day and our whole experience out here. The next morning we hiked back the long trail, got into our little car, grab dinner in Frisco, and headed out of Colorado; a big orange moon rose over the horizon.

Conundrum Trail

We spent the next two nights and two days making our way back to New Jersey, arriving at my house 10am in the morning on the second day.

This wasn’t just a little adventure, this was a big one, and to think that we’ll be able to have a whole summer of this, while working during the week, is an incredible feeling.

Although we’re both really nervous and will miss our family and friends a ton, this is an experience we can’t let pass by. We both want to live life to the fullest and don’t want to take the opportunities that come to us for granted.

I can’t wait for this big adventure.