https://youtu.be/6CZ-952be94 This was my first year trying to capture a second of every day, and boy am I glad that I did. I'm missing some days, and others I filled with photos. It certainly isn't perfect, it's almost messy. But that's life for you, isn't it? Messy and beautiful all at once. Welcome to my … Continue reading 1 Second Everyday: 2021
It's the shortest day of the year, and I've been reflecting on how I want to welcome the light back into my life. It's something Alaskans do every year, and in many ways the winter solstice is more significant and symbolic to them than the new year because of the drastic change in light and … Continue reading Reflecting on Winter Solstice: When You Don’t Reach Your Goals
I can see my breath form wisps of moisture in the air even though I'm bundled head to toe inside of my 15-degree sleeping bag. The wood stove fills the tent with the slight scent of wood smoke, but our fire has long since burned out. Outside, snow falls and patters the walls of the … Continue reading Winter Camping in the BWCA Wilderness
You've done it! You graduated college, walked across the stage, and received your diploma. You're done with homework, lab practicals, papers, late nights studying fueled by coffee and cereal. You're on your own in the "real world" now, looking for jobs, a place to live, and someone to share it with. Or maybe you graduated … Continue reading A Guide to Transitions
When John and I sat down at a table in Auckland to plan what our month of travel would look like, everything started to fall into place. Suddenly, planning felt easier and more familiar—we’d tackled problems like this before. Campgrounds, food planning, how many kilometers to travel in a day. We decided to rent a … Continue reading Life on the Left Side of the Road
No one talks about the challenges of travel. Our phones and computer screens are plastered from top to bottom with romanticized images of foreign countries, smiling faces with new friends, and extravagant or extravagantly simple experiences. And why would anyone want to talk about it? Why should we show weakness when we know our friends … Continue reading Week 1: Auckland to the Bay of Islands
Sometimes when I close my eyes—in between looking at flights, sorting through my things, and the endless bouts of packing and repacking—I see myself as a bright red balloon, floating through the sky. I can see the places that have shaped me into who I am today: Duluth, MN; Gustavus; the Great Smoky Mountains; Denali, … Continue reading Next stop: New Zealand
It’s the end of the summer. In fact, it’s practically the end of fall. In what seems like just moments, we will be in the midst of another seasonal transition—there’s a far-off future with jobs, people, and places we can’t even picture yet. John and I had a final weekend to take advantage of and … Continue reading Utqiagvik, Alaska: the Northernmost City in the United States
October brought a slight chill to the air of Montana, reminding me that winter--a winter without school, or class, or homework--was coming. But I've always liked school. I like having a schedule that is scattered throughout my day and ranges from environmental studies to music to tutoring writing and mentoring first years. I loved the … Continue reading Aspen.
I recently returned from a 4,000 mile road trip from Alaska through Canada and the western U.S. I set up camp every night, slept on the ground, cooked my own meals, packed my own snacks, and mapped my own route. I explored national parks and monuments, interpretive centers, trails, and small mountain-town main streets. After … Continue reading How to Plan a Cross-Country Road Trip
The Curiosity Chronicles 