We had a big drive to get to El Chaltén, Argentina, a young town that was only just founded in 1985 during border disputes in the mountains it was nestled beneath. After three hours in the car and our first border crossing (which was completed entirely in Spanish), we reached a crossroads: continue on the … Continue reading Arriving in Argentina & Turning 30
January 3, 2025 Our plane touched down more than 6,000 miles away from home, and the thrill of wanderlust was already fire in my veins. I looked out the window at the treeless landscape, a rugged expanse of wind and ocean waves. Hundreds of miles away, granite peaks & spires loomed over glacial lakes, arid … Continue reading Patagonia: Navigating Our Trip of a Lifetime
I stare at the cards in front of me—78 of them, to be exact. Each one is adorned with bold, colorful illustrations, along with a single word. Words like mindfulness, generosity, compassion, and order. Each of these signify a value — a belief or principle that we believe is important to guiding the way that … Continue reading Reflections on Solstice: Living a Life of Values
On June 3rd, 2016, a chance meeting in Denali National Park led to a friendship that founded love. Seven years to the day later, John pulled out a mountain-engraved ring on a Lake Michigan beach and asked me to marry him. This is our story.
If I were to assign a word to the past year, it would be “acceptance”. Acceptance of the things I cannot control, the people I cannot change. Acceptance of the things I can. Acceptance of the fact that I am in control of my own happiness and expectations, of fulfilling my own needs. This fall, … Continue reading 2022: A Year of Living Slowly
“Why do you care about protecting wilderness?” I pose this question to visitors every week in one of my classes. After three or four days in Denali National Park, I know that they’ve heard about as many facts and stories as their brains can hold (and that they won’t remember most of them). I reserve … Continue reading Growing Alongside Nature: Life as a Field Educator in Denali National Park
Routine on the road comes easily. Wake up around 8am. Pack camp, eat breakfast. Boil water for tea. Drive 6-7 hours. Set up camp. Make dinner. Sleep early. Repeat. While the drive down from Alaska is one of my favorite road trips, trying to make it to the lower 48 quickly can be tiring. The … Continue reading Benefits of Backpacking: Our Trip into Olympic National Park
The first European to set his sights on the New Zealand coastlines was Abel Tasman, who reached New Zealand on December 18th, 1642, though he did not set foot on land. The local tribe at the time, Ngāti Tumatakokiri, were eventually replaced by Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Tama in the region by the … Continue reading Our First Great Walk: Tramping in Abel Tasman National Park
The Curiosity Chronicles 