What My Book Stack Knew Before I Did
I’m currently reading a playful, light-hearted middle-grade book by Jeff Kinney called Wrecking Ball. His theme always seems to be "Things can always be worse." I’ve given up reading dog…
Grief as an Exquisite Teacher
On the hike back from Island and Rainbow Lakes on Tuesday, I chatted with a fellow writer. She told me she thought grief was an “exquisite” emotion. Like Brene Brown,…
Why Celebration Isn’t Optional
I had a week that, by any measure, was a win. And I still woke up the next morning questioning myself. From the outside, it was daunting: six Mountaineers engagements,…
Season of Completion: Leadership, Transition, & Renewal
Dropping off my two riders after my 24th CHS hike on September 30th, I felt something I haven't felt before. Not because I’d led four 17-mile graduation hikes in a…
Trusting Desire, Embracing Obstacles on a Memorable Hike
On paper, my longest hike of the season looked perfect: 18 miles, 5,000 feet of elevation gain, and a creative route I had cobbled together for my Mountaineers CHS-2 graduation…
How to Stay Hydrated for Summer Hikes
This season, I’ve been reminded how crucial it is to stay hydrated during hot-weather hikes. One CHS student (Conditioning for Hiking Series) recently visited the ER after a long, exposed…