In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. July 30 was our first day…
After a great trip to Oregon in 2022 for Juneteenth holiday, we decided to repeat it this year. With a new destination this time: Vancouver. We expanded it from Hiking for wine in Oregon. to a weekend of hiking and culinary adventures in Vancouver. Shannon waterfalls and Sea to the Sky trail Stawamus Chief…
Visit Glacier National Park Before It's Gone During last year's glamping trip to Sequoia National Park, we agree we want to make glamping a yearly event. So for this year's destination, we decide to go to Glacier National Park. As the predictions are that by 2030, there won't be any Glaciers, only mountain lakes, now…
The Wicklow Way During one of our regular hikes in California, we realize that several of us will be in Europe this summer. One of the hikes that we had on our list, was the Wicklow Way in Ireland. Spontaneously, we decide to try to do it while we are all in Europe and we…
A Hike To Remember I am in The Netherlands in May, when my friend Vanessa sends me a text. Do I have June 20 off? I tell her I don't but I can take it off. She has a credit for airline tickets and wants to go somewhere for the Juneteenth weekend. Am I interested…
How The Road To EBC Began Patagonia and Mount Kilimanjaro had been on my bucket list for years. On the contrary, Everest Base Camp was not something I had ever aspired to. And here I am, signed up with Ian Taylor Trekking. We will be trekking to the base camp of the highest Mountain in…
We had planned a reunion with friends from the Netherlands in Iceland in 2020, but COVID threw a wrench in that. So we decided we would make it happen for Thanksgiving 2021. During my last trip to Iceland in March 2015, we ended up in a full-blown snowstorm for 4 days. I was hoping for…
In 2019, I stayed in Sequoia High Sierra Camp for the first time. The only reservation we could get was for 2 nights. We had a wonderful time, but it felt too rushed and too short. So when we were looking for a place for a girl's weekend this summer, it was the perfect opportunity…
One of the silver linings of Corona is that hiking became the highlight of our weekend. Due to the frequency of our hikes, I started looking for new trails. As a result, we have discovered so many great trails all over the Bay Area since 2020. One area that became one of our favorites is…
2020 will be a year we will never forget. When COVID arrived, our lives came to a screeching halt and it will have an impact on us forever. I went from traveling every week to shelter-in-place for 6 months. Except for a backpacking trip to Yosemite at the end of June, I was stuck at…