My blog’s tagline is “adventures in books and in nature,” and this year I wanted to add my non-bookish adventures to my corner of the internet! Welcome to my new semi-regular series called Outdoor Adventures, where I will highlight my hiking adventures as part of my accountability for my 2019 goals.
2019 was a rocky start for me as I got sick with the flu for nearly a week. Rude! This meant that I couldn’t get started on my health goals, but at least Mother Nature was like “I got you fam” and it rained a lot for several days. With the flu finally gone from my system, this weekend I decided to unplug from all socials and my blog and get outside.
⛰️ I headed out to Auburn for a casual hike. I didn’t charge my fitbit or even turn on my apps to track my mileage because for this particular adventure I just wanted to be fully present and not worry about pace, mileage, and elevation gain. It was beautiful and just what I needed. I seemed to be the only person on the trails.
I went there with the intention of doing a specific trail but I couldn’t find the trailhead so I wound up doing a different one. The wayfinding overall was quite good so I wasn’t concerned about getting lost but there are a lot of different trails that all overlap… it is possible I did a Frankenhike.
That’s all I have for you this time, but for future installments, I plan on bringing a book with me so I can read among the trees. And of course, I will show data for future adventures because is it a Kal thing if she doesn’t quantify it with data?
Let’s go on another adventure together!
Ahh I love this addition to your blog! I can’t wait to read more about your adventures. Hope you’re feeling much better now!
A frankenhike? 😂
This time of the year is BRUTAL when it comes to the flu! I’m glad to see you’re feeling better, though. Not gonna lie, I snorted with laughter at “but at least Mother Nature was like “I got you fam” AND I’M STOKED MOTHER NATURE REALLY HAD YOUR BACK WITH THAT. Cheers, Mother Nature, you’re a real one. Anyways, I also laughed at Frankenhike and I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’m trying very hard not to call you Dr. Frankenhike right now so you’ll have to excuse me and my BS, I’m very sleep deprived, haha!
lol, I am really glad you got much better to go hiking nothing is better than walking in the woods with Mother Nature. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.
ooooh those trails are gorgeous 😍 it’s somehow never crossed my mind to read among the trees (maybe because I’ve only gone hiking as a social activity, and it’s generally frowned upon to ignore your companions in favor of a book 😅) but it sounds like such a great idea!
So cool, and I’m so jealous! We don’t have these sorts of trails where I live.
Aww that is a bummer! I actually miss living in San Diego because I grew up so spoiled with trails up the wazoo. Here I am centrally located but it’s a bit of a drive to anything unless I wanna walk along county roads next to farms.
We’ve got over 100 miles of trails locally, but they’re pretty much all paved bike trails. Which is cool, but not quite the same. Hiking is the best. ❤️
Awww, I think the paved bike trails are nice to have but bummer there aren’t also trail-trails.
Glad you’re feeling better, and glad you got a chance to g ok out and enjoy nature!
Thank you, and me too! Looking forward to making it more of a routine
That looks nice! I have a friend that lived in Auburn for years, but she moved recently. She really liked it there though.
Auburn is so beautiful, like the whole town and area. It’s so cute and I’d love to live there if it wouldn’t mean a gross commute.
I think my friend moved partly because of the need to be closer to everything, including work.
That makes total sense.
This is simply beautiful, Kaleena! And what a great idea, not worrying about focusing on exercise, but rather enjoying the great outdoors:-)
Thank you, Tammy! I normally am really into at least tracking time, mileage, etc but this time I just wanted to BE. It was really enjoyable!
It looks so serene! Perfect place to take a book 😊
It really so so peaceful there, I loved it!
Firstly, I’m glad you are on the mend and that flu is gone. Being ill absolutely sucks, especially when we want to move but have to stay in bed instead.
And yay to you featuring your outdoor adventures on your blog. I’m really looking forward to following them all along. I had to laugh about that trail finding experience as that’s something that happens to me all the time. I usually have a plan, then somehow get lost, and end up doing some completely random trail instead.
By the way unplugging from the online world and having a book with you when the weather is warmer for some outdoor reading sounds like such a wonderful idea! Happy hiking (and reading)! 😊
Thank you so much, the flu was terrible and I am glad that it’s out of my system now.
I SWEAR the trails are messed up! I did research on all trails before leaving the house and even got a trail map from the park ranger… and the trail listed online wasn’t on that map. But I was talking to my friend who has hiked there and she thinks the all trails hike is actually a different one… and had I gone right I would have found the waterfall I was looking for. :/ Regardless it was a great time!
Yes, reading outside is wonderful and one of my favorite things to do! It’s been raining a lot (yay because we need it but WAH), so pretty much if it isn’t raining I want to be outside. Thanks so much for stopping by and I am glad you dig the new feature!
Oh wow Kal, this looks amazing! My surrondings is really just .. road, or just.. flat. I mean, it’s the Netherlands for christ sake :’) But I sometimes go to the south where there are a few hills and I just love to walk there the whole day and block everyone else out. I know that people say we were made to be social, but I just need some quiet sometimes <3
Yea where I live is also really flat and it’s surrounded by farmland, so I have to drive a bit to get to some good hills and trails. But I definitely am happiest when alone among nature.
“Mother Nature was like “I got you fam””
A mood if there ever was one! LOL. So glad you got a peaceful weekend and that you are starting to feel better! Those views are a 10/10 also!
Mother Nature has my back (and kicks me in the face with energy legs). Thank you so much, I am glad I got to go outside!
Seeing those pictures makes me go a bit “I want to as wellll” but.. yeah.. not happening, haha. I can’t see how someone who’s eight months pregnant and has a weak ankle can succeed at doing a hike like that without issues occurring. 😛 Someday!
I can’t imagine trying to go for a wee little hike when 8 months pregnant (or imagine being 8 months pregnant!). There will be times for hikes!
Exactly! And I read pee first instead of wee.. Which made me laugh out loud because imagine having to pee while eight months pregnant and being in the middle of nowhere.. I can only JUST get up on my own when I’m sat on a NORMAL toilet! xD
I don’t know why this makes me laugh as much as it has, but there you go.
Lovely place! I wouldn’t mind having a hike there!
We have some nice places not too far, but the BF doesn’t believe in “aimless walking in forests” and “but my knees” … so i guess i just have to convince someone else 😀
“aimless walking in forests” omg lol. I hope you find someone to hike with! I just go alone because no one wants to go with me here.
That’s awesome I’m glad you got to do your hike! It looks amazing and peaceful, sometimes it’s great to go just to be in nature not worrying about how much you are walking.
Yea, for me being alone in nature really helps to clear & center my mind!
Beautiful, in a haunting, moody sense. I kept thinking you should bring along some Gothic novel or Wuthering Heights or something like that to read. I’m glad that you posted this and I’m glad that you’re feeling better.
Thank you so much, Meredith! And now that you say that, looking at the pictures I totally agree the setting would have been perfect for a gothic novel. What a missed opportunity but next time!
ach i would love to go there!
It’s absolutely lovely and I hope the weather clears up soon so I can go on another adventure soon!
With this terrible rain hiking is impossible here now ..
ooooh you should do a series pairing books with different National Parks!
That is an INCREDIBLE IDEA!!!! Thanks so much for the suggestion!
I really like this. I love hiking! I just started blogging. Check it out
https://bigworldawaits.travel.blog 🙂
Welcome to the blogging world, and thanks for stopping by! Hiking is so wonderful.
Wow. loving how green everything is up there.
Yea when I went it was after a semi-wet winter, and it was so beautiful! I should head back out there soon.