Outdoor Adventures: Hiking in Auburn
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!
Let’s
Kelly
January 14, 2019 at 10:55 AMAhh I love this addition to your blog! I can’t wait to read more about your adventures. Hope you’re feeling much better now!
Jaymi at OrangeCountyReaders
January 14, 2019 at 10:56 AMA frankenhike? 😂
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Jessica at Booked J
January 14, 2019 at 11:45 AMThis 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!
Kati 👩🏻 (@KatisBRR15)
January 14, 2019 at 1:13 PMlol, 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.
Isabelle @ BookwyrmBites
January 14, 2019 at 1:46 PMooooh 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!
Rae
January 14, 2019 at 4:30 PMSo cool, and I’m so jealous! We don’t have these sorts of trails where I live.
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 15, 2019 at 7:49 AMAww 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.
Rae
January 16, 2019 at 8:51 AMWe’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. ❤️
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 16, 2019 at 9:30 AMAwww, I think the paved bike trails are nice to have but bummer there aren’t also trail-trails.
waytoofantasy
January 14, 2019 at 5:38 PMGlad you’re feeling better, and glad you got a chance to g ok out and enjoy nature!
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 15, 2019 at 7:50 AMThank you, and me too! Looking forward to making it more of a routine
confessionsofayareader
January 14, 2019 at 6:48 PMThat looks nice! I have a friend that lived in Auburn for years, but she moved recently. She really liked it there though.
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 15, 2019 at 7:51 AMAuburn 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.
confessionsofayareader
January 15, 2019 at 9:42 AMI think my friend moved partly because of the need to be closer to everything, including work.
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 16, 2019 at 9:01 AMThat makes total sense.
Tammy
January 14, 2019 at 6:56 PMThis is simply beautiful, Kaleena! And what a great idea, not worrying about focusing on exercise, but rather enjoying the great outdoors:-)
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 15, 2019 at 7:51 AMThank 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!
thisisoneforthebooks
January 14, 2019 at 7:54 PMIt looks so serene! Perfect place to take a book 😊
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 15, 2019 at 7:52 AMIt really so so peaceful there, I loved it!
Vera
January 14, 2019 at 9:25 PMFirstly, 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)! 😊
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 15, 2019 at 7:56 AMThank 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!
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Michelle
January 15, 2019 at 12:11 PMOh 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
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 16, 2019 at 9:08 AMYea 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.
sammers65
January 15, 2019 at 1:36 PM“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!
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 16, 2019 at 9:11 AMMother 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!
Kathy @ Books & Munches
January 16, 2019 at 2:18 AMSeeing 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!
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 16, 2019 at 9:28 AMI 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!
Kathy @ Books & Munches
January 17, 2019 at 1:57 AMExactly! 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
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 18, 2019 at 8:24 AMI don’t know why this makes me laugh as much as it has, but there you go.
Norrie
January 16, 2019 at 8:53 AMLovely 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 😀
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 16, 2019 at 9:30 AM“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.
Lili Star Reads
January 16, 2019 at 2:30 PMThat’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.
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 17, 2019 at 9:39 AMYea, for me being alone in nature really helps to clear & center my mind!
Meredith Rankin
January 17, 2019 at 9:45 AMBeautiful, 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.
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 18, 2019 at 8:29 AMThank 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!
Julia Lowinska
March 18, 2019 at 3:32 PMach i would love to go there!
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
March 20, 2019 at 9:56 AMIt’s absolutely lovely and I hope the weather clears up soon so I can go on another adventure soon!
Julia Lowinska
March 18, 2019 at 3:33 PMWith this terrible rain hiking is impossible here now ..
Emily Pennington (BrazenBackpacker)
March 21, 2019 at 5:26 PMooooh you should do a series pairing books with different National Parks!
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
April 16, 2019 at 12:04 PMThat is an INCREDIBLE IDEA!!!! Thanks so much for the suggestion!
bigworldawaits
May 4, 2019 at 9:13 PMI really like this. I love hiking! I just started blogging. Check it out
https://bigworldawaits.travel.blog 🙂
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
May 14, 2019 at 5:20 PMWelcome to the blogging world, and thanks for stopping by! Hiking is so wonderful.
Emily Pennington (BrazenBackpacker)
May 6, 2019 at 9:40 PMWow. loving how green everything is up there.
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
May 14, 2019 at 5:56 PMYea when I went it was after a semi-wet winter, and it was so beautiful! I should head back out there soon.