Veggie Lover Chili

Veggie Lover Vegan Chili

When it comes to chili I’m very indecisive with what veggies I want to use, so I end up using all of my favorites (or whatever is in the fridge)! I modified a recipe I found on one of my favorite sites, and got to chopping.

Ingredients:

1 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
2 diced celery stalks
½ chopped onion
2 cups vegetable broth
1 can Sweet Corn drained and rinsed
1 can Kidney Beans drained and rinsed
1 can Blacked Beans drained and rinsed
2 cubed potatoes (I used 1 sweet, 1 yukon)
3 tablespoons Chili powder
1 tablespoon Cumin
2 tablespoons Paprika

 Total Prep Time: 20 Minutes

1.     Prep veggies:
      a. Cube: zucchini, squash and potatoes Slice, dice and chop all veggies. Rinse and drain beans and corn.
      b. Chop: onion.
      c. Drain and rinse: beans and corn
2.     Sautee onions in oil or water. I sautéed them right in the bottom of my 20 Qt pot.
3.     Once onions are sautéed, add in seasonings and stir thoroughly.
4.     Add in veggie broth, squash, zucchini, celery and potatoes.
5.     Cover and let simmer until the potatoes are softened, stirring occasionally.

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or corn bread.

Some  other great additions: tomatoes, kale, spinach, fake meat, and topped with avocado or vegan cheese.

Let me know if you try it out, or have any suggestions for your favorite chili!

Death Valley National Park, California

Stopped to enjoy the smooth pavement along US-190.

PC: B.Fleming

Death Valley National Park

After recent trips to Joshua Tree and Yosemite, it was time to make it to another California National Park – Death Valley.  With my adventure buddy and close friend Hannah in town for a few days, it was the perfect opportunity to make the trip!

Located 4.5 hours Northeast of LA, a weekend trip to Death Valley is easily achievable with an early start.  Leaving LA Saturday morning at 5:00 AM we avoided traffic and made great timing, pulling into the ranger station at Stovepipe Wells by 9:30. Given we were only staying one night, we asked the ranger for recommendations, and made our plan for the next 24 hours.

 Morning Exploring

Badwater Basin –  At 282 ft. below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere. When looking across the 200 Square Miles of Salt Flats, the basin looks as though it is covered in a light dusting of fresh snow, instead of dried up sea water! 

Artist's Drive – A 9 mile scenic drive loop, exposing beautiful different types of rocks and rock formations.

Golden Canyon Trail – There are a range of great hiking trails along the Golden Canyon Trial. We opted for the 2.5 mile loop to Red Cathedral. There are plenty of secondary trails along the way where you can explore deeper into the canyon.

 

Sunset Spot

Mesquite Flat Dunes – We made our way out onto the dunes an hour or so before sunset, and experienced a truly magical golden hour. The particles of sands were glistening, the mountains surrounding the valley were glowing, and the sky was painted shades of pink and purple. 

PC: B.Fleming

Sunrise Spot

Zabriskie Point – If you make it to Zabriskie Point for sunrise, you’ll likely run into dozens of photographers, for a good reason. This is the perfect spot to watch the mountains change color as the sun rises, and fills the valley floor with light! There is also a large parking lot, with facilities, and a paved path up to the point.

PC: B.Fleming

Camping & Supplies

Furnace Creek – Furnace creek campground is a 30-minute drive past Stovepipe Wells. In the village of Furnace Creek you will find all of your essentials, so don’t worry if you forget tin foil or want to go to a café for dinner.

There was also plenty of water and gas throughout the National Park. We filled up our bottles at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Stovepipe Wells.

Yosemite National Park, California

After a busy summer of hiking, traveling, weddings, and long days at the beach, it’s officially camping season in Southern California, and there’s no better way to kick of camping season than a trip to Yosemite National Park!

15 years after my first trip to Yosemite, I was ecstatic when my mom flew out to make a quick three day weekend trip with my brother and I. We loaded all of our gear up, and made the 5 hour drive from LA to Yosemite. 

Accommodations: We glamped. Due to the last minute planning, and to ensure we had a spot, we booked a two bed canvas tent cabin (we comfortably slept 3!) in Curry Village (re-named Half Dome Village).  This was a great choice. We didn’t have to worry about spending time setting up and tearing down camp, and were able to get in as much hiking as we could. 

 

Day 1

The drive in to the valley is pretty spectacular. After winding through the forest on Route 41, you shoot out of the Wawona Tunnel to the famous Tunnel View. After a necessary photo shoot, we continued to Curry Village to check in to our tent.

Afternoon Hike - Valley Floor Loop
This loop is great because you can easily make it as long or as short as you want. We began at  Lower Yosemite Falls, hiked for 6 miles, and caught a shuttle back to our car. We chose to do this hike the first afternoon/evening so we could 1. see a lot of the valley floor and 2. not wear ourselves out too much before a tough hike the following morning.

Notable stops along the way included Camp 4, El Capitan, El Capitan Meadow, and crossing the Merced River.

Evening Hike - Taft Point
A quick 1.1 mile hike out to Taft Point promises one of the best sunset views in the park. Make sure to bring layers, and a headlamp for the way back.

El Capitan Meadows

View at Taft Point

Taking in the sunset

Day 2

Day Hike - Four Mile Trail 
Starting at Four Mile Trailhead, this is a beautiful, strenuous 4.8 mile hike from the valley floor up to Glacier Point. Be prepared for this hike with trekking poles, water, and some snacks. The hike up features amazing views of the Valley floor, El Cap, the Three Brothers, Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome the majority of the hike. After a hard hike, you’re treated to a well-earned view at Glacier Point. There is also a cafe, gift shop, restrooms, and lots of tourists waiting for you at the top, just remember you earned the view! :)

Hikers can either hike back down (which is what we did!), or drive down if you dropped off a car at the top. Another option is to pay $20 for the shuttle bus at the top. 

Evening Activities

Ahwahnee Lodge (Majestic Yosemite Hotel): To celebrate my brother’s birthday, we enhanced our glamping experience with a fancy dinner at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. I had delicious minestrone and a huge garden salad. 

Day 3

Sunrise - Glacier Point 
It doesn’t take too long browsing the internet to discover one of the most epic sunrise location in Yosemite - Glacier Point. We left our tent at 5, packed up our gear, and made our way up to Glacier Point. Bundled in my down jacket and wrapped in a sleeping bag, I had plenty of time to have my coffee brewed and in-hand, oatmeal cooked, and camera’s ready, all by the time the sun began to rise. 

Morning Hike - Sentinel Dome  
A great stop on the way back down to the valley is Sentinel Dome. This 2.2 mile loop shares a trailhead with the Taft Point trail. This trail is a little tougher, with a steeper climb up to the summit. However, you’re rewarded with an amazing 360 view. 

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In my opinion, Yosemite is an amazing place that everyone needs to experience. You're reminded how absolutely beautiful our world is. So, get out there and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Parks!

BBQ Chickpea Wrap

BBQ Chickpea Wrap

After saving a large quantity of chickpeas from being thrown away during my brother's recent move, i've been looking for awesome new recipes. After attempting some oven roasted chickpeas that didn't turn out quit crispy enough, I went for something even simpler, a wrap. This recipe takes 10 minutes, and as little as 4 ingredients!

Ingredients:
- 1 can drained chickpeas
- Your favorite BBQ Sauce
- Lettuce
- Tortilla

Additional Topping Ideas:
- Carrots
- Onions
- Hummus
Prepare:
1. Heat up 1/3 cup BBQ sauce and 1/4 cup water in sauce pan
2. Add in 1 can of drained chickpeas and let simmer. Add BBQ sauce to taste.
3. Load up wrap as desired and enjoy!

Ezekiel wraps are very crumbly, next time I will not be using them.

BUT, turned out delicious!

Protein Trail Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Trail Cookies

I've been baking for years. I always loved looking through my mom's cookbook, picking out a recipe and gathering all the ingredients. As I got older and began making healthy substitutions, I stopped following these recipes and started creating my own. I find that most days when I go to create something new, I prefer throwing together whatever I think will taste good and hope for the best. Most of the time this unconventional method yields pretty tasty results!

A few weeks ago some hikers offered us protein cookies mid-trail, and a lightbulb went off. Why had I never made these?! These have good protein, carbs, and a bit of chocolate!

Ingredients:

• 2.5 Cups Rolled Oats
• 1/4 Cup Chocolate Pea Protein Powder
• 1/3 Cup Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips
• 1/3 Cup Raisins
• Cinnamon to taste
• Nutmeg to taste
• 1/2 Tbsp. Baking Soda
• 2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 1/4 Cup Agave Sweetener
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• 1 Ripe Banana Mashed

Method:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
• Combine dry ingredients: Oats, Pea Protein Powder, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Baking Soda
• Blend Sweetener, Applesauce, Mashed Banana, Almond Milk and mix in with dry ingredients
• Fold in Chocolate Chips and Raisins
• Form into balls and place on lined baking sheet. Bake 11-13 minutes.

Parker Mesa Overlook - Santa Monica Mountains

Beautiful view looking back towards Santa Monica

This is the perfect quick hike to get your heart rate up, without having to drive too far out of the city. With it's easy access off of the PCH, you get a beautiful drive and a great hike!  

A little back story: I first did this hike in January 2015 while visiting my brother over winter break. I remember feeling totally out of shape compared to him and his roomate, and I hated it. I returned home, ran my first half marathon, moved to LA, started hiking, and a year and a half later hiked this trail with speed. 

The trail leading off from the fire road, out towards Parker Mesa

Trail Access:
The overlook can be reached by multiple trails: Los Liones Trail, Trippet Ranch and East Topanga Fireroad.  I chose the 5.7 mile route, starting at the top of a windy residential street, Paseo Miramar I didn't have trouble parking either time, as many hikers are locals who can walk or ride their bikes in.

Distance: 5.7 Miles

Time: 1.5 - 2 hours depending on pace

Trail Condition:
With a 900 foot elevation gain, you are hiking at a steady incline the 2.8 miles to the top, and will be sure to work up a sweat. The majority of the hike you're on a well maintained fire road, and can easily choose to run or bike. 

What to pack:
I brought my go-to day pack, GoPro, Water, Sunscreen and a Clif Bar. I may have been overpacked, but when it's 80 degrees at 8:00AM it's always good to bring some water and fuel just in case. 

Next time i'm going to leave the pack, and try a quick trail run instead!

The first time Ben, Hannah and I hiked this trail in January 2015.

The Whitney Trail

There are some things that have always been on my bucket list: traveling to Europe, making it to each of the 50 states, sky-diving, and swimming with dolphins.  And then there are the things that are added to the bucket list as SOON as you hear about them, Mt. Whitney is one of those. 

Nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the continental U.S. It's highest peak reaches 14,505 feet above sea level.

Preparation

Permit- A permit is required to hike in the Mt. Whitney Zone in the John Muir Wilderness. Details regarding how to obtain a permit can be found here.

Health - When hiking in high altitude, with huge elevation gains, physical fitness is important. We train by running 2-3 miles, 5-6 times a week, lifting weights a few times a week, and doing training hikes in as high of altitude as we can. Checkout my hiking page for details on those hikes! In addition to being in good physical condition, we fuel our bodies with healthy food, and make sure to take plenty of rest days! We also decided to take medicine to help us adjust with the altitude. This is a doctor prescribed medication.

Gear
    Bag - 65L Osprey Aura
    Tent-  Marmot 3 Person
    Sleeping Bag- Marmot Trestles 15 Sleeping Bag
    Sleeping Pad- REI Camp Bed 2.5
    Fire- MSR PocetRocket
    Water Purifier- SteriPen
    Bear Canister - Rented from REI
    Clothes- spandex shorts, leggings, hiking pants, long sleeve, short sleeve, tank top, down jacket, hat, gloves, mittens, and an extra pair of socks
    Food- bagels, Clif bars, peanut butter, pre-packaged camp food, dried fruit, trail mix.

A great resource we referenced was the Whitney Trial Conditions thread. It gave us some great insight into what the trail conditions were actually going to be like, especially since there was more snow coverage this year than normal!

 Day 1: Sleeping at 4,000

    To ensure our bodies had plenty of time to adjust, we spent Thursday night Lone Pine. We got a great night’s rest before two nights of camping.

Day 2: Sleeping at 8,000

    Friday morning we picked up our permit, took our last showers for 48 hours, and headed up Whitney Portal Road. We spent the afternoon lounging by the river and re-packing our bags while our bodies adjusted to the altitude. Whitney Portal Campground has restrooms, a store (with a restaurant!), and most importantly - is located at the head of the The Whitney Trail.  

Day 3: Making it to Trail Camp

Saturday morning we packed up our tent, sleeping pads and packs, made oatmeal, and hit the trail at 6:30 AM. We weighed our bags at the weigh station at the head of the trail, and were surprised that they weighed between 35-40 pounds. This is when I decided I need to invest in lightweight backcountry equipment. Nevertheless, we began our slow and steady journey to trail camp. We made sure to take frequent rests for water, and a 5-10 minute break every hour to grab some fuel (Clif bar chews, part of a granola bar, or some dried fruit). Time was in our favor, and we had all day to make it the 6 miles to trail camp.

I knew within the first mile as our boots were off and we were crossing Lone Pine Stream, this would be one of my favorite trails. It is full of river crossings, lakes, waterfalls, beautiful landscapes, and even a meadow with wildflowers. A hike is always better with beautiful wildflowers.

We arrived by 2:30PM at trail camp and immediately ate another snack (so much food!) After setting up camp, resting, and cooking dinner, we prepped our gear for the early morning summit. This was when we thought we would need to prepare tons of water for the next day, but were happy to discover the even more clean water!! We tested the water multiple times with my SteriPen, and were excited as the light flashed green within seconds of dipping it into the water. (Note that along the trail there is plenty of fresh water to fill your bottles, and you don't need to pack as much :) ) We filled our CamelBak's and water bottles with the snowmelt streams flowing into the lake. We brought smaller day packs, and would leave the rest of our gear at Trail Camp. 

Day 4: Summit to Sea Level

Sunday morning was go-time. The alarm on my watch went off at 3:15, giving us 45 minutes to grab some food, wake up a bit, and hit the trail. After moving around a bit and trying to eat some breakfast, Hannah started feeling a bit off. But, determined to Summit, we geared up, strapped on our headlamps, and started hiking. About 50 feet down the trail the early signs of Altitude Sickness really began to hit her. We returned to our tent, rested for another hour, drank some electrolyte infused water, and hoped her body just needed a little more time and some daylight to adjust. And we were right!

About a 1/2 mile up the trail from Trail Camp is when you begin the dreaded 99 switchbacks. We approached these the same way we had the rest of the trail, slow and steady, with lots of breaks. The switchbacks make up about half of the remaining 4 miles from Trail Camp to the Summit. The switchbacks are known for being dangerous when there is still snow/ice, so hikers must use the “chute” route up the mountain. However, by the time we were hiked in mid-June the switchbacks were safe and (mostly) clear of snow and ice.

After 2 miles of switchbacks, you’ll reach Trail Crest. This is the point where the trail crosses into Sequoia National Forest, and you’ll meet up with the end of the John Muir Trail coming up the back side of the range. This was one of my favorite parts of the hike. Hearing stories from hikers who had been gone for two weeks is all the motivation you need to hike the remaining miles to the summit!

The final push to the summit was no more challenging than the rest of the trail, besides some careful footing for a 100 yard stretch of snow-covered trail.

After reaching the summit, taking pictures, and calling our families (there is LTE up there!!!), we began the return journey. We picked up our pace a bit on the way back down, and made it back to our cars by 6PM. 

Final Thoughts

This was one of the most mentally and physically challenging experiences of my life, and thus, the most rewarding. I truly encourage everyone to go experience how beautiful our world is!

For a different perspective, and even more details on our hike, head over to hannah's blog!

Denali National Park, Alaska

3:06 PM Friday afternoon I’m outside my office in Santa Monica waiting for an Uber to LAX. Memorial Day 2016 will be spent in Alaska.

12 hours later (3:00 AM) we’ve safely arrived at our Dads, and are happily getting a few hours of sleep before heading to Denali.

Day 1: Meet Ned

After months of following my Dad’s trips (#RidinWithNed), I was very excited to finally meet the rig - Ned. By 10:00 AM we were on the highway headed North to Denali National Park with the hopes of clear skies and temperatures above freezing.

Four hours later we spotted it, Denali. The mountain is the tallest peak in North America, rising 20,310 feet into the Alaskan sky.  As we neared the park it became obvious we had lucked out with amazing weather, and were in for a beautiful weekend. I say this because while 50% of visitors are able to see the mountain from outside the park, only 30% of visitors inside the park are able to spot the magnificent mountain.

Following quick stops at the Wilderness Adventure Center to check in, and the Visitors Center to have our National Parks Passport stamped, we continued to mile marker 29.1- Teklanika River Campground.

We didn't have time to take another shot as a moose was standing 30 feet from us on the other side of the road!

Day 2: Teklanika to Toklat

The park is only accessible via one road - Denali Park Road. The road runs from the entrance, all the way to mile 89 - Kantishna Mile. The road is completely accessibly by bus (after June 1st), but only accessible by personal vehicles as far as Teklanika Campground. 

The bus costs ~$30/ day per person, and can be used “hop-on, hop-off” style.

Our first day of hiking we road the bus as far as you could – Toklat. We spent the rest of the day hiking back toward Teklanika, hopping on and off the bus, totaling around 8 miles of hiking. Throughout the day we spotted a ton of Caribou, Dall Sheep, Moose, and a few beautiful blonde Grizzly Bears.  The sky was still perfectly blue bird, and we had amazing views of Denali throughout the day.

The numbing glacial stream served as nature's ice bath.

Day 3: Last day in the park

We started the second day at Teklanika and decided to continue down the road deeper into the park. Because the road was not yet open for guests, the only traffic was a few worker vehicles and other hikers. As the most “wild” National Park I’ve explored, hiking down the road without the bus traffic found everywhere else was awesome! 

Important tips for Denali:

           1.    Buy the bus pass
                 There are two bus systems:
                         Green Bus- regular park bus that you can ride from point to point. The drivers give great information and stop for all wild life                           spotting. Tan Bus – more than 3x the price for a “guided tour.

2.    How long can you stay & what type of camping are you doing.
      Depending on how far into the park you want to go, there are minimum stay requirements. Also, if you’re a backcountry tent               camper, be prepared to hike far enough off the road that any other guests cannot see you.

3.    Bring Layers
I finally broke down and purchased a nice pair of hiking pants instead of my workout regular workout clothes, and am already eyeing a few other pairs I want. They’re awesome. Because you’re so exposed the whole time you’re hiking, it is very windy and I would recommend some wind layer.

4.    Animal Safety
It took me a few hours of hiking before I really got comfortable with the idea that a bear could walk out into the road at any point in time. Make sure you are familiar with animal safety (follow this link!) Bring bear spray whenever you're hiking, make noise, and be aware of your surroundings!

I'm lucky enough to have family in such a beautiful place, and can't wait to visit again soon!

Joshua Tree Climbing Weekend

I was able to sneak out of work early after an off-site tour on a Friday afternoon, which I was praying meant I could beat some of the dreaded LA traffic as I made my way to Joshua Tree for an amazing weekend camping and climbing with friends. As I made my way onto the freeway, car packed with my camping gear, I realized I wouldn’t be so lucky.

The heavy traffic added two hours to the typical two and half hour drive, and resulted in me pulling into Black Rock Campground a little after 8:30 (checkout my previous J-Tree Camping experience here).  Even with a long day of work and driving, I was stoked for what we had planned for the weekend. We would be spending two days rock climbing outdoors for the first time!

First time eating at the Joshua Tree Saloon!

Day 1: Learning the Ropes

The first day we spent learning the ropes, literally.

Our start time was 8:00 AM at Cliffhanger Guide’s office, located just outside of Joshua Tree National Park. After some quick office work, we geared up and followed our guide, Roddy, into the park. Once at our first climbing location, Roddy made sure we all felt comfortable tying knots, belaying and back-up belaying. I definitely appreciate all of these safety checks when hanging high in the air off a giant slab of rock. We did four different top rope routes in the morning, and ended the day with the local climbers at an awesome bouldering spot.

Day 2: Top Ropes and Multi-Pitch

We showed up on Day 2 with an increased confidence and ready to tackle some harder climbs. Roddy and Seth (our added guide for the second day who owns Mojave Guides) sensed this, and took us to an awesome spot where we had to scramble up boulders to access the routes.  These climbs were much more technical than the first day, and we were able to learn more climbing techniques. I used a few hand and arm jams, and even got pretty comfortable with a foot jam!

After another gourmet lunch of crackers, hummus, an array of veggies, and tofu (thanks Cliff Hanger for being so accommodating!), we were off to climb a multi-pitch!

Mike's Books was by far the most frustrating climb for me. This was the first route I felt hindered by my height and inexperience. However, with a gentle pull from Seth at the top, I was able to get past my struggling (almost crying) point, and climb up the rest of the challenging route. The view from the top was amazing, but short lived due to an oncoming storm. We concluded our day of climbing with an awesome rappel down the face of the rock we just climbed (Intersection Rock)!

In the "hot tub" to keep us safe and away from the edges.

PC: R.Fernandez - loved climbing up the crack!

Takeaways:

B.Fleming (btfleming.com) capturing all the safety checks!

1.    Do your research when finding a guide.

We checked out a few different guide companies before deciding on Cliff Hanger. We compared prices, read reviews, and went with the one we got the “best vibe” from. Ultimately, we were VERY happy with our choice!

2.    Communicate your experience clearly.

As a group, we had pretty limited climbing experience. For the best overall trip, be honest and communicate that with your guides. They want this to be the best experience possible! 

3.    Challenge yourself and have fun!

Chances are you paid a bit of money for this experience, so make the most of it! These are long, physically draining days. But you’re doing something awesome, so push yourself and you’ll be surprised how much you’re capable of!

Until next time Joshua Tree!

Zucchini Noodle Veggie Tacos

My mom just sent me my Microplane Spiral Cutter, and I couldn't wait to try it out!

These tacos are quick, easy and delicious. They take less than 10 minutes to throw together, and are a perfect weeknight meal. The zucchini was a great addition to my standard veggie tacos, and added extra crunch and nutrients.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes | Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 1/2 medium spiralized zucchini
• 1 Cup shredded romaine
• 1/4 cup black beans
• 1/4 cup corn
• 1/4 avocado
• 1/2 lime
• Onion to taste
• 2 warmed taco shells

 

I start with the heavy beans and corn, layer on the romaine and zucchini, and top with avocado and some freshly squeezed limes.

Great served alone, with rice, or after a not-so-healthy appetizer of chips and salsa (my personal favorite).

Big Sur

PC: B.Fleming (btfleming.com)

When I was six years old my family took a family vacation to California for close to two weeks. We flew into LA, drove up to see family in Paso Robles, on to Yosemite, and ended in San Francisco. While that trip was over 15 years ago, I’ve always remembered how absolutely beautiful the coast is stretching from LA to San Francisco. Since moving here I’ve been itching to make it back up, and this past weekend I finally did!

I was out of bed and piling my overnight bag, backpack, excessive amount of camera gear and food into my brother’s car before the sun was even up. From LA we drove North to Paso Robles to pick up some friends who were joining us, grabbed some local strawberries and snap peas from the farmers market, and continued on to Big Sur!

Gear drying out in the sun after the morning dew.

One of the hardest parts of camping in California, or anywhere with good weather almost year round, is finding a camp site. Big Sur is no exception. All the campgrounds were booked, so we knew going into this drive that we may not be able to find an open first-come first-serve spot.

After doing some research and relying on friend’s knowledge, we were able to find an AMAZING spot close to Plaskett creek Campground. This campground is along Jade Cove, located north of Gorda.

Because our site was not a designated camp site, we had to haul our gear 200 yards up a hill/cliff. Luckily we were able to lighten our load a little by only using two tents for the 5 of us (Marmot 3 Person and Marmot 2 Person).  Also, because we were only staying one night we left the majority of our clothes in the car, and made a quick trip got a quick workout in whenever we needed anything from the car.

After setting up camp around noon, we headed down to the beach to explore the rocky coast.  The tides were very high because of the full moon, and the beach was much smaller and much rockier than the previous year when Ben and Hannah had been there. But we still had a blast soaking our toes until they were numb in the ocean, and following trails along the coast!

For dinner we went the easy route with dehydrated meals, Veggie Burrito Bowls for me (with tortilla chips this time!), and Chicken Pad Thai for the meat eaters. Without access to any type of facilities for doing dishes, this really is the best route. After an amazing sunset view overlooking the PCH, we enjoyed some S’mores and good conversation before heading to bed.

PC: H. Labadie (HannahLabadie.com)

Breakfast before heading back down the coast was a camp staple: Coffee and Oatmeal. BUT we actually remembered the craisins, peanut butter and cinnamon, all topped with fresh strawberries!

We stopped at Elephant Seals lookout on the way back to LA, took a quick walk down the coast, and stopped in San Luis Obisbo for an Acai Bowl.

This was an amazing 48 hours, and I can’t wait to go even further north. Now, my bags are packed and i'm off to Joshua Tree for the weekend!!

Victoria Beach: Pirate's Tower

 

When you're looking for a different beach to checkout in Orange County, add Victoria Beach to your list.

Walk down Victoria Drive until you reach a stair case, at 2700 Victoria Drive. Follow the staircase, and you'll pop out on a beautiful beach! Follow along the rocky coastline to the right, and you'll see the Pirate's Tower. 

DTLA

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been in LA for almost 9 months! In those 9 months i've managed to hit a lot of the big tourist destinations in LA, make it to a national park, ski resorts, camp, and all sorts of other activities outside of the city. But, I still had never been downtown. While there isn't a huge draw to go downtown during the day, that i've heard of yet, I wanted to see what it was like. After all, I do live in the city!

After asking around, we decided to do a small self guided tour based off of a few suggestions starting at Pershing Square. 

 

 

From Pershing Square we walked to the Los Angeles Public Library, The Broad museum, past Walt Disney Concert Hall, Grand Park and ended up at Grand Central Market for lunch. 

For lunch at Grand Central Market we tried Madcapra Falafels, and they did not disappoint! 

The market was very crowded, and reminded me of something you often find in Europe. While we learned this is definitely more of a tourist stop, there were a ton of great restaurants, and I would definitely go back to try something else if I was downtown. 

 

 

 

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of Downtown LA, but was surprised at how empty it felt for being such a large city. We also quickly realized why it would be the perfect place to film movies and TV shows, and came across a fake accident being filmed (unfortunately we missed the car being blown up!) 

All in all, we were very glad we took a few hours to walk around and see what there is to explore downtown. Along with The Broad, we added a few bars and restaurants to our list of places to go. If you have any suggestions of places and things to tryout in downtown LA please leave comments below!

Alabama Hills

Rocks worked as makeshift tent stakes because the ground was too hard.

No, the Alabama Hills are not in Alabama. Located 3 hours Northeast of LA, on the way to Death Valley, this stretch of land is owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The land was named after the C.S.S. Alabama (fun trivia fact from my brother) and is a destination for climbers, photographers, and those looking to have an amazing morning view.

There are no designated campsites or facilities, so it is all on a first come, first serve basis. Because of this, we left first thing Saturday morning to make sure we arrived early enough to set up camp and have a full day to explore!

We left LA around 5:30, pulled into Lone Pine around 8:30, and had our spot picked out by 9. We chose a spot tucked between some boulders on the West side of Movie Flat Road, the main road running through the area, later learning this is the main destination for climbers. I would recommend choosing a spot on the East side of the road. You will have an even more majestic view of the Sierras, and won’t deal with the “traffic” from the climbers.

Mobius Arch- framing Mt. Whitney

After setting up camp we were itching to go find the Mobius Arch and climb around on some rocks!

If you’ve ever been to Joshua Tree, picture that landscape and feel, minus the Joshua Trees. There are some marked, well-maintained trails, and also plenty of room to explore wherever you’d like. This makes it both a good destination for a day trip with kids, or a quick weekend trip. 

But most importantly, the view.

The hills butt up against the most eastern ridge of the Sierra mountain range; creating one of the most surreal views I’ve ever experienced. This is definitely somewhere I would come and park my RV if I had one. But for those who don’t, it’s a quick 10 minute drive back into Lone Pine incase you need anything.

After finding the Mobius Arch, we wandered off the path a bit, climbed around, and ate the PB&Js we packed before heading back to the campsite to hang out before an awesome sunset. Because we didn't hike as much as usual, it was really nice to have the chance to just hang out at the site, read our books, and just enjoy being outdoors.

Checkout the rest of our camp meals over on my cookbook, and head over to my friend Hannah’s blog for even more details about the weekend!

Camp Meal 3: Oats and Coffee

Quick and easy meals was the name of the game this weekend, and breakfast was no exception. When you want something warm on a cold morning, nothing is quicker and more satisfying than oatmeal and coffee!  

Coffee:
This was my first time trying Trader Joe's Pour Over Coffee Brewer, and it worked perfect for camping!

1. Boil 10-12 oz. of water using my awesome  Tea Kettle 
2. Followed directions on packet: initially filled to the "mild" line, but it ended up going down to the "strong" line.
3. Wait 8 minutes, pour, add your favorite creamer and enjoy!
 

 

OATMEAL:

1. Using either quick or rolled oats, boil water at a 1:2 oats:water ratio. 
2. Once water is boiling, add oats and stir periodically for 10 minutes or until oatmeal is fully cooked.
3. Don't forget your favorite fruit and cinnamon to add in  for a perfect breakfast! 

Camp Meal 2: Veggie Burrito Bowls

Taking the time to cook a meal over the fire while camping is great, but sometimes it's nice to try some pre-packaged meals. When camping without access to a dump station, water, or any kind of washroom, pre-packaged is the way to go. 

For dinner we picked up the AlpineAire Foods Veggie Burrito Bowl and Mountain House Roasted Vegetable Blend from REI. The Veggie Burrito Bowl only contained rice, beans and corn, so the added vegetables was necessary. You could also easily add onto this meal with a bed of romaine, salsa, or tortilla chips!

All you need to cook this is: water, a heat source (single burner in our case) and a pot. After added the boiling water to each packet, stirring, and leaving for a few minutes, we had a satisfying meal that served three.

Saddleback Mountain

 

PC: B.Fleming (btfleming.com)

After a few months without a long hike, it was finally time to break in my new hiking boots! We spent a Saturday, following a quick stop at the REI garage sale, hiking up Saddleback Mountain.

With the California Winter days behind us, and not yet into warm Summer days, the weather is perfect for long hikes. The trail at Saddleback Mountain up to Santiago Peak has a 6,000 foot elevation gain and is roughly 16 miles round trip, making this my longest hike yet!

The trail is estimated by most to take 8-9 hours, so we made sure to bring plenty of water and food.  I had my 3L CamelBak reservoir filled, two granola bars, a few bananas and a PB&J. I also packed an extra long sleeve and a t-shirt just in case.

PC: H. Labadie (hannahlabadie.com)

     We parked the car and hit the trail by 9:30. The first four miles the temperature was very comfortable, and the views were beautiful. However, once the clouds began to roll in the temperature quickly dropped, and I’m glad I had a few extra layers packed away!

We reached the summit at 12:30 and enjoyed the rest of our lunches. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day, and the view was not nearly as good as it could've been. Also, because Saddleback is topped with satellite towers and a utility building, it feels like you're not too far out in nature.  By 12:45 we began the 8 mile trek back to the car, and ended up making it down the mountain a little after 3:30, totaling around 6.5 hours for the whole hike!

If you want to get out into nature for a day, without TOO challenging of a hike, I definitely recommend Saddleback Mountain!

Living the Pure Life: Pura Vida!

Pura Vida, Pure Life in Spanish, encourages you to stop and enjoy the little moments in life.

For the majority of the past year i've been on-the-go. Between visiting friends and family on the weekends, hiking, biking, traveling, working, exploring new cities, it's been almost non-stop. When you're on-the-go it's easy to get drawn into the excitement and chaos, and overlook all the amazing small memories along the way.

Having a beautiful Pura Vida bracelet on my wrist, on top of my "everyday sacred" tattoo, is a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the journey.

Take a minute to checkout Pura Vida's collection, and feel free to use my discount code for 20% off your order!

Discount Code: HANNAHFLEMING20

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bar - Plant Based

Since moving to California, I have become a loyal Trader Joe’s shopper. And when they give away free Pumpkin Bar Mix (because it’s out of season) I won’t say no. With a few swaps, these became a fiber-rich, some-what healthy, bar/muffin. I promise you will not miss the butter and oil!

Ingredients:

• 1 Box Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bar Baking Mix

• 2 flax seed "eggs" (mix 1:3 ground flax:water ratio)

• 4 oz. unsweetened applesauce

• 1-1.5 cups shredded carrots

 

 

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Blend ingredients
3. Bread: distribute evenly into a 8'' x 8'' pan
    Muffins: distribute evenly into muffin tins
4. Bake 25-30 minutes
5. ENJOY!

Portland, Oregon

Mt. Hood: taken out of the sun-roof on our way to the mountain.

This past weekend my family and I checked off another two states off our list, Oregon and Washington! We chose Oregon so we could go skiing, check out a cool new city, and the travel expenses were pretty reasonable (especially for us living on the West coast!)

View of the Columbia River from the riverwalk behind our hotel

To make the most of a 3-day weekend, we all flew into Portland Thursday night, picked up our rental car and headed East to Hood River. Hood River is a small, outdoorsy town, home to some bigger companies such as Dakine and Tofurky, as well as mom-and-pop stores and local breweries. We stayed along the Columbia River at the Best Western Plus, known in the area as having the best breakfast in town!

 

 

 

 

Day 1

We headed to Mt. Hood Meadows bright and early Friday morning to make the first chair up (or 6th, close enough). Something we’ve learned over the years is the importance of getting to the mountain early during spring skiing. The snow quickly softens after lunch, cutting a full day of skiing short. The mountain was beautiful, and had the snow been a bit better, would have offered a great mix of groomers and technical runs.

Friday night we grabbed dinner at Solstice Wood Fire Pizza, checked out downtown Hood River, and crossed the Hood River Bridge to White Salmon, Washington! 

Day 2

A 5:30 AM wake-up call had us eating our talk-of-the town breakfast by 6 and back on our way to the mountain by 7. The parking lot was filled with locals by the time we arrived at 8, an hour before first chair.

Nonetheless, the skiing was better the second day and the longest wait for a chair was still less than 5 minutes!

Ski selfies with Mom

We ended our last run at the parking lot around 2, packed up, and headed back towards Portland. We wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to stop at “Oregon roadside attractions”, AKA AMAZING waterfalls.

As some of you may remember my obsession with fountains while travelling in Europe, my mom is equally obsessed with waterfalls. We stumbled upon Tamanawas Falls, and the touristy 611-foot tall Multnomah Falls. There were many more areas we could have stopped on our way into Portland, and I definitely want to go back and explore!

For dinner Saturday night we went to Laughing Planet Cafe, and walked a mile to the famous Voodoo Doughnut for dessert. 

Multnomah Falls

Day 3

 

Sunday was all about exploring Portland! Portland is a very walkable city, and we were easily able to go everywhere we wanted.  The day started with breakfast at Cheryl’s on 12th. They had a great menu, with options suitable for every diet.  Following breakfast we hopped between neighborhoods to check out some of our favorite stores (including REI, I have a problem!), along with Powell’s Books and the Portland Saturday Market.

In the afternoon we settled into a booth at a local bar for a few hours to catch the Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew game. After the game we made our way to the oldest public Rose Testing Garden. However, as soon as I opened the car door, the skies opened up and it began to rain!

We took this as a sign to head to the last stop before the airport, Salt & Straw! If you travel to Portland (or LA), I HIGHLY recommend stopping and treating yourself to a waffle cone. I don’t often come across a “regular” ice cream shop that has amazing dairy free/vegan flavors, but Salt & Straw takes home the prize!

Overall, we had a great weekend and I can't wait to to go back to the Pacific Northwest!