by Paty | Dec 8, 2021 | The Great Outdoors
2020 was the year that changed everything. The pandemic forced so many of us to re-think our priorities, and we began to ponder the big existential things of life. One of the questions I found myself asking was: Am I giving back enough? Sure I might donate cash to...
by Paty | Nov 26, 2021 | Oregon Coast Trail, West Coast
The sights along the 400-mile long Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) might surprise the average backpacker. Instead of towering mountain peaks or wildflowers, this unique trail showcases Oregon’s rugged coastline along with the smell of briny saltwater and roar of the...
by Paty | Oct 21, 2021 | Books, Gear, Oregon Coast Trail
Do you want to know my biggest challenge while thru-hiking the Oregon Coast Trail (or OCT)? It wasn’t the road walks along busy Highway 101. Nor was it the long stretches of solitude without a trail family. It wasn’t even trying to time the ocean’s...
by Paty | Oct 19, 2021 | HP blogs
It’s October, and my highpointing season is finally is over for this year. The weather is changing. Snow is starting to fall in the mountains. I have no more peaks or obscure places left to visit until next spring. Yet, as I look back, I’m pretty...
by Paty | Oct 1, 2021 | Oregon Coast Trail, West Coast
I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t hike the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) exactly the way I wanted. My itinerary was less than ideal! In retrospect, I should have gone much, much slower. Eighteen days wasn’t nearly enough time to appreciate everything...
