Half an Hour Away -

Our Big Summer 2025 Road Trip: Montana and Wyoming

Welcome to the final chapter of our big 2025 summer road trip! The route back home took us through Montana and Wyoming, with the highlights being our time spent in/around Big Sky and Jackson. We’ve visited Jackson multiple times and will likely continue to at least every summer. It’s such a fun town, and the Tetons are something else. This was our first time in the Big Sky area during the summer, and we enjoyed a beautiful hike and some time spent in the village. It was bittersweet to return to Denver, but the time had come.

Trip Diary Begins

July 16, 2025

We started our Missoula morning with an 8 am yoga class. This was my first yoga in a couple of weeks, and it was much needed. It felt so good to finally be back at it, after the dratted wound held me back for a little.

Later in the day, we went to Break Espresso. There, I ordered a Mountain Huckleberry decaf iced tea. I would describe this tea as Christmas in July, which is fitting since it was July when I was sipping on it. It had a cinnamon note, which created a comforting spice evocative of the holidays, paired with a fruity punch. It was simultaneously cozy and bright.

We dined at the Notorious P.I.G. for dinner, another awesome BBQ spot. The baked beans were some of the best I’ve had, with an almost spicy kick and a depth of flavor that truly stood out. The potato salad and brisket also slapped.

July 17, 2025

On our way to Big Sky, we stopped in Helena. Because Jon was super busy with work, we ended up booking a last-minute hotel there. We ended our day at Ten Mile Creek Brewery, munching on pesto cheese bread and pizza. There was even live music in the courtyard area, which added a nice sunny ambiance.

July 18, 2025

At the recommendation of a friend who had been to Big Sky about a week prior, we planned to hike to Lava Lake in the evening. It was a great hike! We love an alpine lake!

We went out in Big Sky for a little bit. Though we’ve skied at Big Sky multiple times, we hadn’t spent much time hanging out there, since we usually book our lodging in Bozeman. I thought it was nice enough, but Jon said it gave him Denver Tech Center vibes (derogatory). I can see where he was coming from, as it felt pretty manufactured and a little… soulless…style-wise.

We went to a Mexican spot for dinner, and then grabbed some beers at Tips Up to check out the scene a bit more. Initially, we planned to hit a brewery, but they were closed, despite their hours saying otherwise. We relaxed outside with our beers, sitting in chairs made of skis with binding cup holders. So classic for a ski area! Indoors, a band was playing live music, which we did take some time to enjoy as well.

Then, it was onward to Jackson, and we stopped along the way to find a place to camp. We were exhausted, so rather than set up the tent, we just slept in our seats in the car. I slept horribly.

July 19, 2025

We drove the rest of the way to Jackson in the morning. When we arrived, we went to Cafe Jackson Hole. I enjoyed a delightful matcha lemonade and a basic breakfast. Jon eventually got himself a basic breakfast, making it his second breakfast of the day. (He ate earlier, while I slept.) The boy loves breakfast!

Jon went for a ride, and I walked over to Cowboy Coffee. I ordered a smoothie that featured pineapple, banana, spinach, Greek yogurt, coconut milk, and ginger. It was delicious and felt healthy. After they closed at 6, I roamed around the awesome (and crowded) town before Jon returned.

Upon his return, we went to Snake River Brewing for dinner and local brews before going out on the town! Naturally, we hit Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, a Jackson staple. We eventually decided to check out The Saddle Rock Saloon & Speakeasy for a nightcap. When we finally found it, we ordered our last cocktails of the night. We enjoyed refreshing drinks that included whisky (obviously), watermelon, lemon, cucumber, and fresh mint. They were so good and perfect for summer. But let’s be honest, I’d drink that anytime of year.

When we had had our fill, we went to a place to camp. In the middle of the night, Jon unzipped the door when nature called, and the crisp piney air filled the tent. Even when he returned and closed it back up, it was like he trapped that gorgeous smelling air in the tent with us.

July 20, 2025

That morning, we had breakfast at the Bunnery, where we each got a classic breakfast and some cocktails. Jon said his mimosa was really good, and my spicy Bloody was perfection! We also ordered a coffee cake, which was a little strange and didn’t quite feel like a proper coffee cake.

We returned to Cowboy Coffee after breakfast. I ordered the huckleberry lemonade matcha, which ended up being wayyy sweeter than I thought. I was honestly pretty bummed out, but you can’t win ’em all!

Our workout for the day was rock climbing and lifting at the rec center. Once we were all pumped up, we had dinner at Merry Piglets, another one of our go-tos in Jackson. We just have to get those spicy huckleberry margaritas. Sloshies, who? I want the huckleberry marg! They did not disappoint (unlike the matcha …I still shiver). I ordered a carne quesadilla, and Jon got a carne burrito. The meal was great!

We walked around for a hot second and then went to Cutty’s Bar & Grill. Cutty’s is a Philly spot in Jackson, and Jon’s a big fan of their authentic cheesesteaks. We didn’t get any of those on this particular night, but we wanted to check out their Guinness pours. The pour was ultimately not amazing, but you can’t be good at everything. We drank our beers and headed off to our campsite in Grand Teton National Park.

We stopped at the general store in the national park to stock up on more food and supplies before finding our camp spot. Jon even selected some huckleberry ice cream sandwiches, which he very much enjoyed. I was having a bit of a stomach ache, so I just had one tasty bite.

Soon, we got ready and snuggled up in bed, as we had a hike planned for early the next morning. Unfortunately, I had a hard time falling asleep. I was tossing and turning big time. Sometimes, when you most need a good night’s rest, you simply cannot fall asleep.

July 21, 2025

We woke up at 4:10 am and headed out to hike to Delta Lake. There’s something special about starting hikes before sunrise. Though I enjoy getting ample sleep, I also love an early morning hike. It’s wonderful to start the day by moving your body in a peaceful way, surrounded by nature.

The hike started pretty mellow, eventually gaining some elevation on switchbacks. It wasn’t crazy steep, which was nice, but it was a good workout. We were chugging along, with me leading the way for the most part on the maintained portion.

We soon reached the end of the maintained trail and arrived at the boulder fields, which required some scrambling. I was thrilled when we saw some pikas in these scrambly sections. I hadn’t yet seen any this year, so I was elated. We heard a little squeak that sounded like a dog toy before catching sight of the first little guy.

Multiple scramble sections later, we arrived at the lake. It. Was. Gorgeous. Delta Lake shone a glassy soft turquoise, and the spectacular Tetons served as its backdrop. It’s one of those scenes that is so bright, crisp, and dreamy that it almost looks fake. We reveled in the views before making our way back down.

As usual, we saw many people going up as we descended. A family we passed on the way down said they had seen a bear (potentially a grizzly, but unclear), but we never came across it. We briskly made our way back down to the car, finishing by around 8:30.

We went to Snake River Coffee for breakfast, and WOW, the breakfast sandwich was so good. I may or may not have had it before, I truly don’t recall, but I was blown away. I devoured the bison sausage sandwich, which includes Bison sausage, egg, muenster cheese, caramelized onions, and a green chili aioli, and is served on ciabatta bread. It was a big sandwich, but rather than being an annoying task to eat, as breakfast sandwiches often are for me (I don’t love a lot of breakfast foods, especially if they’re super eggy), it was a wonderful experience. Jon and I also split an apple fritter before leaving the cafe.

Unsurprisingly for a town like Jackson, the library is very nice. We spent time there and then moved on to Cowboy Coffee yet again. I spent most of my time writing personal pieces, which I may or may not publish on my Substack. Either way, it felt good to write.

Despite Cowboy Coffee having a perfectly fine, albeit single, bathroom, I decided to walk over to the welcome center to use theirs. It felt good to get out of the dark room, move my legs, and drink in some sun, although at this hour it was a bit too hot. As I reflected on how nice it was to move around and get some air, I realized it was funny because I spent my morning moving and being outside. It wasn’t like I’d been cooped up all day!

We visited Snake River Brewing once more, where we split a soft pretzel and drank some hop waters.

Jon found us a solid camp spot for the night. He cooked steak to use in burrito-wrap-type things, and we vibed in the camping chairs while he worked a bit longer. We also cracked into our Nightcap mocktail bottle (finally) that we got in Bellingham.

We settled in the tent before sunset and watched some programming. In the middle of the night, it was raining pretty hard, which was a bit annoying and disruptive. It almost sounded like hail.

July 22, 2025

I love unzipping the tent to mountain views. It’s one of the most special experiences ever. The world outside our mobile bedroom was wet and fresh after the night’s showers.

We rose around 8 am and headed back into town for our last (or so we thought) visit to Cowboy Coffee. We got nutrients and caffeine and spent about an hour there.

Next up on our itinerary was Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s bike park. There, we ended up at Cowboy Coffee’s resort location, because, of course, they have one there too. Jon went with me initially before hitting the lifts. Over the next few hours, he went back and forth.

We ended our time in Jackson with another trip to Cutty’s so Jon could get his cheesesteak. He also ordered a pizza. I wasn’t super up for a cheesesteak, so I had a small Caesar salad. I also had a piece or two of pizza and a couple of small bites of the cheesesteak. Jon was super impressed with the pizza, saying it was classic East Coast style. I also thought it was quite good.

The time had finally come to hit the road back to Denver! We’d debated stopping along the way versus sending it all the way home, and Jon decided he wanted to try and make it back. After over seven hours in the car, we arrived home around 11:30 pm and did the bare minimum unpacking. We watched a few episodes of TV before falling asleep in our bed for the first time in over a month.

Trip Reflection

This trip was over double the length of our last long road trip, and it flew by! I’m so happy we got to spend all of this time together, exploring new places like Olympic National Park and Vancouver, along with classic favorites such as Jackson, just to name a few.

We camped significantly less this time, as certain circumstances (bike injuries, busy work schedules…) made hotels/Airbnbs more appealing. It was nice to have places to settle more and have a shower during those moments. We’ll be getting some more tent time in before camping season dies down as well, which I’m very happy about.

Next summer (and even next month, next week, tomorrow, an hour from now ) is sure to bring even more adventures! Glacier National Park and Banff are at the top of my bucket list, so we’re already considering planning that for next year, as well as a potential Tahoe trip. Wherever the 4Runner takes us, be it next summer or next week, it’s going to be special.

Our Big Summer 2025 Road Trip: Washington State Part 2

The second half of our time in Washington State was primarily spent in Olympic National Park. We enjoyed a trail run, beautiful hikes, PNW beaches, and hanging out in Port Angeles. When we left Olympic, we explored Leavenworth on the way to Montana.

Trip Diary Begins:

July 11, 2025

We headed to Coupeville in the morning, a town located on Whidbey Island. Upon our arrival, we started at a coffee shop called Sunshine Drip. We later migrated to Beaver Tales Coffee & Tea, a coffee shop and cultural gift shop that’s right on the wharf. It’s a woman- and native-owned business, and you can read more about it here. We sat on the porch by the water until it was time to catch our ferry. It was so lovely.

Fun Fact: Coupeville is the setting of the movie “Practical Magic”, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.

From there, we caught the ferry, which took us to Port Townsend. After driving onto the boat, we got out of the car and walked around, checking out the deck and taking in the #views before settling down inside the ferry. The whole ride took about 35 minutes. We then drove from Port Townsend to Port Angeles, where we kicked off our visit in Olympic National Park.

We embarked on a trail run near Devil’s Punchbowl. I hadn’t been super active in a while, and I definitely hadn’t jogged in a while, so it felt extra good. It was even more special to be doing a jogging at such a gorgeous destination.

5.75 miles later, we fueled up at Fish & Crab Shack. We ate fish and chips and washed it down with some beer. It hit the spot! I don’t know if it competes with Luna Sea Fish House, but it’s up there, alright. While digging into our meal, we ended up sharing a table with another couple, both of whom were originally from Pennsylvania.

We wrapped up our Port Angeles evening at Mighty Pine Brewing, where we each went with a flight, followed by hop water. We hung out there for a little while, and then set off to find somewhere to camp.

July 12, 2025

The trail we selected for the day was Mount Storm King, one of the more challenging hikes in the park. We began at 6 am, starting out in a lush forest. This was a pleasant surprise, as I didn’t know we’d have the forest experience on this particular adventure.

Eventually, we rose above the treeline and the hike became more open. Some time after that, there’s a section with ropes to aid in climbing the steeper terrain. We ascended a little bit further past the ropes, and made it to the picture-perfect view, the star of the hike.

From this main viewpoint, you’re treated to breathtaking scenery featuring tree-covered mountains and the expansive blue waters of Lake Crescent. It’s so surreal. The vibrant deep blue and rich green colors are a true representation of how beautiful this world is.

We realized this was not actually the top of Mount Storm King. We completed the main route from AllTrails, and hit the iconic viewpoint, but it’s not the top of Storm King. There’s another rope section and another 1,000ish feet of gain to reach that peak. We decided against it, since it wasn’t part of our original plan.

After our descent, we added Marymere Falls onto the journey. We’d already been on that trail as part of our route anyway, and just had to veer off a little to see the falls. During this section, we witnessed some tourons in the wild. A group of people snuck around a barrier that was clearly there for a reason, venturing to an area that was not meant for visitors. Jon ended up calling them out for it, and they actually came back! Not all hope is lost.

We secured our camping spot for the night at a campground in the park and drove into Port Angeles for breakfast. Then, we hit the farmers’ market! Yay for markets! At one booth, we sampled some drinks from a vendor who made beer and ginger sparkling water. As we were sampling, we were seated next to a friendly local couple.

I did some shopping, something I especially enjoy while traveling. Despite not usually buying anything, I get serotonin just from poking around. One boutique had an adorable hoodie that was one of the softest things I’ve ever felt. I debated purchasing it, but left empty handed.

We hopped over to Harbinger Wine Bar next, which had a fantastic ambience. We started by sharing a flight that had one red, one white, and one rosé, and posted up on the deck that overlooked the water. I was in heaven, sipping on wine and taking in the serene environment. Port Angeles was providing! This small port town is just so cute and has some real gems.

I kept thinking about the hoodie, and how I really wanted something to take home from this charming location. So, Jon took me back to the boutique and I made the purchase.

In the evening, we found ourselves back at Mighty Pine, where they had a food vendor serving up pizza. We opted for the pickle pizza, which was delicious.

July 13, 2025

In the morning we departed from Lake Crescent and made our way toward Forks. This part of the trip was designated for exploring the beachy areas and the Hoh Rainforest. We’d reserved camping at South Beach.

Fun Fact: “Twilight” fans will probably recognize the towns of Forks and Port Angeles. Although the story largely took place in Forks, the series was primarily filmed in Oregon and Canada.

We waited in a crazy line of cars to enter the Hoh Rainforest for about an hour and a half. When we finally got in, we began with the Hall of Mosses. This is a fairly short stroll and one of the highlights of the Hoh Rainforest. This meant it was crowded as heck! I have complicated feelings on this, which I’ve mentioned before. It’s awesome that so many people are fond of our National Parks, but the crowds can definitely be annoying and take you out of the experience a bit. It felt like Disney World. We also tacked on a portion of the Hoh River Trail, which was way less crowded. It seems like many people wait in that crazy line of cars simply to do the Hall of Mosses. Couldn’t be us!

Back in Forks, we stocked up on some supplies. Just before sunset, we stopped at Ruby Beach. Much like the beaches in Oregon and California, Ruby Beach is home to many sea stacks. I love these! We moseyed along the pebbly shore, and the rocks made a satisfying click-clack noise beneath our feet. The air smelled ever-so-delightful! We soaked in the refreshing atmosphere and cool breeze. It was a bit too cold to stay for long, but it was so pleasant. When the fog rolled in, the mystical magical vibes were enhanced. Yes, it felt like Twilight. Something about it also reminded me of Jak and Daxter.

The PNW beaches are so special, offering a cool and unique aesthetic. They’re different from beaches somewhere like Florida, and they don’t scream “beach vacation”. You wouldn’t necessarily go there to sunbathe, play volleyball, and cool off in the water. These coasts are colder and moodier, but they’re enticing in their own way. We also learned that surfing is quite popular on the beaches in Olympic.

July 14

The time had come for us to begin journeying back East toward Denver. Our first stop on the way was Leavenworth, WA, a mountain town with a Bavarian charm. En route, we stopped at Jitter House in Hoquiam. I slept for a couple hours in the car, before Jon woke me up and I joined him inside for some breakfast.

We left the coffee shop, and I was called upon to drive. This was the first time my driving was requested the whole trip, so I’m lucky for that. My shift went well, even though I don’t particularly love driving the 4Runner.

In Leavenworth, Jon cooked us up some tacos at a park. We fueled up and went to the Leavenworth Ski Hill, where Jon set out on a ride and I had myself a short hike. We returned to the main strip and ordered some local brews and a bowl of cornichons at Icicle Brewing Company.

For dinner, we grabbed pizza from Blewett Brewing Company and took it over to Bushell & Bee Taproom, a lounge-y bar, where we got kombucha.

That night, we camped at a pullout near a river. It’s always nice to hear river noises while camping. We skipped TV for the night and instead partook in some good conversation as we fell asleep.

July 15

Upon waking up, we visited the ski hill once more. I slept for another hour-ish while Jon rode. We ended up at Bavarian Bagel Co. for breakfast, which was super solid! Post-bagels, we roamed around a bit while Jon took a call, and I browsed some fun stores. We returned to Blewett Brewing for some hop teas.

It was time to hit the road toward Missoula. When we got there, we checked into the Airbnb and headed out for dinner. We went to a taproom called The Dram Shop and got kombucha on tap. They don’t serve food, so we grabbed burgers from Wally and Buck, which we ate at The Dram Shop.

We went “home” for the night, showered, watched our program, and got to bed. We talked about how much my road rash had improved, rejoicing I was no longer wearing the gauze. It was wonderful to no longer go through the torture of taking it off and ripping my skin constantly. Jon made a silly joke, saying “the gauze days are over,” to the tune of “Dog Days Are Over.”

Our Big Summer 2025 Road Trip: Our Day In Vancouver

On July 6th, we traveled from Bellingham to Vancouver for the day. Funnily enough, this was our first time traveling out of the country together. We’d both previously been to Toronto separately before, but never to the Western side of Canada. Since Bellingham is only around an hour away from Vancouver, we had packed our passports with us on the road trip in case we decided to dip over into B.C. I was hype when we decided we were definitely going to Canada for a little excursion. We spent a long day across the border, and we loved it.

Trip Diary Begins:

July 6, 2025

First Stop: The Market

We got up and got ready to head to Vancouver for the day. It didn’t take too long to cross the border when we arrived at the station.

After entering B.C., we made our way to Granville Island to check out the Market. This area is so cute! It had a great view of the water, where we saw some boats, houseboats, and the city skyline. There are various shops and stands, inside and outside, selling their goods. We ended up purchasing a variety pack of Nanaimo bars and some candied salmon, all of which we munched on later. The Nanaimo bar variety pack included classic, berry, maple, and apple cinnamon. They were delightful little bites!

The Best Park Ever

Stanley Park was up next on the itinerary, and let me tell you, this park is fantastic! We sauntered along the seawall loop and were treated with a lovely breeze. If you love the smell of saltwater like we do, you will love this park. It was so refreshing and beautiful. We saw tons of people biking and running as well. I wasn’t up for a run at the time, but it seemed like the perfect place for it! The whole seawall loop around the park is 10 km. What a lovely 10k! There are other areas of the park to explore as well, but we mainly stuck close to the water. Overall, I’d rate the park an 11/10. My only qualm is that you have to pay for parking, but it’s worth it.

Biking and Hiking Time

We headed to a trailhead after our time at Stanley Park so Jon could go for a bike ride. I ended up going on a little stroll in the forest myself. At one point, I sat down on a rock and listened to the birds chittering around me. I tried to focus more on that than the nearby noises from the road/civilization, where it sounded like someone was mowing their lawn or something. Hikes in proximity to the road can sometimes make the experience less immersive, but what can ya do? Many birds were making their music, which certainly helped! I also saw the tiniest bird I’ve ever seen.

Lynn Canyon

We headed to the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. I had seen online that this bridge was a cool free alternative to the very popular Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, which costs about $50 and is super touristy. Even still, the Lynn Canyon bridge was absolutely swarming with people. But it was cool, and I’m glad we checked it out. Capilano is on my list for next time as well! We moseyed around for a bit past the bridge before turning back around.

Poutine, Pints, and a Plot Twist Dinner

Of course, we had to get some poutine. I’d heard that La Belle Patate was a solid spot for that, so that’s where we went. The internet did not lie. The poutine was fire! Interestingly, their gravy is vegetarian. You could choose from tons of options, which offered various combos of different meats and other toppings. We got one classic (you have to get the classic) and one with chorizo. After trying bites of each, I decided I enjoyed the classic the best, and Jon was happy with the chorizo, so we claimed each for ourselves. This poutine was cozy, comforting, rich, and savory. It slapped so hard. If you’re ever in Vancouver, you must go here.

Our cashier at La Belle Patate recommended a bar in Gastown, and another customer recommended a different bar to us (people are so friendly—a theme of our trip!). We started at CRAFT Beer Market, where we had a couple of beers, including some ice-cold creamers in frosty glasses. Jon said it was better than any Guiness he’s had in the States. We then headed to The Cambie in Gastown. They had live music, and I enjoyed watching people dance and have fun. We stopped and watched the Gastown Steam Clock before heading off to dinner.

We had planned to get Dim Sum, but we were unfortunately too late. Although the restaurant closed at 9, they sadly did last call at 8:30. We ended up at a fusiony spot with a confusing vibe. It was dimly lit and had a bit of a clubby aesthetic, but not in the way that people were dancing or anything. Something about the general appearance of the place just felt like a club or lounge to me. They also had someone singing live music, which mostly consisted of slower songs.

It was around 10 pm by the time we had finished eating, and we were quite tired and ready to head back to our “home” for the week, Bellingham.

Our Big Summer 2025 Road Trip: Washington State Pt 1.

Welcome to the Bellingham leg of the trip! We’ve been in Washington state for a little while now, and it’s time to share our experience in Bellingham, a seaside town by the Canadian border.

I’ve also reached a point where I will be skipping certain days that I don’t find interesting enough to talk about. I’m completely jumping over our time in Snoqualmie/Issaquah, where we spent a couple of days before we went to Bham. I didn’t really do anything noteworthy in that area, but I love how round-sounding the names are, if that makes sense.

During our time there, we spent time at coffee shops, enjoyed various spots on the local scene, and celebrated the 4th of July. We even had a little day trip to Vancouver, which I will detail in another post.

Trip Diary Begins

July 3, 2025

We arrived at Bellingham and began our day in a couple of different coffee shops. When it came time for dinner, we headed to Aslan Brewpub, where we tried some different beers and their house-brewed hop water. We ordered the Karaage chicken as our appetizer, followed by Bacon Smash Burgers for each of us. Everything was very tasty!

July 4, 2025

Happy 4th! Jon’s friend, who lives in Seattle, came to Bellingham for the day to hang out with us. We spent most of the day hopping around to different bars and breweries. For lunch, we enjoyed delicious tacos from Black Sheep.

The Portal Container Village is a particularly cool spot in Bellingham. It’s an outdoor space close to the water with an industrial vibe and various container businesses serving food and drinks. We hung out there for a bit and grabbed some beers.

Later, we moved on to another spot in the area, where Jon and I sipped on some espresso martinis that hit the spot. Though espresso martinis can feel a bit wintery (perhaps due to our particular enjoyment of them during a ski day), who says you can’t have one on the 4th of July? Do what you want!

After his friend headed back to Seattle, Jon and I continued to walk all around town. We ended up at a Uisce Irish Pub (once again, do what you want!), where we ordered a couple of creamers and some cheese bread. It wasn’t super poppin’, but we enjoyed our beers, and the bartender was friendly.

When the sun began to set, we tried to catch the fireworks by the water, which called for a bit of a long walk. Now, I don’t personally care for firework shows that are too long. Sometimes it’s just like, we get it, ya know? I enjoy fireworks, but the shows often tend to drag, IMO. This particular show, however, seemed pretty short, and the grand finale left something to be desired. But hey, it was still pretty!

We grabbed dinner at JUXT Taphouse, just barely making it in time to get food. We paired our last meal of the day with a cocktail flight.

July 5, 2025

Jon and I started the day with one of our favorite summer/fall activities: a farmers market! (We’re big fans of the markets in Denver, and love exploring others in different towns we visit.) After getting our small haul of blueberries and a cookie, we went to a coffee shop until 2.

Later, we went out to the Irish brewery again and saw the same bartender. We also chatted with a very friendly older couple. We had a nice conversation, and they gave us some good recs. They even shared a story of the time they saw 14 grizzly bears in one day! (I believe they said this happened at Glacier National Park, another spot on the bucket list.)

Post-creamers, we went to Schweinhaus Biergarten, where we had some more beers and split a brat. For dinner, we grabbed some pizza.

Side Quest: On July 6, we took a day trip to Vancouver! Check out that post here.

July 8, 2025

For breakfast, we visited a bagel spot. I got a sandwich with an over-medium egg and cheddar. It didn’t have meat on it (none of their breakfast offerings did), but it was actually pretty good.

Post breakfast, we ended up back at The Portal. There, I worked on an acrostic, something I’ve been doing lately to stretch my creative and problem-solving muscles. It was super chill and barely anyone was there, but ’twas a vibe. We later returned to Black Sheep for some tacos.

Back at the hotel, I did the super fun shower and dressing my wound routine. Taking the gauze off is the absolute worst! I had grown quite tired of facing the horrors every day.

That evening, we headed to Aslan Depot for jazz night. Aslan Depot is another Aslan location with more of a lounge atmosphere. It was pretty crowded outside, so we sat inside and could still hear the music. I worked on another acrostic and read some stuff on Substack. We vibed out for a little before turning in for the night.

July 9, 2025

When I was finally ready to rise for the day, I began to reorganize my luggage while listening to a podcast. Then, we went out for a late breakfast. It was raining (not too hard luckily), and the air smelled invigorating. I’m not generally an “I love rainy days” person, but I was kinda into it at that moment.

We went to Great Harvest Bread Co. after breakfast, where they were giving out free slices of hot buttered bread. I selected a seeded bread of sorts, which was hearty, savory, and super satisfying. Jon opted for a cinnamon raisin slice. We also ordered a blueberry cinnamon roll, a combo neither one of us had seen before. Naturally, it was delicious sticky sweetness.

Later, we visited a bookstore cafe. I ordered an iced ube matcha latte, and honestly, it was not my favorite. It was beautiful to look at, but the taste was not for me. The drink was milky, as lattes are, but the ube flavor itself almost felt like it made the drink milkier or something. In my experience, I find flavor additions in matcha lattes often cut that overwhelming milky taste, but that was not the case here. Anyway, enough of that. I browsed around the bookstore for a bit, which had so many books. Then, I walked across the street to check out nearby shops, while Jon stayed and worked.

I wandered into Bloomhaven Bottleshop, a store with entirely non alcoholic offerings. This place is so cool. NA options have certainly become more popular in recent years, but I’ve never seen so many different options in one place. While we do still drink alcohol, we’ve definitely become more mindful recently, and love the option for a fun drink that tastes like booze but isn’t. The owner is lovely and said the shop had been around for about 10 months.

July 10, 2025

It was the morning of checkout day. I began to wonder if the hotel was putting me in a funk and that it would be better and refreshing to sleep in the tent again, as much as I appreciate having the amenities.

Jon worked out early in the morning, while I got some more sleep. When he returned, we got all ready and packed up and packed out. After a little bit more time working in a coffee shop, we checked out another bakery, Saltadena. We selected a chocolate cookie sandwich, along with two Lil’ Scrappies, their signature treat. We ate the cookie sandwich right after buying it, and it was decadent. 10/10!

Before leaving Bellingham behind, we swung by Whatcom Falls and had ourselves a little stroll in the forest. We headed on to Hey Dumplin for dinner, which offers Eastern-European style dumplings with a bit of fusion sprinkled in.

Our bellies were satisfied, and it was time to move on to the next place. We drove to Anacortes, passing by some scenic bays on the way. The views of the Samish Bay in particular, were so pretty.

We arrived in Anacortes and went to Creative Hub & Coffeehouse. The owner was so sweet and welcoming. When the coffee shop closed, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the campground we had reserved.

On the way to the campground, we stopped at some lovely viewpoints with amazing views of the water. (The photo under this date is from one of those spots.) As it goes, oftentimes, the real beauty doesn’t translate in the photos as strongly.

After taking in the views, we went to camp. This campground was definitely interesting, and the spots were very close together. I will say, though, they had some of the cleanest porta-potties I’ve ever seen. We wrapped up our night, unsurprisingly, with some Righteous Gemstones.

Our Big Summer 2025 Road Trip: The Idaho Leg Pt. 2

During the second stretch of our Idaho leg, we stayed in and around Boise. We split our time back and forth between camping and Airbnb/hotel stays and were in the area for basically 5 full days. One odd thing I noticed in Boise, and this could be me being nitpicky, is that the drinking water wasn’t super cold. I encountered this at multiple establishments we visited. On a more positive note, the food in Boise is top-notch. Read on for more. 🙂

Trip Diary Begins

Thursday, June 26, 2025

We dipped from Stanley in the morning, and I got to sleep a little in the car. For breakfast, we stopped at Wild Bills Coffee and Bistro in Garden Valley, which was super solid. I ordered a Huckleberry Toast, which features avocado, fresh huckleberries, feta, slivered almonds, and hot honey. It was tasty and very unique. I also added two eggs. Jon opted for the Déjà Vu, which is essentially a classic breakfast plate, a go-to for Jon.

We filled up and continued our drive to Boise. Upon our arrival, we went to a coffee shop called Roast & Vine. Jon later went to pick up sandwiches for lunch from The Roosevelt Market. I enjoyed the Space Chicken, a sammy with sliced chicken, mozzarella, mama ‘lil pesto, and baby spinach. Now, I don’t know what the heck “mama ‘lil pesto” is, but it wasn’t ordinary pesto. It was more of a tomato-y or roasted peppery-type spread. Whatever the heck it was, it was delicious!

After checking into our Airbnb, I took a little walk to the bookstore. When I returned to the place, we got ready for a yoga class, and dropped off laundry on the way. This yoga was 100 DEGREES! The yoga classes we typically attend are hot, but not that hot. It was hitting me pretty hard, especially because I was almost certainly dehydrated. My bad!

Post-yog, we showered back at the Airbnb and got ready for dinner. We ended up at a pizza spot called The Wylder, where we tried a few different types of pizza and wrapped up the meal with cookies and ice cream.

It’s always nice to walk around for a bit after a meal to digest, so we explored the Boise River Greenbelt a bit before turning in for the night.

Friday, June 27, 2025

Boise had a mountain bike festival going on, which we had gotten tickets to. Friday marked day 1 of the festival, which took place at Eagle Bike Park.

We both got demo bikes (yes, even I), and did some easy trails. Despite the easy level of the trails, I was still super nervous, tense, and awkward. I only lasted 45 minutes, but hey, I gave it a whirl!

When Jon was finished riding, only about 15 minutes later, we departed the bike park and hit the town. We started at Lost Grove Brewing in Hyde Park. They had some great happy hour beer deals, which we took advantage of. While there, we ordered an app as well. We landed on the wings with the miso buffalo sauce, which were perfect! They had a perfect crispy coating, and the sauce was super yummy.

Before dinner, we walked back to the Airbnb to reset. We landed on St. Lawrence Gridiron for our final meal that day, and OMG, it was absolutely amazing. I specifically can’t get over how good the Dirty Bird was. It’s truly one of the best fried chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. This sammy features Louisiana spices, chili oil, white BBQ sauce, house slaw, and house pickles. It was all really working for me. Jon and I split the sandwich, along with the Brisket Platter and potato salad. Everything was fantastic.

We then went to a whiskey bar for a little bit before walking back to the Airbnb and ending the night with the Gemstone family.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

We slowly started to get together and pack up in the morning, and made our way to Bogus Basin for day two of the mountain bike fest.

I spent most of my time relaxing, reading, and listening to my audiobook. In the evening, I ended up going on a 1.5 hr hike on Deer Point Trail. I was initially planning to hike for a shorter amount of time, but my legs just kept moving. It was a lovely hike, which included foresty vibes, views of the ski runs, sunshine, and wildflowers.

We found an awesome spot to camp for the night, not far from where we’d spent the day. Before bed, we watched the SEASON FINALE of Righteous Gemstones, which was crazy!

Sunday, June 29, 2025

We headed back to Boise from our camp spot, which took about 45 minutes. When we got back to town, we grabbed THE BEST BREAKFAST EVER at Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro. I love a good Chicken Fried Steak, and this one was really, really, really good. Jon got a classic breakfast-type dish, which he said was delicious. We both agreed it was the best breakfast we’d had on the trip so far.

After our meal, we walked around the block a couple of times to digest a bit. Then, it was bike time! I rented a bike so we could ride around town and explore, as I left my own road bike at home. It was so fun! We rode for around 1.5 hours, covering 17 miles. I had a great time until I washed out at the very end and got a bad case of road rash. Rats! I was so scared on the mountain bike, and yet when I did get hurt, it was from road biking. Figures! Lots of people saw it happen, too. 🙃 But they were so friendly about it.

We checked into a hotel yet again. Then we went to Mother Earth Brew Co. and got some cheese bread, pizza, and beer. The main reason we chose to visit this spot is because when we were at the bike shop returning my rental, which was across the street from Mother Earth, a kind stranger brought over a cup of water and some napkins to help Jon and me manage my fresh wound. As Jon dumped the water on my leg, I noticed it felt cool and refreshing. I requested that we visit the brewery that evening so we could get our hands on that cold water. (It didn’t feel quite as cold in the mouth as it did on the leg, but it was still an upgrade!)

Monday, June 30, 2025

I was quite sleepy and skipped the hotel breakfast. My injury was also very aggravating. Eventually, I ate a banana, and we went to a coffee shop for a short amount of time. I also went to Rite Aid and grabbed some gauze and other supplies to dress my wound. Thrilling!

Back at the hotel, Jon worked out in the gym and worked for a bit downstairs, while I relaxed and listened to my audiobook. I had gotten myself in a bit of a funk. Jon later went to yoga again at the super hot studio (I didn’t wanna risk all the sweat and stuff with my fresh road rash), which gave me some more time to blog and relax.

He returned and showered, and then we went out to grab a bite at Boise Brewery. Once again, we had some super solid food. We started with the hummus, which included kalamata olives mixed in, and was topped with a garlic confit. It also came with chili crisp, which we mixed in. For our main dishes, we ordered the Patty Melt and the Bulgogi Bahn Mi, both of which we split.

Then, it was back to Mother Earth to work and vibe. They were even streaming Love Island. At 9, we went back to the hotel.

Our Big Summer 2025 Road Trip: The Idaho Leg Pt. 1

The big summer road trip of 2025 continues in Idaho! We ended up spending a full week in the state, stopping at a few different locations. Because we were in Idaho for a bit of a longer stretch, I’m going to break up this leg of the trip into two parts. During this stretch, we spent time in Ketchum and Stanley.

Trip Diary Begins

Monday, June 23, 2025

We checked out of the hotel and spent our first full day in Idaho in Ketchum. There are two main things I’d like to share about this day.

The first is how awesome our camping spot was. It’s probably my favorite camp spot of the trip so far. We drove into a valley with beautiful green views, but it wasn’t very wooded. It was incredible, but after exploring a bit further down the road, we opted to set up camp at a spot that was a little more secluded and in the woods. It was perfectly tucked away, and the view was so lovely. On top of that, it smelled amazing. The aroma was delightfully fresh and piney. It was reminiscent of Christmas time. This location just oozed the camping vibes I seek. While we camp at various types of spots (including lackluster parking lots), this style is one of my favs.

The second thing worth noting is that we started watching The Righteous Gemstones that evening. Right off the bat, like from the very first scene, this show pulls you in. It’s wild, hilarious, absurd, kooky, and very well done. We were both immediately hooked.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

We slept in because it was so cold and we wanted to stay cozy in the tent a little while longer. Jon cooked us up breakfast at camp when we finally got out of bed, and then we headed into town to hit a coffee shop. We hung out at the coffee shop for a bit before continuing our productivity at the library.

My must-share moment from this day is the dinner we had at Rickshaw. It’s an Asian-fusion spot that the internet said was a must-try. We ordered a bunch of plates to share and had ourselves a little feast. We enjoyed the K.F.C. (Korean Fried Chicken), Vietnamese Caramel Pork Ribs, Andreas’ Pot-stickers, and the Chiang Mai Curry Noodles, as well as the daily special.

In the evening, Jon went for a bike ride while I went for a short hike in the same trail system.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

It was time to say goodbye to Ketchum and head on toward Stanley, a super, super small town. We hung out at two different coffee shops (most likely the only two in town), one of which sat along the river. Then, we headed to a campground near Redfish Lake to secure a spot for the night.

We went into town again and spent some time sitting outside the library, where we met a sweet and gentle dog named Stanley. Stanley took quite a liking to Jon. He was very calm (I’m assuming he’s on the older side), but seemed very interested in hanging out with us. We’re also pretty sure he was an Aussie, which is the type of dog we’d love to have one day, if we’re ever ready for a dog.

Back at the campground, we ate lunch. Then, we headed to the Redfish Lake Marina to rent some kayaks and go out on the water. We had killer views of the Sawtooth Mountains, which felt rugged in a similar way to the Tetons in Wyoming or even certain mountains in Colorado. We kayaked for an hour and a half, covering 4 miles.

The bugs were going crazy when we returned to the campsite. It felt like we were both drenched in bug spray, and the bugs were simply not respecting that. Jon worked a bit longer, while I spent some time journaling and trying (and failing) to dodge the bugs. We went for a little stroll before Jon cooked us up some dinner. Then, it was time to crawl back into the tent and wind down.

Our Big Summer 2025 Road Trip: The Utah Leg

Jon and I are currently in the midst of another long road trip! I’m so excited we are getting to spend so much time exploring tons of cool places. I’m also excited to share my trip diary on the blog once again.

Two years ago, we traveled around for two weeks during our first rooftop tent adventure. This year, we’re back at it and traveling for double the time! I recently left my last job, which was pretty in-office heavy, so the world is my oyster this summer as I search for something new. (I also created a Substack newsletter, as part of my creative journey.)

We’ve already enjoyed time in various places. Each day has offered a new adventure, whether we’re spending time in coffee shops or going kayaking. In this post, I will be focusing on the Utah leg of our trip.

Trip Diary Begins

Friday, June 20, 2025

We left Denver around 4:15 am, and I was completely exhausted. Jon kindly let me sleep while he drove. I slept for hours in the car. Eventually, we found a place to pull off by a lake near Heber City, Utah, so Jon could take a call.

I got out of the car to stretch my legs and saw there was a path that led down to the lake. I strolled down the path and sat at the shore, where I quickly became very content. It was so lovely. There was a pleasant breeze, as the waves lapped against the small rocky shore, making for a wonderful scene to start my day. The breeze, the sunshine, and the occasional mist of the water made it ever so pleasant. I was so happy to be there, rather than back in Denver, where it was a sickening 95 degrees. It was peaceful and refreshing, and I loved it.

After departing from this stop, we continued making our way to Park City. When we got into town, we hit Atticus Coffee & Teahouse. I’m a sucker for a coffee shop that also sells books and other fun stuff, and this happened to be one of those places. They had tons of cool books, journals, candles, and much more. It was so fun to poke around! I ordered the Queen of Hearts, which is a matcha from their seasonal menu, and features their house-made strawberry puree, milk, and organic matcha. It was pretty sweet, but delightful. I don’t often opt for sweet drinks, but sometimes, it feels right.

We left the coffee shop and headed to Park City Mountain Resort. While Jon explored the bike trails, I went for a little trail run. I made it a mile up before deciding to turn back, as it was quite hot and I didn’t think I was very well nourished or hydrated.

For dinner, we headed to No Name Saloon, a place we had actually been before while on a ski trip. We ended up sharing our table with another couple, and they were super friendly. We even swapped numbers. There were also what seemed like two separate bachelorette parties and a 21st birthday celebration going on. Park City was poppin’!

After dinner, Jon and I hit Flanagan’s and enjoyed some creamers (Guiness). As we waited for the foam to settle, the bartender offered to fix the pour, which definitely could’ve been better. You love to see it! Jon also overheard some other guys talking about splitting the G, something he and our friends have been obsessed with lately. (I’m no good at it and would prefer to just enjoy my beer normally.)

We camped at a parking lot, which certainly wasn’t magical, but it did the job. It was so hot in the tent, but also super windy and noisy outside. That’s just the elements for ya! We watched a bit of Vice Principals before going to bed.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

We started the day at Salt Box for breakfast and then headed to Lucky Ones Coffee, where we hung out for a bit. We sat outside, where they had live music by a local teen who was raising money for his choir trip. After that, we headed back to Atticus.

For dinner that night, we took a recommendation from the friendly girl we had met the previous night and went to Sammy’s Bistro. The food was super solid, and the service was great.

After dinner, we checked out Alpine Distilling. While I felt super underdressed in my Melly and yoga pants, the vibe was great and no one gave me any trouble like I feared. The service here was also fantastic, and we tried two different flights. We also ended up purchasing a shot glass as a souvenir.

Then, we headed back to Flanagan’s for some more creamers. We met a sweet girly from Washington who seemed to be there for a bach party, and she gave us some good Washington recs

We went back to camp for the night. It was colder than the night before, and still super windy. The wind simply would not shut up. Rude!

Sunday, June 22, 2025

We started the day off with a much-needed yoga flow we found on ClassPass. It’s nice to be able to keep up with things like yoga while on the road. We then enjoyed breakfast at Five5eeds. The banana bread with espresso cream was amazing.

After morning yoga and breakfast, we checked out the Park Silly Sunday Market, which is basically a farmers’ market. Gotta love a market! We ended up buying a can of cold brew and some bread.

We headed back to the mountain, where Jon biked some more and I went on a hike. During my hike, I had bursts of running/jogging, and even some skipping and frolicking. It went much better than my trail run a couple of days before.

It was time to hit the road again and head to our next stop: Idaho. On the way there, we stopped at Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It was exactly what you’d expect. We are trying to hit a bunch of the big chain restaurants together at some point, so why not check it off the list? But I can’t say we’ll be back. (I’d currently rank Chili’s as the #1.)

The drive to Idaho was kind of boring and bland, but that’s just how it is sometimes. That night, we had our first hotel stay of the trip. It was nice to have a shower and reset for the night.

Whitewater Rafting at the Royal Gorge: I Was Terrified, Then I Loved It

‘DISTANCE FROM DENVER: ABOUT 2 HOURS

Jon and Lai in the raft on their first whitewater rafting adventure at the Royal Gorge

Another Bucket List Adventure

Another outdoorsy activity has been crossed off the bucket list: whitewater rafting! Jon and I recently went whitewater rafting for the first time, accompanied by three of our friends. Back in November, I got him a voucher for a trip through Giftory for his 30th birthday, as I knew it was something he’d been itching to do. On Sunday, June 15th, we went on a half-day trip with Raft Masters in Cañon City.

From Childhood Fears to Rafting Realities

Growing up, my dad went on a few whitewater rafting trips with different groups of guys, and he told us how scary and crazy it was. His trips scared me, and I hoped he would stop going. Who would’ve thought that 15 years later (give or take), I’d be embarking on my own rafting excursion. Not me!

Pre-Rafting Jitters

The night before the trip, Jon and I camped in the area to be close to the launch point for our whitewater rafting tour. When we went to bed for the night, I couldn’t stop the fears spinning in my head. My parents warned me about how dangerous it was, which definitely got in my head. I’m not saying it’s not dangerous, because it certainly can be, but my anxiety got the best of me. I wondered if my fear meant that I had some kind of intuition. That it could be a sign that I would die from this rafting trip.

There were a couple of thoughts that helped relax me, however. For one, a couple of our friends who were joining us had gone on rafting trips before. Plus, I love skiing in the winter, which can certainly be a dangerous sport. I needed to stop worrying that the rafting day would be my last.

The Calm Before the Splash

When we woke in the morning, I felt a lot better. We packed up camp and headed to town for breakfast, where we met our friends who had traveled there in the morning. After a fast breakfast, we threw on our water shoes and helmets and headed to the bus.

On the ride to the takeoff, one of the guides went over all the safety measures. Much like being on a plane, I worried I wouldn’t process everything enough and hoped I just wouldn’t have to worry about it. (Although when I am on a plane I usually tune it out and hope for the best 😬.) They also determined our raft groups. Jon, Hannah, Evan, Chris, and I were all in a group, led by Freck. The other guide led a group with a father and his young sons. It was pretty cool that our whole raft was people we knew.

Into the Rapids

As we got into the raft, we decided Jon and Evan would take the front row. Hannah and I were behind them, Chris was behind us, and Freck led from the very back. Freck went over how we should position our feet. I was on the left side, second row, and jammed my left foot into a crack in front, and the right foot behind. We practiced a couple of paddle strokes close to shore before setting off.

Once we were all set, we headed out on the flow of the river. Freck constantly updated us on what we were approaching and the difficulty levels. The first rapids were class 2, and they weren’t scary at all. It was so fun! This made me more comfortable about the class 3 and 4 rapids to come. As we went down the rapids, water splashed into the raft, a refreshing way to beat the intense heat. We were all smiling and laughing.

We paddled through a mix of rough rapids and calm stretches, which gave us time to catch our breath. It was nice to have more relaxing moments where we could talk and chill to break up the sloshing around. We learned the names of the many rapids, such as Sunshine Falls, Sledgehammer, and Grateful Dead Rapid.

The waters were at a medium level during our trip, which made the rapids super solid but less intense than they would’ve been a couple of weeks earlier. It felt like the perfect amount of thrill for me, as a newbie to the activity. We also learned that this rafting company isn’t allowed to run commercial tours if the rapids reach Class 5, due to the increased danger, which put my mind at ease.

Throughout the trip, our guide would call out cues for how to paddle, who should paddle, and how many strokes. For example, “Left forward 2” meant that those of us on the left side should paddle forward twice. “Back one” meant everyone in the raft should paddle backward once, and so on. We passed near the pumphouse, which we learned used to supply water to the city, and was abandoned in 1973. Thrilling and educational!

Embracing the Moment

The scenery on this trip was so sick. This part of the Arkansas River runs through the Royal Gorge canyon, which is so beautiful. We eventually passed under the iconic Royal Gorge Bridge. It was awesome! My fears had long dissipated, and I was having a blast.

I tried to engage my core and do everything I could to stay in the raft. I believe falling out is a pretty common occurrence while rafting, and not inherently a death sentence, but I just didn’t want to worry about the whole thing. Luckily, none of us fell out the whole time! We had one close call and a great save, but no actual falls. Go us!

Rafting Break + Cold Plunge

We eventually stopped at a spot to take a break from the rafting, where we could jump off a rock and into the water for a bit. I decided to take the jump. (It’s nowhere near as high or scary as cliff jumping at St. Mary’s Glacier, which I will never do again.) Jumping into the water was super fun, but left me shivering for a long time after. The water was freezing, and though the day was hot, I simply could not stop shaking.

Pulling Ashore and Regaining Our Land Legs

We rafted a little more to the endpoint, where we all disembarked. My right foot had fallen asleep, and it took me a minute to shake it out and get stability back in my legs. We all loaded on the bus and headed back to where we began our day with Raft Masters.

I loved my first whitewater rafting experience. It was so much fun! It had a perfect balance of thrills and comfort, and the Royal Gorge setting made it extra special. I would absolutely do another trip in the future, and I recommend those interested to check out Raft Masters.

Jon and Lai taking a selfie in the raft before setting off

I Used to Hate Running. Then I Ran the BOLDERBoulder.

DISTANCE FROM DENVER: HALF AN HOUR 😉

A selfie of Lai at the start of her first 10k

How I Ended Up Running the BOLDERBoulder 10K

This Memorial Day, I participated in the BOLDERBoulder, a popular 10K race in Boulder, Colorado. This iconic event has been held every year for the past 45 years, and is recognized as America’s All-Time Best 10K by Runner’s World Magazine.

I’ve Never Been Much of a Runner…

I was never much of a runner. Growing up, some of my friends would go for runs at the local track or around the neighborhood, and sometimes… I would join. But I didn’t particularly enjoy running. It just wasn’t my thing.

Cut to last Memorial Day. Jon and a few of our friends all ran in the BOLDERBoulder. I opted to go hang out and support them, rather than join in on the running. It did, however, seem like a super fun race. I was told that along the course of the race, people were handing out shots, and there was even a slip ‘n slide.

The BOLDERBoulder ends inside the University of Colorado Boulder stadium, where runners complete a lap around it to the finish line. I waited for Jon at the stadium as he ran the course.

From Walk-Jog to 6 Miles

After seeing how fun this seemed to partake in, I made it my goal to run the BOLDERBoulder myself in 2025. Despite my historic aversion to running, it seemed like a cool experience worth trying. So, around Labor Day, I began giving running a real try. (Jon and I had also been running the last little bit of many hikes we did that summer.)

I had to build myself up after dipping my toe in, starting by running for a few songs at a time and then taking breaks to walk in between. Once I had a few runs under my belt, I treated myself to a solid pair of running shoes and began running more regularly, aiming for once a week. I eventually reached a point where my minimum preferred run was 3 miles. Leading up to the race, I ran the 6.1-mile distance one time, while the majority of my runs were somewhere around 3-5 miles.

Waking Up and Lacing Up for My First 10k

On race day, Jon and I woke up around 5 am, got ourselves together, and made our way to Boulder. I put on some glitter freckles for a little bit of added fun. My group’s start time was around 7:15 am. Jon’s was before mine, as he was in a faster group. There was a chill in the air, and the sky was overcast, with rain on the horizon. The hope was that it wouldn’t come until the event was over.

Pressing Play and Hitting the Pavement

When the shot went off, it was time to start running. I had already started my Spring Run Vibes playlist a minute-ish before the set start time, so I wouldn’t have to worry. I started the tracking on my watch and began running alongside my crew.

After getting started, the doubt crept in. What did I sign myself up for? I thought. Sure, I’d run this distance before. It wasn’t like it was a half marathon, and I’d been running relatively often, but I still wondered how I’d manage the distance. Eventually, however, that feeling dissipated.

My pace went back and forth between fast-ish and a steady jog. I had spurts of motivation to run on the faster side, passing by other runners, interspersed with moments of slowing down. After my first mile, I saw on my watch that I had run it in 8:33 minutes. I had never run a mile that quickly before. Wow. I couldn’t believe it.

Rain, Shots, and Unicorns

The rain arrived after all. It started as a light mist, which honestly wasn’t so bad. It actually felt kinda refreshing. Soon, it turned into more defined drops, but it wasn’t heavily downpouring, thankfully. Some water got in my eyes, but it wasn’t so bad. Four songs in, “Unwritten” by Natasha Benningfield came on, which felt rather fitting. Yessss Natasha, I am, indeed, feeling the rain on my skin.

Throughout the course, many exciting elements made the race more fun. Yes, some people were handing out shots. No, I did not have any, because running after consuming alcohol sounds highly unpleasant. The booze was reserved for after the race. There were also various people playing live music, dancers, and of course, people holding fun signs and cheering on the runners. I remember a mom and her little girls dressed as unicorns, holding signs that said something about unicorn magic. It was so cute. All of these fun moments put a smile on my face throughout the race, making it all the more exciting. No longer was I questioning my choices. I was having fun, taking it in, and feeling proud of myself for being one of the runners.

The Final Stretch Through the Stadium

I ran and ran through Boulder, and before I knew it, I was in the home stretch. I approached the stadium among a swarm of other runners. This approach involved a slight incline. I’m so close. I couldn’t believe how fast the time had gone by. Soon, we were entering the stadium. Excitement was coursing through me.

We ran into the stadium and began the final push. It didn’t take long before I heard Jon, who had already finished, screaming my name and cheering me on. This gave me even more motivation and made me feel so good. As I got closer to the finish line, I pushed harder and gave it my all, running past a few runners in my swarm and through the finish line. I DID IT! I had to catch my breath. Then, I made my way inside to the post-race area, grabbing little cups of water and Gatorade that people were handing out near the entrance. The woman who handed me the Gatorade had to ask if I was okay, because I was breathing a bit hard. I was doing great.

I Did It!

My finish time was 55 minutes and 45 seconds. The one other time I ran 6.1 miles, it took me an hour and 7 minutes. My goal, my hope, was to finish the race in an hour or less. And I did it! I did it 12 minutes less than the last time I ran that distance. I was so, so happy!

Once inside, I quickly found Jon. The feeling I had was amazing. I was out of breath, but I was incredibly proud of myself. He gassed me up, as he does, which made me beam even more inside. We grabbed our little bags of treats, along with our free beer (yep, at like, 8 am). We chatted with a couple of friends who also ran once we found them, before getting the heck out of the stadium chaos and heading to brunch.

Post-Race Chill and Bloody Marys

The rain and cold were a lot more uncomfortable now that we weren’t running. We walked about 20 minutes to The Buff, where we put our name on the list. During the about 45-minute wait, Jon walked another 8 minutes to the car to grab our jackets.

Once we were seated for brunch, we ordered some drinks. Amazingly, they had a list of cocktails that were 99 cents. I enjoyed two Bloody Marys. (Sadly, they couldn’t make it a Bloody Maria at the 99-cent price.) For my meal, I ate the Buffaquiles.

When our bellies were full, we made the final walk back to the car and headed home. It may have been a gloomy day, but the BOLDERBoulder made it so much fun.

So, Maybe I Don’t Hate Running

I used to hate running. It wasn’t for me. But now, I have a 10K under my belt, and honestly, it was an amazing experience. I would love to participate in more races in the future, and I’ll likely run the BOLDERBoulder again. Maybe I’ll even get cRaZy 🤪and take a shot next time. We’ll see…

My Race Day Playlist

If you really want to put yourself in my shoes and get the full experience I had, here are the songs that played, in order, throughout my race.

Check Out My Run On Strava

Sunset Alpine Touring at Crested Butte: An Adventure to Remember

distance from denver: AROUND 4 HOURS

Gearing Up for My First Alpine Touring Adventure

I recently went on my first alpine-touring adventure at Crested Butte Mountain Resort! While I had previously skied St. Mary’s Glacier (a few times) and terrain off Berthoud Pass (once), this was different. During those earlier outings, I hiked up in hiking boots for St. Mary’s and ski boots at Berthoud Pass, so using a full touring setup was a completely new experience.

Jon got a touring setup last year and has done a few backcountry excursions. More recently, he started skinning at the resorts. After completing his first resort tour at Eldora, he enthusiastically told me I would love it. I was immediately interested.

🎿 Skinning refers to climbing uphill with “skins”—strips that stick to the bottom of your skis for traction.

Leading up to our recent trip to Crested Butte, Jon mentioned he wanted to do some sunset alpine touring at the resort. I was drawn in right away and called a ski shop in the area to inquire about renting a setup.

Touring setups differ from traditional ski setups in a few key ways, including the type of bindings and boots. A touring setup also includes skins. I was able to get a great deal at The Alpineer in town

Prepping for My First Tour

After checking into our hotel, we headed to the mountain, remembering to grab our headlamps. CB’s uphill policy allows skiers to skin up and ski in designated areas between 4:30 pm and 8:45 am. (Uphill access can vary by resort. Winter Park, for example, allows uphill access while the lifts are running.)

I got my boots on, ensured they were in walk mode, stuck the skins on my skis, and clipped into the skis. Jon helped me get the hang of my setup and clip in. With touring bindings, your heel is free during uphill ski mode, allowing you to climb more easily. There are also risers you can put down to raise your heels when climbing steeper hills.

Uphill Access: More Than Expected

We embarked on our sunset tour at 5:30 pm, climbing on the designated route as music was thumping from the base. We saw some others uphilling as well. Jon initially believed this would be a quick lap, as it didn’t seem we could go very far up. He even thought we might have time for two laps. Soon, however, we realized we could go much further than we initially thought.

Learning the Rhythm of Alpine Touring

Going uphill on skis is a very interesting experience. Jon advised me to slide the skis up rather than lift them off the ground. It definitely got my heart rate up, and it took some time to figure out, but it was really fun! Once I started to get more comfortable, I was feeling it. 😎

We climbed for a bit before Jon told me we had gained about 300 feet of elevation. I was having fun and feeling proud, but hearing we’d only ascended 300 feet bummed me out a little. Thankfully, time started to move faster as we climbed higher, and I couldn’t believe how quickly we gained elevation.

A Stunning Scene

The sun was setting, and the scene was beautiful. A hazy glow enveloped the mountains while orange crept into the sky. I couldn’t stop looking around and commenting on how cool this was. I must’ve said wow and oh my god a zillion times.

It was also pretty peaceful. Yes, there were other skiers out and about (but way fewer than during lift operations), and there were sometimes noises of snowcats, but it was still so calm and magical.

There’s something special about climbing up a mountain with skis on. I couldn’t help but think of when Jon talks about “earning your turns” while mountain biking.

🏔️ Fun Fact
The phrase “earn your turns” was coined in the 1970s by backcountry skiers who hiked up mountains to enjoy their hard-earned descents.

I love how touring uniquely combines hiking and skiing and adds a new twist to the resort experience. I felt very accomplished and happy as we continued our ascent. I excitedly mentioned that I could see myself getting into this. Jon knew I would feel this way.

From Skinning to Skiing

We finally reached the top of the uphill access, which is 1,661 feet of gain. This climb took us a total of 1 hour and 26 minutes–not bad! (See stats in the gallery below.)

It was time to transition. Of course, I had to snap some more pics before we did. I was starting to get chillier around this time. I had worn base layers, my melly, and my bib, with my gloves around my wrist. I felt pretty warm during the climb—almost too warm—but once we reached the top, I got cold, especially in my hands. Transitioning to downhill mode involved taking off my skis to remove the skins and then adjusting the bindings. The whole process took us about fifteen minutes (including taking our pictures).

We started the downhill portion of our adventure. I instantly felt super awkward. Since I wasn’t used to the bindings, I was a little shaky. The snow was also a bit crusty, in my opinion (it’s been a weird season). But I took it slow and steady, and I eventually felt more comfortable.

From ‘Wow’ to ‘Oops’

We skied and skied down pretty low-key terrain in the dwindling daylight. This is just so cool, I thought. The high didn’t last forever, though. Following the path down should’ve been easy, but we quickly got confused about the correct route and went the wrong way. We found ourselves at the bottom of the East River Express lift, and ropes were blocking the way down. Big yikes. So, after we had been skiing for 16 minutes, we had to skin a second time to get up and out of where we ended up.

I had been so blissful and excited when we were skiing. Unfortunately, our mistake made the whole thing take much longer than planned. I begrudgingly transitioned to uphill mode once more. At least it was more practice (I guess!). Exhaustion and frustration hit me hard.

An Extra Hour of Skinning (And a Mental Battle)

We had to skin for about another hour. Jon kept giving me progress updates, hoping to reassure me that we were almost there. All I heard was, “We still have to go up more”. My emotions were a little scattered. As the sky turned dark, sprinkled with stars, and the nearly full moon shone, I was caught between annoyance that we were still out at this hour and appreciation for how cool this was.

I decided we would need some beer when we were done, even though it was a Wednesday. We also realized that during our first downhill round, I completely forgot to switch my boots to ski mode, which could have certainly been another contributing factor to how awkward it felt.

At Last—The End of the Climb

Finally, after what felt like ten thousand years, we made it to the top of the Painter Boy lift, where a sign noted the way down to the base. When we got there, we began transitioning for the final time. This time, I made sure to flip my boots into ski mode.

A Run-In with the Snowcat Operator

We ran into a snowcat operator, who said we were not supposed to be there. We explained that we had made a mistake and expressed how sorry we were, and he was understanding. He even said he’d had to tell other skiers they were in the wrong place, so we weren’t the only ones. He wished us well and went on with his job.

The Final Descent—For Real This Time

We made our way down and back to the base. Thankfully, this took less than ten minutes. Boy, was I relieved to be off the mountain.

From Grumpy to Grateful

The whole activity ended up being 2,723 feet of elevation gain (remember when we thought it would be a short excursion?). It took us about 3.5 hours, meaning we didn’t return to the bottom until 9 pm. Phew!

We took off our gear and began walking back to the hotel, feeling so accomplished and breathing sighs of relief. Jon mentioned it was probably good for me to get that extra practice. He had also snapped some amazing photos of the starry night on the hill. Gotta find the silver lining! And what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger or whatever. Yes, I was a grumpy girl for a minute there, but it was an experience I will never forget.

A Bartender Saves the Day & Hotel TV

We had to figure out a dinner plan. Since it was past 9 pm in a small mountain town, most restaurants or bar kitchens had already closed. Luckily, a lovely bartender made an exception and allowed us to place a food order to-go. An angel in the flesh! She was so sweet (and she got a good tip). We enjoyed hazy beers while waiting for our food, which we brought to the hotel and ate in the common area.

Though it was late and we were exhausted, we still had to shower. Once we were cozy in our PJs, it was time for our favorite–hotel TV! We landed on House Hunters, a classic. Eventually, we switched the channel to Magnolia Network, where we enjoyed some Fixer Upper: Welcome Home. Despite being so tired, I was pretty invested in the outcome. We didn’t go to bed until around 2 am. It sure was a long day!

New Hobby Unlocked

So, would I go alpine touring again? You bet! I want to get a touring setup and do this more often. Before the chaos, I was really into it. Even during the chaos, I had moments of wonder. You live, and you learn!

As a newbie, I especially enjoyed being at the resort. I want to try backcountry trips at some point, but there’s a lot more risk involved. Resort uphilling feels a lot more accessible and safe. Plus, it was a fun new way to experience the resort. I look forward to getting more into uphill skiing and continuing to try ~all the things~ this side of the country has to offer!

Make sure you have a solid understanding of maps and where you can go! I definitely wouldn’t recommend going off-course. You are not allowed to, for one. We found the joy in the journey, but you kind of have to in these times. So if you’re going to be inspired, be inspired by trying new things and finding beauty in struggles, not in doing things you are not supposed to.