Blog

Unusually, we hadn’t been to the White Mountains in many months — since the beginning of July when we attempted a Moonlit Presidential Traverse (see post). Our chores list took over this summer with the garden and the bees and the...

The plan was to take the year off of ultras. I was burned out from training for and running my first 50 miler last May (the Ice Age 50 in Wisconsin) and was looking forward to my first summer in...

The Grand Tetons were on the docket for my second trip to The West after our Colorado adventure last summer. This time, we were meeting up with Cody’s parents and sister for a week of wildlife spotting and shorter hikes....

The week leading up to this, weather forecast looked great and the moon was reaching full, so we decided to take the chance to attempt a Moonlit Presidential Traverse. The day before, the Mount Washington Weather Observatory issued a slightly...

What a great day: my first Mount Washington Road Race, a nice hike down with new friends, getting to spend some time off the track with my running club, great weather (despite the dreadful warnings of below zero temps at...

For my 28th birthday, I wanted to hike. Luckily, my friend Caitlin had recently quit her job to go hike the AT and so I caught her before she left with some time off to go with me. The weather...

This was a rough day in the Whites. We had plans in the area around 7pm and so wanted to fill our day with time in the mountains, when we probably would have been happier doing something shorter. Alas, we...

Pretty straightforward hike up to Liberty and Flume. The trail was stable enough to bareboot it for a few miles before we got to the luge trail where many chose to sled rather than hike down, creating a pretty steep...

We really know how to pick ‘em: Ladies’ Weekend at the base of the Presidentials fell on the windiest day recorded atop Mount Washington in the last decade - 148 mph according to the Mount Washington Observatory. Plus, I had...

It’s always fun bringing friends up to mountains we love. This time, we drove up with our pal, Will and his roommate, Blaine to hike a pretty ambitious peak: Mount Madison, the 5th tallest in New Hampshire. Will had done...

Mount Tecumseh is a short but tough hike up a well-trafficked ski mountain. The parking lot was full of skiers, but we had enough of Mount Tecumseh Trail to ourselves. The first mile meanders through the forest gently, while the...

Mount Cube holds a curious spot in my heart, being the one and only mountain I’ve suffered an injury resulting in a trip to the emergency room for.

Some backstory: When I was just earning my trail stripes in March...

… you still end up with an epic time in the Whites.

The plan was to do a Presidential Traverse — hiking all the way from Applachia to Crawford Notch. Our best hiking mate, Doug, turned up at the call...

Winter is here in the Whites and I couldn’t be happier! What a beautiful, albeit windy day to tromp around in the snow. My car’s thermometer read low 20s at both the start and finish, so I reckon the wind...

When our weekend commitments suddenly got cancelled at 10pm on Friday night, we both over-enthusiastically jumped for this epic day in the northern Pemigawasset. We considered the holiday weekend during peak leaf peeping, and this loop fit the bill: a...

Objectively, the weather was excellent for running through the New England autumn all day, but when you compare it to last year’s Vermont 50 (see post), it was just heavenly. However, I was still nervous going into this race because...

What to do when your little brother visits New England for the first time? Bringing him up the tallest of the 4000 footers, but not before summiting a couple other very tall peaks? Why not. I will preface this post...

This is one of my favorite hikes in the Whites. The views of the Presidentials are amazing, it’s a challenging hike elevation-wise, and there doesn’t tend to be a lot of people up here, even during peak season, and my...

This was a great loop around Moosilauke, especially with all the rain we’ve gotten this week rushing in the brook and making all the green so vibrant. It was also a refreshing change to see Moosilauke on a nice day...

Where White River Wilderness, Colorado

Distance 49 miles**including Snowmass and Haystack Mountains, 40ish otherwise

Elevation Gain/Loss 13,600ft with above peaks

Duration 5 days, 4 nights

Partners in Crime Cody and Doug

Daily Reports Day OneDay TwoDay ThreeDay FourDay Five

Back...

What an awesome day. Beautiful trails, beautiful weather, views for miles and the trail (mostly) to ourselves.

At 20 miles, this out-and-back is a long hike for a casual day hiker. However, it’s pretty doable if you keep a steady...

The Covered Bridges Half Marathon (CBHM) is a famous race around here. It attracts many folks from the area and from New York and Boston for its scenic route past idyllic Vermontyness, and for its approachability as a “flat” (or...

I left my hike planning until the last minute. After a busy week moving, traveling, then hosting company less than a week after moving into our new house, and with an inkling of a chest cold, I wasn’t sure a...

The forecast called for gusty wind and rain all day, but we decided to go out anyways because it was Cody’s birthday, Doug was in town, and we had gotten the best of the forecast in the past.

The hike...

This, my first 50 mile ultramarathon, was also a homecoming for me. On our journey to La Grange in southeast Wisconsin, we spent a night with my husband Cody’s parents, stopped by his grandma’s for a pot of coffee, met...

Ice Age 50 Ultramarathon Packing List

Tonight kicks off an epic long weekend for me (and my awesome supportive husband, Cody) as we embark on a journey by bus, plane, car, foot and then do it all again in reverse....

With a forecast of light rain in the AM, then heavy rain in the PM, and being solidly into shoulder season, we set out on our hike today with very low expectations. We were happily surprised. Sure, we had our...

The 26-year-old me the 20-year-old version wouldn’t recognize – a happy runner.

Until relatively recently, I never “got” runners. Growing up, with the exception of the mandatory mile during the fitness test, I didn’t run, and couldn’t see why anyone...

The weather looked great – bluebird skies, warmer temps, and little wind – and we chose the day before to meet Doug at the Pine Bend Brook Trailhead to hike the Tripyramids. I checked the trail conditions reports right before...

The forecast for the weekend was a foot of snow and sleet and other non-springtime terrible, but we wanted some mountain time, so we chose our closest 4000 footer, Mt. Moosilauke, and our usual route and set out. In hindsight,...

Runamuck was my second 50k after the Vermont 50 last September [here]. Even though this was my first time running Runamuck, the course was very familiar since I have done many long runs through this beautiful area.

We got a...

What a sunny beautiful day to be out hiking in the Whites. The one mile stretch on Greeley Ponds trail was easy and packed snow. Mt. Osceola trail was where the climb began, and a steep one it was. The...

We wanted to hike Franconia Ridge today, but we were glad we made it to Lafayette at least. Conditions above treeline and especially at the summit were incredible. We were in total whiteness. I couldn’t tell the ground a foot...

I got to spend some time over New Years 2017-2018 adventuring around Central Mexico with some of my best pals, Spencer and Nat, and my husband, Cody. We hiked Malinche, Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba, plus spent some good times...

Frigus is a snowshoeing festival put on by The Endurance Society with the options for 5k, 15k and marathon distances. I was intrigued when I stumbled across the Endurance Society’s website while looking for local races. According to their mission...

This was the second time we attempted this route in a few months. I think we always pick it when the weather’s not looking hot, which leads to it being pretty unpleasant through no real fault of its own. This...

This was the third time Rye and I have hiked Tom, Field and Willey as it’s our go-to for a pretty difficult hike on days when I don’t want to be above treeline. Looking at the weather, strong winds leading...

As I’m in between jobs for the next two weeks, I hope to hike as much as I can physically handle and take advantage of good weather weekdays to get after it. The first hike of what I’m calling “funemployment”...

Though we only live about an hour from the trailhead, and I’ve run a race up the Killington ski slopes before, neither of us had ever summited the second tallest of Vermont’s five 4000 footers. We decided to take Sherburne...

After a failed attempt to summit Mt. Washington and Monroe (see post here), we set out again to try to summit a much less exposed (and much closer to home) 4000 footer – Mt. Moosilauke (4,802 ft). This was the...

The plan was to hike up to Mt Monroe + Mt Washington via Glen Boulder, Davis Path, Crawford Path, and down Nelson Crag Trail, which would have been a new one for us. The parking lot at Pinkham Notch was...

We stayed the night before heading to basecamp at the Servimont lodge in Tlachichuca. The lodge is right in the middle of town in a beautiful old soap factory with exposed beams. It’s filled with old machinery, and decorated with...

I had been training since May for this race and the day was finally here! My friend, Doug, who was racing too, and his girlfriend, Irene were staying with us. We woke up at 5:15am and got ready in the...