Adventure #31: Finishing the Blog

When I started this journey, I didn't really think about how much work the blog itself would take. While I am a decent writer, I'm not someone who immediately enjoys the process. I am proud of my ability to write well, but it frequently seems like more of a chore. Additionally, with a piece like this, I've struggled to identify with who my audience is (besides my mom) and how to connect in a way that makes it compelling to other people without just having it read like a list of yelp reviews or bragging about all the cool stuff I do.

The more I wrote, though, the more I realized that this writing isn't actually for anybody else-- it's for me. My writing didn't have to be about pleasing the audience (although it's nice when it does) but more about recording my honest experiences over the course of a year. I've struggled with diaries, journals, and blogs in the past (never knowing how to start or having the fortitude to make it to the end) but after I forced myself to keep a journal on the Wonderland Trail I realized how nice it is to be able to look back and re-visit my experiences from that specific perspective and in the moment that I experienced them.

I also liked that this had a clearly defined end. 30 Adventures. 30 blog posts. That's it. This was a self-imposed obligation and nobody I know would have criticized me, or pulled my funding (not that anybody was funding this other than me), or stopped being my friend for not finishing. However, having a deadline encouraged me to keep up with my work--both of writing AND adventuring. I may have gotten to many of these events or activities at some point in my life, but a big factor in making this decision in this year was convincing myself to stop waiting for someday to happen. I want to celebrate the moments that we have EVERY day by taking advantage of the new opportunities that are presented to us without trying to make it something "special". When I get a new notebook I usually skip the first few pages, afraid to mar them with something less than perfection. I had my first LUSH bath bomb in my bathroom cabinet for over a year because I felt like it was a luxury that had to be saved for a special occasion. What I've taken away from this is that special occasions like birthdays (especially ones that end in 0s) or anniversaries should certainly be celebrated and honored, but the ordinariness of any given day shouldn't hold us back from the extraordinary or the special. Any day can be extraordinary if we only find the courage to make it so.

I recently had the idea to look into publishing this blog in a small book, as I think I would like to have a physical copy to put on my shelf and look back at many years from now. There will likely be typos, and photos I may find unflattering, and I will likely be more critical of my work than anybody else would be. But it would be tangible, and it would be permanent, and it would be mine.

I've toyed around with the idea of continuing an adventure blog-- a place to post about spectacular hikes, or my travel and hiking adventures. If I do, I will likely start it on a new page, as I like the sense of completeness that comes with this final post. I will not likely set any deadlines or obligations (unless, of course, I feel like I need it for some reason or another) but I hope that I will be able to carry this sense of adventure with me for many more years to come, and remember the gratification that comes with revisiting my adventures through my own written lens. None of us know exactly how long we have here, so I might as well make the most of my time while I've got the chance. And while I'd much rather spend most of my time hiking, or traveling, or taking opportunities as they present themselves to me, maybe it's not so bad to slow down and reflect on it in writing every once in a while.

A few approximate statistics: 

• Waivers signed: 6
• Airplane rides: 11 
• Calories in one deep fried butter ball: 114
• Miles hiked:141.7
• Money raised for SheJumps (as of May 5th, 2019): $2,702.90 
• Axe throwing games I won: 2
• Total blog posts: 32
• Total word count: 19,728 (copied and pasted into a word document, it's 115 pages, single spaced, size 12 Times New Roman Font!)

Future Adventure ideas:

• Climb Mt. Rainier (to be done July 2019)
• Rafting the Grand Canyon (to be done in August 2019)
• Going to Portugal and Spain with students (to be done in June 2020)
• Going to the 2020 Olympics in Japan (to be done in July 2020)
• Visiting all the National Parks (this one will take a while)
• Taking a trapeze class
• Complete another "challenge" (See 50 plays in a year? Read 50 books in a year? Take at least one camping trip every month?)
• Go to a rock climbing gym
• Zone out in a float-tank session
• Paragliding and parasailing (yes, they're different)
• Attend performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
• Get a Master's Degree
• Hike the Tour du Mont Blanc
• Walk the Camino de Santiago

This will be an ever changing and growing list, and I'm definitely open to suggestions

Thanks to all 42 of you who adventured with me: 
Mike C.
Mike C. (a different one)
Kris C.
Nathan C.
Chris D.
Margaret E.
Derrek G.
Sandy H.
Briana K.
Joe K.
Tim L.
Adriana L.
Alison L.
Shannon M. L.
Spencer M.
Leslie N.
Frank O.
Mattie O.
Cassondra S.
Reece S.
Henry S.
Rebecca S.
Steve S.
Rebekah S.
Mike S.
Jessica S.
Russ S. 
Nikky S.
Jed T.
Rob W.
Alex W.
Kate W.

And my 10 students who came to London with me:
Gage B.
Gabe B.
Payton C.
Molly L.
Esperanza M-V.
Marilyn M.
Jason P.
Gabriella R.
Julia S.
Kyle T.

Adventure #30: Ziplining

I did it! 30 Adventures in 365 Days!

The final adventure was going ziplining! While I had a great afternoon whizzing through the trees at top speed, this is definitely something I'd look forward to doing more when I travel, so I could learn more about the natural world of a place that I didn't grow up in.

Canopy Tours NW is quite the operation, and was a great place to give it a try for the first time though! We started by signing a liability waiver, which always sets the mood for what you're getting into. Part of the orientation included reassurance that the lines are designed to carry 26,000 pounds (yeah, you read that right) and that we'll be clipped into two separate lines at the same time as a safety precaution. Definitely nothing to worry about here. We all stepped into our harnesses, buckled on our helmets, and loaded into a vintage Swiss army vehicle called a Unimog. We rumbled our way up through the Kristoferson Family Farm land to the top of the hill where our adventure would start.

Safety first!

The Unimog!

The day included six different lines, all with their own unique designs to consider--line one introduced us to the breaking system, and line two included a running stop. Lines three and four both had the highest platforms which causes your gut to drop just a little as you step off the edge trying to convince your stomach that you don't weigh more than 26,000 pounds. Line five was the longest (660 feet long which is larger than the Space Needle is tall!) and line six required a very tight cannonball position to make it all the way across.

We also got two brief walks through the woods where our guides--Paddy and Jenna-- spoke about the local flora, and even gave us a taste of Miner's Lettuce (Mike and I both agreed it needed some ranch dressing). They also spoke about Trilliums, Nettles, Douglas Firs, and Western Red Cedars. This is where I think I'd enjoy learning more about a place I'm not so familiar with, as I had already learned a lot about the plant life in the area. It was still a very nice way to see the forest from a different perspective than I normally do.

Miner's Lettuce: better with ranch

The final descent from a cedar tree involved stepping through a large hole in the platform, and using a DEUS controlled descent device to slowly lower us to the ground. This device was like a cross between belaying and using an elevator--while we hung only from our harness, the machine did all the work to slow us down to a manageable speed. All of the rides were very smooth, and required little to no technical skill from the riders. If the weather was better around here, I would love to commute to work via zipline!

A nice break in the middle of the woods!

At the end of the day, I went to meet my family for drinks at Bell Harbor Marina and dinner at Red Cedar and Sage in the Pike Place Market. I highly recommend the prime rib! All-in-all, an excellent end to a fantastic year.

Stay tuned for one more post wrapping up all my experiences this year!

Adventure #29: Escape Room

I have long stated that I'm not a huge fan of puzzles, so why I decided to do an escape room, I'm not sure, but something about it felt different, and I'm SO glad that I leaned into that feeling!

The evening started out a little rough, as I struggled to even to find the entrance to The Escape Artist in West Seattle. I definitely walked by the door about three times before I found it...not a good omen for the evening.

The sign isn't subtle. I'm just oblivious. 

Usually, my aversion to puzzles is that I see no point; I find them to be time wasters, with no real reward. A jigsaw puzzle yields a pretty picture, but the picture is also on the front of the box. A metal ring puzzle yields a ring, but the entire purpose is then to put the ring back into the puzzle. See? Pointless. A piece of Ikea furniture is often like a puzzle, but you usually end up with a functional and stylish piece of furniture, which is much better than a picture, or a metal ring (and there are usually meatballs and delicious lingonberry sauce involved).

In the escape room, however, each puzzle solved is incredibly gratifying, because it leads to the next puzzle, which ultimately leads towards a team focused goal--"escaping". And I am ALL about collaboration, communication, and creative problem solving. As a theatre teacher and improvisor, most of my career is collaboration, communication, and creative problem solving, and I love getting to work with a variety of people to find the best way to solve a problem (whether that problem is how to design a set with multiple locations that will fit on one tiny stage, how to push a student off of a "building", or just how to solve a problem like Maria). Challenging ourselves to work together to solve a variety of puzzles (physical wooden puzzles, math problems, mazes, decoding symbols, riddles, and more) was a fascinating way to get to know each other better, and think outside the box a bit. While I was not feeling terribly optimistic about escaping at first, I was optimistic about having fun, so success was inevitable.

The leaderboard for each of their three games: Trapped in Space, The 13th Floor, and SpellStruck

The time limit also added a bit of pressure, and encouraged us to move quickly. There is a leader-board with the best times for each of their three rooms, but that was the least of my worries. The instructions we were given made it seem like I should be more focused on keeping my temper in check, and not kicking, hitting, punching, yelling or biting (yes...biting) my teammates. I hate to think of the scenarios that the game masters have had to deal with as people struggle through each challenge.

Our adventure started as our game master set the scene--we were playing the role of avid campers who had gone out to explore in the forest of West Seattle, and while there have been rumors about a coven of witches that may be involved in the disappearance of people through the years, we paid no heed. Suddenly, we found ourselves TRAPPED in their cabin, with only an hour to escape before our souls would be gone forever!

There is a major lack of photos in this post, despite ALL of the adventure we had, because the people who create these games work very hard to create a variety of challenges, and revealing those secrets online is a big no-no. I can state though that the room was beautifully and intricately designed, with great attention to detail, and crafted in ways that you can't tell if something is supposed to open or move, or light up until (like magic) it does. They also sneakily added a personal touch, with a personalized "Happy 29th Adventure" sign in part of the room!

In the end...WE ESCAPED! And, not only did we escape, but we actually took the 5th position on the leader board with a time of 39:38! We had a few hiccups along the way and used two of our three offered clues, but in the end, our recorded time beat out the previous holder by 20 seconds! This room has a 30% success rate overall, so I'm very proud of what we were able to do. Going with a group of people that I knew and trusted was a huge part of our success. We were able to divide and conquer the puzzles, so we were working on multiple aspects at any given time. Trying to do this with only two brains (rather than five) would have made it much tougher. There's also something to be said about having too many cooks in the kitchen though, so it was great to have the perfect balance.

SUCCESS!

The Escape Artist has two other rooms with two completely separate themes, and I would love to go solve them too, so if anybody wants to join me, let me know! I'm definitely hooked! I've already started trying to think of other potential scenarios that would be fun to "escape" from (A Soviet war bunker? A sinking ship? One that requires complete silence like The Quiet Place or blindfolds like Birdbox? A prop/furniture storage room in a haunted theatre?) and the designer in me would love to be in on the ground floor of planning something like this. Additionally, they'll update the rooms with new themes and new challenges in about a year, so there will certainly be more to come!

ONE MORE ADVENTURE TO GO!

Adventure #28: Seattle Meowtropolitan

Let me just say that this has been on my to-do list for a VERY long time, and I am so glad that it finally happened! Cat Cafes have long been popular in Japan, but have recently taken the US by storm. It's a beautiful way to get out and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and surround yourself with some of the finest creatures on earth--kitties!

My hot chocolate!

Seattle Meowtropolitan is run by the Regional Animal Services of King County, and offers people the opportunity to get a great cup of coffee, and love on some kitties that are ready for adoption! There is a small fee that includes a beverage from their coffee stand, and admission for an hour into the cat lounge, which is full of perches to climb on, bridges to navigate, soft blankets to lay on, and toys galore!

"But Katy", you may say, "you already have a cat!". Of course Delilah is the love of my life, and I would never do anything to upset her rule in our home, but it was still a really fun experience to see such a wide variety of cats all in one space. It was also unexpectedly relaxing. I can't remember the last time I went and had a cup of coffee without also having some sort of meeting or agenda or getting it on the run. Just sitting and enjoying the atmosphere of the room was definitely an unexpected benefit.

Seattle Meowtropolitan also offers some other interactions including Purr & Paint events, and Meowga! Definitely something to look into!

I think my favorite part of visiting the cats though, was knowing this is a great way for them to meet potential future owners in a low-stress environment that allows the cats to showcase their personality. Mike and I fell in love with a cantankerous older lady named Abby who loved to sit near people, but was not interested in being pet. While it may be hard for people to bond with her while she's behind the bars in a traditional adoption location, it was easy here to see how sweet and loving she could be (as long as it was on her own terms). They have an adoption tally hung on the wall proudly proclaiming that 196 cats have been adopted through their business since it's opening!

Abby, keeping her distance

I'll definitely be returning to this location (potentially for some yoga), and even if I'm not in the market for another feline friend at home, it will definitely be a nice way to get away from the stresses of every day life, and snuggle some little ones that need a little extra love.

Adventure #27: Axe Throwing

Sometimes it's nice to just do something that makes you feel like a total and complete badass. If that's the case, then I highly recommend throwing some axes around! Axe Kickers in White Center was a fantastic place to spend a nice weeknight, and learn a new skill.

Axe throwing isn't about strength (although some is required), but more about form. Mike mentioned that it was a lot like golf in that aspect. Figuring out where and how to stand, how to comfortably throw it consistently, and focus on smoothly moving through the throw helped a lot.

This is the first time I got it to stick!

Baby's first bulls-eye!

It's also a very casual and relaxed atmosphere. On weekends it tends to get quite crowded, but we had plenty of space to ourselves, and an hour and a half of throwing was exactly what we needed. We were also given a court that has the targets projected (rather than painted) so we were able to switch up what we were throwing at (targets, zombies, etc). I don't think any of us are at the skill level to join the league yet, but it would certainly be fun to come watch some people who are really skilled at this do it right!

It stuck, so it counts! 

When you throw it underhand, it sticks upside down!  

Ready to throw!

This is DEFINITELY something I'm interested in doing again, so let me know if you want to go!

Adventure #26: The Appalachian Trail

April's hike is a DOOZY! This one has been in the works for a while, and I doubt that I'll ever have the gumption (or time) to hike the entire AT, but I'm definitely interested in seeing more! I'd love to hike sections through national parks (as I earn my badges, of course), and this would be a great excuse for me to get to a few states on the East Coast I haven't managed to visit just yet!

It was wonderful to visit Shannon and Tim (and Driver) and I'm definitely going to have to find time to head back that direction again soon (LOTS of historic sites run by the National Park Service in that area!). Packing for this trip was a fascinating adventure as well-- I've never had to fly with things like trekking poles, a fragile tent, and food for 5 days, so it certainly took some mental gymnastics!

Below is the journal I kept on the trail (45+ miles of trail in Pennsylvania) , and a few select pictures of my trip. Can't wait to get back in my tent again soon!

DAY ONE
We got off to a meandering start, after staying in one of the most strangely decorated Airbnbs I've ever experienced. There was a giant fish pillow, a taxidermy Canada Goose, and a fair number of skulls giving it a hunting lodge vibe in the middle of a quaint rural town in Pennsylvania. We had a spectacular breakfast at a tiny, cash-only Greasy Spoon, and listened to the locals talk about how new motors are "too environmentally friendly". The cook was so excited to see someone other than her regulars, that she offered us some spoons full of her creamed, chipped beef-- I think I'll pass next time, but I managed to politely choke it down.

We shuffled the cars around (so as to have a vehicle at the end) and hit the trail around 11:00 am. and plodded our way south. We stopped for a nice break around the Bear Rocks viewpoint, and really scrambled over the Knife's Edge ride, which required the use of all four limbs at times, and promised a quick end to our adventure if we weren't careful. We all sighed in relief when we were done with that section, particularly for Driver, the Springer Spaniel.

The trail is rocky, and it's often like working your way down a riverbed without the water. It makes for slow going, but at least my brain isn't bored! We reached the Allentown camp around 5:30, and claimed the shelter--a first for Shannon and Tim, as having Driver usually means they want to contain him in a tent, but we'd had the trail to ourselves, and decided to risk setting up in the shelter to avoid the hassle of setting up and breaking down the tents. IT was comfy, dry, and memorable, and much easier once Shannon, Tim, and Driver all decided to sleep on the floor together, instead of utilizing the bunk :)

A great first day on the AT!

"Strolling" along the Knife's Edge ridge!

Now that I know what they're called, I have an affinity for cadastrals. 

The Allentown Shelter was the perfect place to stay on night one!

DAY TWO
A leisurely start for day two was welcome as we struggled to put our packs on saddle-sore hips and shoulders. A local volunteer came up to camp to do some minor maintenance and check the log. Breakfast in the sun was great, and we refilled water at the slow trickling spring down the hill from camp. Said hello to a frog by the water, and then headed out for 7.4 miles along the trail.

The rocky trail continued, and the trail along the ridge gave good views of the valley below. The trees are mostly bare, and the trail is littered with last year's detritus--spring isn't here quite yet, despite the warm weather. We did encounter a brief thunderstorm that dropped just enough rain to make us grab our jackets. Glad I packed it!

The Eckville shelter is about 200 yards off the trail, and is right along the road we cross. It's on a property next to a cute house, and has a charging station, flushing toilet, and even a shower in the warm season! The property is owned by the National Park Service, and I'm sure it was donated to them for this exact purpose. A little strange to be so close to civilization, but definitely part of the adventure. WE'll be up and out early tomorrow for our longest day on the trail!

Good morning frog!

The Eckville Shelter and camping area is staffed by a volunteer who lives here. Note the AT Logo on the screen door!

DAY THREE
This chilly morning brought an alarm, a quick breakfast, a last visit to the flushie, and a climb out of the valley up another ridge. Temps had dropped to around freezing last night, and it was a struggle to get out of the cozy sleeping bag. While the climb pulled on our still-heavy packs, our muscles warmed up quickly and it felt really good to be hitting my stride. We took a nice long break at the Pinnacle, which offered beautiful views of the valley we'd just climbed out of, and then led us back down the other side through the local watershed area. While the viewpoints are nice, the trail has a strange deadness to it with the naked trees and leaf-strewn trail. It's strange to think of how many daffodils and cherry tree's I've seen at home, but very little liveliness here. We found a small patch of beautiful purple flowers at a shelter we weren't staying at as we attempted to use the privy (no luck) and filled our water for the night. The site we were headed to involved another sharp climb, and had a questionable water source (read: nonexistent), but Shannon and I made the most of it by singing a few choice Sigma Kappa songs. We finally found our wide spot on the trail, and plopped ourselves down after 12+ miles of hiking. Dinner was a quick and quiet affair, as even Driver began to show signs of exhaustion. We ate. We cleaned. We hung our food, and we are all in bed by 7:30. Tomorrow brings another long day, and probably some Aleve too.

The view (and "trail"), approaching the Pinnacle

A gorgeous day for a hike!

DAY FOUR
12 miles followed by another 12 miles is a lot of miles for just two feet...and even the four feet that Driver has. The day started with an early morning climb, followed by a steep drop into the small hamlet of Port Clinton. The sleepy town showed very little signs of life--eerily so: cars parked, drapes drawn, a lone dog barking, but not a single visible person. We finally turned a corner and found a hotel/restaurant willing to let us use their facilities and fill our water bottles as last night's spring had been unlocated (until we crossed it on the trail this morning, of course). After crossing a bridge, and a busy train yard, we had a STEEP climb back out of the town, and it was slow going. While I can usually find a good rhythm and slowly churn my way uphill on a smooth set of switchbacks, a straight shot up the hill with uneven stairs is exhausting and rhythmless, making me feel even more ineffective. Somehow, we all dug deep and climbed up for about a mile before finally leveling out. We took a long lunch break (read: nap) at the Auburn Lookout, and rested our roughed-up feet. Knowing we had about six miles to push on before camp, we continued the slog along the (seemingly drunkenly) meandering trail, commenting on the trail maker's lack of directional logic.

The trail would wind back and forth through an endless expanse of similar looking trees, before suddenly turning to bomb straight down a rock slide. I got a nice reminder that I'm much more effective when I fuel and hydrate myself properly--pushing on through our last bit we finally came to Eagle's Nest camp, scarfed our wonderfully warm dinners, and were in bed by 7:30 again. Long days, but definitely worth the memories made. Looking forward to a short hike in the morning, followed by milkshakes and a long shower!

Waiting for the train to move so we can start our climb out of Port Clinton

Some maps are clearer than others. 

DAY FIVE
Back to civilization today. The hike out was brief, and rather uneventful, with few stops along the trail for vistas or unique rock formations. It really begins to give a sense of scale for just how long and large this trail is. While I'm accustomed to day hikes that always give some sort of "reward" (waterfall, lake, overlook, etc.), it's a little greedy to think that EVERY day on the trail would be sprinkled with these beauties. While we were tentative to voice our concerns about whether or not the car would still be there, we all heaved a sigh of relief when we saw the car, patiently wating for our return, still in the parking lot after five days of being "abandoned". After driving back to our trailhead, and sending Tim off to Gamblepalooza, Shannon, Driver, and I set out for Alexandria. We stopped for burgers at Wendy's, and ice cream at a nearby KOA Kampground, and ate in the car in an attempt to not offend people with our trail-made scent. The evening was spent with shampoo, laundry, and a little Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Hulu. An excellent (and relaxing) end to a really spectacular trip. It's definitely not an easy journey out here, but I'm already looking forward to my next section of the AT!

Seeing blazes and the AT Logo is always like a little encouragement. "Keep going friend! You're going the right way!"

WENDYS!

BONUS HIKES!
I spent a weekend with a few friends out in a cabin near Crystal Mountain. We hiked up to Goat Falls one gorgeous sunny/snowy morning, and it was magical. It's one of those places that makes you understand why people fall in love with the Pacific Northwest. Lush, and green, and full of water--we couldn't have asked for a better morning!

I also did a training hike up Mt. Si with Christina--one of the women I'll be climbing Rainier with this summer! We met Margo on her way down too. Mt. Si was not a new hike for either of us, but it was a great evening, and a fantastic way to connect with a new friend before summiting THE BIG ONE in July!

Adventure #25: Seahurst Park

Sometimes, when you're sick, going a few miles down the road to a public park is going to have to count as a hike.

Gotta fuel up for the "trail"

I was recovering from a nasty cold that had been sweeping through my cast and crew, I was exhausted from producing a musical, and the weather had been fairly crappy leaving me with a great desire to be a lump on my couch. I knew I had to get a hike in for March though, so I soldiered out for a brief solo stroll to Seahurst Park!

It's relatively close to my house, but seeing as I had never been there before, it counted! It was nice to be reminded that we have so many stewards of our lands. There are SO MANY different levels of land management (all of which are overworked and under-funded) so while National Parks will always hold a special place in my heart, it's a great reminder to know that there are State and Local authorities that are also looking to create beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy.

The park also is home to an Environmental Science Center and Marine Tech Lab!

Seahurst has several picnic shelters, a great waterfront walking path, beaches to be combed, and plenty of driftwood for forts too. It was really nice to see families out enjoying the sun breaks, runners stretching their legs, photographers working during golden hour, and even a few flowers beginning to peak out for spring.

The first signs of Spring!

Needs a blanket and a good book.

This may not be my most memorable hike this year, but I'm very glad I got out to do it! I promise, April's hike will more than make up for the lack of mileage here :)

Adventure #24: Tunnel To Viaduct 8k

So, as it turns out, one of the hardest parts of this whole adventure thing is keeping up with the blog!

February is notorious for it's poor weather, long dark days, and I'm also wrapped up in producing a musical, so my adventures were pretty sparse for this month, and my interest in hiking was at an all time low. Fortunately, I had friends at Jet City Improv convince me to sign up for the Tunnel to Viaduct 8k, so I'm counting that as my "hike" for the month!

There's nothing that says hiking has to be in the deep woods, and this was definitely unexplored territory, as this event allowed the first citizens (not construction workers) to pass through the new HWY 99 tunnel, and on foot no less! I have very few pictures from this event, as I was actually running the entire time, and didn't want to break my stride. I had hoped I would be able to jog at least 5k, but felt very proud that I was able to complete the whole thing!

The Jet City crew!

This was easily one of the most poorly organized races that I have ever been a part of. There was a severe lack of restroom facilities both at the start/finish line, and along the course. There was a shocking lack of medical professionals (although there were cops on bicycles spaced about every 200 yards inside the tunnel almost DARING people to try their hand at graffiti on the shiny tile walls). and there was no regulation in terms of group pacing. There will obviously be some people who are slower than others, but the number of people walking with toddlers and strollers in a group that was supposed to have an 11:00 minute mile pace was astounding and frustrating as we were all bottlenecking through a narrow passage underground. They scheduled less than 10 minutes between each corral's start time, and which quickly led to being almost an hour behind schedule. They didn't order enough medals for everyone who finished.

That being said, it was a fascinating way to experience something that Seattle has been talking about for what feels like decades. Everything inside the tunnel was shiny and clean, and had that new smell of fresh paint and chemicals. It was very interesting to compare it to the viaduct, which was crumbling in places and covered in moss. I felt like I was experiencing secondhand nostalgia, as there were so many people that talked about how this has been a part of their daily commute, or how they remembered when it was first opened. I'm not particularly emotional about this loss, as I've always been in the camp that it was terrifying and moved people inefficiently through the city, I will also miss seeing the ferries come in as the sun is setting on the Sound when I drive up to Seattle in the evenings. Guess I'll just have to make some time to spend on the waterfront when the construction is finished.

After the race, I also got to meet up with Cass and get another Junior Ranger Badge! Despite it being the National Park Service location closest to where I live, I'd never been to the Seattle branch of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park! Although it is small, it is well designed, interactive, and fascinating to think about how history has shaped the industry and landscape of Seattle today! Seeing the representation of women, people of color, and other marginalized communities was also fascinating, as I feel like much of my history education has left those people out! I'm glad we have the NPS to preserve these artifacts and stories, and help fill in some of the spaces.

Adventure #23: Spa time

The focus this year at school is all about self care, and sometimes I roll my eyes and bitterly scoff "who has time for that", but I'm starting to realize that maybe taking a bit of time for myself isn't always such a bad thing. One adventure that I've been looking forward to most has been treating myself to a spa experience.

I started by reaching out to my Facebook network for recommendations. I had planned on just getting a facial, but I had no idea where to start, or what to look for. I don't even know my skin type (other than 'burns very easily', but that's never one of the check-box options). Many people recommended Olympus, and I'm definitely still interested in giving that a try, but a student of mine gave me a discount coupon for Soleil Day Spa in Auburn, and I thought it would be PERFECT to celebrate the end of a stressful semester with an evening of relaxation and pampering.

The Aromatic Balancing Cocoon was recommended because it's a great way to add some warmth to a chilly day. I'm pretty sure that I've got some lizard genes mixed in with mine, because I always seem to be impossibly cold, so this sounded perfect. This was also a great way to experience lots of different kinds of pampering--shea butter, scalp and foot massage, heated towels, aromatherapy, and the chance to pretend to be a caterpillar!

I sincerely hope you'll forgive the lack of pictures for this post, but it was nice to get away from my phone for a bit, and I didn't think to have my massage therapist get a picture of me, but I felt a bit like this:

Between the dry brushing, aromatic oils, shea butter being painted on (yes, with a paintbrush) and then wrapped in warm blankets, towels, and a reflective heat blanket, I think I got a good idea of what a Thanksgiving turkey feels like, and it was glorious. I've always loved getting a massage (I go mostly to get all my stress knots worked out) but this was next level pampering. My skin definitely feels softer, and and I left feeling very relaxed. I told the ladies at the front desk that this could very easily become an expensive habit :) 

It was a nice and gentle relaxing space to be in though. There was a sand table which was fun to play in, and a tea cabinet for before or after the massage--both of which I enjoyed! 

They also gave me a first-time goodie-bag that had additional coupons to entice me back (as if I needed extra convincing), and a few samples of products. Much to my surprise, I discovered that the brand of products they use are all cruelty free! I've made a personal pledge to make all of my future cosmetic purchases cruelty free, so it's great to have another brand that's easily accessible in my arsenal. FarmHouse Fresh is also an animal rescue, so many of the ingredients they use in their products come from rescued animals that are now being raised on their organic farm! 

Ultimately, this was a really spectacular way to close out a semester, and while I know I can't afford to do it all the time, I really enjoyed my evening, and would love to do it more in the future.

Adventure #22: Gold Creek Pond Snowshoe

Hiking in January has the potential to be cold, soggy, and miserable, but if you time it right, it can be perfection.

Gold Creek Pond is near the summit of Snoqualmie Pass and it was a perfect place to take Nikky for his first snowshoe ever! We were able to stop in North Bend to pick up a sno-park pass, and it was a quick and easy drive up to the trailhead. Normally, this place has a paved path around the lake for a 1 mile loop, but the snow makes things a little different. While the path is covered in snow, it's easy to follow and gives views of a gorgeous winter wonderland.

The lake looks frozen over, but there are plenty of signs warning about thin ice. By the time we had returned here in the afternoon, the lake was completely liquid again! 

There's a small peninsula at the far end of the lake which was good for exploring--and selfies!

The waist-high rails only came up to our knees due to the build up of snow.

After making almost a complete circuit around Gold Creek Pond, we took a spur trail that actually leads to a bunch of privately own cabins. The WTA instructions say that you can hike out as far as you want, so we did a short circumnavigation of Heli's Pond, and found a nice spot for lunch (Nikky brought Thin Mints!) before turning back.

I find it refreshing and humbling to spend time in the mountains, as they always make me feel a world away from any stress (or grading) that's bringing me down. I'm so glad that there are people who have come before me to blaze trails, draw maps, and develop equipment that will keep me safe as I seek solace in the hills. As always, let me know if you'd like to join me on my next adventure!