(This is) The Story of a Girl

2012-02-07T08:23:00.005-06:00

"The mountains are calling and I must go..."

~John Muir

Bass Creek Fire Ecology Trail

2012-01-22T21:49:00.001-06:00

I woke up this morning to one of the most beautiful blue skies I've seen all winter. Despite my late night out last night I could not spend the day in bed & therefore packed up Bosco & my friend Ian & headed out into the mountains. A short car ride landed us at the trailhead of the Bass Creek Fire Ecology Trail. This trail is a short 3 mile educational trail with little elevation gain that would normally pose no problems. However, due to our recent snowfall, there wasn't much of a trail to guide us along our way. So Ian & I spent the next hour and a half on an adventure through the woods on what we thoughts just may be the trail. It made the entire experience of what may of otherwise been a slightly boring trail an adventure.

Dress to Impress

2012-01-22T21:49:00.000-06:00

I was asked by Shane to be his date to his 32nd birthday party. I love just about any excuse to dress up & since I don't get many of them living in Montana, I of course said yes to this opportunity (the fact that a very attractive man was asking me didn't hurt either).
I just wanted to share dressed up pictures. :)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Chritsmas

2012-01-16T08:56:00.000-06:00

Every year my family comes together in January for our family Christmas. It's something we've been doing since I moved to Montana 4 1/2 years ago & is becoming a family tradition in it's own right. Our family keeps growing too.

So Goes 2011...

2011-12-31T23:59:00.000-06:00

     I don't do so well with goodbyes. I like to make them as short and sweet as possible. But how do you say goodbye to an entire year? How do you sum up such an ending? An entire day of adventures of course!

     After a long week of work, I woke up early to meet two co-workers, Shawn & David, for my first lesson in racquetball. Even though Shawn schooled me again and again on the court this is one sport that I will def be going back to play more of. The best part? You can scream all the obscenities in the world as your running around like a maniac trying to hit or avoid being hit

     I "forced" my friend Shane to eat Unagi (broiled eel) earlier this week so my payback was eating bugs at an Entomophagy lecture during one of the many activities for First Night Missoula.

     Next we were off to a laser lights & science show put on in one of the underground lecture halls at U of M. The show was put on solely using 4 green pen laser lights and mirrors glued to cloth on embroidery hoops then mounted on speakers. As the speakers play music they vibrate the mirrors and produce a laser show synced with the music. Near the end of this, they passed out glasses that refracted light to add to the dizzying effects of the light show.

     Word had gotten out to Shane that I have never, in all my 25 years of life, consumed a McDonald's Big Mac. This was "un-American" in his eyes. A wrong that needed to be righted. So before our next set of adventures, we took off to McDonald's, which was very much an adventure unto itself.

     The mall was putting on fencing lessons, but before was a taekwando demonstration. They overran their time limit, making us unable to do the fencing lessons, but this group was still pretty comical and fun to watch.

     Twelve foot horns from the Alps (someone will have to help me w/ the name on this one) & a bag-piping group rounded out the afternoon.

      After a quick shower and some primping, I was whisked off to dinner reservations.

      The rest of the night is a blur of champagne, dancing, good food, & great conversation. 2011 started w/ a bang in New York City, took me through some awesome places, brought some amazing people into my life as some sadly left it, but in the end, I wouldn't change a second of it.

See you in 2012...

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T11:33:00.003-06:00

Willoughby Environmental Education Area

2011-12-24T22:50:00.000-06:00

     I had the grandest of plans for hiking today. Get up early & head into the backcountry for a 5 mile hike to an alpine lake that is supposedly one of supreme beauty. I've been mentally preparing myself for this hike all week, knowing that the recent snowfall would not be of any danger, but would make the going slow for Bosco & I.
     So we took off this morning, but things didn't exactly go as planned. As we wound higher and higher along the forest service road the snow became deeper than I had anticipated. We got w/in about 2 miles of the trailhead parking lot & had to turn around. It wasn't a completely wasted trip as this was my view along most of my drive up the mountain side.

     Not wanting to waste a decent day for hiking, I pulled out my hiking book & turned to the next hike in it. We drove across the valley to the Sapphire Mountains & set our sights on the Willoughby Environmental Education Area. This 40-acre reserve has a trail that passes through 3 distinct habitats: dry sagebrush on a plateau, timbered slopes, & a riparian valley bottom.

     On thing I did not expect was the beautiful view of the Bitterroot Mountains across the valley as the sun was starting to set.

Bear Creek Trail to Bear Creek Falls

2011-12-18T22:16:00.000-06:00

     I've never been in an auto accident before, but when I woke up this morning I imagined that this is what it would feel like to be in one. My entire body ached from the havoc I put on it while dog sledding yesterday. I wanted nothing more than to alternate lying in bed and sitting in the hot tub all day. But as I lay wrapped up in blankets a furry reminder sat his head on the bed that he hadn't been out for a good hike all week.

     When I talk to my [insane] running friend, Andrew, about how he is able to run the miles he is he simply tells me "that the body will do whatever the mind tells it to until it simply cannot." So despite the ache in my muscles, my mind tells my body that today would be a great day for a run. Bosco has been very patient w/ me working full time and taking a full course load of classes this semester. So I pick up my hiking book & flip to my next hike.

     An hour drive later I find myself in a snowy parking lot. A well defined path is nestled itself between the forest & Bear Creek & Bosco & I take off down the trail, alternating between running and scrambling when the path becomes too icy for fast movement.

     Only a mile and a half down the trail cascading pools turn into a small, but beautiful ice covered waterfall. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Sunday. I sat on a ledge overlooking the water flow beneath me thinking about all the things I have to be grateful for in life and, as the year 2011 comes to a close, what I want to improve on in my life in the year to come.

Some Motivation Required

2011-12-18T16:29:00.002-06:00

This is quite possibly one of the best billboards I've ever laid eyes on. I had to stop & take a picture of it.

My Brain is MUSH!

2011-12-17T23:30:00.000-06:00

      It's that time of year when everything is down to the wire. It's the busiest time where I work, school is ending so it's time for finals, money is always a little tight w/ the upcoming holidays & traveling. My days have felt like they're over as soon as they began & I am always left w/ a to do list longer than when I started the day. So know I had a weekend entirely free after finals, I put out a plea on Facebook asking if anyone else was free to go spend a day in the woods. I didn't care what we did, I just needed to reconnect w/ nature. To reconnect w/ myself.

     In no time I had an offer I couldn't refuse. Twila, a musher of all Alaskan Malamutes I used to work w/ invited me up to her kennels, Quinault Alakan Malamutes, for a day of mushing. I was elated. It's been a few years since I'd been on the back of a dogsled.

     Twila & one of her helpers, Morgan, had other ideas for me tho. Since I had prior experience mushing they decided to put me on a tag sled (a tag sled is a lightweight sled attached to the back of another sled for added weight & required another experienced driver). I've never driven a tag sled, which can experience a lot of whiplash if not executed properly, but have heard plenty of "horror" stories to know what I was about to get myself into.

     All in all, we did a 36.6 mile trip in just over 4 hours. I didn't take many photos b/c I was mostly holding on for dear life, but I would not trade this day in for anything. I woke early, watched the sun rise over Missoula while listening to Wartime Blues, mushed for a better part of the day, & watched the sun set from the top of a mountain. Just the kind of break I needed.

Flying With Andrew

2011-12-05T08:46:00.001-06:00

I'm pretty sure I've been bugging my good friend Andrew to take me flying with him since before he even had his pilots license. I had just sat down to start a project for school that I'd been putting off all week when I get a phone call. "Look outside. It's a beautiful day. Let's go flying. Can you meet me at the hanger in forty minutes?" I'm pretty sure I had my books already back on the bookshelf before I even hung up the phone.

We flew in a small Cesna something. I'm pretty sure Andrew would not be proud of me b/c I honestly can't remember the name of the plane right now. But the sky was crystal clear as we made our way from the Missoula airport towards Flathead Lake along the Mission Mountains. I could even see an outline of Glacier National Park from the air!

We did take a quick detour so that I could see my favorite peak to hike from the air. Above Squaw Peak!

Can you see the terror in my face when he let me "take a turn."

We landed at the Polson airport, took a quick pit stop to let my stomach settle (yes, even in an awesome moment like this my stomach decides motion sickness is a good idea) then headed back to Missoula as the sun set.

Thanks again for a great day Andrew!!

ps. I still made it home in time to complete my paper before the midnight deadline Mom! ;)

Trans Siberian Orchestra

2011-11-27T21:39:00.001-06:00

Trans Siberian Orchestra can be described as a fusion between classical, orchestra, and rock & roll. They combine their music w/ a laser show as well as a pyrotechnics show. I was introduced to these guys by a friend when I was still in high school. They've been on my list ever since.

I was meeting a friend in Spokane for the weekend that these guys also happened to be there. So I told him we were going to a concert & to pack some dress clothes (I love just about any reason to get all dressed up & wear a dress).

If you get the chance, please iTunes these guys or go see them for yourselves! You won't regret it!!

What Bosco Likes To Do In The Snow

2011-11-24T22:21:00.001-06:00

My dogs are special. If you know them, you know I don't have to explain any further.

Bosco LOVES snow. This was his reaction to being able to frolic in the snow.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-20T18:15:00.001-06:00

     I'm thankful for many things in my life & I hope that I spend more than one days a year appreciating all the wonderful things I have surrounding me. Since I was unable to make the trek back to the east coast to be w/ my family for Thanksgiving, I decided to make a trek of my own. So Bosco & I jumped in the Baja & headed into the mountains.
     While most of our snow has melted down in the valley, there are still several inches in the mountains.We were almost to the ending point in our hike (a couple of alpine lakes) when a storm started to roll in. Since we were all alone on the mountain I decided it would be best if we turned around w/out reaching our destination so we didn't risk our chances of getting off the trail.
     The entire hike I spent thinking about the things I am thankful for, where my life has been over the past year, and where it is going. While I could never sit down and list all the things I am grateful for in my life, I did want to send out a big "I LOVE YOU!!" to all the people in it. I'm never too far away if you ever need me. XOXO.

Weir Creek Hot Springs

2011-11-19T22:18:00.001-06:00

If there's one thing I never want to be, it's ungrateful. I hope that I am continually grateful for the life that I live and the amazing places & people that constantly fill it.

After a long, hard week at work, on of my co-workers, Becky, & I decided we wanted to go on a little adventure together this weekend. Something fun. Something we had never done before. Both being outdoorsy people, we chose to locate & hike to a hot spring in the panhandle of Idaho neither of us had ever visited before.

We awoke early this morning & drove 2 hours on the snow covered roads to a pullout on mile marker 143 on Hwy 12. A small pullout and an ambiguous trail awaited us. The trail winds along Weir Creek and takes you through a beautiful cedar forest before opening to a small clearing. A 30 ft scramble up a slick hillside leaves you standing beside the most beautiful hot spring pool my eyes have ever seen. This deep pool overlooks the clearing you were just standing in, and when everything is covered in a foot of snow, a sense of peace washed over me like I haven't felt in a long time. Like everything was right in the world, at least in my world, if only for those few hours... *smiles*

2011-11-13T22:27:00.001-06:00

Karina

2011-11-08T08:17:00.000-06:00

...and just like that, we're separated the majority of a country again. My best friend of almost 23 years flew out just for the weekend & just in time for both of our souls. When times get rough, I'm thankful that I have friends like her to help me pick up my pieces.

Karina & I get the opportunity to see each other maybe twice a year when we find ourselves on the same side of the country. This trip was a blitz one on her end for the weekend, but it had perfect timing in both our lives & I'm not sure we could of packed in more fun in one weekend.

After a day of eating and an all day girls trip to the mall, we relaxed in my hot tub before getting all girlie on my bathroom & heading downtown for some sushi. My favorite local band, Wartime Blues, was releasing their latest cd as well as playing their last show. It was bittersweet.

We woke early the next morning to enjoy a little hiking in the Missions, but alas, the sucky weather provided no beautiful views, so we drove around the National Bison Range for a bit before heading back home to throw on some suits and hike out the to hot springs.

I haven't been to the hot springs in the daylight since I was ten. It was a beautiful hike to the pools, where we watched the sun set, then trekked the 1.5 miles back in the car in the darkness. I'm typically afraid of being in the woods at night, even with other people around me, but this trek was calming. Peaceful.

All the while on this trip we were eating the best foods Missoula has to offer; Taco del Sol, Sushi Hana, Hob Nob, HuHot, and even finding a few little gems outside of Missoula, like the Red Light Cafe in Wallace, ID.

Thanks for coming out to visit me Karina! I can't wait to see you next! xoxo

El Dia Day Los Muertos

2011-11-02T22:05:00.000-05:00

In many Latin American countries a happy celebration remembering the souls of those departed is celebrated on the 2nd of November ever year. While Missoula does not exactly have the largest Hispanic population, the tradition of celebrating the lives of those passed still spreads onto our streets every November 2nd.

Trick or Treating

2011-10-31T22:30:00.000-05:00

My co-worker, Annie, invited Bosco & I to dress up and go trick-or-treating with she & her son on Halloween. Riddick dressed as Mario so Bosco was a perfect Koopa Troopa to go with him! I'm pretty sure Bosco has a new friend now.

Sleepin

2011-10-30T13:43:00.001-05:00

My dogs have such a rough life.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T13:35:00.007-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Blodgett Canyon Overlook

2011-10-23T20:45:00.000-05:00

"Learn to love running mountains," David had said to me. So for my run today I chose a three mile fire ecology trail that overlooks Blodgett Canyon in the Bitterroot Mountains. This trail is a 3 mile out and back up a 400 ft gain along a rocky interpretive trail. After fighting w/ my mp3 player for a few moments, Bosco & I took off up the trail. While I may not love hill running just yet, I do love the views that you can get at the top of these peaks.

The Great Pumpkin Party

2011-10-22T22:55:00.000-05:00

Think we're to old to carve pumpkins? Well you don't know jack(-o-lantern)!

In the spirit of Halloween, some friends & I got together for some food, brew, & pumpkin carving. Here are the final results!

Hazel & Hub Lake

2011-10-02T22:36:00.000-05:00

     Just off mile marker 26 on I-90 is a dirt road. Taking this road forces you deeper and deeper into the Bitterroot Divide, the line that separates Montana and Idaho. At a bend in the road, a trail head presents itself for conquering.

     The start of the hike takes you through a beautiful cedar forest. The smell of such a forest is intoxicating. The kind of smell that makes you forget about the elevation gain that is making your calves burn.

     Around the half way point a beautiful waterfall, Dipper Falls, seems to emerge from nowhere and you are left wishing there were a way to get a closer. Not long after Hazel Lake appears through the trees. She is a temptress though, and cannot easily be reached by her steep banks. So one is left to continue on their current path and leave Hazel in the dust.
      Three miles in and nearly all of the +1,700 ft elevation gain in the last mile, the mountains open up to a beautiful meadow & Hub Lake.

     The colors that spattered the mountainsides this time of year were just beautiful.

Night of the Cute Doggies

2011-10-01T23:40:00.010-05:00

My dogs are so stinkin cute I can hardly stand it. I know that my dad is just dieing for a post of my dogs since I haven't done one in a while too. So Daddio, this one's for you.

Homecoming Griz Game

2011-10-01T23:00:00.008-05:00

It was my Saturday to work today, so rather than getting up early Monday morning for tickets, Bryce & I packed a picnic & headed across the footbridge, through the tailgate parties, & up the side of Mt Sentinel around halftime (the earliest I could get there). We had the best seats out of the house! Oh, and the Griz won!

I Should Have Listened to My Mother

2011-09-27T22:00:00.004-05:00

It's okay Mom, you can start to breathe again. I know your mind is already racing through the millions of times I should of taken your advice, trying to figure out which specific time I am talking about. Let me narrow it down for you.

My stubbornness finally caught up w/ me. After years of fighting stubbornly my asthma with a "I can do this on my own" attitude, I finally landed myself in the ER after a race this weekend. After my worst time ever in a race, I marched myself into the ER & proudly declared I needed a nebulizer treatment. I was quickly taken into a triage room

Tonight, as I frequently enjoy doing, I put on my running shoes & set out into the cool, dark night for a run. But tonight was different. Before I stepped out the door I took a quick puff of my inhaler then sprinted out the door w/ Bosco at my heels. For the first run of my life, my body gave out before my lungs even had a chance to feel the burn. As the ache crept into my muscles a smile crept across my face. If I had only listened to my mother I would of known this feeling of inhaling a deep breath years ago.

Marry Me - Kristin & Tylor

2011-09-05T11:07:00.000-05:00

"Marry Me"

Forever can never be long enough for me

To feel like I've had long enough with you

Forget the world now we won't let them see

But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted

Love has surely shifted my way

Marry Me

Today and every day

Marry Me

If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe

Say you will

Mm-hmm

Say you will

Mm-hmm

Together can never be close enough for me

Feel like I am close enough to you

You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you

And you're beautiful

Now that the wait is over

And love and has finally shown her my way

Marry me

Today and every day

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe

Say you will

Mm-hmm

Say you will

Mm-hmm

Promise me

You'll always be

Happy by my side

I promise to

Sing to you

When all the music dies

And marry me

Today and everyday

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe

Say you will

Mm-hmm

Say you will

Marry me

Mm-hmm

I'm back in Missoula after a weekend trip to Glacier to celebrate the marriage of two amazing people in my life, Kristin & Tylor. I'm not even sure how to begin to describe my emotions from this weekend, my happiness to see these two finally tie the knot. So I'm not going to. I'm just going to let you see the photo highlights from the weekend.

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

2011-08-30T22:18:00.016-05:00

Every year a theatrical group from Bozeman, MT travels the state putting on free productions of various Shakespeare classics for free in local parks. This year, in Missoula, they put on Much Ado About Nothing on the University Campus.

Check out their website for next years schedule. Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

Camping, Clotting, & a Crazy Good Time

2011-08-19T21:26:00.001-05:00

      My brother & dad came out for a visit last week. Their plane dropped down in Missoula (their first times flying directly into Missoula!) on Wednesday afternoon & I met them at the airport during my lunch break (my new job is still kicking ass!) & dropped them off @ their rental car.

They hurried to get their car packed & were off to pick out their camping spot & start fishing along Rock Creek. I was able to visit w/ them a little that night after work, but they didn't get a chance to meet Bryce til the following night since he was out on a fishing trip of his own on Wednesday.
     The meeting went well & the boys even planned a fishing/camping trip w/ the four of us on the Gallatin River for the weekend as well as a just boys fishing trip in the Bitterroot Friday afternoon while I was still at work. I was really happy to see them getting along so well & even a little surprised they were already planning trips together!
     I'd been having some pretty intense leg pains in my left calf that had almost left me unable to walk Friday morning. Around lunch my co-workers kicked me out of work to go see a doctor about my worsening pain. So Bryce met me at CostCare for what I thought was going to be a quick doctors visit (A place I highly recommend to my fellow uninsured Missoulians) . Soon I was being rushed to the hospital for a barage of blood tests & an ultrasound on my leg for a possible blood clot. THANKFULLY this was not the case. I was then returned to where I work as a patient, not an employee where I had an MRI on my leg revealing an injured muscle w/ fluid gathering around it. No big deal compared to the initial thought of a clot.

     The bad news was the I sat at home on pain killers for the weekend while the boys took off on their fishing trip. There was no way I was going to be able to do any hiking & no way I wanted them to stay @ home w/ me while I slept all weekend (I've never taken anything stronger then extra strength Tylenol up until this point in my life, so needless to say these pain killers kicked my butt & I slept a LOT).
     Bryce survived the camping trip w/ my dad & brother. So we spent the rest of their time here fishing (well, I worked, they fished), eating good food (my brother discovered Famous Dave's while he was here & my dad reluctantly tried out HuHot & ended up LOVING it), geocaching, & spending a lot of quality time w/ each other. I was sad to put them back on a plane on Tuesday afternoon, but love knowing we ALWAYS have an amazing time when we're together. Miss you guys!

Cedar Lake Trail

2011-08-07T23:42:00.017-05:00

This morning Bryce & I woke early to meet Kristin @ our meeting point to head to Seeley to meet up w/ yet another friend, Greg, for a day of hiking. We drove for 2 1/2 hours before we finally reached our destination trailhead. After 4 people and 7 dogs unloaded themselves from our vehicles, we headed up the trail. The day was beautiful & the 1,500 ft gain seemed almost effortless amid the fields of wildflowers and stunning peaks. Life is good & even better when spent w/ great people in great places.

Note the snow the dogs are playing in in the first week of August!

Rock Creek Rd

2011-08-06T23:23:00.000-05:00

My dad asked me to go on an adventure for him. So I did.

A Toast to Love

2011-08-01T11:18:00.000-05:00

Glacier Bachelorette Party

2011-07-31T23:00:00.001-05:00

     What's the best way to celebrate one of your closest friends engagements? Why go hiking of course! And not just hiking anywhere that you would go on a normal day, but one of the most beautiful places this country has to offer, Glacier National Park.

      So that's precisely what my friends & I did. So after work on Friday night, with the car fully packed, I traveled up to Glacier National Park for the first time since I was 10. At around one in the morning I was pulling into our campsite when I got a flat tire (Bryce & I switched cars for the weekend). So bright & early the next morning I had to change my first flat tire before we headed out on our hike.

     After the victory of changing my first tire we headed out to Many Glacier to hike a 9 mile trail to Iceberg Lake.

     The trail was beautiful & the hike itself was definitely an adventure. Although we never saw a bear during this hike, two parties in front of us on the trail, a man was charged by a grizzly. Bear mace upholstered, we continued on toward our destination, soaking in the beautiful scenery along the way (and even stopping to have a snowball fight along the way too!)

     When we finally reached our destination, I was a little taken aback by the serenity that seemed to engulf Iceberg Lake. It had a peacefulness about it that made me wish I had packed in a yoga mat to truly appreciate the spirit of the place I was in.

     Trying to make the most out of what daylight hours we had left, we took off for Logan Pass in hopes of seeing some mountain goats & to check out the visitors center as well. As it seems our luck had not yet run out & like always the bighorn sheep & mountains goats were out in full force on Logan Pass. It seems they are quite comfortable among the busy parking lot & herds of people standing by snapping millions of photos of them. We were not to be excluded from these numbers.

     After the sun had set we headed back to our campsite for some bachelorette party festivities.

     Sunday morning we arose early to go horseback riding back up in Many Glacier. Unfortinately, cameras were not allowed to be out during the actual trail ride itself. We were allowed to take photos at the stables & middle break point in our ride.

     After the trail ride it was time to head back over the Going to the Sun Road. As my friend Noelle & I drove out of our campsite we crossed a moose traveling over our path.

     The road home was [almost] just as beautiful as the entire weekend.

     Thanks for the trip ladies. It was a memorable one for sure.

Canoeing Lake Como

2011-07-12T18:37:00.001-05:00

Since our adventure for the weekend went a little awry, Bryce & I decided to take his canoe out for it's maiden voyage of the summer on Sunday. He's been dying to show me a little camp site that can be reached by canoeing across Lake Como. So we woke early Sunday morning & headed for the lake.
Due to the extreme flood waters we had a little trouble finding the spot since Bryce couldn't find the beach he's used to seeing in front of it. But we eventually found it & were able to row almost right up to the campfire ring.
We spent the afternoon cooking campfire food, reading, drawing, taking photos & playing fetch w/ Bosco.

Oh yea! It was also Bosco's first time riding in a canoe & he did amazing!

Samantha's Adventure

2011-07-10T23:11:00.000-05:00

My cousin, Samantha, had asked me to go on an adventure for her. Now, the details behind this request are not relevant, but the request itself is. So today I made good on my promise.

The car was packed & we were set to hit the road for a weekend of camping, hiking, & canoeing. But even the best made plans can sometimes go awry and our weekend in the wilderness turned into a ten hour road trip circling the Mission Mountains. It was such a fun trip that neither of us would complain about fact that we are back in Missoula for the night rather than sleeping in a tent. Tomorrow we try again!

Bike Carriage

2011-07-07T22:56:00.001-05:00

So, I've been scouring yard sales & craigslist for the past few weeks in search of a carriage for my bike. In an effort to save money so I can get caught up on my bills a little quick from being unemployed for so long I have tried to park my car for the summer. Using alternate transportation (running/walking/biking) has saved me mucho dinero at the pumps already this summer. But there were still many things I couldn't do on my bike like go grocery shopping, do my recycling, or go anywhere w/ Skyler (for those of you that know Skyler you already understand why this is). I finally found the perfect carriage for an incredible price & jumped on the chance to get it. In one month it's already paid for itself in the amount of gas I've saved by not having to use my car.

Yes, I'm one of those people. I incessantly dote upon my dogs. & even while I realize that they are only dogs, they are still my "kids" for the time being. So I though I'd share some funny pictures (mostly for my Mom & Dad) of how my new purchase is coming in handy.

4th of July

2011-07-04T23:10:00.002-05:00

     As a kid the 4th of July meant spending time w/ family I didn't get to see all that often (our family reunion on my mom's side of the family was always held around this time of year). Every Fourth we gathered at a relative's house for food, fun, & family. Oh, and of course a little bit of explosives.

     Since moving to Montana the 4th of July has meant something completely different; the start of peak backpacking season. Due to the extreme snow pack in the mountains this year I'm not sure how many trips into the back country I'll actually have this year but I couldn't resist getting out into the wilderness for at least a few miles on this long weekend.

     Only in Montana can you have a snowball fight & get a suntan in the same weekend. Enjoy the pics! & HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

Night of the Scavenger Hunt

2011-07-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

I may quiet possibly have the best boyfriend in the world. Bryce created a scavenger hunt for me earlier this week. Seeing how stressed I was this past week he decided to create some extra fun for me.

The first clue was on the back of his door. It had been there for hours, but I hadn’t even noticed as we went in and out a few times.

Clue #1: I hide where the beavers swim… under the Jew.

Bryce wanted to get a group photo w/ all of the people that live in his 4-plex, so before we took off we snapped some photos. I just liked the succession of these photos.

There is a bridge in town that we frequently walk/bike over and often times see a beaver swimming in the waters below it. I had no idea what “under the Jew” could mean, but I knew the next clue had to have something to do w/ this bridge. So we set off for the bridge.

At this bridge Bryce quickly sat down on a bench while I went searching for my second clue. After a few minutes of searching I asked him if he was hiding my second clue. Sure enough, he was sitting on it! (Now I got the, “under the Jew” part of that clue!)

Clue #2: I lay in the grass where the falcons rest.

I found my next clue in a plastic egg under a tree near the osprey nest at Osprey Stadium.
Clue #3: I rest near the dancing, spinning ponies.

Once again we hopped on our bikes & rode down the Kim Williams Trail, this time towards the carousel.

My next clue was pretty tricky to find. Bryce had to finally play Hot & Cold w/ me to help me find this one.

But I finally found the next clue!

Clue #4: I take lunch w/ my friend Doc.

Doc’s Sandwich Shop held my next clue.

Clue #5: The last place I would venture is anywhere near my XXXX’s.

My final piece of the puzzle was hidden at the giant red X’s at the north end of Higgins Ave.

What’s inside you ask?? That surprise is just for me. ;-)
xoxo.

Fin.

Best in Show

2011-06-27T08:36:00.011-05:00

The Missoula Dog Show has come & gone & I have once again been left exhausted in it’s wake. This year I was appointed Chief Ring Steward on top of my usual duties of Grounds Crew. This was actually a nicer position for me once the show started since I was able to walk around for a bit & enjoy some of the show as well as the people in it. I’m always a little depressed when everyone packs up & heads out of town but look forward to seeing them all again next year.

Dogo Argentino

Shetland Sheepdogs

Afghan Hound

9 week old Afghan Hound (omg! Omg! Omg! I want one!!!)

Smooth Collie

Boise & Back

2011-06-25T18:58:00.030-05:00

As a member of the Five Valley Kennel Club & an extreme dog lover I am always excited when June rolls around. It means that the Missoula Dog Show is right around the corner. Not only am I Chief Ring Steward this year, but I am also a part of the Grounds Crew in charge of setting up the entire show in the days before. Some of our power cables and converter boxes for the RVs weren’t going to make it in in time so I volunteered to drive to Boise, ID for our goods.

So my faithful road-tripping partner, Boscarelli, & myself hit the road for another adventure.
This one much shorter (we made it down & back in just 2 days) but still beautiful & enjoyable. This country is so beautiful & I am so happy that I’ve been able to travel what I have. Enjoy the pics! Xoxo.

Home Brew

2011-06-12T20:46:00.018-05:00

Like every other human being out there, Bryce has dreams. He dreams of something bigger & better. But what sets Bryce's dreams apart from everyone else dreams is that his taste really, really good.

So a few weeks ago Bryce started to teach me the skills of home brewing as we set out to make our very first beer together. Tonight it was finally ready to bottle so as Bryce filled the bottles I did my part in capping them.

In 21 days we'll finally get to taste the results of weeks of work, but I fully look forward to it.

Warning

2011-06-11T13:05:00.001-05:00

"Warning: Montana is addictive. Once you’ve gotten drunk on her soul-soothing nectar – a signature blend of wild beauty, passionate patriotism and new-age sex appeal – there is no way you won’t return for a seconds.

Called the ‘Live and Let Live’ state, Montana is a beautiful amalgamation of big skies, big bear and big rivers, made for fly-fishing (or Robert Redford movie sets). It’s a wild, untamed state, where even the biggest tourist attractions, Glacier and Flathead Lake, never feel crowded."

My job hunt has ended & as the stress releases from my body I am once again reminded on a daily basis why I have fallen in love with such a place as Montana (& the whole north west). The world sits at my fingertips waiting for me to come play in it again.

Life is good & I have much to be thankful for.

Flooding on the Clark Fork

2011-06-10T20:13:00.000-05:00

Although Missoula seems to have been spared on this go-round, the melting of the deep snow pack in the mountains combined with heavier than normal spring rains has brought the Clark Fork river dangerously close to it's breaking point as it runs through Missoula.

Zach & Mara

2011-06-05T23:23:00.094-05:00

Never have I been so eager yet so nervous to meet someone. Now multiply that feeling by about twenty or so b/c as I drove towards Billings, MT on Friday night (after working my last day at a temp position. I start my new job on Monday!) I was getting closer to meeting Bryce's ENTIRE family.

However, shortly after arriving, although I still felt slightly overwhelmed, I knew that I had worried for nothing. Never have I felt so welcomed into a group of people. Within minutes of meeting everyone I met I already felt as if I was a part of this family; hugging, laughing, & listening to stories.

Saturday was the big day for Zach & Mara. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony followed by an amazing indoor/outdoor reception.

I think Bryce & I were equally sad to say our goodbyes to his family on Sunday morning. But like always, the time came for us to journey back to Missoula, a road I will always love to travel.

Curry Gulch Trail to Curry Cabin

2011-05-28T20:47:00.028-05:00

After sleeping in this morning my regular partner in crime & I set off into the Rattlesnake wilderness for a run up to an old prospectors cabin. I've lived so close to this trailhead for years & have not yet explored it's multiple paths in their entirety yet. This particular trail was put high on my priority list for this hiking season & this morning was the perfect opportunity to finish it.

So Bosco & I set off down the trail. Bryce is in Great Falls w/ my camera this week so I only had my phone to take pictures. They're not the best but I thought I'd share them anyways.

Welcome Creek Trail

2011-05-22T07:01:00.002-05:00

Despite our longing to be out in the woods again this weekend (& the perfect camping spot that involved canoeing to already picked out) Bryce & I opted to stay in Missoula this weekend rather than go camping.

So Saturday morning w/ biked down to market w/ Bosco & walked around all morning enjoying the sights & smells of the River City Market as well as running into a few friends.

But as the temperatures warmed & the skies showed no signs of soaking us anytime soon, our desire to be out in the wild began to overtake us. So we packed up some snacks, filled out Camelbaks, & took off for a low lying trail a few miles outside of Missoula. Before we even made it to the trailhead we began seeing wildlife. A bald eagle, grouse, & even a herd of big horn sheep greeted us on our travels through Rock Creek.

The Welcome Creek trailhead is located 21 miles outside of Missoula in Rock Creek, MT. After exiting off the highway you drive another 10 or so miles down a half paved road to the trailhead.

The trail begins at a suspension bridge that takes you over the Rock Creek & into the forest.

After a short walk along the Rock Creek we crossed a log bridge over Welcome Creek & headed into a canyon forest full of Douglas fir, spruce, & old growth pines. The trail continued to follow Welcome Creek upstream along this same forest as well as many boulder fields.

At 2.5 miles into the trail our path crossed yet another log bridge over the creek. This was not only our turn around spot but a perfect place to relax & have our snack we packed along w/ us.

From here we turned around and headed back out of the canyon towards the car. We were only a mile or so from the car when I almost stepped on what I thought was a giant earthworm from South America & screamed (kind of like a little girl). Bryce grabbed my shoulders asking what I was freaking out about when I pointed out the "giant earthworm" in the middle of our path. You see, in all [almost] four years that I have lived in Montana I have never seen a snake. Not once. Snakes are a common sighting in the summer months back in Pennsylvania, but not so much in Montana. I guess I had talked myself into believing that such things did not exist in Montana (but apparently it was alright for my mind to think that the giant earthworms of South America did?!). Bryce (a Montana native) assured me snakes did indeed exist in Montana & even showed me that this rubber boa was pretty harmless. But PLEASE, follow the link I have posted, even if you just read the first paragraph you'll understand why I am not SO crazy for thinking this creature was a worm!

The rest of our return hike was very relaxing as we strolled through the forest. Upon returning to Missoula we were relieve to see we had not missed the foretold rapture & returned to find mayhem. After a bike ride & a five mile hike today will be a relaxing day for us (and especially Bosco, he's pooped!) Today's adventure: a blanket fort in Bryce's livingroom! (maybe some pictures to follow)

Car Camping - Thompson River Road

2011-05-18T19:50:00.000-05:00

Before I even get into my past weekends adventure's w/ Bryce, I'd like to share my friend Anne's blog w/ you all. She is currently in Nepal for a few weeks documenting an all female trekking company. You can check it out HERE or by clicking her name in my links down below.

Despite having a few temp jobs this past week, I've been getting frustrated in my search for a job in Missoula. The weather had been amazing all week & my need to be out in the woods again has been growing. Since actual backpacking won't become a reality until after the 4th of July in the mountains, Bryce & I decided car camping would be the next best thing. Plus it's always nice to have a little luxury we're not used to out in the woods when we backpack in somewhere.

So we packed up the car w/ all the essentials as well as a few non essential items (like an air mattress) &; took off for the mountains.

We saw some knarly looking sheep along the side of the road near our camp. I called them zombie sheep b/c of how weathered they look from this past winter as they prepare for summer.

After picking out our site we set-up the tent & quickly headed down some forest service roads to collect some firewood & enjoy the views w/ any remaining sunlight. Bryce had been to this particular area once before & knew all the scenic places to show me.

As the sun was starting to set & our bellies were starting to grumble, we headed back to camp to finish setting up & cook a dinner over the fire. We ate an awesome campfire cooked meal of turkey & cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, & mashed potatoes & broccoli. Yum! One of my favorite parts of car camping is the awesome foods you get to cook over the fire you wouldn't normally get to enjoy when backpacking into the back country.

Both of us collapsing into a food coma we cuddled up in the tent w/ the dogs & did some reading before our eyes got to heavy. We both slept soundly w/ the rushing sounds of the river & the cool mountain night air drifting into the tent.

The next morning we were up bright & early. As the dogs stretched their legs from a night of being crammed into a tent (my dogs take after me and prefer to have really comfortable things) Bryce & I packed up the car & headed off towards our next adventure.

We arrived at the forest service road that would take us to Hud Lake early in the afternoon. We made it just a few miles from the trail head before the snow consumed the road & Bryce's Subaru wouldn't go any further. We then took off on foot the last few miles to the trail head, walked in about a hundred feet, then returned to the car.

When we got back to the car we discovered these butterflies sunning themselves on my Vibrams.

Woods Gulch

2011-05-04T21:47:00.006-05:00

     At some point it was time to take a break from my distance pavement running & have a little fun on the trails. Today was an Ulla day but I didn't have much time to get in a long hike today, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get in a good run AND try out a trail in the Rattlesnake I've been eying up for a long time.

     A 3 mile long out-and-back style trail, the Woods Gulch trail packs in an 800 foot gain in a mile and a half, only to turn around at the top and run straight back downhill.
     Only 73 more days till the Missoula Marathon. I'm not sure I'll be completely ready for this race, but I'm mentally ready to run her now.

Crazy Canyon Trail to Mt. Sentinel

2011-04-30T02:33:00.000-05:00

I've been taking my friend's dog, Miss Ulla (get it?), out hiking/biking/running w/ me a few times a week. You've seen Ulla before in my hiking photo's w/ Kristin (she is her fiance's Ty's dog). Since she is a cattle dog & cattle dogs are known for their limitless amounts of energy, & since she is also Bosco's best friend in the entire world, she's been coming along w/ Bosco & I on our many [free] outdoor adventures that have been keeping me sane in the search for a job.

So today we took off for a little hike/run up the back side of Mt. Sentinel. This hike is a pretty awesome one that gains about 800 ft in a 3 1/2 mile trek through the Crazy Canyon. I was really enjoying the scenery of the forest for the first mile or so until we hit the snow line.

Almost as soon as we did we encountered white out conditions which the dogs loved, but me, not so much. It averaged about 2-3 inches on the ground at most times from this point on w/ white out conditions adding more to this measurement. There is supposed to me a mountain in view behind those trees!

The 7 miles was a breeze of a run. Despite it being nearly May, Montana never seems to stop surprising me.

An Impromptu Roadtrip

2011-04-23T21:34:00.000-05:00

The hunt for a job back in Missoula has been going... well, let's just say it continues to go on. I've been getting frustrated & even a little down about it (esp considering an incident w/ a job I thought I had locked down). I've been trying to stay positive, but as my bank account dwindles, so does my positivity.

I hopped on Facebook & saw that one of my friends was bummed about now having to drive to California (18 hours away) in one weekend to pick up a new motorcycle instead of driving to Seattle (8 hours away) like he previously thought. On a whim, I offered to drive to California & pick up the bike for him (if it would fit into the back of Mi Baja). Other than looking for a job, what did I have to do? Besides, road trips & traveling in general always seem to have a way of picking me up. So, after mulling it over & testing another bike in the back of the Baja to see if this bike would actually fit, I hit the road for another adventure.

Bosco & I set off for Seattle (we were taking a little bit of a long route to California to see some sights) to stay w/ my friends Britta & Erica for the first night. Bryce was watching Skyler for me & also gave me a list of things to stop & do on the trip out to Seattle.

One of my destinations was a little place outside of Moses Lake called Bob's Inn & Diner for a cinnamon roll that was literally the size of my head. I had been warned of it's sheer size & deliciousness, but I was in no way prepared for what I actually got. It was amazing!

My next stop was along the Columbia River. An overlook of area known as the Gorge provides stunning views of the river far below.

After driving through snow on all three of the passes I finally reached Seattle. My lovely hosts had an amazing dinner of tofu pad thai waiting for me when I arrived. I found this little piece of art on their stove & found it appropriate for the occasion.

After a long days drive & a filling meal, I was wiped & very happy to hear that everyone else was just as tired after dinner. So as the sun set we to set off for bed. The next morning, after a quick trip downtown to see the Space Needle it was time to explore some unknown [to me] lands.

My plan of attack was to enter Oregon through Portland then cut over to the Highway 101 along the coast. I don't think I'll ever regret driving down this road. Ever. If you ever get the opportunity to do it, DO IT.

On first sight of the coast I was stunned. Having only ever been to the Pacific Coast once before, last year on a trip to L.A., I was once again blown away by the beauty of this coast line. Although the Highway 101 is a much slower drive than taking a more used route, the drive offers amazing sight after amazing sight.

At one point I caught sight of a lighthouse in my rear view mirror.

I pulled over to take a photo of the structure in it's stunning surroundings & was caught a little off guard by the barking of sea lions. I followed the noise to the edge of the cliff & was greeted by these talkative "little" fellows.

As I was "OOing" & "ahing" & snapping a hundred photos of my first look on wild sea lions an older gentleman taps me on the shoulder and points far to my left. Quietly on a rock must of been about 75 sea lions sprawled out, bathing in the sun!!

After snapping a couple dozen photos, the high winds got the best of me & I retreated back to the car. I could of probably stayed there all day, but then I'm sure I would of tried to find a way to climb closer to photograph the beasts. Around mid-day my stomach began to growl & Bosco's legs were growing restless. So we stopped at an empty park along the beach to eat & stretch our legs a bit.

He is such a champ when road tripping w/ me. Dogs are welcome in most state parks in Oregon as long as they are kept on a 6 foot leash. The thought of letting him run on the shores of the Pacific coastline was to great & since we were in what seemed to be a deserted beach, I unsnapped the leash & released him into the wild. (Check out the video posted earlier on Bosco's first trip to the beach for his reaction to such a powerful body of water.)

After lunch we drove all day til we reached what seemed like a nice place to stop for the night, Harris Beach.

Harris Beach State Recreation Area is just a few miles north of Brookings, OR & the California state line. I couldn't of stumbled upon a more awesome place to stay for the night had I of tried to. Bosco & I spent the remaining hours of sunlight exploring the many wave pools that littered the shore line. My campsite was just across the road from the beach & I listened to the waves crash against the rocks as I drifted to sleep in the back of my car.

I awoke the next morning, surprised by how warm it was already even tho the sun was just coming up, & hit the road early. As much as I wanted to stay in at Harris Beach a little longer, the giant Redwoods were calling my name.

Not long after crossing the state border we entered Redwood National Park. For the millionth time my breath was taken away. Wow. THIS is another must do for anyone venturing into northern California. The park is beautiful, but the real wow factor came to me on The Avenue of the Giants in Humbolts Redwood State Park. Every time I turned a corner I was greeted by yet another, larger redwood than the previous one. I could barely keep my eyes on the road & pulled over often to let cars pass me b/c I was driving so slowly down the road.

After [reluctantly] leaving the redwood forests I continues south on Highway 101 towards San Francisco. I was scheduled to pick up Ian's new bike around 6:30pm that night & wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge before I had to pick it up.

While I was snapping a few photos of the GGB, I called my friend Danny, who was visiting his hometown of Sausalito, a suburb of San Francisco. After visiting his childhood home, Danny treated me to a quick bite at one of my favorite fast food chains, In & Out Burger.

After washing all the grease off my face (I don't normally ever eat fast food), I headed out to Berkeley to load the bike.

Within minutes of loading the bike, I shook hands w/ Steve, & was off on the road again. This time I was on a straight shot back to Missoula. After driving through a CRAZY (one of the worst in my experiences) storm atop the Sierra Nevada's, I was wiped & Bosco & I spent the night in the car just outside of Reno, NV. Before the sun even began to rise we were off & driving our 14 hours back to Missoula. We watched the sun rise over the desert & entered new territory (for me) in Idaho.

Missoula was a sight for sore eyes as I drove through the Hellgate Canyon around 7:30pm Thursday night. I need to find a job where I can travel...

Avenue of the Giants

2011-04-23T13:45:00.001-05:00

Tide Pool

2011-04-23T13:13:00.000-05:00

One of the tide pools where I camped on the beach in Oregon.

Bosco's First Time at the Beach

2011-04-23T13:06:00.000-05:00

Bosco loves water, but I think the ocean was a bit much for his bravery.

Kreiss Pond Engagement Trail

2011-04-17T23:29:00.028-05:00

Kristin, Ty, Bryce, & myself got together today to go for a little hike & play some of our new favorite game, Killer Bunnies*.

Of course a day can't begin @ Kristin's house w/out a big (& I mean BIG) wolfhound greeting.

Since we wanted to get a hike in before playing our card game, we decided to hit up somewhere close. Kreiss Pond is a pond close to Kristin's house that I've posted pics from before. Since this is also where Ty proposed to Kristin & I was gone traveling when he popped the question she wanted to show me where it happened. So we headed out for the trail.

It was a beautiful day for a hike w/ perfect hiking temperature. A little snow even fell on us as we trekked along.

A bald eagle joined us for the ride back to Kristin & Ty's house.

& FINALLY it was time for some Killer Bunnies.

[having some technical difficulties posting pics on this post]

*This is a note to my family. You guys will LOVE this game. I can't wait till we all get together next & can have a game night!

Clark Fork River Cleanup

2011-04-16T22:55:00.000-05:00

Today was the 8th annual Clark Fork River Cleanup here in Missoula. Every year, hundreds of volunteers come together for a day to pick up several miles of trash along the Clark Fork River. Armed with trash bags, bags for recycling, gloves, and a love of the river, enormous amounts of trash are collected from the banks of the river.

This year I decided to participate in helping keep my beloved little town a little cleaner. Bryce & I have been taking walks at night & picking up trash as we go as well as participating in Cache in Trash out (for all you geocaching nerds out there). So Bosco & I met up w/ Bryce under the big white canopy of Caras Park & signed up for a team. Since most teams were already pretty full & there were still more people coming in like we did, I was asked to lead a team along a section of a river. So I snagged a clipboard & a red balloon (tied to team leaders w/ #s so people could identify them) & we set off down the river. It was a fun day followed by a free BBQ for all volunteers.

Anyone wanting to volunteer next year should give me a call so we can join a team together! It was def worth the day!

Mt. Sentinel - Video

2011-04-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

This isn't the best quality video because of the high winds at the top of the mountain, but still worth the view.

Mt. Sentinel

2011-04-12T13:44:00.000-05:00

     Mount Sentinel is an icon in Missoula. This mountain sits on the easter end of town forming the Hellgate Canyon w/ it's smaller (but not lesser) partner Mount Jumbo. It is home to the M & the M Trail & it has been taunting me to summit it since the very day I arrived in Missoula. I have no idea why it's taken me this long to venture further up the mountain than the M, but I have finally conquered it! *evil laugh here*

     Today started out easy enough. Bryce & I both slept in then decided to meet up to venture to REI to get a replacement day pack for him & a can of fuel for the JetBoil. Bosco was left alone in the car w/ one of our Mountain House meals we were planning on having for lunch on the mountain. Well, here's the outcome of that smart choice of ours.

     So after taking a quick break at the M we continued on the trail that leads you to the top of Sentinel. About half way up the mountain a cave suddenly appears on the trail. (CHARLIE: There is a cache in here! I really think we should do this one together when you get here!) We decided that this was a good stopping point for lunch as it would provide a little protection from the strong winds. Well, you can't stop & have lunch at a cave & not explore it! So we put on our headlamps & started down into the cave.

     Never having been in a cave before Bosco was not happy w/ our descent into the cave w/out him.

He stood at the entrance unsure of what to do and whined for a bit before manning up & jumping over the boulders at the entrance to follow us into the earth. This bravery did not last long & almost as soon as he reached me he shot off & was back up at the entrance where he remained during the rest of our exploration.

He was very happy when Bryce & I returned to the trail.

After exploring the cave it was time to press on!

So we went up.

And up.

Of course we had to stop along the way to enjoy the ever growing view of Missoula.

Finally we reached the top!! The views from the top of Sentinel are amazing! The wind was blowing HARD. I'm trying to upload a video from the top, but it's taking a bit of time to upload.

On the way back down Bosco found some of the last patches of snow in the area & turned back into a puppy (Bosco turned 2 a few weeks ago!).

We stopped on the M to take a photo & eat a snack on the way back down.

As we sat on the M munching away, I noticed something strange in a hotel parking lot far below us. Since we couldn't exactly make out what it was (although we had a good hunch) I took a photo and zoomed in.

It was exactly what we guessed it to be! So once we descended the trail back to my car & headed towards the mystery object in the hotel parking lot. We found it easily & ended out day w/ one last quick picture.

Black Cat Bake Shop

2011-04-07T22:21:00.015-05:00

There is a little local bakery here in Missoula that, after a successful working interview w/ a local vet's office Bryce took me out for a celebratory lunch & we visited this bakery right after.

Our deserts were so delicious (I had a red velvet cupcake & Bryce had some sort of chocolate cake) I thought I'd share some pictures to drool over. If you're ever visiting me in Missoula, please request that I take you to this place.

A Rather Blustery Day

2011-04-05T20:27:00.038-05:00

Springs in Montana never fail to produce it's fair share of windy days. So as the wind howled Bryce & I took our kites back out into the wind. It was windy enough to get the dragon kite up this time.

However, we accidentally packed one of the sticks for the kite into another kit so I sacrificed flying my turtle kite to use the stick for the dragon.

We did however have a new Spiderman kite from the dollar store!

First Friday

2011-04-04T16:16:00.001-05:00

First Friday is a Missoula downtown tradition. Year round, the first Friday of every month is celebrated down on the hip strip from 5-8 pm. Participants vary each month, but usually include art openings in galleries, museums, retail stores, and coffee shops. The main objective of these art openings is to show and sell art, and give the public a chance to meet the artist. The evening is also an extremely social event, often including wine and food, musical performances, poetry readings, dance, gallery lectures, and more. In the summer, street performers and street vendors commonly appear as well. For visitors, its a great way to experience local culture. For locals, its a fun night to run into friends.
This was my first First Friday since my return to Missoula. Bryce & I set out for a walk down N. Higgins to check out local art & a special gallery containing photography by my friend Steel Brooks. One of the venues (The Montana Photo Booth) had a free photo booth set up...

Go Fly A Kite

2011-03-22T12:27:00.001-05:00

Springs in Montana are like springs anywhere else, just a little colder. The temperature's have been hanging in the 40's all week & the winds have been blowing. Bryce & I have been talking about flying kite's for a few weeks now so yesterday we packed up a little picnic & headed out into the wind.

We trekked down to a park that connects to the practice fields of a local high school. It has plenty of open space to fly a couple kite's at a decent height. Except there wasn't much wind. Not down in the valley anyways.

After our first failed attempt at flying kite's at a park only a few blocks away from my condo we trekked back to my house, grabbed the car, & proceeded to the base of Mt. Jumbo. The only flat spot (besides the top) of Jumbo resides just a short hike up the side & is open all year (a huge portion of Jumbo is closed during the winter to proved safe elk habitat). It's almost always windy up on Jumbo & that wind didn't fail us this time either. Well, it kind of did. There was enough wind to put up my simple sea turtle kite but not enough to put up Bryce's more technical dragon kite. Perhaps next time we'll have a little windier kind of day.

Run for the Luck of It

2011-03-12T12:12:00.004-06:00

Not having run a race since Karina & I ran the Muddy Foot Trail Run in Ohio together back in November, I decided it was time to jump into one just to see where I was with my training (I have full intentions of running in & am registered for the Missoula Marathon on July 11th). So I talked my friend Bryce into doing his first race & we registered together for the RWM Run for the Luck of It.

Bryce of course killed it (he finished ahead of my by a few minutes so I don't know his time) & I finished w/ a 31:04 time. Running is probably one of the first things that I don't do competitively. I do it for myself b/c I feel amazing after a run, no matter the distance or time. I've been keeping a 10 min mile pace for the past few weeks now & am really happy w/ this time.

Since I'm still currently job hunting I won't be doing any more races until after I've secured a job. I will try & keep everyone updated w/ my marathon training tho.

UPDATE 3/15/11: Bryce finished overall male #84 w/ an official time of 26:58! I completed overall female #158 w/ an official time of 31:04. There were over 500 people registered for this race. You can also CLICK HERE to watch a video of the race by my friend Brooke (who also just happened to be the #1 female finisher!). I'm in the video about to cross the finish line @ one point too!

Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold

2011-03-01T22:27:00.009-06:00

When Bryce returned home from work tonight, this was the door he returned to. His neighbors decided to take matters into their own hands and gave him a little payback for our snowman army. I'm very happy that they do not yet know when I live. :-D

Snowman Army

2011-03-01T18:25:00.001-06:00

After a heavy snowfall last night my friend Bryce & I decided to wake up before the sun & create a snowman army to greet one of his neighbors on his way to work. Taking a lesson from the pages of the great Calvin & Hobbs we set to work to create a couple dozen miniature snowmen.

Snow Shoeing Holland Falls

2011-02-20T22:25:00.001-06:00

In desperate need of spending some time in the wilderness of Montana, my friend Bryce & I set off to do some snow shoeing in the Swan Valley just north of Seeley. Bryce had never been shoeing or seen the beauty of the Holland Falls so we wanted to accomplish both in one day.

The weather was overcast as a storm was rolling in, but the hike was peaceful and the falls were beautiful as always. I'd never seen them in the cold of winter so this was a new experience for me as well. I believe them to be even more beautiful in the winter.

A bonus to this three mile hike is that the Holland Lake is frozen over this time of year and can be crossed as opposed to taking the trail back for the return trip offering panoramic views of the Mission Mountains (sadly for us, the storm that was quickly dropping in on us on the return hike doused any views of the scenic Missions).

Jeffrey

2011-02-15T14:17:00.000-06:00

     What a week! My friend Jeff, whom I used to work w/ @ the Pet Palace back in Ohio, came out for a little visit to Missoula this week. After dragging him across the country at New Years I was pretty sure I had scared him away from going on any more of my "adventures." But alas, he proved to be tougher than I first thought him to be and he came back for round two.
     And round two it was. He flew into the airport here in Missoula during a horrible snowstorm that almost re-routed his plane to Spokane, WA at the last minute. His first impressions of Montana were pretty typical to Montana. Negative temperatures, white out snow, and all of us crazy locals out loving it. I made him go to Big Dipper for ice cream his first night here when it was -9 out.

      Only two days into his trip I left him to fend for himself as I was flown down to Atlanta, GA for a last minute interview w/ Delta. [To catch everyone up to speed on that, I'd been interviewing for a flight attendant position w/ Delta airlines since early December. Over 120,000 people applied for the position. I was one of 4,000 chosen to fly to ATL for in person interviews at the corporate office. I received word on Saturday that I was (sadly) not chosen for the position. Bittersweet.] He was still alive by the time I made it back from my blitz trip to the deep south. I promised to make up for his boredom (I don't own a tv, something not heard of on the east coast). Jeff was nice enough to let me sleep pretty much all day Friday by hitting up our local ski resort, Snow Bowl. He got to ski the powder of the Rockies while I got to catch up on some much needed sleep from my 24 hour blitz trip to Atlanta.

     Saturday we rented some snowshoes and headed up to Lolo Pass. We've had a bit of a warm spell this week so conditions weren't ideal for shoeing, but they most certainly were for building snowmen! When we got to the top of the mountain we stopped to rest and build Snow Holly & Snow Jeff. Can you see the resemblances?

     Sunday was a slightly more relaxing day. We hung around town for most of the day before venturing to Jerry Johnson hot springs as the sun was setting. I was excited to take Jeff to these as I'd been talking his ear off about them on our x-country trip. We had a quiet little hike to the first pool where we (in usual fashion) me a group of hippies already hanging out in them. Some tea lights were lit inside one of the caves creating a soft glow over the pool. The moon was shining so brightly and the stars were out in full force. It was one of my favorite trips to the springs.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T23:16:00.000-06:00

So... I know I don't celebrate Valentine's Day (not b/c I'm single, I haven't celebrated it since I was in elementary school) but I thought I would send out a little cyber love since my wonderful friend Bare sent me these beautiful flowers today. Thanks Bare!