Outside With Coco

My husband and I are planning a road trip to Eastern Oregon to explore the Wallowa Mountains, Owyhee Canyonlands, and Alvord Desert in late June. I am so excited for this road trip and spend every minute that I am not working or hanging out with my family planning and researching.

We plan to start our trip in Astoria at the Pacific Ocean, then stay the night before heading to Pendleton. There, we’ll stay at an updated Motorlodge and explore a bit before going to Joseph, which I’m most excited about. We’ll stay at Wallowa Lake Lodge for three days, paddleboarding, hiking, and learning about the Nez Perce tribe. Then, we’ll drive through Hell’s Canyon to Leslie Gulch for hiking and exploring the Owyhee Canyonlands. I can’t wait to see the unique rock formations in this part of Oregon. After that, we’ll camp on the dry Alvord Desert lake bed and enjoy the night sky, hoping to soak in the hot springs. Finally, we’ll stop at Smith Rock State Park for a hike or head to Bend for some great food before the final drive home. 9 days! I cannot WAIT.

Another bit of fun news is that I got a backpack this last weekend! I have been researching different beginner packs and had my eye on the REI Flash 55. Since I am just a beginner at backpacking, I wanted to get something that fit comfortably, wasn’t too heavy, and didn’t cost a million dollars. Last Sunday, we went to the REI ReSupply store and tried on several packs. I finally landed on the Osprey Ariel 55. It’s a bit heavier than I wanted (4.8 lbs), but since I’m just doing a night or two at first, this will work fine. And for the price of $89, it was absolutely perfect. Now I have 2 packs: my Flash 22 for day hiking and my Ariel 55 for my overnights!

I wasn’t able to go hiking this last weekend, which was a bit disappointing since I had been looking forward to exploring the trails, but I did spend some valuable time in my yard, weeding and clearing away the remnants of winter. As I worked, I couldn’t help but appreciate the fresh air and the feeling of being outside, surrounded by nature. The sun was shining brightly, and it felt invigorating to be active after the long, cold months. It truly feels good to have it looking cleaned up and ready for Spring and Summer.