Chasing Trail Adventure Travel

05/06/2024

This deserves a spot on the permanent feed. Incredibly proud and honored to add Midwest Living to my portfolio. The fact that it was a very 'me' pitch, and one of my very first to MLW (IYKYK), is the icing on the cake.

Repurposed grain bins provide memorable lodging with traditional farmhouse features, surprisingly luxurious amenities, and plenty of opportunities to unplug.

09/21/2023

One of my most common DM questions: the best places to stay near Glacier National Park. 🐻

If you're thinking of visiting next year, know that accommodations book out this far in advance (really!). Book early!

In no particular order, here are several options for a wide variety of preferences and budgets:

1. - hip, re-imagined motel, super close to the West Glacier (20 mins) without the crazy traffic or prices of West Glacier

2. - super unique, Instagrammable stay in Columbia Falls that genuinely everyone loves

3. - converted grain silos in an awesome spot in Kalispell

4. - ultra modern tiny cabins in Lakeside (Flathead Lake, which I HIGHLY recommend for at least a night)

5. Flathead Lake Orchard Tent - true glamping experience on the other side of Flathead Lake in Bigfork...plus a sauna and cold plunge! 🥶

6. - crazy luxurious geodesic domes in Whitefish, and one of the only winter options that's not a hotel

09/15/2023

Stills from the dreamiest Montana tiny cabins

The property is literally 4 minutes from Flathead Lake, at the base of Blacktail Mountain Ski Area (and conveniently, 3 minutes from Tamarack Brewing). This area offers 4-season recreation, so trust me - keep these cabins in mind for your next NW Montana trip!

09/13/2023

When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?

Right now!

September has always been my favorite time of year to visit, for several reasons...

🚗 Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTTSR) is fully open, and no longer requires reservations after the first part of the month. The general rule is that you need reservations for 1 week following Labor Day weekend.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 People largely view this as a signal that the season's over, so park crowds get dramatically lower when the reservation period ends.

🍂 The weather is FANTASTIC. With that said, I have been snowed in Glacier in June, July, and September 🤣 soooooo pack plenty of 'just-in-case' pieces.

🐻 It's the best season for spotting wildlife! Of course, be extremely cautious and give animals a LOT of room when you do see them.

🥾 It's also the BEST hiking season. Trails are open and clear of snow, waterfalls are flowing from snowmelt, and fall foliage starts early here.

Keep in mind that GTTSR historically closes the 3rd Monday in October, but has occasionally closed earlier. Again, September is best! 🍁

08/24/2023

Exactly one month until this man is mine forever ❤️

08/16/2023

ARCH you glad summer's almost over?

Listen, I know a lot of people loooove summer. I'm not one of em 😅 I left Arizona for a reason!

Bring on fall hiking season, when you need light layers but the days are still decently long! 🙌

What's your favorite season?

📍 Capitol Reef NP

08/11/2023

One of the questions people ask me most (by far) here and via my website is what to wear hiking.

Layers, quality hiking leggings, and STURDY footwear are the 3 most important things.

The last two are extreeeemely subjective, but here are some things to consider:

You have to be comfortable, above all else. You don't want to get exhausted too quickly because you're overheating 🥵 or be so cold and uncomfortable 🥶 that you can barely keep moving.

Look for temperature-regulating fabrics that dry quickly (NO cotton 🚫) and layer, layer, layer. I love wearing longline sports bras or tanks, a lightweight shirt over that, and depending on the weather, possibly a packable puffy.

Sometimes I hike in shorts, but the vast majority of the time, I'm in leggings. I like that they offer light protection against scrapes and bugs and again, if you pick the right fabric, they help regulate your body temperature in any weather.

Want to know my go-to hiking leggings? I just wrote a huge guide with options at EVERY price point (honestly - there's a whole section dedicated to cheapie leggings from Amazon starting at $20!). One of my favorite pairs cost just over that. Check my bi0 for the guide!

08/01/2023

July photo dump [phone edition] 🫶

I love seeing these! I know we're supposed to describe each picture, but it's easy to sum up last month: lots of water (can you tell I never lived near rivers 🤣), lots of road trips, fresh summer produce, and wedding details.

07/27/2023

I recently heard pro boxer Tyson Fury on a podcast, and what he said has stuck with me for weeks.

"All we truly own in this life is moments in time."

It's not anything ground-breaking, right, but its simplicity is profound. Even memories can be lost, so moments really are the only thing we truly, wholly own.

07/24/2023

This picture perfectly captures so many elements of us: a shared love for (*obsession with) Montana, staying at a super unique glampsite, always laughing, and this amazing guy going along with one of my crazy ideas.

Exactly 2 months until it's official ❤️

📷

07/13/2023

This is 'just' a sunset (albeit, nothing in Yosemite is 'just' and this is a really spectacular one), but it's also symbolic of a major life lesson.

Hear me out...

The conditions this day weren't the least bit promising, right up until the literal moment the sky transformed into this. We didn't have the clouds you hope for, we were completely socked in with clouds and the sun was falling FAST.

If you've ever witnessed sunset at Tunnel View, you know there's a very distinct moment when a litttttle sliver of the last bit of sunshine bathes everything in a dreamy alpenglow. Well, that moment came and went. No alpenglow, no pink or purple, no golden hour. Nothing.

But for whatever reason, we hung around. We watched as literally almost every other person packed up and left, including photographers. Maybe it was because we had just gotten to the park after a long drive. In any case, we stayed.

And as you can see, it paid off. In a matter of what I'm pretty sure was just seconds, the sky brightened and darkened somehow all at once, and this is what we got. Jaws, dropped. Minds, blown.

I couldn't help but wonder about how many proverbial 'sunsets' we miss in today's hurry-up-lets-go culture. We have too many options, we're over-scheduled, we've been programmed to believe that if we're relaxing, we're not doing enough. How often do we not simply wait and see what unfolds, because we think there's something better to attend to?

07/11/2023

BUY. THE. BOOTS.

📷

📍Bigfork, Montana



***irphotography ***ir

07/09/2023

In highwater or Hell
Damn what comes tomorrow
'Cause I will give you all the love
God's given me to borrow

♥️

07/05/2023

Long before I even knew my future husband existed, I've dreamt of this photoshoot. Glacier is truly my favorite place in the world.

Even with the mountains baaaaarely visible because of wildfire smoke, it's stunningly beautiful. Maybe even a tad bit dreamier.

Endlessly grateful for this man who never hesitates to go along with my big plans and does everything in his power to make my dreams come true. And to for bringing it all to life, even in less-than-ideal conditions.

Can't wait to share more from this day ❤️

06/29/2023

This smoky sunset was so good, it deserves its own spot in the feed 🤩

📍Ranch Hand tent in Bonner, MT

Super private glamping tent with electricity, a lovely coffee setup, an outrageously comfy bed, and of course, that view 🤌

Fun shared amenities are just a short walk away, including a hot tub, fire pit, huge kitchen, office space with wi-fi, outdoor showers (private), movie lounge, hammock hangout area, and a lot more!

06/21/2023

"My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature." –Claude Monet