On July 27, Bethani's sisters Hannah and Willa joined (aka sponsored) us for a side adventure to South Sister, the third highest peak in Oregon. The trail climbs 5000 feet in five miles, with panoramic views at the top. Yes, please! We hit the trail around 2 pm, passing bunches of descending hikers and feeling…

Monday, July 29After five days, we finally escaped the camp vortex, hefting packs filled with a seven-day supply of food to meet the enu inspired by two legs of unmet hiker hunger, as well as water to get us through 14 miles to the next water source. HEAVY. Our ride to the trail fell through,…

There are multiple levels of cleanliness. I have experienced many of them, but long distance trail-hiking is by far the dustiest. Some honey spilled from your tortilla/PB concoction? Lick it off your dirt-stained hands. Feet and toes black with dirt? ...are they ever NOT that color? What color is my skin again? Pine needles in…