Almost all of 2024- we had one date circled. October 4th—our hike up Mt. Whitney. 🌄 At 14,505 feet, Mt. Whitney is the tallest peak in the contiguous US, a bucket list summit for many. But as the date got closer, so did my anxiety. Living at sea level, I don’t tackle high-altitude peaks often. My highest summit before this was just shy of 12,000 feet, and even that pushed me harder than expected. Our adventure started with a life-changing moment—Reid proposed that morning in Alabama Hills, with Mt. Whitney standing tall in the background. By 9am, we were at Whitney Portal weighing our packs. I packed ultralight, leaving my 10lbs of camera gear behind and opting for two disposable cameras. One went to Reid to capture candid moments along the trail, letting me focus on the present—with my new fiancée by my side. By the time we reached Trail Camp, we were both feeling the effects of the altitude with headaches and lightheadedness. But with clear skies and perfect conditions, we set our at 4:30am the next morning, making our way up the infamous 99 switchbacks under a sea of headlamps. At 8:00am, we reached the summit. No headaches, no dizziness—just pure euphoria. Standing at the top of Mt. Whitney felt surreal, especially after I spend so much time doubting myself. The biggest lesson? Never doubt what you’re capable of.

Forever Adventure Buddies 💍💕 Still at a loss for words at how magical last week was. I got engaged to my best friend and we summited Mt Whitney all in 24 hours! I’m so excited for this life with you and all the places we’ll go together 🫶 📸 @desert.paintbrush 💍 @sarahojewelry 💕 #somewherereid

A farewell to long, golden days. Until next summer ☀️🫶

Weekend forecast: Partly sunny with a 50% chance of thunderstorms ⛈️ We spent this past weekend exploring a new area of the Sierra, and I think it’s officially become one of my favorites. Despite getting rained out in the evening, the moments of sunshine were well enjoyed with fly fishing and splashing around in nearby waterfalls. There’s few things I love more than summertime in the Sierra, and it’s so much more fun when friends tag along for the ride. 🫶 #IDidNotCatchThatFish 🎣

late spring blooms 🌸 Enjoying the late spring sunshine going into June lately before the fog rolls in. We’ve been settling into our new spot in Aptos, and it finally feels like home. 🫶 . . . . . #santacruz #visitsantacruz #santacruzwaves #santacruzcalifornia #visitcalifornia #centralcoast #californiasurf #highway1 #pch #pacificcoast #sonyusa #sonyalphafemale #norcal

This is Reid. My partner-in-crime, ultimate adventure buddy, biggest cheerleader, and best friend for the past 4, beautiful years. Reid’s always down for last-minute adventures, big or small. He’s A true jack-of-all trades in anything he does. He’s an avid outdoorsman, a 2019 PCT finisher, a kick-ass snowboarder, and the humblest human about any accomplishment he’s made. He’s a true coffee-snob, someone you can always count on for a surf session, incredibly talented potter, and complete goofball. He has the biggest heart, and purest soul, and is also the most incredible friend, son, brother, and partner. Today also happens to be his birthday- so give him a shout if you can. 🥳💕 . . . . . #reid

Winter Santa Cruz frames as of late ⛅️ . . . . . #visitsantacruz #santacruzwaves #santacruz #santacruzcalifornia #visitcalifornia #centralcoast #californiasurf #suitcasetravels #dawnpatrol #sunsetsurf #tlpicks #surfermagazine #wildcalifornia #sonyusa #sonyalphafemale #norcal #surfgirlmag #highway1 #pacificcoast #pacificcoasthwy

Late summer in Yosemite National Park 🌸 In late August we took a trip to Vogelsang and the High Sierra Camp in the Tuolumne region of Yosemite. After a late season start to backpacking in the Sierra with the high snow season, we were excited to see the wildflowers out in full display along our 20 mile loop. We spent our evening in the backpackers camp watching flashes of lightning light up the peaks around us. Luckily, we didn’t get rained out the next day as we continued on the trail to meet the JMT in Lyell Canyon. This section was my favorite. Lupine was in full bloom, and the surrounding peaks were misty and quiet. We ran into a family of Brown Bears 🐻 on the few miles back to the trailhead, and watched as they continued to mosey on their way in search of food before winter. (My blog post on this trip is now up! Check out the link in my bio to see and read more on this trail) 🏞️🏕️ . . . . . #yosemitenationalpark #yosemitevalley #tuolumnemeadows #vogelsang #highsierracamp #yosemite #yosemitenp #backpackinggirls #hikecalifornia #visitcalifornia #findyourpark #nps100 #nationalparkgeek #trailsmag #wildflowers #californiaroadtrip #outdooradventure #optoutside #optoutdoors #backpackermag #goparks #adventureenthusiasts #wildcalifornia #rawcalifornia #sonyalphafemale #sonyalpha