Outdoors Archives - Habitual Balance

The Unexpected Mental Health Boost of Being a Dog Mom

Shelby — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:15:09 +0000

You’ve seen it, heard it, and embraced it most likely several times a day as a dog owner, and if you aren’t currently one, I couldn’t encourage you more to go out and find a rescue that’s searching for their very own human. As we move into the summer months finally and still work long hours at our desks, I’m so kindly reminded with loud barks and furry paws every little while to get up, stretch, and get outside. Here’s a toast to our dogs, and the most beautiful hearts within them. 🐾 (PS, if you’re wanting to learn more about the dog-mom life here at HB, stay tuned because this summer is going to hold lots of adventures for us! These adventures will provide tips and tricks on how to take your dogs with you more often and what products I’ve found work best for said adventuring! Yay!) Protecting Your Energy: The Power of Mindful Choices For years I’ve been searching for the right path. Aren’t we all? It seems like the more we dig deeper, the less we find out. The more stressors pile on and the less confidence we have in knowing that we’re right where we should be. This time will be different, this time will create less obstacles to the end goal, it’s an exhausting game, don’t you think? Choices in Life: What Do You Make Of Them? Protecting our energy for the things we love most is of utmost importance, especially with all of the extra add-ons in our lives like social media, shorts, and endless work hours. No more are we 9-5ing it, no more are we turning “off” now and then, we’re just draining our social and personal batteries until we start running around saying phrases like, “I just can’t relax.” Sound familiar? I’ve had enough of this feeling and so I’ve decided to change it…and you can, too. Why do we have such attachments to problems that make us unfulfilled? Why do we have any desire to stay stuck in a situation that we’re not finding joy in? We only have one lap around the track friends, so why are we wasting it doing something we don’t love?? Dealing with change? Check out this post. What My Dogs Taught Me About Energy I’ve talked about my furbabies a million times on the blog. They are my besties and although they may be the cause of some of this 33-year-old gray hair, I have no complaints. They are full of beautiful energy and a source of encouragement for me to change my environment. I want to be surrounded by fun and love and kindness, not negative energy that strips me of my enjoyment in this life. Lifestyle Transformation: Your Environment Matters More Than You Think Negative energy can come from many different sources. Maybe it’s a family member or a co-worker, or maybe it’s just yourself on a bad day. Whichever it may be, it’s up to you to work on changing it. There’s no room for stress-filled days in this life, and although stress will come and go, it’s something that you can work on choosing to be with, or be without. I’m choosing without, are you with me? From Distraction to Presence: How My Dogs Keep Me Grounded It’s time for a new chapter in this life, and I’m ready to roll with it…taking my dogs (and pets in general) as a source of the purest kind of inspiration. Gratitude is so often forgotten about, so we just go about life moving through the motions. But as I paused my make-believe tv show today because they were barking at me, I recognized how ridiculous I was being. Right then and there, I was choosing an escape route. From what I need to do or from what I want to do, because both tasks would take work. It’s so easy to just turn on a show or scroll on your phone and zone out while you let the hours roll by. It’s so easy to become mindless in a world where becoming more mindful should be the most important part of our day. It’s just like when you go on vacation to a place much different than your own, and find such beauty on that part of the earth. It’s incredible and majestic-like because it’s not your own. However, the people that call that place home, find the same feeling coming to a place like yours. A feeling of new-ness, wonder, and enjoyment from the unknown escape around them. Travel is something that has a way of opening your mind to new places. I think about several travel spots multiple times throughout my day, whether it be an image that reminds me of it or a person talking about something similar. And every single time the thought bubble pops into my head, I realize that I need more. Tips For Maintaining Healthy Eating While Traveling More exploration, more awareness, more gratitude for the everyday life I am living. Dogs have this way about them that every little thing is a huge deal!! They look so forward to those handful of moments they get to spend outdoors each day. They look so forward to seeing you when you return that they trip over things and literally run to the door or window when you arrive. That pure joy and excitement and awe is what inspires me to do the same. So why is it so hard to get there? Pause. Breathe. Reflect. The Practice That Changes Everything I want you to go on a mindfulness journey with me. One where you can close your eyes each time you get a chance to sit outside of work on a 5 minute break, or after work when you can fully unwind, relax and recharge from the mother nature surrounding us. Something strange happens when we put down our phones and close our eyes… We

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Hiking Out Of Havasupai and The 4 Hour Drive To Sedona

Shelby — Fri, 02 May 2025 22:22:46 +0000

As you can probably tell by now, we had a great adventure on our hands with the Havasupai Trip. If you’re just joining this series, make sure to go back and start from the beginning so you don’t miss any tips or tricks! This journey was both amazing and memorable, and I’d recommend it to anyone determining whether or not to sign up for that permit. It’s something that is really very unique in person, especially with all of the filters on social media these days. Yes! The water really is that clear and blue. Yes! You can only get there by hiking (or with a helicopter…we’ll get to that later). It’s a magical place that you should try to see at least once in your lifetime, I promise it won’t let you down. Here is how our Havasupai hike back out went, what we did the rest of the day, and how we felt after leaving. Legggooo! The Challenge and Reward of a True Havasupai Hike Not only did we get to take in some epic sights along the trip, but we also got reminded why *anything* in the Grand Canyon is a great battle. It takes a toll on both the mind and body, and is not for the faint of heart. Although you can get to the falls by helicopter, (see how to do that by clicking here), I highly highly highly recommend doing it the harder way and trekking down into the misty falls with just a backpack. There are mules that can assist with your packs if you choose, but I’d truly only suggest using this option if you absolutely have to. Hiking down into the canyon (in any part of it), is a true wonder to spectate. It boasts beautiful views that you can really get no where else on earth as far as I’m concerned, and although each time I hike out I vow to never do it again, I can’t help myself but to keep coming back. Out of the 4 times we’ve been to Arizona so far, 3 of them have landed us on one of the trails in the Grand Canyon. Someone asked me today, “Don’t you ever want to go lay on a beach and just chill?” To which I replied, “Yes, but that’s why we schedule days after our trip to rejuvenate.” 🤷‍♀️ Choosing Adventure Over Escape: What the Havasupai Hike Taught Me Dear Internet friends of the hiking and backpacking world… Don’t ever let someone tell you what that what you consider is fun is weird. I challenge you to push back and look at the other side of things such as, do you prefer to be challenged or do you prefer to shut down? In my opinion, I would choose experience over escape any day. I want to feel alive, bountiful in my blessings and not afraid to push my boundaries. Being fully present, I want to feel encompassed by my feelings while immersing myself in all of what nature has to offer. I want to feel strength and courage and face my fears a little more each time I go out into any kind of wilderness. That, to me, is the perfect getaway. Of course, vacations don’t have to look the same for everyone. They can be relaxing in different ways, and that’s okay. One of the most relaxed states I was in was when we were on Crawlers Ledge of the Napali Coast in Kauai. Never did I ever think I would be chill as a cucumber traversing a rocky cliff face in the rain. But I wouldn’t trade it for one single day sitting in a beach chair with my toes in the sand drinking a cold beer. (PS I gave up drinking nearly a year ago, check out this post to learn more if you’re into giving it a try). I don’t regret tacking more days onto the ends of our trips. I don’t regret my sore muscles and achy, blistering feet. Because for those handful of days, I feel as though I can be my most authentic self, living, breathing, and enjoying the best of this world. Early Mornings and Rituals: Starting Our Final Havasupai Hike Day As we began our day with a watch alarm, (this lady does NOT like alarm clocks, so we used his Garmin to vibrate when it was time to wake up). Although I was 100% already awake and ready to go by 3am, wanting to beat the heat and get packed before the rest of the campground. However, we decided to wait a little longer and get up about 4:30 instead to ensure we were fully rested and ready for the day ahead. We have a decent routine when it comes to packing things up. He’ll take care of the outside of the tent while I pack up the items inside. Usually, we’ll be done about the same time and can begin working on finishing our packs. I’ll leave our coffee, tea, and granola easily accessible, and make sure to pack what we need the night before if we plan to get up in the dark like we did on this trip. It took around 30 minutes to get everything together, then we made one last bathroom trip and started out of the campsite. It was sad to leave so early but we weren’t the only ones. Even though the stars were still out, there were several groups packing up getting ready to head out before the sun came up. As we passed by Havasu Falls one more time, I was able to snap a pic with the headlamp light. We then continued on past the fry bread tent and the bridges before making our way through the village. The Helicopter, and the Hikers: Leaving Supai Village As we arrived near the helicopter pad, there were a ton of groups already waiting or getting there to

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Exploring the Confluence: Grand Canyon’s Hidden Gem via Havasupai

Shelby — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 22:30:56 +0000

Ahh, the Confluence. A short and sweet hike down into the Grand Canyon…not! Don’t let this hike fool you guys, it is difficult, hard to follow, and pretty exposed. It’s much different IRL than on a video or blog post, so please be sure to research, research, research before you decide to embark upon this epic trail while you’re in the beautiful Havasupai Campground! This post will cover how we planned ahead for it, what we brought with us, and how the trail was in 2025 (after the flash flood in 2024). Let’s go!! What Is The Confluence? The Confluence is where Havasu Creek meets the Colorado River, located deep in the Grand Canyon and accessible via a strenuous trail from Havasupai. Known for its bright blue-green water merging with the Colorado’s darker current, it’s one of the most scenic and remote day hikes in the region. Why We Decided to Hike The Confluence from Havasupai Would I do it again? Yes. Was it extremely annoying? Also yes. Let’s start from the beginning. I have nothing but love for trails of all kinds, especially the ones that put me to the test through both mind and body. It’s the endurance, the amazing views, the irritability that comes and goes as I move through states of mind along the quiet and questionable pieces of the hike. The steep drop offs, the straight uphill climbs, the wandering off trail a whole bunch, it’s all going to happen when you make your way onto the Confluence Trail. Some YouTubers we watched afterward do the same trail said it’s not worth the trip, but I beg to differ. Once the pain creeped up my legs, once my foot cramped for the MILLIONTH time this trip, once a stick poked through my sandals and catapulted me into the abyss…that’s when I knew this was my kind of trail. Despite my RBF the entire time. 🙂 I love these kind of hikes, they’re both challenging and perfect in so many ways. On that video, they mentioned that it was “BORING.” Like, what? Did you forget where you are at? Allow me to remind you. 👇 “Are We There Yet?” Syndrome I think that is something that comes along with grueling activities. It seems like a great idea until we actually do the thing, where we soon find out that “oh, the thing is really hard,” so our brain switches from “this is so much fun!” to, “are we there yet?” Which ironically is something I continually work on in this life, learning how to accept the suck. Being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Because every time I tackle yet another one of these battles, a new feeling of accomplishment rushes over me, knowing I was able to successfully do the thing without giving in. Let me explain what I mean by “giving in.” Sure, your body will fizzle out at some point. Mine seems to check out around mile 6-7. I’m usually feeling super amazing up until then, chatting up the hubs about our next adventures and bee-bopping along with no external motivation needed. And then, around mile 7-8, I notice a significant drop off in my energy level, no matter how much I prepared ahead of time. This is when you need to dig deep, find that inner strength and pull that sh*t out of you…(Millennials, you’ll know the line). But in all seriousness, it becomes all mental after that. For the next 8 miles, I went into my own head and decided I would become present and see the beauty around me instead of checking out and waiting for the ride to end. Packing List for The Confluence Day Hike Once we knew for certain we’d be packing not only for the Havasupai Falls trail, we made sure to bring a daypack that would allow us to hike to the Confluence without lugging our giant backpacking packs the 16 (approximate) miles there and back. Of course, carrying an extra pack seemed a bit annoying, which is why we determined that just one would do the trick instead of bringing both of our daypacks. (We were supposed to switch on and off throughout the hike to the Colorado River, but the hubs was nice enough to notice my struggle and carried it the entire way instead). <3 Yay for awesome partners! We really love the Osprey line of packs, I’ll link a few below that we use most often. Check out our trip back home post (coming soon), to see which luggage options of theirs we’re loving as well! After seeing a few couples with really lightweight, more packable style backpacks, we were grateful to have suffered the extra weight to be able to have a backpack that was fully supportive with padded shoulders and a thick hip belt to help distribute the weight evenly. A lot of the trail was gradually uphill and downhill, but there were several parts that shot straight up or down as well. Here’s what it looked like after a bunch of creek crossings on the way there! Our favorite current go-to packs by Osprey: Osprey Sportlite 25 Hiking Backpack (I like the purple one, he chose the green, they are both beautiful!) Osprey Eja 48 Ultralight Backpacking Backpack (I chose the one in this link, the hubs liked the plain gray) Here’s what we opted to carrying with us to the Confluence in case you’re wondering! JetBoil stove (including waterproof matches, a windproof lighter and a small fuel canister) Water filter in case there were any stops along the way to fill our water bladders…there wasn’t 3 liter water bladder filled to da brimmm A few snack bars for us each Stinger Energy Chews, Salt Stick electrolyte tablets, and of course, grape jolly ranchers Two lunch meals and sporks (<— one of my favorite words) Chapstick (which you’ll soon find for purchase on Habitual Balance! Yay!), sunscreen, bug spray, and hand sanitizer

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The Treacherous Traverse Down Into The Famous Mooney Falls

Shelby — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 22:57:52 +0000

Supppp peeps! If you’ve been following along on the Havasupai Series, you’ll know that we left off by arriving to the campground! Yay! This post will cover what we did in the campground the first night and second morning, including our traverse into Mooney Falls. Don’t forget to stop back later this week to read all about our trip afterwards down to the Confluence! Yay again!! Mooney Falls Hike: Facing Fears, Climbing Chains & Finding Magic in the Mist As you can see by now, this recent trip has a lot to unpack. Which is why we love staggering our stays into several stages (which you can read more about in this post!) By doing this, it allows us to take our time, prepare accordingly, and feel at ease while we’re in traveling mode. I used to have such angst while traveling. Whether it was at the airport or packing beforehand or finding the nearest gas station when we got into our rental car, I was usually a mess mentally. Nit-picking would come easy because I would have no plan on what to do next, and no idea of the area surrounding me or where we were going because I wouldn’t take the time to research before we left. (Because, who has extra time, right?) When You Quit Trying to Control, You Can Begin Living But this time was different. As we made our way into the Havasupai campground and got unpacked, it felt unreal. Unreal that I was finally in this beautiful place after so many months of planning and unreal that I had so much less anxiety than I ever used to. Every trip into nature, especially the backpacking ones in my opinion, are like mini rebirths every single time on my own little journey. It’s enlightening to see how much further you grow from the last one, or to recognize how much growth you still have to conquer. Backpacking heals me. Seriously. Even though we got to completely relax and veg out in Parks, Arizona before this excursion, I still longed for that “off-grid” type vibe that I was looking forward to for so long. And, once I got out of the tent that first morning, I remembered why the blisters aching my feet and the nearly 40 pound pack wasn’t a bother anymore. Base Camp Vibes: Easing Into the Mooney Falls Hike Even though this hike was centered around the Havasu Falls, the more pressing task on my mind was the fact that to go *literally* anywhere else from there, we would have to hike down to Mooney Falls. Now, this may not seem like a big deal to you, especially if heights aren’t an issue. But for humans out here like me, it was actually kind of a big deal…especially when Ben (the hubs) decided to take an evening stroll to the top to see the staircase the night before we had to get after it. (see the pics above for reference!) I knew from watching previous YouTube videos that it would be a bit of sketch, but when I saw it in person, my heart literally sunk. I remember turning to him and saying, “like, I don’t know if I can actually do this.” He probably thought I was joking…I was not. The feeling that I got when seeing how tiny those people looked on the side of the cliff, the feeling when I could barely see the rock cut out where the “steps” were by the chains that you’d need to hold onto, was the same exact feeling I’d gotten the night we camped out on the Napali Coast. Of course, I felt accomplished. I’d tackled one of the most dangerous hikes in the world (so they say), during a time when the trail was shut down from weather right after we’d entered hours earlier. I’d tackled Angel’s Landing in Zion, (future post to come!) even though it took some persisting to get me past some of the harder parts. And I’d tackled Humphrey’s Peak, the tippy top of Seneca Rocks and the list goes on. (Check out the blog page to more travel posts!) But as I laid next to the ocean waves crashing beside me that night, I thought, “Why did I put myself in this position?” This is the same as what happened the first night we camped in Havasupai. Not realizing that I’d have to yet again face my fears to complete my conquest of the day, I worried that I would be ruining our whole trip if I couldn’t make it down. To my surprise though, we did it! And it was MUCH more slippery (and straight down) than we had anticipated. Caves, Gloves & Muddy Steps: Beginning the Mooney Falls Hike Descent When we got up, we decided if we were feeling okay to keep hiking. Since we felt pretty good still, we had some dehydrated berries and granola for breakfast, packed up the one day pack we brought, my new found little waist pack, and hit the trail. (PS, make sure you use the bathroom at the top! There won’t be anymore along the way if you’re going to Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls, or The Confluence). As we made our way down, we hit the spot where the cave is. It’s pretty cool actually, (including the view that peaks at Mooney when you’re going from one cave into another, see below) and I’m really grateful that we got to experience it. We waited for a few folks ahead of us, (try not to get too close to people ahead of you especially on this descend/ascend, let them go at their own pace with what they feel comfortable at so that you don’t make them feel rushed), and then continued on our little adventure down the muddy mess. Once you’re at the top of the “steps,” you’ll notice some extra gloves others leave behind for hikers to use. We

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Seligman, Arizona – the Birthplace of Historic Route 66

Shelby — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:27:14 +0000

Hey ladies and gents of the internet world! Seligman, Arizona was not something I’d ever dreamed specifically of visiting, but as we prepped for our trip to Havasupai Falls, it came into our radar when other nearby options were sold out. Here’s a quick bit about our short time there, must-stops, and what you can get to nearby. Leggoooo! The Cutest Boho Hotel We Found Last-Minute in Seligman About a year ago we were booking our trip when we noticed a lot of nearby places were already sold out. So I decided to check out Airbnb to check out what availability they had instead. To my surprise, they had a cute little boho-looking boutique hotel on there as well, which I promptly took the option to reserve! It looked just like the pictures. It was cute, aesthetic, and newly remodeled. And super close to where we needed to be the next day for the trailhead. I was so excited that it was not only my favorite colors, but clearly the new owner took great pride in keeping things clean and updated as well. (There was even a paper strap across the toilet that ensured it had been cleaned! Something I’d never seen before even at upscale luxury hotels). Boutique Hospitality and Small-Town Charm in Seligman There was even a nice set of chairs outside the room on the cement to watch the stars from at night, and a digital keypad to keep things modern and fast-paced! Even though the whole vibe of the town was geared more toward the 1950s, I thought it was refreshing to have a bit of a break from that all once we stepped foot back onto this quaint little property. We arrived right at opening, where Christina checked on the rooms and made sure her team had prepped everything perfectly before guests came into town. She was so kind, genuine and helpful even when we needed her help with the keypad. One of my favorite parts that I wish I got to spend more time in was the little gift shop area near the check-in desk! It had the most adorable jewelry selection and a few pieces of clothing as well. Now I love dogs and was missing my own greatly. So when her little pup came over to greet me when we walked in the door, I was more than ecstatic! There was also a sweet antique car out front. If nothing else, to keep your interest while you await your turn at the desk. If you’re ever passing through on Route 66 in Seligman, I would highly recommend staying at The Postcard Motel. It was a brief stay, but pretty perfect nonetheless. Related: Havasu Falls Hike Preparation: Our Backpacking To-Do List Exploring Seligman: Gift Shops, Ice Cream, and Small-Town Charm Once we got checked in and unloaded our luggage, we headed out to walk around the town, (which probably in total took us a whole 45 minutes to walk up and down both sides. It’s super tiny!) It was great weather, which was basically t-shirt kind of warm compared to what we experienced in Parks, Arizona just a day beforehand! It was such a pleasant walk along the sidewalks, popping in and out of local gift shops that had so much to offer! We picked up a new tee, a bracelet, and some dinner (at the same shop! LOL) which hit the spot before we had to hit the trail in the AM. Check out these cool mannequins on the rooftop! Another favorite spot was an iconic ice cream shop that we most definitely couldn’t pass up. They had this awesome car out from with a Christmas tree on it! I was yearning for some ice cream all day so it was ironic that we stumbled upon one of the best places in town! The workers there really make every effort to make you smile, it was super fun watching them squeeze fake mustard and offering real straw instead of drinking straws! Definitely check Delgadillo’s Snow Cap out if you’re ever out this way! . . As we walked back to our room, we discussed what time to get up and made sure when we returned that everything was good to go. We did some last minute prepping and showered once more before using wipes for the next few days! Then we set our alarm and turned in for the night after having some Oreos on the patio. PS, if you’re searching for the best wipes to use on your backpacking trips, we’ve tried them all. These Venture Wipes are by far our favorite so far with their size and “cleaness” feel so I’d highly recommend trying them out! I loved that they offered them in single serving packs, which we determined bringing 4 each for us for each day. (2 for the mornings and 2 for the nights). Early Mornings, Granola, and Dinos on the Road to Havasupai In the morning it wasn’t too hard to get up, knowing that we would have another 1.5 hours drive to wake up until we got to the trailhead parking lot. We passed the Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, (along with some dinos) and not a whole lot else along the nearly 90 mile stretch. Since we already had our bags packed and loaded into the rental car, all we had to do was keep out some granola packs for breakfast when we arrived. I kept these on the outside straps of my bag to make sure they were easy to get to when we needed them. I also realized that carrying the mugs on the outside straps was super handy to break out for coffee or tea when you’re getting a little chilly! Here are some of the contents of my bag only. Since he already had his packed up perfectly, I’ll

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Havasu Falls Hike Preparation: Our Backpacking To-Do List

Shelby — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 22:53:02 +0000

Hey friends! Soon, we will be soaring across the skies again on our way to sunny Arizona. This will be our fourth time in the last few years because we just love it so much! It’s one of my favorite states at this point in my life because of the sunshine, epic views, and different scenery we get to experience from Sedona to the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff! Today I wanted to touch base on what our weeks (and months) leading up to trips like this look like, because although it is still a vacation, a TON of preparation needs to go into it to ensure all plans run smoothly especially on a trip like a Havasu Falls hike. Shall we?! Prep and Planning for the Havasu Falls Hike and Other Adventures So before we even know where we’re going, we usually apply for multiple permits to places that are nearby one another just in case we end up getting all of them so we can hit them up at the same time! Then, once permits are approved (or not approved, boo!), we create the rest of our travel plans from there. This time though, we knew where we were going since early last year when we got permits for the one and only Havasu Falls. If you’re not sure what this is, I highly recommend checking out some pics online because it is a sight to behold, and one I’m very grateful that we soon get to see in person! We were scheduled for our Havasu Falls hike for September of last year, until the tragic 2024 flash flood wiped out most of the area only 2 weeks before our trip. It was a unexpected but we readjusted and made plans around the area anyway. We still had a wonderful time and I actually enjoyed just winging it! Check out this post if you’re up for hearing about our trek up Humphrey’s Peak! We actually found a place outside Flagstaff to camp for one of the nights, and loved it so much that we booked a tiny home there to prep for our way down into the canyon this time! We’re going to use the first two days to prepare hearty meals, make sure we have everything we need for our 4 day backpacking adventure into the Grand Canyon (where Havasu Falls is at), and enjoy some peace and quiet before being surrounded by 374 permits per day that are accepted there! Luckily, we were able to snag an early morning flight, and although it’ll suck getting up around 1:30am, it’ll be amazing to touch down in Phoenix right after breakfast! (Matt’s Big Breakfast in Scottsdale is usually our go-to!) We will then have the entire day to grab our rental car, find good food, enjoy our few hours drive, gear up at the REI in Flagstaff and checkout any cool stops along the way. Then when we check into our tiny home, we can just take one whole day to simply chill and prep before hitting the trail a few days later. On the third day, we are heading to a boutique hotel in Seligman, Arizona. This is one of the closest places you can get to the entrance for the hike. We’ll need to grab our permits and head out early so we can beat the heat of the sun as we descend into the canyon. Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? Have you hiked it? What’re your thoughts if so? Would you go back? Gear, Prep, and Post-Trail Recovery Once we’re there, we will live out of our Osprey backpacks for 4 days and 3 nights. We are loving our 48 liter Eja and Exos which carry everything we need for our trips thus far. This is probably the part I’m most excited about. We’ll be grabbing a bear canister at that previously mentioned REI and some dehydrated meals for this part of the trip, and using water from the sole water source once we get to camp. (From what we read online, there is only one area to get potable water from). *Potable water, also known as drinking water, is water that is safe and suitable for human consumption, meeting standards for purity and freedom from contaminants. I’m most eager for this part because I love being off grid and away from the notification world. Although there will be hundreds of people traveling to the same area at the same time, it’s still immersed in nature and living outdoors which is something I truly can’t get enough of. If you’d like to hear more about how this trip went, check back in the next few weeks to hear a post that goes into more detail about how everything worked out! 🙂 As for today’s post, we’re simply covering how we prepare and execute a week long backpacking-centered trip (in this case Havasu Falls), so let’s get into more of that. Once we make our way back out of the canyon, we’ll most likely be stinky, muddy, and sweaty. Ew. We are hopeful to complete our backpacking early on in the day before the sun comes up too much, and get on the road to the next adventure. (This time, being the hotel we have booked in Phoenix!) This is something we make sure to include at the end of any long hiking trail. ESPECIALLY if said hiking trail includes any backpacking. We learned quickly after exiting the Bright Angel Trail that we would need much more than just half of one day to recover before flying back home and working the next day. Not only does this allow us more recovery time, but it also gives us time and space to reorganize our messy packs, wash off any lingering dirt or mud before reorganizing our luggage, and showering like, a BUNCH so we can get back to smelling like our normal selves. After at least two days

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Here’s A Few Ideas On Where You Should Start Your Backpacking Adventures

Shelby — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:18:51 +0000

So, you’re fed up with mediocre adventures and are ready to step it up in the hiking world. I see you. No matter if you’re ready to conquer small or big backpacking trips, I wanted to drop in today to talk about my favorite ways to prepare for them, as well as list off a handful of my favorite trails to do so! I swear I could add dreads to my hair tomorrow and go for days out into the wilderness. Give me a water filter and a JetBoil and I’ll be good to go. Being fully immersed into nature’s beauty is more than ever at the top of my priority list. I’m all in for making my days easier, more colorful and fuller with any adventure outdoors that I can get my toes in. Where do you stand? Childhood Hikes to Adult Backpacking Exploration I never grew up backpacking or having backpacking adventures. I didn’t even have a single clue about what it was until maybe 5-7 years ago. (I can’t remember the exact date we shopped for backpacks, but I do recall the exciting experience of fitting and finding the perfect pack. More about how to fit a pack later in the post!) When I would go hiking with my parents as a toddler and adolescent, and as a young adult with my friends, I absolutely loved every minute of it. Looking back, I actually don’t think I realized just how much it was a genuinely loved part of my life. I remember distinctly this one memory as a 15/16 year old. I had this tiny child sized colorful backpack that I stuffed full of peanut butter sandwiches (hold the jelly, please), and smarties. (Two of my favorite snacks to this day). My best friend and I actually stayed up all night so that we didn’t miss the sunrise. This has to be one of the first sunrises I actually remembering being present with and enjoying. It’s an amazing thing, our human memory, isn’t it? My Tiny House We started out of my playhouse (a cool little mini house that was more like a shed that my dad built for me near our home), early when the sun was rising. I can still feel that memory so strongly that I could paint you a picture of looking into my tiny home to make sure I remembered everything, pulling the door knob closed after I shut off the fan, and looking out to the east where the most beautiful colors began coming up on the horizon between the woods. I remember smiling to myself as we stepped off the porch into the shale, and started up the logging road to the beautiful nature behind my childhood home. Only now can I recognize what an important part of this life that memory would be. If I had to choose a specific time and place where I truly felt in tune with my hiking aura, it would have to be this morning. Although I have a ton of memories hiking with my parents beforehand, for some reason, going out on my own (with my friend of course), felt truly like it was the first of many to come as an individual. I love that memory. Do you have something similar? At the time I didn’t realize I’d actually been halfass “backpacking.” I had even remembered to bring a safety and first aid kit, besides the snacks and water that I carried in my pack for my friend and I. We trekked out a ways until it felt like far enough, gathered some sticks and started a teeny tiny fire. I enjoyed my sandwiches around the smell of the fire (my all-time favorite smell to this day, ESPECIALLY in the morning), and made sure it was out before heading back down the trail. We were gone for hours. That was the longest of my hikes at that time, something I wish I would have made an effort to do more often as I grew into adulthood. Where To Start and the Lessons I Learned So aside from the sappy teeny me story, it’s that time in the post to share some tidbits about where and how you may consider starting your own backpacking journey. Let’s get into that. I mentioned that about 5-7 years ago is really where it began to transform my adult life. It was at this time that my husband and I decided to start to travel more (for adventure, not for relaxation). We were out in Arizona with our day packs (actually, I believe we had just camelbacks at the time, pssh, newbs…) and trekked down into the Grand Canyon a bit past Skeleton Point on the South Kaibab trail. I knew we could keep going, but knowing the dangers of the Canyon that a lot of people ignore, we made the choice to turn around and try again the next year with better preparation and training. We also booked Angels Landing in Zion National Park (for a daytrip) in Utah the year after. We had Havasupai Falls scheduled as well, but with the flash flood that came through, caused us to reschedule (for two weeks from now, actually, yay!). (Check out the videos below to get a glimpse of the before and after). And we just finished backpacking the Napali Coast in Kauai this past December. Since then, we’ve learned that getting permits is hella hard, backpacking can be intimidating if you don’t plan properly, and preparing your body for carrying 30-40 pounds up a crap ton of elevation is MUCH harder than it looks on paper. Check Out AllTrails for Your Adventure Therefore, I recommend starting out small. Get the AllTrails app and find some fun trails near you that you can practice on. Check out your nearest outdoor store to get fitted for a pack, (something else I never realized you had to do!). Our favorite store is REI, but if there are none near your city,

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Have You Embraced The Secluded & Serene Beauty Of Seneca Rocks, West Virginia?

Shelby — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:04 +0000

Recently, I went on a long weekend trip with my spouse of now 10 years. We traveled to a beautiful place in the mountains of West Virginia called Seneca Rocks. If you’ve heard of it before, or have even had the opportunity to visit there in the past, you’ll understand that it has some seriously awesome hikes and scenery. Let’s talk about those. Introduction to Seneca Rocks and Its Hiking Trail So often we would plan these big trips for our anniversary. Other times, we would just let it roll on by if it was in the middle of the week or say “it wasn’t a big deal” to celebrate. But this year, we finally threw in the towel of “not caring,” and decided that since we were lucky enough to have it fall on a Saturday, we’d do our best to spend the weekend by ourselves even though we just went somewhere shortly beforehand. It was one of the best experiences of my relationship thus far. I had high expectations that I tried to squash, (which typically happens if I start getting in my head too much). Seriously, this can be detrimental so I highly recommend going with the flow instead! “A campground” was something I wasn’t too sure of, since we’d been backpacking more recently and got to experience the feeling of being totally alone. I liked that. I also was not super keen about being a hundred yards next to a pack of yelling coyotes 4 times in one dark and quiet night. (We’ll keep that for another post!) *PS! If you’re getting into camping more remote, or just don’t want as many peeps around you, I highly recommend checking out the app, Hipcamp! It’s been super helpful in finding us some next level spots (even for same day booking!) Sign up to get $10 off your first night under the stars! And if you’ve ever thought about hosting on your own property, check it! You can start listing your land on Hipcamp as soon as today. Very cool. Get to the Seneca Rocks Campground Early…Real Early So anyway, I was cool with a campground and let the hubs do the choosing. Seneca Rocks was something he’d brought up in the past. Something I recalled him talking about but alas, a place we never really decided on. When he found the campground, we knew that it would work and planned that we would just get there early to choose a spot. …Don’t do that. For reals, if you’re thinking about going to a campground around this beautiful place, consider Seneca Rocks Shadows. It’s epic. BUT, DO book a site ahead of time!! Or make sure you arrive super early to choose your perfect spot. I have no complaints about ours, but we arrived (for what we thought was early) around 2/3pm, and were lucky enough to snag THE LAST SPOT. Phew! Please note that if you do decide to choose this awesome campground (which you totally should), that you’ll need a 2 night minimum weekend booking if you decide to book online ahead of time (which you also totally should). You can even stay up to 14 nights if you choose to!! Which is really great to have as a backup option if you would decide to do some nearby backpacking and want to use this as a base camp. We definitely plan to do this in the future, since Dolly Sods Wilderness is known for great backpacking trails! So, let’s talk car camping at Seneca Rocks. What is it? And how is it different than backpacking? We Backpacked Rim-River-Rim Of The Grand Canyon In 2 Days: Here’s A Few Things We Learned Car camping is much different than backpacking. 1. It’s so nice because you have so much more stuff to use when you need it! 2. It’s so annoying because you have so much more stuff when you don’t need it! Yes, each statement is true! If you’ve done either of these kinds of camping, you may understand what I mean. I think if I had to choose one or the other, it would be backpacking all the way. Sure, you have to carry things on your back for miles on end and hope to the heavens that there’s some kind of water source along the way (or just research where your water sources are), but over car camping? Sign me up. Why? Because I’m a minimalist in a hoarders body. Because I loathe the idea of possibly forgetting something and I swear that the more space and time I have to fill with extra stuff, the more stuff that makes its way along with us. (Which is why I ALWAYS procrastinate on packing for anything). And guess what? Even with a rented Bronco full of groceries and items we thought we’d need for the weekend long trip, we STILL had to stop at the little store to grab some last minute forgotten items. With backpacking, I KNOW for a fact that I will have everything I need. For several days in the Grand Canyon, I survived on water sources and dehydrated meals. No bars, no extra fluff, just chilling with my weightless packable gear and a tiny packet of hot chocolate. (Because why not). BONUS – Path To Productivity: My Struggle With Planning And The Perfect Hot Cocoa Recipe But I did not have the chance to overthink my items to pack, I did not need to look at my piles and wonder if I had remembered everything, because with backpacking, everything I need for days or weeks even is packed nicely into one solid pack I can carry anywhere. (There’s even a system to packing it correctly, so I literally cannot mess it up.) No boxes of food, no bags for a ton of garbage, no pots and pans and extra camping gear or firewood. Just us, the packs, and the trail. It’s awesome. 5 Must Have Items for Trips to Seneca

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Overcoming Negativity On The Scale: How I’m Learning To Be Okay With My Body

Shelby — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 22:00:38 +0000

A while ago, more specifically last Fall (2023), my doctor told me I’d need to lose 15-18 pounds to reverse my fatty liver and get back on track with my health. Mind you, I am a (beginner level) mountain climbing, BJJ lady that hikes 10 miles for fun on a regular basis. I eat well most of the time (or so I kept telling myself), and I frequent the gym several days a week. Which leads me to believe that A LOT of us humans out there have health issues we’d never know existed if it wasn’t for accidentally finding out. How scary is that? I have put in a ton of work on myself since then, but I’ve only dropped 7-9 pounds. Since I’ve been hovering around the same weight for a few months now, I did an experiment this week. Let me tell you about it. My Experiment For awhile I thought, there has got to be an easier way. How do the girls on Instagram and YouTube do so well? How do they ALWAYS look good and never have to worry about their weight fluctuating through daily life, let alone during hormone spikes, pregnancies, postpartum, and difficult times. …And then I remember that I’m just seeing what they want me to see. I’m here on this blog to be real with you. To be real with myself. I’m telling you flat out how I feel about everything in this universe not only so that you can know it’s not just you, but also to hold myself accountable. I’m not here to spend time highlighting the good and casting a shadow on the bad. I’m here to talk. So, let’s talk. Before my most recent trip out west, I did great with eating habits and exercise. (My version of great, of course. Remember to try not to compare yourself to others, as long as you’re one step ahead of yourself from yesterday, you are growing). I had cut out Red Bulls, (seriously, I’ve tried EVERY other brand. I hate them all.), I increased my protein, ate more salads and spent time consistently in the gym. In my opinion, a barrier was crossed. I had finally made it to the mindset of “I’ve got this.” When we returned, I was a little surprised but pleased to find out that my weight had stayed exactly the same. Even though we did a ton of hiking and activity, I still made sure to eat mindfully and space out my treats. (I may have had an occasional Red Bull and some skittles! Moderation, friends!) So, this past week, I ran an experiment. I indulged in what I was craving and didn’t hold back. I wanted to see just how quickly that weight could go back on. And I was grossly underestimating how fast it could happen. Related: Utilizing Garden Veggies To Save Money While Meal Prepping What I Learned and What My Body Told Me Monday, I had a cheesesteak. Half for lunch and half for dinner. I had soda multiple times throughout the week, a few energy drinks and an ice cream cone. I relished in having pizza for many meals, and focused less on balance and more what my body was saying it wanted instead of listening to my mind. I’ve averaged the same weight for around 3 months. In just 5 days, I gained SIX pounds back. Yes, 6. My mind was blown. I didn’t feel like I looked any different in the mirror, but I did feel significantly more fatigued and lethargic. And those feelings came BEFORE I weighed myself this morning. The whole reason I’m going through these points with you today is to say that I’m going to start focusing more on what my mind and body needs to stay healthy and less on indulging in whatever is easy. It’s easy to order pizza every night. It’s easy to swipe through the dinner options on DoorDash. But it’s hard to plan and shop and meal prep healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners every week. It’s hard to keep up with finding healthy alternatives to your favorite snacks or recipes that don’t actually suck with newly found ingredients. Finding those alternatives have taken me literal years. One by one I’ve begun to replace my favorite meals and snacks with healthier options and more and more I began to realize that if I hadn’t started doing that when I did, that I may be having an even harder time losing the necessary weight. Why are the options so hard to find? Sure, there are a ton of replacement items stocking the shelves and coolers these days as opposed to 10 or even just 5 years ago. The hard thing for me though is that only a small percentage of those things have any flavor or nutrition to them. Learning nutrition and how to properly and mindfully indulge is still to this day something I struggle with. So, moving forward, I’m going to return to thinking before I eat and start accepting that this weight is okay. It’s my new normal. I have plans for change though and I want to bring you with me through that change. 5 Snack Ideas and 5 Exercise Options to Help You Be More Comfortable With Your Body Have you ever heard of “body recomposition?” This is when you focus more on a tape measure and less on a scale to provide proof of your efforts making the cut. Body recomposition focuses on implementing more strength training and less on counting calories. When I say this body is “my new normal,” I don’t mean I’m giving up on my goals. I’m simply readjusting how I focus on them, so that I can lean into a healthier mindset and eating habits. Even though I feel that I use the 80/20 rule effectively, there is always room for improvement. I want to begin emphasizing more on protein intake and less on removing certain foods. Although

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Dealing With Change: An Uncomfortable Shift In Mindset And A Lesson Learned

Shelby — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 19:58:25 +0000

I was standing in a beautiful stone built shower this evening with clean, hot water running over me. As I washed my hair with what some may call bougie shampoo, a question popped into my head. Why is it so hard to believe that I may have just changed? What is the real problem with dealing with change, anyway? Why does it feel so weird and why can’t we accept that it is a normal, part of self-growth…part of life. I Forgot I Could Change We backpacked through the backcountry for 3 days this week. We experienced outdoor showers, more than one secret oasis, howling coyotes on the hunt and a random horse pass our tent. We trudged through more than 30 miles of hiking, including up the tallest mountain in the state as well as the wilderness, the desert, the tundra, the forest, and a canyon. We viewed sunrise after sunset at some of the most stunning places we’ve ever been together, including great meals and many memorable moments together. We enjoyed talking, walking and even silence during hiking struggles. So, why is it that today, when the first thing went wrong, that my overthinking brain hit the roof? I wasn’t seeing clearly earlier, but since that refreshing hot shower, I’m a little more understanding. You see, I forgot that I could change. I forgot that it’s okay to adjust what you do as you get older, or how you approach new situations, or even situations that you previously were in. It’s okay to feel the hurt when something doesn’t go your way, we are allowed to have feelings when things just plain suck sometimes. But at the end of the day, we have to realize one thing. That thing is that dealing with change is always going to be present in our world, change is always going to happen whether we’re ready for it or not. The thing that hits hardest however, is how you handle the change that comes your way. What change have you encountered lately? Related: What Are Your Pillars? Mental, Physical, Emotional Health Foundations Dealing With Changing Situations and How I React to Them It’s becoming more and more clear to me when I need to adjust my mindset. I often even realize it now in the middle of an actual conversation, where I’ll start to work on self-talk inside my own thoughts. It doesn’t always help right away, but reflecting on it throughout the day is where I find the most progress. Sometimes I’ll talk to my partner about it. Sometimes I’ll put away my screens and just sit to reflect while working on breath work. Other times, I’ll talk to you. As much as I’m hopeful these posts will enlighten another in the world to their potential and understanding of self, it helps me just as much to be able to use this canvas to paint new perspectives on how to adjust my way of thinking or being to better fit into tomorrow. Focusing on the good in our lives is often so much more difficult than focusing on the negative. If I had to keep a tally for this trip, the positive moments would far outweigh the negative ones. Yet, when someone asks me how it went, you know the first thing that will come to mind might just be this one negative one. Why is that? Why does our brain trick us into thinking that those moments are more important to highlight? Human beings like drama, and drama is memorable. My goal this year is to focus on becoming more aware of how I react in changing situations, such as when I was conflicted earlier about whether or not to get another campsite, or a tiny home. After MUCH back and forth contemplation, I decided I was in love with neither and that I should look some more. (All the while missing out on beautiful landscapes passing me by). Low and behold, I found another airbnb that was perfect. We decided to upgrade for the evening and clicked “book.” Changing Rooms and Changing Attitude When we got to the place, there was clearly issues allover. There was soot everywhere from an apparent fire from the person before us, broken things nearly all the places we checked, and just bad vibes throughout the room. The maintenance was kind enough to relocate us to an even more beautiful room, although I was initially upset since that was my perfect aesthetic carefully chosen place. I complained to my husband about the new one, how it was so different and how the patio view wasn’t as nice. I complained about the slowly draining jet tub that I’d longed for after those miles of hikes. I spent so much time complaining that I forgot to look outside and remind myself how magnificent of a place I was already blessed to be in… In that shower, I realized that I was complaining about things that I was taking for granted. Things that I’d grown accustomed to in our travels and things that I was craving so much after missing them for days, that when the slightest thing went wrong, I’d gotten angry, annoyed, even ignorant to my surroundings. Dealing with change is so difficult sometimes. Especially as an adult. We get so used to doing things one way for so long, or being used to how we did things as kids and teenagers, that when that adult life hits us, we expect to continue on with those feelings. I realized that since I’d loved camping so much as a child, that of course I must love it just as much now. And I do. But my back, my joints, my body, the cold, the up at night to walk 100 feet to a half-working bathroom (if there even was one), the constant reminder I was nearly alone in the wilderness, those were things I was not used to. Those things I needed a break

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