Deep Thoughts from 2019
I got a text from my mom a few days ago asking if I had given up on Forest Tourist. My immediate response was “no! I’ve just been busy!” but I knew deep down that she wasn’t that far off from the truth behind my hiatus. Yes, I have been busy over the past few months, but in reality I have also been struggling with a lack of motivation to write – my perspective towards sharing my thoughts and experiences started to shift at the end of 2019, and I’ve been reevaluating the intent behind this blog as well as my personal aspirations for the new year. I don’t plan…
2019 Holiday Gift Guide
Full disclosure: this post includes products that I received for free in partnership with different brands. That being said, all thoughts and opinions are my own. It’s that time of year again: blatant consumerism in the name of the holidays! Yikes. Too soon? I’ll rein it in a little – to be honest, I have nothing against the holiday season. I love the twinkly decorations, heavenly smells, and the overall sense of compassion that overwhelms people during November and December. It’s especially hard to not enjoy this time of year when you sprinkle in some time spent with loved ones and a lot of really delicious food (Nochebuena is my…
Monthly Recap // December 2019
What went on: November was busy. Very, very busy. As the month began John and I were eager to find a place to call our own in Salt Lake City. We had spent several days living in a van that was jam packed with all of our belongings, and as the nights started to get colder and longer we knew we had to hurry up and find somewhere to live. We lucked out and found an adorable home near Liberty Park and the popular Sugarhouse district of SLC, and went in on it with two lovely humans I met on Facebook. Moving into a home with a full kitchen, bathroom,…
Let’s Talk About Body Hair
Hello lovelies! Today I want to talk about a topic that has been on my mind since my first year of college: body hair. About a year ago I was inspired by two friends (Paige Charlick and Juliana Rodriguez, I love y’all) to start growing out my armpit hair. The simple revelation that the world doesn’t come to a crashing halt when a woman refuses to shave her pits sparked my curiosity with body hair, and more specifically society’s relationship with it. After a little over a full year of going au naturale and silently ranting in my head about the taboo that is female hair, I’ve decided it’s time…
Hiking in the Valley of Fire State Park with WANDRD
This post is sponsored by WANDRD – that being said, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I’ve always thought of Nevada as a state ruled by dichotomy: otherworldly outdoor spaces exist only a short drive away from cities ruled by consumerism (I’m looking at you, Vegas). The stark divisions used to drive me away, but after a short stay in the Sagebrush State I came to love how the seemingly disparate identities are able to coexist in harmony. Take one look at Vegas and you’ll get the impression that the state revolves around indulgence, but in reality Nevada is all about balance – you can live in a booming…
Monthly Recap // November 2019
What went on: Happy November everyone! October was quite a busy month for me, and I’m excited to share what I’ve been up to and update y’all on what the next stage of my life is looking like. To kick things off, John and I finished up our jobs as activity guides at Brush Creek Ranch and said goodbye to Wyoming. Our last day at the ranch actually came as a bit of a surprise – our contracts were scheduled to end on October 20th, but I asked our manager if we could leave a bit earlier and he moved our end date up to the 6th. We found out…
Climbing Devils Tower National Monument
It got to a point where I just couldn’t wiggle up anymore. “I’m stuck!” I shouted up to John, but with the roaring wind and the 150 feet of distance between us I’m sure my quiet exclamation got lost in the wilderness. I had studied videos of offwidth climbing technique during the five-hour long car ride to Northern Wyoming, but in that moment I couldn’t remember the difference between a chicken wing and an arm bar. I waited for a moment with my body wedged in between two imposing columns of rock and closed my eyes. Whenever a pitch gets too difficult or seems too frightening I try to take…
Outdoor Adventure Blog
