Huntress of the High Desert – 10.5.15 – Mountain City, NV

If you know my hunting past, you know that I have never had mule deer tag soup. Every hunt that I have gone on, I have harvested an animal, whether it was a buck or a doe. Okay, so the does were when I had a junior tag. Proud to say I’ve shot all bucks since then!

And I wasn’t going to let this hunt stop that streak. After not having shot anything since 2013 when I shot my first antelope, I was itching to feel that uncontrollable joy of harvesting an animal. I didn’t care if it was a trophy 4×4 or dinky forked horn, I was going to get something. I even packed my lucky beanie that I wore 15 years ago on my first hunt ever. I was determined.

Lassen Volcanic National Park – 9.7.15 – Lassen, CA

It had been almost 20 years since I had been into the park. And even then, we went 2 miles in and turned around. This time though, I got to be able to drive through the entire park and it was amazing. If you remember back in December (here), my boyfriend and I only made it a little ways in because the snow had the park closed down.

I was beyond excited that it was a gorgeous day to go visit. It was an impromptu trip, so we weren’t prepared to go hiking at all. It was more of a get-out-and-snap-photos type of trip. But it was the best. Matthew and I had made a pact that we would visit every national park that there is in our lifetime. This was the first one to cross off our list! We went into the museum and store at the Loomis Ranger Station, where we picked up a patch and a passport book for the national parks. Stamped it and now it’s onto the next!

Hiking with the Pups – 5.23.15 – Tahoe National Forest, CA

A year ago, I would’ve been exploring the lovely state of Iowa. This year, I kept it close to home. Matt was home for the weekend and we needed to take the dogs out for a run/walk. He wanted to take me to a little river he walked a few times with the dogs before.

Half Moon Bay – 1.10.15 – California

Finally, another adventure! This one I was really excited about. I was going down for the weekend to pre-celebrate my birthday with my boyfriend. He was working down in the Bay Area, so I made the trek on a Friday to go see him. We didn’t know what we were going to do that weekend, so it made me even more excited. The drive was smooth sailing… until Berkeley. Traffic. An hour sitting in traffic wasn’t my idea of a good start, until I got to the hotel and the sunset made it all worth it.

Burney Falls – 12.26.14 – California

After leaving Lassen, we headed up Highway 44 towards our turnoff to Susanville. Matt asked me, “Want to go to Burney Falls? We have the time.” “Umm, I don’t want to get home too late because of the dogs. But I think…” “Screw it. We’re going.” And off we went up Highway 89.

On the drive, it was pretty neat to see all of the burn area from recent wildfires and how much land it covered. They saved so many homes from danger. It even crossed the road and threatened some homes on that side. I wish I had taken pictures of it, but I didn’t think of it until just now.

Lassen National Park – 12.26.14 – California

I haven’t been to Lassen National Park since I was 8 years old. And about the only thing I remember about it was that it smelled like rotten eggs. I had gone with my best friend and her family. We went camping at Lake Almanor and this was a side trip for one of the days. I honestly can’t remember much more of the park than that.

This time though, was with Matt and we were driving home from Redding. Matt had worked for the forest service, so he knew a good deal about the park. He wanted to see if the road through was open. He wasn’t sure because it had just snowed two days before. We made the turn onto Highway 89 from Highway 44 towards Manzanita Lake. We got about as far as the Loomis Ranger Station before the road was blocked stating it was closed. So we turned around and headed back down.

Camping in the Sierras – 8.2.14 – Woods Lake, CA

Camping is absolutely in my top five all-time favorite activities to partake in. I adore being surrounded by nature. I love the ability to spend time with those I love free from all the hustle and bustle of every day life. It is one of the few times you immerse yourself in pure joy and happiness, carefree about all things bogging down your brain. Just you and Mother Nature… One.

Iowa is My Friend – 7.3.14 – Shelby, IA

Five weeks pass. Fourth of July weekend. Midwest… Again. Except this time to another tiny town in Iowa about 100 miles west of Des Moines. A quaint, quiet little town by the name of Shelby. Surrounded by the never ending rolling hills of corn. Literally, it was corn as far as the eye could see.

Off to the Midwest Again – Memorial Day Weekend 2014 – Sioux City, IA

Flying… I’m becoming a pro at it after all the trips I’ve made. This time I was flying at night, from Reno to Salt Lake then to Omaha with an hour and a half car ride up to Sloan, IA. I was beyond excited. It was a long weekend for me and I got to spend time with my boyfriend in a place we both have never been before.