Labor Day Waterfalls

I had some friends express interest in going camping for labor day this year, but unfortunately finding a campsite reservation the week of a holiday weekend is actually impossible (to anyone planning a trip over a holiday, make sure you book in advance by about three months. Such a bummer). Still wanting to do SOMETHING outdoors, I threw together a day trip to middle Tennessee to scope out some waterfalls, one new and one old.

According to the alltrails app, Ozone falls in Crossville, TN is a 1.3 mile hike. Apparently we took the abridged version of the trail because we made it to the bottom of the falls after about a quarter mile scramble down some rocks. This isn’t one of Tennessee’s most flashy falls, but it has a charm all its own. If you just want a quick jaunt outside, it looks like you can swim when the water is high, or even follow the stream farther back into the gully. I’d suggest taking a picnic or a hammock and just relax there for an afternoon.

Also, make sure you’re taking it slow on the drive there because the parking lots are directly on the side of the road with little to no warning. Oh, and try to catch the falls after a large rain, you’ll enjoy it more.

Since Ozone wasn’t much of a hike, I talked everyone into stopping at Burgess Falls State Park in Cookeville, TN on our way back towards Nashville. Definitely a good decision. My friends hadn’t been there before so thankfully not being able to hike to the base of the falls wasn’t too big a deal. A year or so ago flood damage knocked out the creepy/sketchy metal staircase that led down to the bottom. The abbreviated hike is about a mile in length and pretty easy for all skill levels. I’m glad I got to experience that once before nature took its course, but even without that bit, you can have a glorious view of the main falls and all the smaller ones leading down to them.

We took off our shoes and waded into the river to cool our feet down and had a few snacks before packing up and heading towards Nashville in search of burgers. I 1000% recommend Riverside Grill Shack if you’re in East Nashville. It’s a super chill-eat outside-bring the dog along type joint. Not to mention the exceptional burgers.

It's really easy to get caught up in the mindset that since you couldn't pull together the trip you wanted, you shouldn't go at all. But in my experience, you should go even when it's different than you originally planned because going is always better than not!

Thoughts From A Beginner Trail Runner

I’ve decided to give up road running. It’s boring, kills my knees, and it’s boring (Twice for emphasis). One of my buddies - check out his killer podcast - is a major trail runner and a total inspiration for me to actually run even though I hate running. If someone twice my age can start doing this and run ULTRA marathons, I have zero excuses. I’ve always been a hiker with a long stride, so trail running seems like the next step.

So here are a few things I've learned/discovered from my extremely short time trail running. (Honestly guys. I’ve only run trails about three times and I can’t even run flat out for a mile without feeling like my lungs are filled with sand, so take all this with a grain of salt.)

New Balance trail runners are good if yo have hobbit feet like me!

Actually Use Trail Running Shoes - Even on the easiest and most stable trails, I’ve eaten it hard due to less than ideal traction on a crappy pair of nikes, and had to walk off the trail with my bum covered in mud. Not the best outcome when you’re already self conscious about running in the first place.

Find a Friend Who Isn't Intimidating - Going alone is fun and empowering, but it’s nice to have someone go with you. Find a running buddy who is either at your level, or who isn’t going to push you too far when you’re just starting. Take a pal who will let you heave through the hard parts at a snail’s pace.

Paige is my non-indimidating friend.

Take Water - I sweat. A lot. I think that’s been addressed in another blog post, but yeah I lose about as much water as I take in, so I take WAY more water than the average person. This may not apply to you but I thought I’d throw it in since I take hydration a little too seriously.

It's Okay to Just Hike Fast - If you already aren’t a strong runner (I’m a prime example) don’t be discouraged by not “running” the entire trail. Just hike it as fast as you can manage and enjoy the fact that you are outside surrounded by trees.

Eyes on the Ground - You’re going to be moving fast over roots, rocks, puddles, and who knows what else. Keep those eyes on the ground or you’re gonna end up with a mouth full of dirt.

Spiders are Everywhere - Unfortunately, you’re probably going to receive a face full of spiders on literally any trail you choose. So, suck it up and like I said above, keep your eyes on the ground, for safety and for maybe a little less fear of the webs + web makers going in your mouth.

Good luck to anyone starting trail running. It’s such a fun and rewarding way to take advantage of the trails near you. If you happen to be in the area, hit me up if you’d like an extremely slow running partner, and here are some links to a few great trail running areas!

Nolin Lake State Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
Low Hollow Trail
Lost River Cave Trails

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ending a run with yoga, sunset, and a lake doesn't hurt...

How I Plan a Trip

Planning a trip can be stressful especially when all your friends constantly want you to be the one to plan it. That’s a lot of pressure. Not only are you in charge of all plans, but also you feel some responsibility for the safety and fun of the trip. So where do you begin?

First you have to pick a place and activity. Do you want to camp, hike, swim, climb, mountain bike, or all of the above? Nail down the location and activities and go from there. I use a lot of different resources for trip ideas.

• Rootsrated  -has a lot of good articles on state specific hikes and camp spots.
• AllTrails - can help you find a ton of trails that are accessible in your area
• National Park Service - the NPS and NFS websites have everything you need to know about national parks, forests, and recreation areas that you might be interested in.
• State Park Websites - Every state in our country has some sort of state park tourism website that should tell all the parks, campgrounds, lakes, and rivers that are open to the public
• Recreation.gov - This is a government run site that is a great resource for finding campsites
• Instagram - I can’t even tell you the amount of trips i’ve been on that were initially inspired by instagram posts. Follow some outdoorsy folks in your area and metaphorically stalk their movements. You’ll find some awesome places!
• Local Outdoor Stores - Last but not least, go pick the brains of the employees at your local outdoors store. Nine times out of ten they’ll have a great recommendation for you.

Now that you’ve scouted some locations and activities, make a rough budget and a detailed list.

Your budget doesn’t need to be complicated. Just the basics of how much gas you’ll need for the entire trip (hello google maps!), food budget, spending money, extra wiggle room in case anything comes up like you need to unexpectedly book a hotel cause your camp site is sketchy.
Side note: especially if you are on a ladies only trip: trust your instincts. A woman’s intuition is NOT a joke. If something feels “off”, trust it. Pack it up and get out. 9 times out of 10 there’s a logical reason for you having those feelings. Better safe than sorry even you miss out on a dope campsite. End Side Note.
This will allow you to divide all your expenses between however many people are on the trip and have everyone plan accordingly.

I’m a huge advocate of absurdly detailed lists. I create a google doc with bulleted lists of GPS coordinates, campsite information, grocery lists, and packing lists. It’s also a great way to have a collaborative lists in case your travel companions want in on the planning process. I also make sure that I have my rough timeline sketched out on that same google doc with links to each location/activity so I can easily click into them in case of confusion (and there will be lots of confusion if you’re on a trip with me…)

I think the key to dealing with confusion and stress on a trip is to be well planned in the beginning. If you KNOW you’re going to be okay because you have appropriate plans and supplies in place, it takes a huge burden off you as the trip planner because no matter what, you know survival is possible.

Now that the main logistics are out of the way and you are super psyched to go on your trip. Start the packing and shopping process. I have a usual set of road trip/camping snacks that I stick to, but I also make sure that I meal plan for each day of the trip. If you’re going to be close to groceries/civilization I don’t worry about three meals a day, but I nail down dinner plans (with a rain backup) for every night. It gives me a sense of comfort to know what I’m eating every night along with where I'm sleeping.

My go to food and snacks for all weather include fresh fruit, cliff bars, cheese and crackers, and some freeze dried meals. I would eat the backpacker’s pantry chicken and rice every night of my life it was acceptable. You don’t have to spend a lot to eat well on a road trip. Grab some fruit, raw veggies, and some crackers and you’ll have it made. It’s really easy to eat bad and feel terrible on a road trip so as I’ve gotten older it’s become important to eat well so you can play well.

When you have your bag sitting empty on the ground surrounding by a pile of gear and food it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Don’t freak out. You made a list! Print it out, pull it up on your phone, I don’t care how you do it, but just check off the stuff you’re taking one thing at a time. I usually even have a list of exactly what clothes I’m taking. And so far (knock on wood) I’ve never left an important item at home. Sure I’ve forgotten a few things but these lists are going to make sure you have the essentials. Oh and by the way, If you’ve got all your gear in one place this is the time to take the cliche flat-lay shots of all your gear...we’ve all done it…no shame.

Alrighty. You’ve got the plan, the people, the supplies, and the highway  in front of you. Make sure you have the killer playlist to carry you through all the ups and downs and winding back roads. Spotify is my favorite because you can download your playlists offline so internet isn’t a necessity. Also you can make collaborative playlists so all your friends can add jams to the trip soundtrack.

Lastly, check the weather like your life depends on it. Or at least like the trip depends on it. Keep an eye out especially if you're going to the mountains where weather can change instantly. Be prepared and make sure you don't let rain or storms kill the mood. It's uncomfortable in the moment, but you'll laugh about it later on. 

PHEW. You’re done. All that’s left is to start the car and grab some coffee on the way out of the city.

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all photos from Washington State trip 2016

My Favorite Outdoor Documentaries

Sometimes you just can’t get out on the weekends. Maybe it’s the weather, not enough gas money, sinus infection hits you hard, or you’ve been running yourself ragged every weekend and just need a break. (or you’re car poops out on you every minute of every day so you’re legitimately stranded - that’s me.)

If you’re in one of these frustrating boats, why not keep the adventurous spirit alive by watching an engaging documentary?

There’s a million docs out there to choose from so it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you first open your streaming service of choice. On top of the sheer volume of media to consume, it’s hard to tell if a documentary is going to check all the boxes of what makes a good selection just from the cover poster. I like my films to check these three boxes before I press play:

• A compelling story or topic
• Interesting characters that you enjoy following along with as they learn about the topic at hand
• Beautifully made

My recommendations checked all three of those for me, so hopefully they will for you too!

Chasing Coral (Watch on Netflix)

This one has probably been screaming at you from the front page of Netflix so if you haven’t taken the plunge (ayyyyyyyy), this is your sign. This film simultaneously brings you immense joy at seeing the incredible underwater world and meeting people who feel strongly about saving its wonders, while also making you feel heartbreaking sorrow at how quickly the Earth’s corals are bleaching. Seriously, get the tissues handy because this is going to rock your emotional stability. 
Side note, if you don’t believe in climate change after watching, I will fight you....

Damnation (Rent on Vimeo)

I have probably seen this documentary seven times. It got me FIRED UP about deadbeat dams. I had no idea how many dams we had in our country that served literally no purpose. They are sitting there clogging up ecosystems that were doing just fine before humans decided they needed to build stuff everywhere. There was a time where dams were crucial to our infrastructure and the power grid, but that time has come to an end for many of these structures. This film also sheds light on the fish hatchery industry. It’s gross. Oh, and this film has incredibly beautiful animations/artwork/music.

Valley Uprising (Watch on Netflix)

Warning, this film has some unsavory language. Moving on, this is a great film that takes a look at the golden age of the climbing scene in Yosemite Valley. For newbie climbers like me, it’s so cool to see how the original "dirt bags" took over the valley and conquered all the routes that are famous today. I also love that it melds the “greats” of climbing with the newcomers dominating the climbing circuit today. Also you get to learn about the infamous “weed plane”. It’s a wild ride for sure.

180 degrees south (Watch on Netflix)

This film follows the travels of a young man retracing a trip that his heroes Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia) and Doug Tompkins (founder of The North Face) took in 1968. This one is filled with gorgeous landscapes, mountains, oceans, and trees. It’ll have you wanting to quit your job and hop on the nearest sailboat to South America.

The Barkley marathons (Watch on Netflix)

I had never heard of the “Barkley Marathons” before I saw this pop up in my netflix queue. It’s wild and it actually takes place not far from me in Tennessee. The gist of this insane test of physical and mental endurance is that you run 100 miles through some of the roughest trails in Tennessee. Seriously this will make you want to become a trail runner and also die at the same time. You follow along with the competitors who make it through the rigorous entry process and get a glimpse into the eccentric life of the creator of the marathons, Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell.

Meru (Rent on Amazon for $2.99)

One of my favorite adventure photographers is Jimmy Chin. This doc was created by him so you can obviously expect it to be beautiful. This follows Jimmy and his climbing companions on their multiple attempts at climbing the Shark’s Fin route on Mount Meru in India. They overcome all kind of obstacles including one of the climbers suffering a major medical issue while on the mountain. Get ready to feel completely obsolete in all your outdoor endeavors.  

Now that you have six killer docs to fill up your lazy weekend, here’s a bonus one to guilt you into trading the potato chips for  some carrot sticks while you couch it up.

That Sugar Film (Watch with Amazon Prime)

This film follows a dude that has an extremely healthy lifestyle. He eats plant based, never eats excess sugar (except what is in fruits, etc.), and exercises regularly. He is the picture of health. He decides to start eating like Americans normally do. Americans who are eating a “healthy” diet. Our yogurts, flavored waters, juices, cereals, etc. All things advertised to us on a daily basis as healthier choices. He starts out by taking blood samples and having an in depth physical so he can compare his starting and end point. It’s seriously insane to see what all that junk does to your body. Read the labels people.

Now that you’ve filled up a whole weekend with adventurous documentary goodness and then a kick in the pants to be healthy, you’re ready to launch into your week with renewed vigor.

Get moving!