Five Hikes on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, You Don’t Want to Miss

Somehow my travels landed me here in Australia for the past couple of months. I say somehow because if I’m being honest, in my life plan this was definitely a surprise. I never thought I’d travel to Australia as it was never particularly high on my bucket list. However, having an Australian partner and traveling together since October landed me here: The Sunshine Coast.

I’d like to note that I have nothing against Australia, in fact I’ve completely fallen in love with it. When I previously thought of my top places to travel there were just always other places that came to mind and intrigued me more. I am pleased to report that Australia has surpassed all of my expectations and I truly enjoyed it way more than I anticipated. I have ended up falling in love with this hot and beautiful country and I am feeling sad to be leaving in a weeks time. Read more

5 Tips for Waste-Free Adventures

It’s no secret that I love the outdoors. I try to get out and spend time with Mother Nature as much as I possibly can. Whether it’s hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, or touring in the winter on my splitboard, time spent in wild places refreshes and resets my soul. I need it. I crave it. 

Another thing that’s not such a secret, our climate is changing. I know, it seems to be a controversial topic, but even if you don’t necessarily believe in global warming, it’s pretty hard to deny that things are changing. Our glaciers are receding, our summers are filled with more and more wild fires, our climate is hitting extremes on both ends of the temperature spectrum. Again, if you choose to disagree go ahead, but these are things I’ve seen up close with my own eyes where I live. Even in the last five years, I have noticed a difference in our backyard. Read more

JaPOW! The Land of Beautiful People, Gyoza, and Deep Snow

If you’re looking for a place where you can shred waist deep snow, eat incredible food, soak in a relaxing onsen, and end the day surrounded by the friendliest people around, then put Japan to the top of your travel wish list ASAP. 

Japan hadn’t always been on my travel list, but thanks to pro snowboarders and adventure sport films bringing Japan and its high snowfalls into the spotlight, it quickly jumped to the top of my list. After seeing snowboarders carve through that fluffy, deep snow, and having many friends attest to how incredible it was, I had to experience the magic for myself. Soon enough, I was headed to Japan!

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US National Parks

I consider myself a very fortunate person to be able to live in such a beautiful place as I do. For those of you who don’t know, I get to call Banff National Park home; I may be biased (ok, I definitely am), but I’d say its one of the most beautiful parks and its definitely my personal favourite.

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2018: Grow, then grow some more

2018 is over. I am not sure about you, but I honestly have no clue where this past year went. I am fairly certain I blinked and then here we are. 2018 was a not an easy year. I say that for myself personally, and I say that from things I’ve read, heard, and seen from others. When people ask “how was your year?” my instant reaction is “oh, it wasn’t the best.” Although, when I stop to really think, it was actually a pretty good year. Hard and challenging do not equal bad. Hard and challenging I am realizing, have equaled growth; a hell of a lot of growth. If there is one word to sum up my year, it is exactly that. Through the good and the bad, I learned a lot.

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Winning the Lottery- The Wave

Visiting the wave is like winning the lottery. But seriously, you have to win the lottery to have a chance to visit this jaw dropping, peaceful, other worldly place. Is it hard to get a spot? Yes. Is it completely worth every effort in an attempt to get a spot? A million times yes.

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What is The Wave?

For those of you who are perhaps hearing about The Wave for the first time while reading this, The Wave is a very unique, sandstone rock formation located in Arizona, just over the border from Utah. It is located in an area called North Coyote Buttes, in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. It requires a three mile hike in to access it, with no official trail. The round trip hike is six miles (ten km), plus whatever hiking you do once you are at The Wave! Read more

Christmas for the Adventurous Female

It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year! Well, maybe you agree or disagree, however, like it or not, Christmas is around the corner. Crazy right!? Where did 2018 go? I have to admit, I love Christmas. The feeling in the air, the kindness of others, the beautiful snow against all the lights. Its cheesy, I know, but I have always loved this time of year.

Christmas however, is pretty commercialized. Shopping, cards, stockings, events, oh my! It can be pretty overwhelming. Amidst it all though, I absolutely love giving gifts. I love planning it out and finding something thoughtful from the heart to give my loved ones; something I know will absolutely make their day. A lot of years I make gifts, however, being on the road this year hasn’t left me with much space for getting creative. Read more

Life on the Road: The Beginning

I write this to you from a Laundromat in a suburb roughly 10 minutes outside the main strip of Las Vegas. Having spent the last 5 days in the desert, visiting Joshua Tree and Red Rocks, it was time to wash the bed sheets and clothes and get that beautiful red desert sand out of our belongings.

This is week three of a seven week road trip. To rewind a little and give you some background, a few months ago I asked to take a one year leave from my place of employment. It was pretty spur of the moment, but something I have dreamed about for a long time. I am not the greatest at making decisions. I am sensitive, emotional, and think way to hard and in depth about things. So the decision to take off and travel for a year wasn’t the easiest thing to do. But one day I snapped. Life caught up to me, and I realized there was never a good time to make such a decision. With an Australian boyfriend who’s visa was up in Canada, a job sucking the life out of me, and finally some savings under my belt, I decided it was time. It was time to follow my dream and experience more of this beautiful world. Read more

Raw and Real: Mountain Life

Its no secret that “adventure” has become somewhat of a popular thing these days. Adventure sports are becoming more popular, the adventure industry is booming with business, and people travelling the world is at its peak.

I made the decision to move to the mountains from Ontario nearly five and a half years ago. When I first moved to Banff for a summer, it opened me to a whole new side of myself that I didn’t know existed. I was drawn to explore this side of myself more so I made the move permanent and I have never looked back. Over five years later, it is still one of the best decisions I have ever made. However, that does not mean it has all been easy. Read more

KEEN on Happy Feet

As the saying goes, “happy feet, happy life.” OK, maybe its more like “happy wife, happy life”, but when you’re an avid outdoors women, I think happy feet is more accurate.

Our feet carry us everywhere. To work, to the gym, to the trails, to the mountains. I personally thank my feet everyday for the hard work they do and the incredible places they take me to.

That being said, taking care of my feet is something I give a lot of time and attention to. If I am going to put them through the many activities that I do, I need to take care of them to prevent injury, sore spots, and blisters. Read more