Five Years Later

Five years ago, Matt and I arrived in Seattle. Sometimes, I still can't believe we did it.

Over the years, I've had a few people ask me what it was like to pick up and leave my home of two decades. What was it like to move across the country with no jobs lined up? What advice could I give someone thinking of doing the same?

Our arrival in Seattle: August 14, 2020.

I'm not sure I have advice, and 2025 is a very different animal than 2020, but on the 5-year anniversary of our move, I'd like to reflect a little on one of the biggest (and one of the best) decisions of my life.

What's 16 years in the grand scheme of things, anyway?

I am totally that aging millennial who can't do math and thinks 2004 was 10 years ago, but the truth is, my 20th high school reunion was this year. I graduated college 16 years ago, and it's been since then that I've seen my old college roommate, Lauren, in person. 

Lauren and I drifted apart after college but reconnected because social media actually has some uses beyond filling me with existential dread. Last summer, she went on an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle and wanted to make it a point to come back and spend time here, because even the drive from SeaTac to the port is awe-inspiring. After going back and forth on dates, she planned her trip for Labor Day weekend.

Warning: lots of selfies ahead!

The Aster girls see Seattle

When my mom began planning her trip out here this summer, I was pleasantly surprised that my sister decided to tag along. Mom's been here before, so when I asked Steph what she really wanted to do most, her answer was: Food! The gluten free options in Seattle are hard to beat, so I totally got where she was coming from. I made sure good eats were at the top of our to-do list.

We had a fantastic time sightseeing and eating, and we even managed to get my mom out for a hike!

Three years on

It's been three years since Matt and I moved to Seattle and I still feel it was the best decision we've ever made. After three years, the shock that we actually did it, that we truly picked up and basically started a whole new life, has worn off a bit. Now Seattle feels like more like home than an adventure.

Bye, FL!

So, three years in, I wanted to share some things I truly love about our new city.

Mom meets Seattle

Given that it's been three years since Matt and I moved, my mom decided it was finally time to come visit. I know she was a little nervous about the long flight (especially with how chaotic flying can be these days) and coming to the city in general (we've all heard how Seattle has been destroyed in an anarchist uprising and it's basically Mad Max out here), but we finally sat down and chose dates and got her out here!

The visit went really well. I had a long list of things I wanted to show her, especially if this trip ended up being a one-and-done situation, so we had a lot to fit into 4.5 days.

Putting down roots

In May 2022, as I was getting ready to leave one job and start another, we closed on a condo.

The hunt was long and the market was working against us. Prices were inflated and the interest rates were climbing. The amount we sold our Florida house for – a 3-bedroom single family home with a garage and a pool – was the listing price for most small condos in Seattle. Depending on the square footage and the neighborhood, we could afford one or two bedrooms, but every time we put in an offer, someone else had a better one, and the place would get snapped up.

It felt like déjà vu. We bought our first house at the height of a housing bubble, too.

I'm running a half marathon

It's happening.

The last time I ran a half marathon was 2019, but it feels kind of like a fever dream now. I tend to forget that I ran it, even though at the time it was so important to me. I think when I ran that last half, I was trying to prove something (it was post-CECS recovery), but my heart wasn’t really in it. I remember being excited and hopeful – emotional – but I also remember being intensely unhappy during parts of the race. I wanted it to be over. I had a hard time finding the joy and beauty in the struggle.

Afterward, I reckoned with the truth that I had put a lot of pressure on myself for that race, and I made the decision to step back and not do any big races for awhile.

That was February 2019. The next year, the race organizers moved the race to January (because of football? I think?) and the appeal of that particular race has always been that it falls on my birthday weekend. So, I ran it as a “virtual” 5k and opted to run the Gasparilla 15k in February instead, and then the pandemic hit and races were put on hold.

Oh hey, it's 2023

I really thought it had been over a year since I posted here, and I guess that's true if we're talking regularly scheduled programming. I missed my usual "year in review" post, so let's pick up where I left off — March 2022 — and rundown the last year.

Where's Wenda 5k, 2021

It's been a long time since I've raced. My last in-person race was the Gasparilla 15k with Jessie in February 2020, and that's really the last race I'm counting because the virtual Amelia Island 12k I did last October just...didn't feel like a race. 

When Tall Sarah floated the idea of a Halloween 10k, I figured that would be a good chance to test the racing waters again. I'm vaccinated, 76% of Seattlelites are vaccinated, and it's outdoors. I feel like racing is safe again.

It's been so long, though, I figured I needed a 5k before that 10k to test out pretty much everything — clothes, breakfast, pace, etc. That's where the Where's Wenda 5k came in.

Breakfast was homemade overnight oats (not to be confused with my preferred breakfast during the week: Oats Overnight) consisting of a packet of instant oatmeal, half a scoop of protein powder, and almond milk. I managed to eat half of that and half a cup of coffee around 9am. I used the bathroom four times before taking half an Imodium.

I got to the park around 9:20. The race start was 10am — something weird to get used to, since Florida races always start around 6:30 or 7:00 — so I had plenty of time to grab my bib, use the porta-potty, and do an easy warm up jog with Standard-Sized Sarah, who registered that morning. We got lucky with the weather: it was supposed to be rainy and windy, but ended up being 50 and overcast, which is pretty perfect for a race.

Clearly I need to remember how to take better photos - it's been awhile.

We agreed to go at our own paces, to start together and meet each other at the finish, but we ended up running the entire race side-by-side.

I didn't want to get too strategic considering how long it's been since I've raced a 5k. I wasn't even sure what I was capable of, seeing as most of my runs these days are 4-6 miles at an easy pace. Still, I have such a hang-up about racing 5ks, I always want to come in under 30 minutes, and this race was no exception. I programmed my watch for a sub-30 5k so I could at least keep track of my paces and scrape in at 29:59 if necessary.

Anyway, the race was small. They had a virtual option and I'm sure people opted to do that. It was fun to see so many runners dressed up as Waldo. Sarah and I lined up right at the start because there were quite a few little kids we wanted to get around early on.

My usual 5k looks like this: go out way too fast, slow down to a sustainable pace, hit the wall at 2.6 miles and walk a bit, sprint the last .1. This time, I somehow managed to settle in to a challenging but doable pace from the beginning, maybe because Sarah told me she tends to start slow and then speed up, and I wanted to stick with her as long as possible.

So steady!

There's something to be said for pacing yourself. The first mile felt a touch too fast, but not as out of control as I'm used to. The second mile had two small hills that we slowed down on, and I could tell Sarah was struggling a bit so we reined it in. 

The race was around the park we usually run in anyway, and it was open to the public, so we had to do some dodging and weaving. Around 2.5 miles we came up on a group taking up the entire path and I had to shout at them (politely) so we could get through. However, we never walked and we didn't have to slow down much. 

Sarah and me coming into the finish.

Looking at my watch while it ticked down the distance was super motivating. When we had .3 to go, we both started kicking it up into a higher gear, and I somehow found it in me to sprint the finish.

Official results said 27:14, 11/64 OA

My watch read 3.04 miles with a pace of 8:58 — the final time was 27:17, well under 30 minutes and probably one of my faster 5ks. If nothing else, it was definitely one of my best executed! I think maybe we could have pushed a touch harder in the last mile, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it!

I wish the results broke down age and gender results because I think I probably placed in my age group, but it was such a small race that the results aren't that detailed. All I know if that I finished 11th over all out of 64, and I can't hate that!

I think if we had split up, I may have given in and walked, so I'm glad Sarah stuck with me the entire time. At the end, I think we both felt really proud and impressed with how well it all went.

Strangely, now I'm even more nervous for the Halloween 10k. It's like...now that I remember how uncomfortable a race can be, the idea of pushing that hard for twice the distance is intimidating. But I have a couple weeks to continue putting the work in, so I'm trying not to think about it too much yet!

My goals for this 5k were to break 30 minutes and remember how races work, and I'd say I met both beautifully. Racing!Ali is back!

ABK

Dress for the Weather (Seattle Winter Edition)

This post is more for my own reference than anything else — often I doubt myself when getting dressed to run, even if I know from experience which outfits will work best in any given weather. Logically, I may know that anything over 50° calls for shorts and short sleeves, but my Florida-brain thinks anything under 60° calls for tights and long sleeves.

I hope writing this post will help me believe my own experiences, and when next winter rolls around, I'll be able to reference past outfits so I don't spend weeks trying to reinvent the wheel and discover what works for me.

Low 30s/snowing: A pair of fleece-lined, water repellent leggings kept my legs warm and dry. I also layered one of my heavier long-sleeved tops (a Watch Me Go) under my Vintage Chic quarter zip and my core felt perfectly comfortable. I wore my normal gloves; while my fingers were cold, they did warm up toward the end of a short run. Of course, a knit cap was a must.

I also opted for a warmer pair of socks, but I can't remember which brand these are. All I know is they're thicker than my usual pairs and worked perfectly.

I'll wear a heavier gaiter next time; I wore a cotton one and it let cold air down my neck. During the run, my face and neck were the only parts of me that were cold!

High 30s and clear: My morning runs in early March were 34° and 37°, and I found my Vintage Chic tights and my new fleece-lined tights were perfect. I tried both my Wonder Wool top (which is very warm but lightweight) and my Watch Me Go with a vest, and both those options worked well.

My mom got me a pair of Trailhead gloves and they were almost too warm on these runs, but the nose-wipe was fantastic!

Not the best picture, but the outfit is clear!

I think what I need to remember for this temperature range is that it's warmer than I think it is; once temps reach 40°, I'm downright overheated in this kind of outfit.

Low to mid-40s and rainy: This weather has been the most daunting for me, because cold rain seems like it'll be...well, cold. The first time I tackled it, I paired my Skirt Sports All-In High Rise leggings with my long-sleeved Wonder Wool top, a windbreaker, knit beanie, and gloves. I ended up being too warm.

A regular long-sleeved top and tights are enough for this weather.

I know now that I should avoid wearing a beanie in anything over 40°, and a short-sleeved tech tee would have been enough under the windbreaker.

40s and clear: Triple Pocket Tights, which are a bit thinner than my All-In Leggings, a short-sleeved tech tee, and gloves do the trick. Wearing a hat in this weather is tempting but ends up feeling too warm.

I've always felt kind of silly wearing gloves with short sleeves, but I totally understand why runners do this now and I have become of a fan of this combo!

50s and clear: Even though 50° still sounds cold to me, it really is warm enough to pop on a pair of shorts and a short-sleeved tech shirt. I wouldn't drastically overheat in thinner leggings or a long-sleeved tech shirt, but I definitely couldn't wear both. By 53°, shorts and short-sleeves are necessary.

Sometimes I'll start with gloves in this temperature range, too. While I often end up removing my gloves in any temperature, it's nice to start with them and then stick them in my pockets as I warm up.

50s and rainy: Shorts, a short-sleeved tech tee, a light windbreaker, and gloves does the trick. I was shocked by how comfortable I felt in this outfit in 49°!

60s and above: The low that used to dictate when it was time to pull out tights is now the temperature that signifies sleeveless runs. A tank top and shorts are totally appropriate for 60°.

Back in tank tops and shorts in time for St. Patrick's Day!

I haven't been warm enough in Seattle to run in just a sports bra yet, but I'm sure there will be some summer days that warrant it.

It feels pretty good to finally have a handle on what I'm comfortable wearing in a state that has seasons. It took me a little while to figure it out, but that's also because I was acclimating to the weather. I still second-guess myself, but hopefully someday picking running outfits will feel like a no-brainer.

ABK

Seattle Snow (and birthday stuff)

One reason Matt and I chose Seattle for our big move was the weather. We loved the idea of seasons, but neither of us wanted to live somewhere with snowy winters. Been there, done that.

Seattle winters are wet, sure, but they're not snowy. Temperatures in the 40s are completely doable, and I've acclimated quickly. We had a sprinkling of snow back in October or November, but it didn't stick and barely counted as a flurry. Still, it was exciting. I realized I wouldn't mind some snowfall now and then.

Early in the week leading up to the Snowpocalypse, we had some light snow and I got to experience my first snowy run. This is something I've seen other runners post about all winter long and I've always wanted to run in snow. It just looks so pretty and fun! I loved conquering this milestone; I was honestly elated the entire time, and I got to figure out what kind of clothes work well in freezing temps.

Then came the weekend's Polar Vortex. While the timing was inconvenient, the snow was welcome. We watched in awe as the sky just absolutely dumped big, fat flakes that stuck. It started out light; we were just leaving Scott and Robby's that Friday night when the heavier snows began and we realized we may be homebound all weekend.

Valentine's Day and my birthday were duly interrupted, but honestly, it was a blast!

This article is full of absolutely fascinating facts about snowfall in Seattle. I can't believe we got to experience a record-breaking weekend our first winter here!

We got over a foot of snow over the next two days and made the best of it.

Saturday we took a walk around the neighborhood to get a lay of the land.

Sunday I was like, well I guess we're truly not going anywhere anytime soon.

Meet George.

Sledding for the first time in decades!

By Tuesday, the temperatures were back up into the 40s and the snow was melting. I was able to get my belated birthday run done and we had dinner and cake with Scott and Robby.

I ran 3.5 miles for 35 years. My 5k was 26:59, which is my second fastest 5k ever. Considering I haven't been training and this run was a moderate effort, I am pretty stunned. Hills and the Peloton pay off!

Robby cooked an absolutely delicious chicken piccata and risotto dinner. 

Matt ordered me a Seattle Fog cake from Nuflours. It's vanilla cake with lemon and Earl Grey frosting. YUM!

Okay guys, 35 isn't so bad!

By Wednesday, the snow was virtually gone, existing only in random patches in the grass. I don't think I've ever experienced such heavy snowfall that melted away so quickly, and it was kind of perfect. 

We got a real winter experience our first winter here, but it didn't overstay its welcome. While some of our Florida friends have wondered if the snowfall has made us regret the move, the opposite is actually true: we are even more excited to be here after experiencing our first Seattle Snowpocalypse!

ABK

Running Things: Seattle Edition

There's a difference between knowing something and knowing something. When we made the decision to move to Seattle, I knew I was going to be tackling a completely different world of running - trading hot, sticky weather for cool, gray skies and flat, smooth sidewalks for killer hills. I knew it, but I didn't know it.

I hadn't fully internalized or realized the significance of these changes until we got here. As I've finally gotten into running more consistently and have found a routine, some of the changes have been expected, but some have been a bit surprising.

•••

Hills are everywhere

Well, mostly everywhere. This was actually the thing I was most mentally prepared for but the least physically prepared for. I knew my Florida-legs would need to adjust, but I didn't take my lungs into account, and I underestimated just how ubiquitous hills are. 

My neighborhood is built in tiers, starting at the top of a hill and sloping steeply downward toward Lake Union. We are on the second level, one street up from the waterfront. That means if I run from my front door, I'm immediately faced with some of the steepest hills I've ever seen outside mountain ranges. I've never even attempted to run up (or down) these bad boys. 

It's hard to explain or do the hills justice in both words and photos, but this kind of shows the tiering of our hillside neighborhood.

I can walk up to the streets above us - the residential streets run north to south and are generally flatter than the streets that actually go uphill, of course - but I've quickly learned that "flat" anywhere outside Florida is a lie. Even tiny baby grades have been testing my legs.

The first few times I tried to walk up to the street above ours, I got winded. From walking. (I can tell I've acclimated some because this same walk barely slows me down now!)

The parks I enjoy running in are less steep but provide a different challenge: rolling hills. I've found that even when my legs can conquer two or three hills in a row, my lungs can't. I've been struggling with how this new terrain elevates my heart-rate and triggers my asthma, but I can tell I'm slowly acclimating.

Enjoying a speedy downhill at the UW Arboretum.

The nice thing about hills is that they're secret speed work. I don't have to seek out a bridge for dedicated repeats anymore, and I know in time I'll be a stronger runner than ever before.

Luckily, I have been able to find one flat route. It's nice to have the option when my legs need a break.

Race shirts come in handy

Before we moved, I went through my stash of race shirts and parted with more than half of them. All the cotton ones had to go, of course, but I got rid of some tech tees, too. After all, we were downsizing drastically and I never wear t-shirts!

Most of my stash after getting rid of over a dozen shirts. Not pictured: tech tees that aren't from races.

When it's hot, I wear tank tops. When it's cool, I wear long sleeves. I've hoarded race shirts for sentimental purposes but I very rarely wear them for running.

That's not the case anymore! I've suddenly discovered why tech tees are a thing. They strike the perfect balance when it's too cold to start a run in a tank top but too warm to finish one in long sleeves. I can't believe my hoarding has been vindicated! Tech tees have become a wardrobe staple.

It gets dark early

This feels like a no-brainer, but like...when people say it gets dark by 4:30pm, they mean it. I've had to learn to run in the middle of the day or in early afternoon because I haven't found a route with good visibility for evening runs yet.

5pm before daylight savings ended.

I knew it would get dark early, but I had honestly forgotten that dark doesn't mean dusk. These days, it's fully nighttime by 5pm, and I'm not at all used to that yet!

What even is "cold"?

I'm amazed at how quickly I've adjusted to the temperatures here. One reason Matt and I chose Seattle was the weather; we were excited for weather akin to our winter experience in Edinburgh, but I had forgotten that after a few days of mid-40s, you just kind of get used to it. In fact, it starts to feel kind of perfect.

November's forecast.

If you've been following my Instagram stories, you know it took me a few runs to figure out when to ditch short sleeves for long, but I think I've adjusted now. When temperatures drop into the 50s in Florida, I'd bundle up. Here, I'm still running in shorts!

55° and spitting rain. The old adage to dress for 20° warmer than the current temp is proving to be good advice; I always found it useless in Florida.

That said, I haven't quite adjusted to running in cold rain yet. I love a drizzly run, but it's hard to get out the door when the weather makes hot chocolate and fuzzy socks so welcoming.

Luckily, the rain hasn't been as unrelenting as people would have you believe. (And this, I think, is a Seattle secret.) We've had at least a little sun every day, and only a few days now when the rain was so heavy that I opted to workout indoors instead.

I know I'll get into the cold-rainy-run mindset eventually out of necessity, but I just haven't had to yet.

I'm still in awe of the scenery

I'm a broken record on this topic, but I just can't help it. Fall has been everything I wanted it to be, full of deep, rich reds and glowing yellow leaves so bright they're nearly neon. I can't get enough of the crunch of leaves underfoot.

I can't get enough of these colors!

I'm half expecting the endless gray of late fall/winter/spring of my Cleveland childhood, but so far that sterile slate has been absent. The sky is blue and bright, even when obscured by clouds. The trees are vibrant. The grass has remained lush and green, and typical Seattle winter lacks the killing frost that would turn it brown.

I know the leaves won't last forever, but the abundance of conifers promises that even as the days grow colder and drearier, there will be green to enjoy.

I really hope I never get tired of the sight. Right now, every run is a feast for the eyes.

I'm never alone

I miss running with Elizabeth. We keep each other constantly updated on our weekly workouts and everything else in our lives, but I miss having a running buddy.

That said, I'm never alone on a run here. Seattle is full of runners. In Florida, passing another runner was an event to comment on later. Like, "Oh, I saw this girl! We waved! It made my whole run feel special!" 

That's not the case here. 

I wanted to take a photo of the trees and couldn't get one without people in it!

I've seen at least half a dozen runners, usually more, on every run. Maybe it's the stellar running weather. Maybe it's the influence of Brooks headquarters. Maybe Seattle just attracts outdoorsy, active people. 

Whatever the reason, seeing fellow runners is no longer a rarity. It's nice to feel like I'm never alone out there, but at this point I'm not even sure if a friendly wave is necessary. Do you need to wave, nod, or smile in solidarity when your community is so big? It's a secret handshake of sorts, meant to convey an encouraging, "I see you, getting it done! Good job, runner!" Does it now make me stand out as an obvious transplant to the area?

•••

I've run in different places when traveling, and that includes winter runs in Cleveland, Vancouver, and yes, Seattle. Still, it's a totally different experience when it becomes part of daily life. Three months into our move, I'm beginning to feel more settled, but I'm also still learning to adjust.

Right now, I'm mostly grateful for cool running weather. I'm sure by the time spring rolls around, I'll be desperate for some warm summer runs. For the time being, though, I'm going to continue enjoying autumn and learning how to conquer hills. It's all part of the adventure!

ABK

Trees, Trails, and Eye Candy

Matt and I made it to Seattle on the evening of August 14, which means we've officially lived here for about six weeks. (It feels weird to write that we live here, but that's the case, isn't it?!)

Having arrived in the Pacific Northwest at the tail-end of summer, our priorities were to get in as much hiking and outdoor time as possible before the weather got too cold and wet. In fact, we had already missed the best window for more intense hikes up Rainier and the Cascades because the weather gets treacherous much earlier in the big mountains.

Still, we've had good luck hiking at least once a week, not including those ten days we spent cooped up inside due to the wildfire smoke. We've been making the most of the last days of summer.

We moved here for so many reasons, but the trees? The hiking? The views? Those are the big ones, and we've gotten to spend some quality time taking it all in. 

Talapus Lake Trail

Our original plan on this day in August was to hike Rattlesnake Ledge. We stopped at Nuflours, a dedicated gluten free bakery, to pick up lunch (quiche) and desserts (a donut, lemon bar, and brownie), then drove out to Rattlesnake Ridge, only to find the trail was closed. Undeterred and starving, we set up chairs on the bank of Rattlesnake Lake to eat. 

Lunch was delicious but annoying - I am just not one for crowded beaches, pandemic or no. That's why I left Florida.

Luckily, the Washington Trails Association has a handy app that helps you search nearby trails, read reviews, and see if they're open. We chose to try the Talapus Trail, which is an intermediate 10k roundtrip hike.

Because of our delay, we arrived at the Talapus trailhead in mid-afternoon. We estimated the hike would take us about three hours; we knew we'd beat sunset, but I was anxious not to dawdle too much.

The hike was beautiful. The parking lot for the trailhead is at the top of a long, secluded dirt road, so there really wasn't any road noise on the trail. It felt like we were deep in a forest.

At first, the terrain was fairly flat and packed. Both Matt and I were wearing normal running shoes, and for the majority of this trail they were sufficient.

The best thing about the Talapus Trail was we didn't have to wait to get to the end to enjoy a gorgeous lake view. Around 1.5 miles (halfway to the turn-around), we came to the first lake and the trail's namesake, Talapus. 

Talapus Lake. Is it weird to call views like this eye candy?

We left the trail to climb down and take some pictures. At this point, it had still been fairly even and easy, with very little steep inclines or switchbacks.

The trail to the second lake was definitely steeper and a little more difficult. The terrain was still packed and mostly clear, but there were more rocks and roots the higher we went. It also started to get chilly. I mentioned out loud that I really need to learn what to wear for hiking, because temperatures drastically drop under the canopy, especially as the elevation climbs.

Around mile three we finally came to our terminal destination: Olallie Lake. Here, we paused to enjoy the view and have some snacks. A curious and brave chipmunk joined us. I would have been happy to stay longer, but the day was getting downright cold. Packing up our garbage, we headed back.

Olallie Lake

The return trip on any out-and-back has the potential to be a little boring. You've already seen the major landmarks and your mindset is a little more focused on getting back to the car, as opposed to enjoying the journey. Still, we paused once more at Talapus Lake, breaking up the monotony of the return trip.

They do allow camping on this trail. There are no bathrooms and fires aren't allowed, but since hiking to a campsite is something we've never done, we think this could be a good first experience with it.

I highly recommend this trail for newbie hikers. We passed some families with little kids, and we passed lots of dogs. (Humans were all masked and did a good job moving aside as necessary.) There were parts that I found tedious, but I think this is a good trail when we want to undertake a longer hike without planning for a full day.

Washington Park Arboretum

In mid-September, we endured the smoke and watched the weather like hawks, waiting for the all-clear for outdoor activities to resume. No one warned me about fire season!

We were insistent on getting outside as soon as the air quality returned to "good", but we hadn't really planned anything because we didn't know when that would happen, so when the blessed day finally arrived, we made the decision to return to one of our favorite places from our last two trips to Seattle and visit the Washington Park Arboretum.

The Arboretum is about ten minutes from us and barely counts as a hike. While there are some unpaved paths to explore, much of the park is paved and the biggest hills are pretty tame. This will probably become a running destination for me once I get more comfortable going out alone and once I need to increase my distances, because the trails go on for miles and you can wind through them in infinite ways.

We wandered through the north part of the park down to the south, enjoying the well-kept groves. The Arboretum is loosely separated into sections by continent and plant type; we started near the Pinetum Loop and walked down to Azalea Way. There is so much to see here, but we weren't really in the mood to read signs and learn about plant species.

Instead, we stopped at a well-shaded bench and listened to the birds for awhile.

The Arboretum is well-maintained and as far from intimidating as a hiker can get. I plan to take advantage of its proximity and paved paths soon!

Twin Falls

We heard about Twin Falls from Scott and Robby, so when we decided to go we invited Scott to come along. Unfortunately, Robby had to work.

The three of us and Kogi (Scott's teacup Yorkie) got started in early afternoon. Despite being told this trail was easy, I found parts of it challenging from the get-go. There were some steeper areas that really burned my quads and lungs.

I was breaking in my new hiking boots and was glad to have them! I enjoyed splashing in the mud and puddles left over from the weekend's rain. The boys were jealous.

This is a fairly short hike and we reached the top of the falls easily. Scott had never ventured past the bridge that allows for a bird's eye view of the falls and river below, so we decided to keep going. 

After a time, it became clear that the path was just getting steeper and wasn't going anywhere interesting. We checked GPS and discovered we were on a never-ending trail that would eventually meet other trails and never...end.

So we turned around.

On the descent, we took the stairs down to the bottom of the falls, where we got some more photos. 

Then, Scott showed us the slightly off-road detour that offered the best views and a place for a snack break. This brought the 2.6 mile hike to around 5k. 

My happy place is definitely in the middle of a river surrounded by trees.

Overall, this hike would be my first choice for visitors. The trail itself is easy and the visual payoff is fantastic.

Heybrook Lookout

Our latest hike had to fit a very specific set of criteria: it had to be close enough and short enough to complete in under 4 hours so we could be back in time to log on to Zoom and witness Wyatt's first birthday cake smash.

For a midweek hike, this one was perfect. We had the trail to ourselves until the very end, and as a fairly narrow trail with a specific destination, crowds would be hard to avoid on a busy day.

I asked Matt if we could live here. He reminded me that we do.

The hike to the Haybrook lookout tower is short, but the flipside of that is that it's also steep the entire time. This was the most challenging trail as far as terrain goes; once more, my boots were appreciated! The paths were dry and easy to follow, but they were full of rocks and roots. There really wasn't a flat or clear area the entire way, and there were no plateaus or places where the trees opened up so we could rest off the trail.

Matt told me the hike would take about an hour, but it took 45 minutes to get to the lookout tower, where we used the bathroom (literally a box deep in the trees, no walls, no privacy, no TP) and climbed to the top to take in the view.

You can rent out the top level to camp in overnight! We want to do that when it reopens after Covid.

I enjoyed this hike from start to finish. The atmosphere is the epitome of what I love about forests: big trees; lush green everywhere; dappled, sun-spotted ground underfoot...it just does not get better. The only thing this hike was missing was a rushing river.

Hello up there!

The trip back down was tough on my knees the way the trip up had been tough on my quads, but it only took 20 minutes. The hour round-trip estimate was fairly accurate after all.

Despite bad traffic on our way home, we made it in time for Wyatt's birthday!

When I used to think of hiking, my mind would go to our trip to Rainier, which we planned ahead and which took all day. My perspective of hiking has changed; now I know they don't all have to be huge, all-consuming endeavors. It's been a treat to find these smaller, less intimidating hikes nearby. They offer gorgeous views and a good workout, and I love that we can just decide to go whenever want, without tons of prep and planning.

I now know a few hikes I can take friends on once having visitors is a realistic option. In the meantime, I'll continue exploring and adding more to my list. I want to make the most of these last warm days while we have them.

ABK