Year in Review

2015: I dub thee “Year of the House.” Like everyone else, Andy and I got caught up in the Portland housing frenzy: we rebuilt the foundation on our little guacamole green house, sold it, and somehow managed to not have to move twice after our offer on a home we loved was accepted. Now we just have to rebuild a roof. It’s always a fixer with us.

There were also job changes, the addition of second fuzzy pup, and bizarre weather: one of our hottest summers preceded by one of our lowest snowpack winters. Now, it’s our rainiest December on record (including our highest single day of rainfall (>3”), and the mountains are getting hammered with snow.

Sometimes, it actually feels like we are grownups.

JANUARY

Aka “Juneuary” in 2015. Sunny skies, above average temps, minimal precipitation. Made for some glorious kayaking and backcountry adventures. 

welcoming in 2015 on Johnston Ridge

the epitome of "Juneuary"- kayaking Silver Lake

FEBRUARY

A fantastic, week-long, impromptu vacation with my husband/soul mate/best friend. No rhyme or reason, just bouncing around between city, mountain and coastal adventures. 

Seattle skyline

Hug Point sunset

MARCH

The absence of snow leads me to places I shouldn’t be in March, including a backpacking trip at 4000’. New gear tests always make me happy.

No snow at 4000' in the Badger Creek Wilderness

APRIL

Two funerals. Loss. Waterfalls and balsamroot in the desert are therapy for the soul. 

 White River Falls

MAY

An absolutely beautiful month. Revisiting old haunts and finding new ones to love, just before the unbearable heat wave begins. 

Loowit trail above Ape Canyon

mysterious and lovely Bell Creek

JUNE

Selling our house, a moving frenzy. A single, glorious backpacking trip (minus the mozzies) with Andy into Jeff Park. Alpine wonderland.

This is the stuff my dreams are made of

JULY

Not much to say. Honestly, it was just HOT. Missing the mountains. 

AUGUST

The best backpacking trip of the year: introducing lovely trail friends to the Goat Rocks. Even if I did feel like I was going to die of heat exhaustion. 

celebration at Cispus Pass 6400'

Love these ladies

SEPTEMBER

Taking our kayaks into new waters, new skills. Eighteen years with the love of my life. 

contemplating Siletz

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER

Not much to say here, these months were mostly overrun with work and home projects. Although we did manage to sneak a trip in to the elusive Panther Creek Falls. 

(this was actually late September but who cares, it feels very "fall") a snowy solo near Barrett Spur

the incredibly lovely Panther Creek Falls

DECEMBER

So far, quiet. The holiday insanity is finished, but this is a month for recovery (injuries for both our new pup and myself). Focusing on photography, hobbies, and bonding. Yearning for the mountains.

our new, sweet boy