ATtention!

[katelynstutterheim]

#neature strikes again. We discovered a secret path while #kayaking on the #jamesriver. Check out this insane root system.... #superstrong #adaptation talk about #plankstrength Robious Landing Park, you are on point! See you again next weekend. #perceptionkayaks @jravirginia @getoutmoretour #leavenotrace #goexplore #takeahike #paddlers @rvaparksandrec #RVAcation

[katelynstutterheim]

#RVA on point. @rvaparksandrec @hollywoodcem @the_james_river #getoutside #takeitin #takeamoment #takeahike #history #perspective

[katelynstutterheim]

#laughuntilyoucry #motherlove #nofilter #puremichigan #lambertiwedding

[katelynstutterheim]

#lambertiwedding with my #mom. #birchtree #puremichigan #weddingonthebeach

[katelynstutterheim]

@alpacka_rafts first adventure in my new #packraft in #puremichigan at #turniprock. #lakehuron #greatlakes #notsalty @thewayfaringson @_theseasonals_

[katelynstutterheim]

New River Gorge, WV. #ilovemyjob #riverlife #adventureon

[katelynstutterheim]

If only the sand could hold the wave for a minute longer. #lakehuron #puremichigan @puremichigan #nofilter

[katelynstutterheim]

How thin is the line between our worlds? #ghost #graveyard #wanderer

[katelynstutterheim]

No hotdogs today. #eatgreen #iliveoutofmysubaru #lifeontheroad @thewayfaringson

[katelynstutterheim]

@zionnationalpark #angelslanding #ilovemyjob #adventureon

[katelynstutterheim]

Okay. So here is my elevator length update. Ready, inhale, and hit it aceventuratruedetective style: Alaska (may-October) was an absolute experience. The black bears peeking through the bedroom window in the night, the seasonal workers, the bushwhacking through native Devils Club and muskeg, the nighttime ocean swims lit by the fairy-like phosphorescence of the sea, performing in the infamous "Fish Pirate's Daughter", feasting on unbeatable salmon jerky, hanging Gabe and Cupcake of the Alaskan Bushwhackers, dancing on the rooftop wrapped in the warmth of the moment, mesmerized by the stars, waking up at 3 am to watch the total lunar eclipse, you name it. (I hope you have elevator music tapping in your hidden browser) By Halloween I was back in Michigan visiting friends and family, then I escaped south for some sun, back north for family Christmas and winterloverland, Atreyu (fellow AT thru-hiker, thespian and writer of sorts, an expert craftsman of miniature boats: see previous blog), a dear friend) shared with me the an opportunity for a life "power up" and I took that mega mushroom and joined the race of 274 Bowsers, Princesses, Toads, and Yoshis that were vying for, what I can now call, MY and my partner's, Blake Edward Jackson, dream job as a Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer (more on this later). ("We are experiencing some elevator maintenance problems. Your ride will be extended for several paragraphs...) During the interview process, my two gal pals were ok vk in Cali, so I hopped a plane between interview and caught them in LA and stayed with one of my best AT trail buds and hiking partner of more than 500 miles: Turbo. Then up highway 1/101 through Big Sur, over to Yosemite, down to Sequoia National, caught a bus in Fresno, hopped off in San Fran, met with Zorro, crashed there for a couple weeks and had the most amazing homemade pizza and tried my best to understand Hebrew, found a random Craigslist rideshare with Shoji, this totally kickass, generous, funny, personable rockstar who believes in the goodness of the world and does his part in sharing it, who learned that when the Thai menu says spicy, they really mean it, and that not all girls take forever to shop (you totally rock man, come visit), stayed with my girl Bekah in Bellingham who brought light to my story through a couple glasses of wine as she shared her city, her family, and tales of similar awkwardness, and finally picked up my boy and his Great Dane from the Alaskan Ferry...we rented a car, made it to Michigan in 4 days, 3 car camps, 2 ice cream cones, and 1 detour to a small ski town bar to deliver the clipping of his old rat tail braid. From Michigan we took my sexy car to Georgia and... I put it up for sale. It is no longer my sexy car :( And then, DING! Shucks, times up. :)

[katelynstutterheim]

I'M BACK!

Okay gang, trail Angels, payer-forwarders, adventurers, supporters, lovers—I have been on wild adventures from Alaska to Michigan, to the south, over to California, Oregon, Washington and back to the Midwest. I have been on trains planes automobiles with strangers, Craiglisters, and angels of sorts. I’ve accepted adventures and challenges and am committed to spreading the word of the vast amount of goodness in people, that if you want to do something, do it, and that being a female traveler with a low bank account isn’t so bad. :) My BIGGEST regret… thinking, only thinking and planning, to blog with lack of execution. I pledge, at this moment to be better. To do my part by sharing the beautiful things that happen to me, the kindness of strangers, the luck of the road. To keep my loved ones better updated and to leave myself a more stable reference for when I tell my stories as an 89 year old woman atop some steep mountain, surrounded by the glittering youth. This is my step one. No longer will I wait to release my “ideal/perfect blog/website” because the adventures do not wait and they are passing, changing, turning, and sparking every moment.

. @atupdate.tumblr.com

[katelynstutterheim]

Doing that hiking thang. Love. Posts to come soon. Turns out my service is a touch less than superb :/ Adventure on!

[katelynstutterheim]

Goooood morning Alaska!

I woke up and my phone said 5:39. I wasn't sure if I slept the whole day merely adventuring in my dreams or if I needed to shut my eyes and continue swinging from the boughs of the pirate ship as it hopped from wave to wave. I suppose I have some timely adjustments to make. I don't have any agenda set for the day. And not entirely sure where I will be sleeping tonight... Possibly in this very spot, possibly not. I'm about to pack a day bag and head into town/venture about. It's near a 4-5 mile hike to get there, but I don't mind, the day is mine. I can't wait to see where it takes me, who I meet, and what silly adventures I can find. Tomorrow I have to be at work by 7a.m. meaning the next 24 hours are solely mine. :)! Welcome home, the birds call. Adventure....ON ox

[katelynstutterheim]

[katelynstutterheim]

And I'm off...

It’s been some time now friends, millions of things have happened and yet not much to report. But!! After three flights and an uncertain destination for the night, I have safely arrived in ALASKA! I will be wearing this place out for the next four months, taking in every possible scene/adventure and it will be an epic story. Currently I’m working on getting a new blog set up, but it’s not quite ready for the reveal. Stay tuned!

Side note: Tom, Brian, and yes, you as well Brandon. Thank you for helping me start off my adventure with some great laughs, stories, and inspiration. I hope I got the names right… If not, I blame the altitude and please stand to correct me! —oh and a wonderful lady, better classified as an angel, has offered me a vacant apartment to crash in for the night. Absolutely amazing! I’m in my sleeping bag now and oh so comfortable. I haven’t met her yet but I definitely look forward to it :) teha We shall see where I end up tomorrow night!??!

Ready to get started tomorrow!!

adventure ON!! Ox

[katelynstutterheim]

Appalachian Trail Anniversary!

This time, last year, I set out on the AT thinking I was just going to hike the trail and move onto the next venture of life. I soon realized there was soooooo much more to the equation. The AT isn't about hiking... its about finding a way to laugh when your feet are soggy, about cheering when you find a trash can, about sharing your last two squares of toilet paper. Even more so... it is about the people. I have had so many individuals offer up their cars, homes, showers, wallets, you name it--and the best part is that they had no mal or misleading intentions. I have danced under the stars, napped on mountaintops, and eaten more oatmeal than one should eat in a lifetime. To this, I simply say I have so much to pay forward and remember that attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. So, ADVENTURE ON! sending my love to fellow AT hikers! Oh and a quick side note, my next adventure commences May 2--Alaska here I come!