A Toast to 2014

2014, you've been good to me.

This past year has been full of ups and downs, surprises, changes, new adventures, and lessons learned. Hence why it's been so good to me.

Here's a little summary of my accomplishments and adventures from 2014:

1. Broadening my vegetarian cooking and not eating meat during January. I know it doesn't seem like much to only challenge myself for one month but the goal was to make nutritious meals that were filling and plant based. I don't plan on becoming a vegetarian anytime soon but the experience only further supported my ideals of eating the meats that I truly want to eat (aside from the occasional hand dipped corn dog at the fair because you're kidding yourself if you don't want one).

2. Challenging myself in a fitness competition. For me this was going beyond running the several 5k's I run every year and doing something more. In May I finished my first Spartain race coming in 267th out of 1855 women. It was a long road, but worth every mile. We will see was 2015 brings.

3. Hiking higher and higher. Just when I thought I'd be in Missoula for another amazing summer, life took a turn and I found myself in New Mexico. For all of you who read my blog or know me, you know that I love food and hiking more than most things. My journey to the Southwest not only expanded my stomach and love for chile, but I set my personal record for summit elevation with Wheeler Peak (13,159ft) and then two weeks later exceeded it with Mount Lindsey (14,042ft). After returning to Montana, I hiked over 60 miles in just over a month as a weekend warrior which I hope to shatter this summer in Utah. Thanks to hiking, catching the 14er bug, and my favorite La Cumbre beer, I took on the life motto: get elevated.

4. Montana to Utah. Deciding to make the move from Montana to Utah was huge, but I was ready for something new. With all of the adventuring I had done all summer I realized that there are so many places that I needed to go out and explore. Salt Lake has been full of mountains, new food, people, and lifestyle. It feels fresh. Change is a good thing and putting yourself in uncomfortable situations keeps one from becoming complacent. Keep life exciting.

Some of my favorite moments from 2014:

Exploring Wilderness in New Mexico

The introduction of the gilded ski jacket

Mount Lindsey - and it's false summit

Celebrating hikes with my favorite beers

Celebrating one of my oldest friend's bachelorette party in Vegas

The thing I love most about the new year is making new goals. Goals can and should be an ongoing activity, but there's just something about reflecting on a year and thinking about what goals you attained and what is yet to come that I really enjoy. If you aren't working to better your self, life, or surroundings....what are you doing?

I don't want to go into detail about my life goals, but there's something contractual about blogging about them which will hopefully boost my accountability.

Here is a brief insight to some of my goals for 2015:

-Listen more, swear less
-Ski at least 5 Utah ski resorts
-Hike the peaks of the Wasatch front range
-Conquering a few specific yoga poses
-Visit  Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Arches National Parks (why else am I in Utah?)
-Change my own oil
-Keep hiking...too many places to name.
-Visit a new state

If all else fails, just do more of whatever makes you happy.

"Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing" -Barry Finlay

Adios 2014, Hello 2015.

k.

More Than Just a Change in Season.

Two weeks have passed and so much has changed. It's officially fall - my favorite season.

A few updates:
1) As promised, I have two fall recipes to share
2) 10 more miles have been added toward my goal
3) I accepted a new position in Salt Lake City, Utah and will be moving in just over a month. Crazy right?

For my first round of fall recipes I give you Quinoa Lasagna brought to you by Averie Cooks and Spicy Southwest Pumpkin Soup by A Spicy Perspective.

These ladies were spot on with their recipes and I didn't modify either recipe aside from using lactose free dairy products and a spicy marinara for the lasagna. Both recipes were easy, filling, and vegetarian. Perfect for fall and could easily have meat added if you prefer.

Last weekend I ventured back to the Bitterroot for another hike into the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness up Sweeney Creek. Given that I was in a time crunch, I only ventured to the first of three lakes, Peterson Lake. The hike was 10 miles round trip which puts me at 47 miles since I've returned from New Mexico. I have one week and 13 miles to go to reach my goal!

Here is a view of Peterson Lake from the trail. From this point the trail takes a long descent down to the lake and then continued to climb back up to the upper lakes.

After hiking Saturday, it was time to celebrate Lindsey's 25th birthday. The Griz had a win and we played drinking games that had not been thought of since we were 21. Funny how things change. After the game we went out to celebrate and see my favorite local band, The Lil Smokies. I was lucky enough to see them the following day as well at Montana Snowbowl where they opened for David Grisman.

Ski areas, beer, and live music. What more could I want?

Now begins the countdown for the big move. I can't believe how fast these next five weeks are going to pass. I have so many trips, hikes, and places to eat for my last hurrah (for now) in my favorite state and place I call home. Kettlehouse, you'll be seeing me...many times.

I'm really looking forward to exploring, skiing, and adventuring in Utah. I can't wait to add another state to my list of places lived. The Northwest Gypsy forges ahead.... but let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's my favorite time of the year in Missoula and I intend to enjoy every moment.

Grab your boots and party pants, this will be one hell of an October.
Hike on and beer me.

k.

The Countdown Begins

The last five weeks have absolutely flown by. I can't believe my time in the Southwest is coming to an end in just over two weeks.I have been lucky to travel around and do so many new things while being in New Mexico. Seeing roadrunners multiple times in the last week has been awesome. I will take roadrunners and lizards over deer any day.

This past weekend my mom came to town and we were able to play tourist a bit a check several items off of my "to-do" list. Some of which were:

1.) Riding the Sandia Peak Tramway to the top of the Sandia Crest. The tram is the longest single cable tram in the country and the third longest in the world. The ride up gains about 4000 feet in elevation ending at 10,378 feet. From the summit one can see 11,000 square miles into the desert. Pretty neat.

Sandia Peak Tramway

2) Eating at The Shed in Santa Fe. A local favorite full of color and delicious food. Santa Fe is awesome. If you plan on going here I highly suggest reservations or showing up at 4:30 (for dinner), putting your name on the list, and grabbing a margarita while you wait. Our favorite thing by far was the cold raspberry soup. Try it. I swear I could eat it every day. You may even see it as a recipe on here someday.

Cold raspberry soup at The Shed

3) Roadtripping to the Jemez Mountains and Bandelier National Monument. Just an hour north of Albuquerque are the beautiful Jemez Mountains, home of the tallest waterfall in New Mexico. For those of us from coastal states or anywhere with many water features, this falls may not seem that high. After spending over a month in New Mexico I'll take what I can get. East of the Jemez Mountains lies Bandelier National Monument, home of the ancient Pueblo Indian ruins and petroglyphs. My mom and I visited the Tsankawi Ruins in the northeast corner of the park which were awesome. Climbing ladders to the tops of mesas, petroglyphs, and the dwellings in the lava rock were all worth the hike in the storm. The paths and staircases along the rock were slowly carved out of the rock with many years of foot traffic.

Natural walkways carved into the rock

4) Eat a green chile cheeseburger. This inevitably needed to happen. New Mexico is known for their green chile cheeseburgers, fries, eggs, you name it, they have it. Though most places in Albuquerque sell a green chile cheeseburger, I decided that if I was going to eat a burger it was going to be one of the famous ones-even if that means a semi fast food (cringe) burger. In honor of National Junk Food Day yesterday (why does America even need this as a day?) I went to Blake's Lotaburger after passing many of these restaurants for the last month. Make no mistake this burger is spicy and 100% New Mexican. All in all, I'm happy that Blake's Lotaburger broke my streak of not eating fast food for over a year. Until next year National Junk Food Day.

I have a few more goals to accomplish in the coming weeks. Old friends visiting and spending time with new friends. I am really hoping to see the monsoon season before I head north.

PS. If you ever have the chance to come to Albuquerque, check out Flying Star Cafe, it's my favorite and I will miss it dearly. Also- get a creme brulee beignet. You will not regret it. Not even a little.

k