Field notes from the trail (with snack breaks)

A woman wearing a gray dress with a beige fanny pack that has a small monkey hanging onto her shoulder, standing on a forest path with other people in the background.

This isn’t a blog full of polished itineraries or influencer vibes.
These are real trail stories — the kind where I’m sweating up a hill, crossing rivers with wet socks, or camping solo and feeling everything all at once.

Some of these trips were magical. Some were tough. Most were both.
I share them because they remind me that slow, messy, meaningful adventure still matters — maybe even more than ticking off summits or chasing the perfect photo.

So if you’re into long trails, honest reflections, and learning the hard way (with snacks, always), then you’re in the right place.

*No, I didn’t get mugged by that monkey.

An illustration of a mountain ridge
Kicking Off the Year on Ice: My First Ascent of Volcán Osorno
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Kicking Off the Year on Ice: My First Ascent of Volcán Osorno

Looking for a once-in-a-lifetime hiking experience in Patagonia? Last summer, I celebrated the new year by summiting Volcán Osorno, one of Chile’s most iconic and technically challenging volcanoes, with the expert guidance of Huella Andina Expeditions.

This 9-hour guided ascent took me across glaciers, steep ice fields, and exposed ridges—culminating at the summit with jaw-dropping views of Lago Todos los Santos and the surrounding Andes.

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