Colorado Trip Highlights

September 7, 2016August 24, 20212 Comments

As my time in Colorado comes to a close, I’ve been looking back on the past 2 weeks and realizing how much cool stuff I’ve gotten to experience and how many unexpectedly awesome moments emerged. So before we begin the journey home, here are a few of my highlights from this trip:

Discovering abandoned train tracks

We spotted the cool remains of an old train track while making our way to the first hike we would tackle on this trip (more on that in a second). One of the things I love about Colorado and a lot of the Western states is all the incredible history that still lingers, as seen in the countless ghost towns and abandoned mines that sprinkle the area.

Stepping foot on the Continental Divide Trail

After hearing about this hike from some family members, my dad and I decided to check it out one morning – starting from Rollins Pass, we hiked a little over 2 miles up to Rogers Pass, which intersects the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). I was really excited to step foot on the CDT – a 3,100-mile-long trail that stretches from Mexico to Canada – because along with the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Coast Trail, it makes up the Triple Crown of Hiking. One of my goals is to hike all 3 of these long-distance trails, and seeing the CDT in person only made me want to accomplish this goal sooner!

Bonus: close encounters with a herd of moose

On our drive up to the trailhead for the Rogers Pass hike, we actually spotted a small herd of moose crossing the road! Getting to see them so close was incredible – they’re a lot bigger than I would have thought, and I would not recommend messing with them.

Spotting a fox

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am completely obsessed with foxes. One thing I have always wanted to experience is seeing a fox “in the wild”, and it actually happened on this trip. We were driving through the town of Alma when I noticed a fox sitting near one of the buildings, quietly watching the road. I flipped out and made my dad turn the car around so we could get a better view of it. The fox just quietly watched as we got closer – it looked so beautiful and peaceful that I may or may not have shed a few tears.

Climbing my first 14,000′ tall mountain

On my family’s first big trip to Colorado last summer, we tried to summit our first 14,000′ tall mountain but had to turn back just a few hundred feet from the summit due to bad weather. This year, we were determined to come back and make it happen – and we did! We chose to hike Mount Sherman, a moderately difficult mountain dotted with abandoned mining buildings and topping out at 14,035′. We took a slow and steady pace on this hike which started amongst rolling hills, climbed through rock fields, and ended after a steep push along a snowy ridge line. None of us were expecting the mountain to be so rocky or snowy, so it ended up being a really fun but tiring challenge.

Exploring Garden of the Gods

On one of our designated chill days in between hikes, we spent some time exploring Garden of the Gods. The rock features in this park are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen and they’re simply incomparable. We went on a short walk through the park, but even just being able to drive through it and pass all of the features was amazing.

Summiting Pikes Peak

This was our last big hike of the trip, and it did not disappoint. Pikes Peak is a legendary mountain (it’s known as America’s Mountain) and it has some of the best summit views I’ve ever experienced. The hike to the summit is no joke: the trail (officially called Barr Trail) gains 7500 feet of elevation over 13 miles. My dad and I originally planned on tackling the trail in 2 days, stopping 6 miles in at Barr Camp (an area with a hostel-like setup and campsites for hikers) and then finishing the remaining 7 miles the next day. The night before we began the hike, however, we began to see trail reports from hikers who managed to complete the whole trail in 6-8 hours, and we figured we might as well go all in and plan on doing it one day. I knew the trail would be tough, but I’m also confident in my health and physical abilities, so I was excited for the challenge. This trail ended up being the most difficult, but most rewarding, hike I’ve ever gone on. The first 6 miles are a steady incline up through a forest, and the steepness gets really serious once you reach the edge of the timberline and finally hike up above the trees. From there, the trail winds through foothills before ending with an insane 2-mile stretch of endless switchbacks up a rock field that leads you to the summit. My dad and I ended up taking about 7 1/2 hours to complete this trail, and I’m so proud we were able to knock it all out in one day. It was a painful but awesome experience, and one of the coolest hikes I’ve ever completed.

Georgia to Colorado: The Road Trip Diaries

August 30, 2016August 17, 20211 Comment

Hello all! I am here in beautiful Colorado visiting family, hiking mountains, and enjoying the lovely weather and scenery. This year, my family decided to road trip our way out west instead of flying. We spent 3 days on the road, taking our time to enjoy the changing landscape and feast on some incredible vegan eats. Here’s how we did it…

Day 1:
Georgia — Tennessee — Kentucky

Light layers for driving through humid Southern states.

The Playlist:

Tumblr Girls by G-Eazy
Kick, Push by Lupe Fiasco
Into You by Ariana Grande
All My Friends by Snakehips
Let’s Get Lost by G-Eazy
No Church In The Wild by JAY Z
Sucker For Pain by Lil Wayne

The Eats:

We stopped in Nashville at a vegan spot called Graze for an early dinner – and boy was it good. My family ordered a bunch of appetizers and small plates to share and everything was incredible. I recommend the Citrus Caesar salad and Bahn Minis, and be sure to save room for dessert: they had a lemon/blueberry/basil cupcake on the day we went which was a perfect summer treat!

Day 2:
Kentucky — Illinois — Missouri — Kansas

Classic layers for endless plains.

The Playlist:

Agnes by Glass Animals
Single by The Neighbourhood
The Heart of Me by Miike Snow
Downtown Love by G-Eazy
This Summer by Maroon 5
Closer by The Chainsmokers
Talk Too Much by COIN

The Eats:

For lunch we stopped by PuraVegan Cafe in St. Louis – this place has some of the freshest and most inventive dishes, from raw wraps and hearty soups to loads of healthy juices and sweet treats. I recommend the Maca Cappuccino and Kale Collard Wrap!
Once dinner rolled around we swung by Cafe Gratitude in Kansas City and oh my gosh, this is probably one of the best vegan restaurants I’ve ever visited. They place a lot of focus on self-empowerment and positivity as seen in their menu: each dish finishes the statement “I Am…” – I recommend the I Am Fabulous (a raw lasagna). Save room for The I Am Eternally Inspired: an insanely delicious chai milkshake!

Day 3:
Kansas — Colorado

Plaid for the mountains and a jacket for chilly mornings.

The Playlist

You Don’t Get Me High Anymore by Phantogram
Nine In The Afternoon by Panic! At The Disco
The Kids Aren’t Alright by Fall Out Boy
Roses by The Chainsmokers
If I Believe You by The 1975
Oh Ms Believer by Twenty One Pilots
I Feel The Weight by Miike Snow

The Eats

On the last leg of our journey we had one thing on our minds: WaterCourse Foods in Denver, Colorado. This is one of my absolute favorite restaurants – last time we were in Colorado, we ate here 3 separate times, and everything is fantastic! If you get the chance to visit, make sure to try the Cauliflower Wings with buffalo sauce, and I’m also a huge fan of their Berries and Cream Pancake Stack and the Biscuits and Gravy. WaterCourse also has an amazing chai milkshake which always hits the spot (Atlanta seriously needs to step up its vegan milkshake game).

5 Mountains in 48 Hours

August 24, 2016August 17, 20211 Comment

A couple weekends ago, I gave myself a challenge to climb Georgia’s 5 tallest mountains in 48 hours. I ended up accomplishing the challenge in 29 hours and 45 minutes! Check out the video below to hear more about my adventures:

The Stats:

1. Brasstown Bald – 4,783′. Reached summit via Jacks Knob Trail – about 6 miles roundtrip.

(Top of Rabun Bald)

2. Rabun Bald – 4,695′. Reached summit via The Bartram Trail beginning at Beegum Gap – 3 miles roundtrip.

3. *Dicks Knob – 4,619′. Reached summit via Forest Service Road 54B, ATV trails, and bushwhacking – about 5 miles roundtrip.

(Hiking up Dicks Knob)

4. Wolfpen Ridge – 4,560′. Reached summit via Jacks Knob Trail – summit is about 2-2.5 miles into the hike.

5. Blood Mountain – 4,459′. Reached summit via Byron Reece Trail (which then connects to the Appalachian Trail) – about 4.5 miles roundtrip.

(Top of Brasstown Bald)

*Note – while there is some information available on the Internet about how to get to/hike Dicks Knob, I’d strongly recommend contacting a local ranger service or forest watch. They will most likely have the most recent and accurate information.

When You Try Really Hard (But You Still Come Up Short)

August 18, 2016August 17, 2021Leave a comment

It’s been a bit of a challenging week. Yesterday, I learned I wouldn’t be able to go to Georgia Tech, a college I’ve had my heart set on since first touring the campus last fall. My mom also had a brief incident with her back yesterday that’s left her in a good bit of pain and resulted in us cutting our Colorado trip down to just 2 weeks, something she’s really disappointed about.

To be completely honest, things feel pretty rough right now. I’m still able to take a step back and see that none of this will lead to the end of the world, and my family is still immeasurably blessed in so many ways, but it still feels rough. And maybe it would be a better idea to take a week and think of some better, more eloquent things to say about how I’ve failed but I’m not worried because I know there’s a plan for me and I just have to wait for it to reveal itself… but that doesn’t feel genuine. So hold onto your butts – it’s about to get personal.

School has always been a bit of a confusing topic for me, considering I’ve been homeschooled since middle school and my curriculum has always been pieced together by online classes, in-person schools, and whatever extracurricular programs I found interesting that semester. I’ve always enjoyed school and put a lot of work and time into it because I find it fun and challenging. I also feel incredibly blessed because my parents have always supported me to do my best and work my hardest, but they’ve never pressured me to get certain grades or be a specific type of student. I’ve grown up knowing that I can accomplish anything if I work hard enough at it and have faith that it’s in God’s plan for me.

Over the years, I’ve always known I wanted to go to college, and I’ve always aimed high. In middle school, I dreamed of Oxford University, and at the beginning of high school, I became obsessed with Harvard. Once I realized I wanted to study international affairs in college, I began researching schools in-state that would allow me to save money while still challenging myself academically and giving me opportunities to travel and seek internships. Georgia Tech seemed like the perfect fit – I loved the location and the campus and hearing of all their study abroad and internship opportunities made me swoon.

Things were complicated by the fact I was graduating 2 years early and planning to take a gap year, but after months of communication, I finished my application and sent it in. And I did not get accepted. Well, not as a regular first-year freshman, at least. Instead, they offered me admission through a new arts and sciences pathway program, essentially meaning I would take my gap year, go to another college for a year, and then transfer to Georgia Tech to finish college.

The only catch was I would have to take a calculus class at that first college in order to transfer to Tech, and I never took precalculus in high school. So my options were: study precalculus over my gap year and attempt to pass an exam that would award me college credit so I could go to Tech, or find another college to go to altogether. I chose to study precalculus, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 5 months. I took the precalculus exam twice, once in May and again yesterday, and I failed both times. I got the exact same score on both tests, and I missed the minimum score I needed by 4 points.

Math has always been a big source of stress in my life, and it’s always been the subject I score lowest in. After failing the precalculus exam the first time, I started tutoring and committing more time each week to studying on my own so I could come back with a better chance of passing. The past few months have been really stressful as a result of all the studying and the knowledge that if I didn’t pass the exam the second time around, Tech would very likely not be a possibility for me anymore. I had panic attacks if I studied for too long or thought about the exam too much, and I struggled to keep track of all my commitments and balance my time between work, studying, and family.

I prayed really hard throughout this entire process – not for me to pass the exam, but for God’s will to be done, and for me to be able to accept the outcome, even if it wasn’t what I thought should happen. I always found peace in turning the situation over to God, but once the day of the test came, I had a feeling I wouldn’t pass. I can’t say I was surprised when I didn’t, but it still really hurt. I feel like I wasted all the time and money my parents put into helping me. I feel like I failed the people who tried to help me succeed. I feel like I disappointed everyone who thought I could do it, and I feel like I disappointed myself. I feel so dumb for not being able to go to the only college I really love because I failed one math exam.

I wish at this point I could turn around and say: “BUT, I know it’s all going to work out!” And at the end of the day, I do know it’s going to work out. I know God has a plan for me, and that this is just a painful part of it. I know I shouldn’t stress myself out over the future because God’s got my back, and I just have to work hard and trust He’ll reveal His plans to me. I believe all of that with all of my heart, but part of me does still feel like a failure and a disappointment, and I don’t think it would be fair of me to lie and say that I feel totally fine and at peace when I really feel like I have no idea what to do or where to go, and I don’t understand why things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to.

It’s hard for me to have perspective on this whole situation, especially because it’s happening at a time when a lot of my friends are moving out and starting journeys at their dream colleges. I’m so very happy for and proud of each and every one of them, but there’s a part of me that feels a little bitter I’m not sharing the same exciting experiences as them. And though things certainly didn’t work out how I hoped or planned they would, I wish I had more hindsight before I graduated high school to come up with a backup plan or at least put more research into other colleges before I threw all of my plans and expectations into going to Tech.

At this point, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know where I’m going to go to college. I’m torn between trying to go to the best college I can and stretching myself too thin by aiming for another school that may be out of reach. I’m terrified of settling for a college just because it’s easy to get into or it’s close to home or all my friends are going there. I want to make the most of my time in college, but I’m trying to understand that where I graduate from will not determine the trajectory or success of my future career. I’m learning to accept the love and support that I’ve been so lucky to receive from my family and friends, even when it’s hard for me to believe any of it. I’m trying to become aware of the fact that this experience is not life or death and I will end up where I’m supposed to be and as long as I pray and work hard and try my best, God will put me at the right school.

And now, I’m going to get out of bed, make myself some food, watch some episodes of The Office, and enjoy today for what it is: a fresh start, a moment to recover, a time to spend with loved ones, and an opportunity to see how blessed I am to have such a crazy, confusing, painful, exciting, thrilling, beautiful, messy life.

An Afternoon in Chattanooga

August 15, 2016July 11, 2017Leave a comment

The other day my friends and I had the rare chance to spend the day together, so we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Armed with some good tunes (check out the latest from The 1975 or throw it back with Twenty One Pilots’ self-titled album), an abundance of snacks (peanut butter crackers all the way, baby), and zero plans or expectations, we made the quick drive up to Chattanooga under cloudy skies.

Once in town, we grabbed a bite to eat at Terminal BrewHouse, a relaxed, tasty, and well-priced spot with an awesome rooftop garden (although we did have to seek refuge under some umbrellas once cloudy skies turned into light showers).

Next, we wandered across the street to Wildflower Tea Shop & Apothecary, the absolute cutest place to grab a cup (or a pot) of tea and do some studying or socializing.

After a relaxing pot of Fairytale Blend tea we meandered over to Warehouse Row, a chill shopping spot residing in a former warehouse, a la Ponce City Market. We wandered through stationery stores, admired the aesthetics of Anthropologie goods (because who has an extra $90 laying around for a tank top?) and freaked out upon the sight of a golden retriever puppy.

We then took the long, hot trek to the other side of Walnut Street Bridge, where we enjoyed fresh juices and snacks at Pura Vida, scoured through record shops and thrift stores, and took a ride on the antique carousel in Coolidge Park.

Once we returned to our side of the bridge, we treated ourselves to some ice cream and made our way back to the car to return home.

All in all, it was a lovely day with lovely people in a lovely town. There’s something so special about taking a spontaneous trip with friends, and I’m glad I was able to spend the day with these beautiful people before we embark on our respective adventures of college, work, and traveling.

I’m Still Alive (But Barely)

August 4, 2016August 17, 20211 Comment

Hi everyone – it’s been quite a while since we last talked… sorry about that.

This summer has absolutely flown by for me. Between a full-time internship at CNN, studying for a looming college precalculus test, training for my upcoming thru-hike of the AT with several day/weekend-long backpacking trips, and trying to stitch together something resembling a social life, it’s been a busy 2 months.

As the summer comes to a close, I feel so incredibly blessed by all the opportunities, experiences, challenges, and unexpected surprises that emerged throughout the past few months. Despite all the stress and running around, I’ve had a crazy fantastic time.

And from here on out, it’s only going to get cooler.

In a few weeks my family is headed to Colorado for 24 days of backpacking, exploring, and family time. We’ve got a full agenda of activities and goals we plan to accomplish on our training trip/vacation, and I’m really excited to share all the adventures that will inevitably arise.

Before our big Colorado trip, I’m taking a weekend to work on a challenge I created for myself: hike Georgia’s 5 tallest mountains in 2 days. 3 mountains in one day and 2 the next. Bonus: one of the mountains has no designated trail leading to the summit, which means I’ll get to try my hand at bushwhacking (hiking off-trail).

After that, I’m planning on dedicating more time to planning and prepping for my AT thru-hike next spring by gathering the rest of my gear and taking a few more solo backpacking trips.

One part of me thinks it would be nice to just take a week or two off and sit around in my pajamas watching movies all day. But I’ve come to learn my brain and my body just aren’t programmed to sit around and do nothing. Sometimes it gets exhausting and frustrating running around all the time, but I don’t regret any second of it. If anything, all of the craziness only makes me appreciate the random peaceful moments I get even more.

So here’s to the end of a great summer and the beginning of an even better fall. I wish you all the best of luck with your job and/or school responsibilities, and I encourage you to make time for your loved ones and for yourself.

I can’t wait to share all my upcoming adventures with you all!

Until then,
Lizzie

A Brief Journey on the Appalachian Trail

May 31, 2016August 24, 20214 Comments

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take a few days to hike a 40 mile section of the Appalachian Trail (the same section I did last month with my dad), but this time around, I hiked it alone and I completed it in 3 days rather than 5.

This section of the Appalachian Trail is absolutely beautiful, and the weather this weekend was perfect. Everything was lush and green, there was a nice breeze all day long, and even though there were definitely some tough sections, I enjoyed every moment of my hike.

Check out my adventures below:

This trip really felt like the beginning of my gap year, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to spend some time on my own in such a beautiful place. Getting to reflect on high school and think towards the future has only made me more excited for this upcoming year.

Until the next adventure,

Lizzie (trail name: Spitz)

Gap Year Goals

May 25, 2016August 17, 20211 Comment

Last weekend, I graduated high school.

My gap year has now officially begun and I’ve created some goals to work towards throughout the year before I begin college. Check them out below!

Atlanta Botanical Gardens: After Dark

May 14, 2016August 17, 2021Leave a comment

Last weekend, in celebration of Mother’s Day, my family ventured to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to experience their “Chihuly in the Garden” exhibition at night.
My family actually first saw the Chihuly exhibition years ago at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, but seeing it a second time after dark was an even cooler experience.
All of the pieces were created by Dale Chihuly, who has been a glassblower since the 1960’s. Chihuly’s pieces have been shown all over the world, and they don’t disappoint. Each piece is so whimsy and colorful, and each part is so intricately crafted.
The fact that the exhibition was hosted at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens only made it more beautiful: the gardens are so extensive and well-manicured that they were the perfect setting for Chihuly’s unique pieces of art.
All in all, we had a fantastic, relaxing evening of strolling around the gardens at night. After exploring the gardens, we rushed over to the nearest Whole Foods where we grabbed some vegan desserts (chocolate coffee cake and vegan brownie, you have my heart) and some surprisingly delicious non-dairy milk (Califia Farms Vanilla Protein Almond Milk is where it’s at!)

Take a look at some of my pictures from the night in the photo gallery below.

The Nitty Gritty: My Favorite Adventures with Mom

May 8, 2016August 17, 2021Leave a comment

Over the years, my mom and I have done some pretty cool things together. We’ve explored New York City, competed together at a national competition for archery, attended numerous film festivals, partied at concerts, and road tripped all over. If I wanted to tell you about each and every incredible adventure we’ve been on, you’d better wish you have a nice, padded seat and a hot cup of tea, because you’d be reading for a while. So today, I’ll restrict myself to telling you about some of the coolest hiking adventures we’ve been on. From local hidden treasures to distant, otherworldly summits, we’ve conquered a lot of trails and peaks, and we can’t wait to do more.

Canyon Climbers Club Challenge

Last summer, my mom and I set out to climb into Georgia’s 4 canyons: Tallulah Gorge, Amicalola Falls, Providence Canyon, and Cloudland Canyon (read more about our adventures here!). We ended up completing the challenge in just over 48 hours. It’s one of my favorite memories from 2015 because of all the beautiful spots we got to explore – some of which we never even knew existed. Looking back, it’s one of my favorite memories from 2015, and an accomplishment I’m definitely proud of!

Bear Butte, South Dakota

This hike was so special in so many ways: not only were we revisiting one of the hikes we used to take when I was a kid, but we also got to take my nephew on his very first proper hike! The highlight of this hike was getting to accomplish it as a family, and hopefully we sparked a sense of adventure in my nephew that he’ll get to pursue later in life after he’s done being the cutest baby in the world.

Appalachian Approach Trail

Man oh man, was this hike an adventure. To get a recap all of the craziness that went down, check out this post. Despite various threats of murderous hobos, bloodthirsty bears, and possible hypothermia, this trip was fun from beginning to end. As my first overnight camping trip, this was certainly an experience I’ll never forget (although not one I’d like to repeat). After getting a few more serious hikes under my belt, I can see some of the mistakes we made on this trip (like going camping last-minute in November, for instance), but I’m so thankful I got to share this experience with my family. At the end of the day, it really cemented my desire to continue hiking and camping, and it made me proud to see how determined and positive my mom is in the even the most unpleasant situations.

My mom is one of the coolest, funniest, toughest, most determined, and kick-butt people I know. She has never let her circumstances or setbacks define who she is or what she is capable of, and she has always pushed me to become the best person I can be. Today, I thank her for all the moments we’ve shared together: all the weekend trips, the donut and coffee dates, the hours spent stuck in traffic, the college tours, the movie viewings, the late-night kitchen conversations, the half-asleep Catfish watchings, and the out-of-breath trail talks. Thank you, mom, for being my biggest supporter, my friend, my confidante, my role model, my source of wisdom, and my best friend. You really do have Grit. I love you!

Wandering the Gap

Author: lizzieml74