It all started with a glowing recommendation. Seyiah Pass had been suggested by friends, even rangers, who promised breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. After much back-and-forth, we decided to swap our original plans for this hike. The ranger at the visitors center near Logan Pass had been particularly persuasive.

Arriving at the trailhead was an adventure in itself. We parked in a hairpin turn on the road, an unusual setup that made us chuckle. The rangers had assured us that this area wasn’t as popular as the trails on the West side of the park, but we still felt a twinge of uncertainty.

After a day of showers and errands, we returned to the parking lot, ready to camp overnight in our van. We parked and let our dog, Lylah, out for a final bathroom break. As night fell, we settled in, closing the curtains tightly. The world outside felt peaceful, and we quickly drifted off to sleep.

But at 4 a.m., our tranquility shattered with a loud BANG against the side of our van. Jacob and I jolted awake, wide-eyed and silent, exchanging glances filled with confusion. Was it a ranger knocking? Mischievous kids playing pranks? Or worse—a bear drawn in by Lylah’s scent? We lay there, tension thick in the air, hardly sleeping afterward.

By dawn, we forced ourselves out of bed, brewing coffee and preparing Lylah for her morning routine. It was a challenge finding a patch of grass for her, but once she was taken care of, we were ready to hit the trail.

The hike stretched about 10 to 11 miles and was rated as hard. We had been told that starting from Siyeh Bend made the trek more manageable. The ranger’s advice proved wise as we entered a dense forest alive with vibrant wildflowers and the soothing sound of nearby streams. Every turn revealed stunning views that filled us with awe.

As we climbed out of the valley, the trail steepened, leading us through a series of grueling switchbacks. We tackled two or three at a time, pausing to catch our breath and soak in the beauty surrounding us.

Reaching the pass, we were greeted with breathtaking vistas—one of those views you know you’ll carry with you forever. The wind whipped around us, a reminder to stay bundled up, even in summer.

After a moment of admiration, we faced a decision: head back the way we came or push onward to Sunrift Gorge. Curiosity won out, and we ventured on, unaware of the challenge that awaited us. The switchbacks on the other side felt like double the work, stretching on and on.

Then, just as we were finding our rhythm, the skies darkened, and a sudden hailstorm hit. With no shelter in sight, we sprinted down the trail, desperate to find cover. For 15 minutes, we ran through the biting cold, drenched in sweat only moments before. Thankfully, the storm passed quickly, leaving us with warm sunshine but a stark reminder of nature's unpredictability. I learned that day the importance of carrying extra layers and a rain jacket.

Once the hail subsided, we took our time descending the remaining switchbacks, stopping to snap photos and admire a distant glacier, complete with a roaring waterfall. But as we neared the exit, the terrain changed. The stark white trees and bare patches revealed signs of past fires, a stark contrast to the lush scenery we had enjoyed earlier.

About a mile from the trail's end, we spotted a river, tempting us for a quick cool-off, but we decided to keep moving—we were exhausted from our fourth hike that week.

Finally, we emerged from the trail and hopped on the shuttle back to our car, less than ten minutes away. As we drove away from Seyiah Pass, I reflected on the adventure. It was a journey filled with stunning sights, unexpected challenges, and valuable lessons—one that would linger in my memory long after the hike was over.

The past few months have felt like a whirlwind. I’ve settled into my new job, which definitely keeps me on my toes—never a dull moment and always something new. Soon, we’ll be testing equipment in the van to ensure I can work while I’m out exploring the West again. If all goes well, Lylah and I will be back on the road, embracing the freedom of adventure. We’re both thrilled to get back out there! While having a home and routine is nice, this past year off has intensified that travel itch.

Once you catch the travel bug, it’s hard to shake. This time, we’re trying something different: we’ll be stopping at ski and snowboard resorts in the West for a bit of a tour. Dad is joining us, and I can’t wait to explore those spots and improve my snowboarding skills. For him, it’ll be an exciting chance to shred some fresh powder and check out the places you’ve recommended.

We’re still finalizing our itinerary, but I’m eager to discover what’s out there. If anyone has recommendations, I’m all ears! I’m particularly hoping to explore more of Oregon, so please share any thoughts on must-visit places.

In a few weeks, I’ll be heading back to P.A. for a quick weekend getaway. I’m really looking forward to exploring the city more and spending time with my boyfriend’s family. While it’s a shorter trip than we’d prefer, we’ll take what we can get for now. I’m sure we’ll be back sooner rather than later!

Before that, we’ll be working on some wallpaper to finish up our hallway so we can mud and paint it to our liking. We’re eager to wrap up this project, especially since we have a whole bathroom remodel on the horizon. I know it’ll be worth it, but it’ll also involve a learning curve. I’m picking up so many new skills in remodeling that I hope to use in the future, especially when I find a fixer-upper of my own.

For now, I’m enjoying the freedom of traveling in my van and keeping my eyes open for what’s next. Who knows—this could lead to something exciting that I can build upon. Only time will tell what lies ahead, and maybe someday I’ll get to share those experiences with you all and what I’ve learned along the way.

While I have been home I have been helping my boyfriend out with some home renovations. It's been slow going and we take breaks in between projects but so far it's been mostly painting rooms and throwing away items that have been hanging out in his house from past roommates. This weekend we finally decided to start on a big project that has been long overdue. 

In the hallway, someone decided to go ahead and PAINT over the wallpaper. And it is old wallpaper from the 1970s. The trouble with this is that the paint has made it impossible to get through to the wallpaper and in some places you can see the wallpaper coming through if you look in the right places. After months of talking about it and then deciding to just go for it, we got a steamer (rented) and supplies to start scrapping it off. First of course we used the scoring tool and put little holes in the paint and then started to steam away. 

The first thing that happened was that the paint was not coming off. It was basically making us having to work 10 times harder to get even to the wallpaper. After some trial and error, I figured out a way to get the paint off. We needed it to bubble and then peel the top layer and then steam the paper and then it comes off like a dream. The issue though is that it was taking a million years just to get the paint off. It became apparent that we were in some trouble with time here. 

So we decided to try some other things to see if maybe we can get the paint to come off faster. What we discovered (and keep this in mind folks if you run into this issue.) is you take paint thinner put a layer on the paint and then leave it overnight to dry it creates a glue-like consistency. Leave it overnight and then come in with the steamer and steam a section. When you do that you then create a small hole in the paint and start to peel chunks away to get to the wallpaper too then scrap it off. It's a process that we found by accident and while it's not ideal it is faster than how we were doing it before. Of course that doesn't make it any easier for us and we are still struggling with anger issues and trying our best to hold back our fists but hey, we will get there. 

So this is your friendly reminder to NOT paint over wallpaper...ever...or you may be stabbed multiple times.. just saying. 

In a little less than two weeks we are finally returning to one of the best events that my father and I have attended when it comes to pinball. We are going back to the VPS show and I am so pumped to go back. It's a three-day event where you pay one price to play over 500 machines. My boyfriend will also be attending with us and I am ready to watch him become overwhelmed by the number of choices that he will have to choose from as well as dive him into more of what I grew up with. It's been years since Dad and I first went and I have a video of that experience here for you guys to rewatch from my YouTube channel. 

At that time it was "pre- covid" and after what happened in Michigan (Which I'm sure you're familiar with) we decided to stay away from this event. Now that the masks and vaccines bs is over we have finally decided to go back and enjoy ourselves in this immersive experience once again. This year my bf and I are staying at a state park for the weekend (which I have never been to) and will be enjoying the fresh air while Dad stays at a hotel. Of course, I'm hoping to video more of this event and share it with you all just as I did with the one from pre-coid. I can't wait to see what machines they have and to play them all to my heart's content. 

White Water and Fun House here I come. I'm ready to play