While I Explore

While I Explore Myllene “Ranger”

🇧🇷🇺🇸📍PNW - WA
𖠰 I like to walk in the mountains ᨒ
PCT ‘25 • Thru-hiking • Climbing
the trail and real life stuff

IG:

03/11/2026

One of these days 🤏🏼

Hiking humor | pika | wildlife

03/09/2026

‼️ A quick warning: this is a long reel. I know, a nightmare for our short attention span generation. 😮‍💨 But since I don’t have a YouTube channel **yet**, I had to share it here for anyone who wants to watch.

I recently came across this video posted by “Legend” and his wife “Bee” in their Facebook group, and it brought back so many great memories and laughter. I remember this day as if it was last week.

At Barker Pass, in the Northern California section just shy of 1,000 miles into my PCT thru-hike, we stumbled upon two trail angels.

“Legend” is a well-known figure on trail, especially famous for making pancakes for PCT thru-hikers.

After eating our pancakes that morning and chatting about our journeys, he decided to do a little “interview” so we could share some thoughts about what we had learned so far on the trail.

Watching this video now feels so sweet. It is simple, but that is exactly how we felt in that moment, in that section of the trail. We were not even halfway through the PCT yet when this was recorded, but I still stand by what I said in this video. I also love and completely agree with “Cloudy’s” thoughts. And of course, Keaton (or “Batman,” or “Boom Boom,” depending on where you met him) had the best advice of all: say yes to trail magic!!! ✨✨✨

But also say yes to the side quests. Say yes to having fun. Dive into that cold lake. Jump off the cliffs at Crater Lake (do it). Say yes to what might become the most beautiful experience of your life, whatever that means to you. 🫶

Shi Shi Beach is a 2 to 4.5-mile hike. From the trailhead to the beach itself, it’s about 2 miles, but if you decide to ...
03/05/2026

Shi Shi Beach is a 2 to 4.5-mile hike. From the trailhead to the beach itself, it’s about 2 miles, but if you decide to hike up to Point of Arches, it’s about 4.5 miles. It’s a fairly easy hike, but it’s muddy! Like REALLY muddy, especially if it has rained recently. So keep that in mind.

You can day hike it from the trailhead, or camp here, which I highly recommend. To day hike, you’ll need a Makah Recreation Pass (more below).

Fun fact: Shi Shi Beach was my first-ever backpacking trip, and I’m really fond of it. 💗

To camp, you have to park at a private parking lot, NOT the trailhead. The lot is located about 0.6 miles back from the trailhead.
Parking fee: $20 per night.

Permits you’ll need to camp here:

• Makah Recreation Pass – You can get one online or at various on-site locations in Neah Bay. Check the Makah Reservation website for exact locations. This pass is required because part of the trail and beach crosses Makah Tribal lands. $20 per vehicle, valid for the calendar year.

• Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit – Required for camping in the park. Available through Recreation.gov or at the Port Angeles Wilderness Information Center. $6 reservation fee + $8 per person per night. Non-quota.

Camping tips:

• Store all food, garbage, and scented items in a bear canister (required).
• Fires allowed if no ban, but use existing fire rings or beach driftwood only.
• Camp on the beach or in the forest, but watch high tides!
• You can get water from Petroleum Creek or Willoughby Creek, but it is tea-colored from tannins. Always filter or boil. I just carried my own this time.
• Please Leave No Trace! Carry out any trash you can 🫶 there’s plenty here unfortunately.
• Always carry a tide chart and know how to read it! High tides near or past Point of Arches can be serious. Been there, scary stuff.

Have a blast like always do when I come here. Shi Shi is a beautiful, remote, and special place. But take good care of it and be respectful to Mother Nature. And if you’re lucky, you can spot whales here! I’ve seen them a couple of times before.

03/03/2026

“Sometimes walking out is the one thing…

…that will find you the right thing.”

Self growth | nature | coastal calm | healing

02/25/2026

Say less

Hiking humor | backpacking | dating life humor

last week, my PCT thru-hike permit was approved! i was lucky enough to get my ideal start date, and now this dream feels...
11/11/2024

last week, my PCT thru-hike permit was approved!
i was lucky enough to get my ideal start date, and now this dream feels so much more real. the uncertainty of tackling something this big is huuuge.
i’m feeling a whirlwind of emotions i can’t even put into words, but excitement definitely leads the way. if you know me or have met me this past year, you’ve probably heard me talk about the pct at least once (okay, maybe twice). 😅

since i decided to hike the PCT, i often find myself asking, “why?” and of course, i’ve heard the same question from others many times. but honestly, i don’t have a clear answer—i think only those with the same “itch” really get it.

if you know someone or even yourself would like to one day hike the pct, i’d be happy to connect. and if you’re embarking on this journey in 2025 too, let’s be friends! 🫶🏼

i’m beyond excited to share this journey with anyone who wants to follow along. and yes, the journey starts now! i have exactly 5 months and 2 days until i set out from mexico to canada, and there’s so, so much to prepare. i hope some, if not all, of my friends from california, oregon, and washington will join me for a section or two next summer. i also hope to inspire anyone who needs a nudge to follow their heart and do what makes them happy—life’s too short not to!

here are some backpacking shots from last summer’s trips. get used for plenty of “hiker trash” photos—not just beautiful landscapes and shots of my back, haha.

happy trails! 🥾🏔️

last weekend’s trek was NOT an easy one. first time visiting the grand canyon 🫨 and of course, we went all out with a ri...
11/07/2024

last weekend’s trek was NOT an easy one.
first time visiting the grand canyon 🫨 and of course, we went all out with a rim-to-rim hike. we did north kaibab to south kaibab, about 20 miles in total, and it took us exactly 11 hours and 47 minutes to finish the whole thing. exhausting doesn’t even cover it!

we started in the dark under dumping snow and eventually rain, hiking for about 3 hours until the sunrise finally showed up. seeing the canyon for the first time from inside was insane—i didn’t even peek at it before we started, and the night was so dark that my headlamp was the only thing showing the way. such a cool experience.

this hike wasn’t just long; it was also steeeep.
after 14 miles, we started the final climb out through the south rim—about 6k feet of elevation gain in 6 miles. brutal…😅

all i could think about was getting to the car at the trailhead and sleeping 😴 haha

such an incredible way to end this year’s big adventures! no any other major plans for now, so i’ll probably spend the rest of fall and winter prepping for what’s coming next year 😬 exciting!!!!

no caption needed — just holy moly, Washington is SO damn beautiful 🥹
11/01/2024

no caption needed — just holy moly, Washington is SO damn beautiful 🥹

already missing the colorful fall hikes. 🍂how can washington be so beautiful every single season?
10/28/2024

already missing the colorful fall hikes. 🍂

how can washington be so beautiful every single season?

lake reflection and a single baby larch 🥹how can autumn be so beautiful
10/24/2024

lake reflection and a single baby larch 🥹

how can autumn be so beautiful

time to bring some color to this feed! fall is here, and life has been busy with new challenges. thankfully, i’ve still ...
10/18/2024

time to bring some color to this feed! fall is here, and life has been busy with new challenges. thankfully, i’ve still been able to enjoy what washington has to offer.

living in the pnw isn’t always easy, i won’t lie. the weather and i aren’t the best of friends, but when summer comes, it’s like i have amnesia and forget all about it! does anyone else feel the same way? (please tell me yes) this year, though, i promised myself i wouldn’t let the weather bring me down. i’m going to try to embrace what each season in the pnw has to offer, even making the most of the rain and grey… if that’s possible.

i love instagram, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming. lately, i’m trying to slow down and take a break from the anxiety it can bring. seeing all the beautiful fall photos can make me feel like i’m missing out by not being out every weekend. it’s not true, of course, but my anxious brain likes to think it is.

anyway, this caption is giving major britney spears vibes, haha — random, i know! but i hope you enjoy a few more fall pics on your feed. 🤪

happy larches season, y’all!

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