Hi, it's Lauren again! I built this quick little project for logging my 2017 travels, and I kept it up in 2018.
My goal for this year was to try a few new things—go camping, go somewhere far away from the east coast, etc. Scroll down to see how I did.
If you want to keep one of these logs yourself, here's the project on GitHub. Enjoy!
Each year, when it's snowy out and nobody's around, I decide it's the perfect time to make a pilgrimage to these abandoned piers north of Fishtown. Was rewarded this year with a rare red fox sighting.
Jan 1Likewise, I almost always manage to hit Lake Galena when it's good and frozen. All of my pictures here make the place seem desolate.
Jan 14, Dec 22After surviving a very weird Valentine's week, I felt like doing something a little different. Something maybe only I would like? So I decided to watch the sun rise from a special place. I got up at 4:15am to see this one.
Came back again in April to test out my brand new backpacking tent.
Feb 17, Apr 21On the way home from my sunrise hike I passed the turn-off for this place. I recognized the name, so I went for it. What I didn't know is that Trexler is a preserve...for bison and elk!
Feb 17Stopped by the family vacation house and was rewarded with a BEAR sighting! (This experience can be yours, too! The place is on AirBnB.)
Sep 1This was actually a four-skull hike.
Sep 1On a very warm January day, I explored some largely unmarked bridle trails east of Rolling Hill Park. I liked it enough to come back a LOT.
Jan 27, Mar 3, Mar 17, Jul 7, Sep 8, Oct 20This place also became a regular stop for me this year.
Dec 1, 8, 16One of the fun projects I did this year was adding a Kayak Map to Philly Day Hiker. In the process, I rediscovered this launch point and vowed to check it out. Unfortunately not all paddles go as planned.
Jul 23Kicked off my new "foraging for edible mushrooms" hobby with a wholly unsuccessful trip here...
May 19...and ended the foraging season with an unsuccessful trip here! Luckily, I found other stuff in between. 🤫
Oct 28Highlight of this hike: me, wading through a creek in bare feet to get back to the main trail. Mountain bikers: "...you know that's runoff from the dairy farm, right? Like, cow poop?"
I do now.
Aug 8This place is an old favorite of mine, and one of the reasons I started Philly Day Hiker. I intend to get back here more often in 2019.
Feb 10, Nov 3You won't find more wildlife per square mile than this place.
Dec 23I planned a quick trip out of town when I found out the Eagles were going to the Super Bowl. I'm not the Number One Super Fan, so why not take the opportunity to visit a beach in the frigid winter! Didn't see a single greased pole.
Feb 4This was the real destination of my Super Bowl weekend trip. I did an 11-mile hike here; highlights included sea turtle bones (!), a whale skeleton (?!?), and tracking down a herd of the island's famous wild horses. (It wasn't hard. They walked right up to the road by the parking lot.)
Feb 4Hit this on the way back from Assateague. The cape was so windy—and so wind-swept—that is almost felt like being on another planet. Mars?
Feb 5As I posted on Facebook after my hike, "one day I will write the most epic product review of this little day pack." This snapping turtle must have been 15 years old.
Mar 24This trip to New Mexico was my biggest of the year, and it was my first time traveling in this part of the country. Standout experiences included the Georgia O'Keeffe museum, and hiking Ghost Ranch: an otherworldly place where she lived and painted for part of each year.
New Mexico is full of stories of fiercely independent women who set off west to live life on their own terms. I've been thinking of them ever since.
Mar 31 - Apr 1We came to Taos to explore the natural hot springs...but they were full of kids, so we soaked up the town before hitting up the famous Ojo Caliente spa. The man-made hot springs there are infused with all sorts of minerals that promise to lift your mood and ease digestion. Does it work? I don't care. For $38 I'd do it every weekend.
Mar 30Our trip ended here, with quality time spent wandering the botanical gardens and aquarium, hiking out to see 1500 year-old rock carvings, and surviving a museum devoted to rattlesnakes.
Mar 29, Apr 2-3My first work trip in quite a while. Mostly saw the inside of the conference venue (not pictured), but also: sea lions!! Also a corgi puppy in the office of a startup.
Oct 9 - 12I told my friend that I wanted to count all of the bears in our cabin, but he stopped me. Life is too short to count bears.
Jul 13-16My first trip out the with kayak this year!
Apr 14Not pictured: a giant black racer snake that I almost tripped over.
Apr 28Stops this year included Stone Harbor, Wildwood and Sea Isle. That lobster roll, though. Oh my god.
Jun 22-24, Aug 19, 24Spooooooky.
Oct 6This year's Maine trip included a trip to the organic grower's fair, a hike up Saddleback Mountain, and close encounter with a semi-friendly porcupine.
Sep 19 - 26