Author: Anastasia Allison

22 Sep

Posted at 02:00h in My Adventures

“It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Day three dawned cool and clear with a mirror-like aspect to Bonneville Lake and, unfortunately, yet another altitude-induced headache that made me feel as though I had spent the previous night drinking tequila shots (for the record, I did not...

14 Sep

Posted at 23:26h in My Adventures

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. ” — Walt Disney When I visualized the high route in my mind before our trip, I had an image of how much I would enjoy waking up each morning - emerging from the coziness of the tent and feeling the first rays of the sun hitting my face.  Standing up and breathing in the crisp, mountain air.  Sipping my hot coffee and nibbling on my...

09 Sep

Posted at 20:00h in My Adventures

“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. ” — Oscar Wilde I started dreaming about returning to the Wind River Range within moments of finishing our 6 day loop in that locale last summer.  Still sore and un-showered, I was already scheming on something bigger and more epic.  My qualifications for an acceptable route were simple: rugged mountains, spectacular views, demoralizing physical exhaustion and formidable challenges.   As...

18 Aug

Posted at 19:34h in Fitness

I'm reading a book right now called "The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor.  It's a really good book, and the last chapter I read talked about a principal that he calls, "The 20 Second Advantage".  He utilizes this technique when he wants to either become consistent with a good habit, or deter himself from a bad habit.  He used the example of working out, and said that he wanted to get into a habit of exercising regularly in the morning - but, what he found...

13 Aug

Posted at 06:04h in Personal Reflections

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ” — Kahlil Gibran Several years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to El Chalten, Argentina.  My friend Brenda and I climbed a peak called Cerro Solo, and we spent 4 days traversing the Patagonian Ice Cap (the 3rd largest in the world).  It was an incredible, indescribably amazing experience.  Among other things, I dislocated my shoulder climbing Cerro...

04 Aug

Posted at 20:53h in Personal Reflections

“ Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” — Thich Nhat Hanh I know that I must not be the only one who finds it hard to "come back" to the world after being immersed in the wilderness for any length of time.  As I plod down the final few miles to my car, I start to feel that familiar sense of anxiety.  When I'm gone for a full day, or even on just an overnight trip, I sometimes don't take my phone off airplane mode for hours after...

31 Jul

Posted at 22:25h in My Adventures

This is part two of my Ptarmigan-versary story.  Five years ago this week, my friend Brenda and I completed the Ptarmigan Traverse in the North Cascades, after much dreaming and planning.  This entry into my blog details days 4-6 of our adventure.  Click here to read about the first three days. “People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every...

30 Jul

Posted at 21:31h in My Adventures

Five years ago on July 29, 2011 my friend Brenda and I completed the Ptarmigan Traverse in the North Cascades of Washington.  I wrote about our experience together on my previous blog (Toward The Mountaintop Inch By Inch), and to celebrate our 5-year-Ptarmigan-versary, I thought I would share the story again.  It's funny looking back how much I've changed/improved in the realm of hiking and mountaineering (i.e. I haven't carried a 49lb pack since, and I never will again - what was I thinking?!), but...

13 Jul

Posted at 23:14h in My Adventures

“There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.” — Rumi A few years ago I saw a photograph from the Wind River Range in Wyoming, and I decided that I needed to go.  I did countless hours of research, poured over maps and scoured the internet for trip reports before settling on a route.  We decided to do a 50-ish mile loop, starting at the Big Sandy Opening, near Pinedale, Wyoming.  While some of the route was on maintained trails, much of the route required off-trail...

08 Jul

Posted at 20:29h in Fitness

Climbing mountains hurts.  Hiking burns your legs and your lungs.  I mentioned before that I teach a backpacking class at an outdoor workshop for women.  As a part of this class, I usually bring a book with photographs from various hikes/climbs that I have been on.  My "parting message" for the class is simple:  The best times of my life have been in the wilderness, but you can look at photos and get the wrong idea about what this is really like.  It is not...