Mountain Monday- Sarvis Creek

Happy Happy Monday my friends! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. We finally got our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and went out to eat for Chinese food! I also did a 10 mile run around the lake on Sunday (with wind gusts over 20 mph!), which went ok- definitely a bit run-down and sluggish from the chinese food the night before ; )

This trail is one of our favorites because it is less than a 10 minute drive from our house to the trailhead! It's located in Sarvis Creek Wilderness and we normally hike out for roughly 1.5 miles until we hit a fantastic little creek that pools and some spots are deep enough for you to swim in!

You can definitely also use it as a great trail run (I haven't YET). The trail continues on for about 5 miles (one way, I believe) and it's also a great backpacking option (we've always wanted to camp along the creek). 

Ever hiked in the Sarvis Creek Wilderness?

Favorite thing you did this weekend?

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree- Yay or Nay?

Mountain Monday- Mt. Willard Crawford Notch State Park

Sharing one of my absolute favorite hikes up on the blog today! Mt. Willard is a 3.2 mile hike located in Crawford Notch State Park in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and gains 977 feet. It's a great introductory hike with fantastic views and is pretty heavily used.

You begin this hike by parking at the Crawford Notch Railroad Station and cross the tracks and stay left to follow Mount Willard Trail.

You also cross by Centennial Pool, which offers great photos and a nice cool-off spot if you're hiking this in the summer. I've done this hike a few times and this past summer we brought Stella and she did great this entire hike. It was still a little early in the season (late June), so it was muddy.

At the end of the trail, you come to a fantastic viewpoint of the open ledges and all of the surrounding peaks of Crawford Notch. This is definitely a great hike to do if you're in the White Mountains for just a few days, but want to also feel like you've hiked a "mountain". 

Have you ever hiked in the White Mountains of NH? Favorite trail?

Have a favorite hike? Where is it?!

I hope you had a fantastic long weekend- I was sick most of the weekend, but we had our hands full with our newly adopted kittens! I got out for a few easy-paced runs and began my Runners' World Run Streak for 40 days until New Years Day. Sharing more info on this on Wednesday!

Travel Thursday- Lake Powell, Utah

Lake Powell is definitely one of the premier natural wonders that Utah has to offer! I had no idea how stunning the majority of Utah is, until I moved to Colorado! If you haven't been there yet put it on your bucket list (and at the TOP of your bucketlist). The amount of natural canyons, rock formations, hiking, boating, rock climbing, biking that this state has to offer is incredible.

I traveled to Lake Powell over July 4th a few years ago and as a group, we had rented a house boat (DEFINITELY do.this. if you can). We were there a few days and it's such a large body of water that you feel alone (at times), also the fireworks on the water remains one of the best I've experienced (besides those that I saw in Florence). It does get really hot there (I'm not sure about the weather come late Fall/winter), but because you are surrounded by water there's no better way to cool-off!

Ever been to Utah? Favorite part?

If you HAVEN'T been to Utah, what is on your bucket list?

What other spots are on your must-see? -->I'm dying to go to the PNW, Seattle and Vancouver particularly! 

Mountain Monday- Rabbit Ears Peak

Rabbit Ears Peak is a must-do hike in Routt National Forest (20 minutes outside of Steamboat Springs, CO). It gains ~1,046 feet over 2.7 miles to the top and can get really busy come summertime! It also has some of the best wildflowers on any of the hiking trails in Routt County. I'd recommend doing this hike in either mid-July or August and start early (to beat the crowds) or later in the afternoon, if it isn't too hot out. It's also a pretty decent hike, so maybe not the best 'first of the season' hike. I'd recommend on planning to do this hike over 4 hours, leaving 2 hours to go out and maybe an hour and a half to get back (30 minutes up at the top). The last hike to the ears (made of volcanic rock), is really steep so don't get discouraged and know that there is loose gravel, so not the best for older/ unfit/ young children (directly before the final ascent there is a great viewpoint and I'd recommend stopping there if you're struggling). The views up at the top are incredible! This could also be a great trail running option (challenging). 

Travel Thursday- Zion National Park

Zion National Park in Utah is one of the most amazing National Parks in Utah! It gets so busy in the park that by the end of March they only allow shuttles to drive through the park (until Labor Day). I ended up signing up for the Zion Half Marathon (it was held in the middle of March in 2015), so we were able to drive through the park! We also ended up camping right in Zion, which I HIGHLY recommend. It isn't a super dog-friendly National Park, so we didn't do as much as hiking as originally planned, but the warm weather was a great change from the still very snowy Steamboat. I'd recommend planning to visit the park during the Spring or Fall, when you are able to drive-through and crowds are minimal. The trees were already blossoming when we visited, so it did feel very Spring-like in mid-March (ice cream cones were also a huge bonus). Make sure to plan your trip early and highlight some of the must-see canyons/ hikes. It's great to have a plan of what you really want to do, but have a loose schedule for doing them!