2020 in Review (haha), 2021 in Preview

I almost didn’t write this post because… do we really want to review the dumpster fire of 2020?? But maintaining this small tradition is a tiny sense of normalcy that I needed to start off 2021 right, and there were some good things that happened. As always, let’s start with the numbers!

Stats:

• 1,730 miles walked (actually more than I ran last year, haha)
• One PRP (platlet-rich plasma) injection for my iliopsoas tendinopathy
• One podcast appearance on The Social Run
• ~130 whiskies tasted
• WSET Spirits Level 2 course completed
• Five quarantine cocktails invented
• Hosted 21 virtual whiskey tastings as a Wanderback Whiskey brand ambassador

To state the obvious, my 2020 preview that I wrote about last year is, well, hysterical now. Look at all of those trail running plans and dreams! How quaint. But I don’t want this blog post to be dripping with cynicism. Let’s focus on the small wins, shall we?

Despite not being able to run for a full year due to iliopsoas tendinopathy, and despite the pandemic, I still managed a lot of fantastic outdoor and virtual whiskey adventures. Honestly, if I hadn’t been injured, I probably wouldn’t have done most of these things, so it’s a good silver lining. Here are just a few highlights from 2020:

Solo Trip to the Desert:

At the end of February, just before the pandemic hit, I flew into Las Vegas for a long weekend of solo adventuring in the desert. The first two days, I hiked at Red Rocks Canyon National Conservation Area. The multicolored rocks and mountains in this park are beautiful, and I only scratched the surface with the variety of trails available to visitors.

The second day I drove to Death Valley National Park and absolutely fell in love with this unique park. There are so many more trails I want to explore here! It definitely deserves more time on the next visit. The final morning I spent at Valley of Fire State Park. It was beautiful, and I see how it’s become an Instagram favorite.

While I know Las Vegas is known for gambling, partying, etc, I absolutely loved the diverse and beautiful parks in the area. I hadn’t ever been on a solo trip quite like that before (Adam couldn’t come with me, unfortunately), but it was so much fun and the perfect antidote to the incessant winter rains in the Pacific Northwest.

3-Day Backpacking Trip near Goat Rocks:

This was our first real backpacking trip, and frankly, we peaked. Everything was simply incredible. We went with our friends Marna and Mark (very experienced backpackers/trail runners), and it couldn’t have been more fun! On day one, we hiked into a secluded and beautiful campsite that had views of Mount Rainier, wildflowers at our doorstep, and a snowmelt-fed creek for water. 

The next day was a 10 miles of absolutely stunning mountain views that we earned by hiking on the exposed and somewhat technical section of the PCT known as the Knife’s Edge. This section has steep drop-offs on one or both sides, which made me nervous, but the jaw-dropping views were absolutely worth it! We seemed to be equidistant between three volcanoes: Tahoma (Mount Rainier), Loowit (Mount St. Helens), and Pahto (Mount Adams). To contrast the grand landscape views, there was beauty at our feet as well – meadows full of wildflowers.

Our final day we woke up early to catch sunrise, and found we were above a stunning cloud inversion. We hiked back out after breakfast and marveled at what an amazing trip it was.

3-Day Backpacking Trip to Copper Ridge Lookout:

Even though the weather wasn’t perfect, we still had a great time on this trip. Adam and I hiked in a few miles to a campsite, and caught some gorgeous views from windy Hannegan Peak. On day two we day hiked to Copper Ridge lookout and caught only partial views due to the clouds. But the marmot sightings and wild blueberries for snacking made up for it. We forgot some of our food at home (oops), and had some condensation issues with our tent, but otherwise had a great time away from it all.

Became a Virtual Brand Ambassador for Wanderback Whiskey:

It’s no secret that I love learning and educating others about whiskey, and I finally got the opportunity to do it professionally for a brand that I already love: Wanderback Whiskey. People sign up for a virtual event and get a tasting kit, and learn about American Single Malt with me during a guided tasting. Every event is different – some are birthday parties and others are corporate happy hours, but it’s really fun. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get into the whiskey world and I’m loving it!

So what’s coming up in 2021? My goals are pretty simple (and achievable, I hope). 

1. Get back to running after my injury. Since I’m recovering from a long-lasting tendinopathy and a PRP procedure, I’m starting back at square one for fitness. It’ll be a slow (and safe) build up to get back to running, but I’m so ready for it. I also want to incorporate some strength and mobility to make sure I have a strong and well-rounded base of fitness for upcoming adventures. I don’t necessarily want to run loads of races, but I DO want to be able to run self-supported adventures in the mountains with my friends.
2. Go on more backpacking trips. 2020 was the first year Adam and I truly went backpacking, and we absolutely loved it. By the end of the summer, we feel like we got our gear and food dialed in so that we feel confident about going on more trips in 2021. We have so many routes we want to explore! 
3. Continue my whisk(e)y and spirits education. Completing the WSET Spirits Level 2 course was really fun and exceptionally helpful when I began hosting virtual tastings with Wanderback. I want to ramp up my education even more, so I took the leap to sign up for the (much more difficult) WSET Spirits Level 3 course that starts this month. It’ll be a lot more challenging, but I can’t wait to learn more so I can share more!

So, 2021, are you ready? (Less wrenches, please.)