Last month, I ventured out into the desert wilderness with a few nature newbies. And they had some questions. Like, really reasonable, smart questions that I didn’t even think to ask before my first backpacking trip. I’m not sure if
Orange leaves were everywhere, blue skies fading to pink across the horizon of Lake Superior. The silhouette of a couple was illuminated by the sky as they emerged from a nearby trail. After a day of hunting for the best things
“What’s the difference between a daypack and backpack?” This is a question a lot of beginner backpackers have. If you’re new to hiking or camping or have never fallen into the rabbit hole that is the sporting gear section in
When it comes to outdoor adventures, there is no shortage of fun things to do in Puerto Rico. But “mountain bike” and “Puerto Rico” may not be the first pairing that comes to mind. Trust me, it can and should
I’m not a surfer. Yet, in early 2017, I found myself living at a surf camp in Costa Rica. But I AM a writer. So naturally, I wrote down all of my inner struggles while battling board rash and figuring
Outpost Trade is the summer camp that young me always wanted to attend. It mixes the combined feel-good vibes of a music festival and a weekend spent sleeping under the stars. And so, I headed up to North California to
I’ll be honest, biking in Yellowstone wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I didn’t always vibe with the crew I traveled with. I was laughably unprepared for the weather and the roads. And, though I’m not new to bicycle touring,
Thank you to Moosejaw for kindly sponsoring this post about biking in Yellowstone and why it’s my madness. All opinions are 100% honest and completely my own. Moosejaw has some super awesome high-quality gear for bicycle tourist and general outdoor lovers and a
Over at Casa Averi, there has been some talk of full-time nomading for some time. I’ve even been throwing around the term ‘van life’ with increasing frequency, spending my free time browsing tutorials on van conversions and scanning Pinterest boards
I’ve been getting a few route requests since my post about my misadventures on the Pacific Coast Highway. So, I thought I’d share the map. For those of you who didn’t catch it, my friends and I had the impeccable timing of
After two months of living in Rincón, Puerto Rico, the verdict is: island time is definitely a thing. La Vida Lenta – or the slow life – isn’t just a bumper sticker quote hanging over a hammock slung between two trees. It’s
Cycling. Well, actually, bicycle touring. How is it that these two words describe my lifestyle when, just two years ago, they meant very little to me? I’ve never been a cyclist. I didn’t grow up cycling around with friends after school and I
My second favorite thing about bicycle tour planning (only after ogling photos of beautiful locations and idyllic campsites), has begun: Actually sitting down, creating a list of where I want to go and putting it on a map. Today, I’m
I recently connected with Tobias Roberts and Scott Moses – two family men, outdoor adventurers, sustainability pioneers, organic farmers and the writers behind Live Once Live Wild. I thought, having the same affinity for the outdoors and all, that we’d
Fear is interesting. It can stop you from doing those stupid things that you probably shouldn’t do – like speeding down the highway without a seatbelt on. But it can also stop you from doing those things that could really
Or, the other title I considered: Nothing Went Right on our Pacific Coast Tour (and it was still perfect). So this is a personal memoir turned route list turned alternate route suggestion for anyone looking to cycle the famed Pacific
So, last summer I did my first organized bicycle tour: RAGBRAI. And, since the 2017 route was just announced this past weekend, I thought I’d share my own personal recount of this two-wheeled highlight. First off, no, I didn’t just
There’s one thing that keeps showing up over and over in my outdoor experiences: trash. Most recently, I saw littered beaches (both from people not picking up after themselves and from trash washing up in the waves) along the Pacific Coast
I’m currently “on a bicycle tour” but I say that with quotations because today is my first day and I’m actually bundled under some blankets in front of a fire. I’ve only pedaled 1.5 miles so far. Instead of riding,
A while back, I decided to check out a workshop on solar cooking, thinking I might pick up a thing or two for future bicycle and backpacking trips (I also shared this post, here). In my head, I think I