There are so many great reasons to get outdoors! I could list the mental health & fitness benefits, wondrous sights to be seen, and unique experiences waiting to be had. Yet being inspired means more than just knowing something is good for you – it means being energized! It means being motivated to make it through the hard moments, to persevere through the slogs, and find that next amazing experience.

I carry these experiences close to my heart to stay fired up about each future adventure. This is the story of uncovering my passion for hiking, and one special moment that still leaves me wanting more. 

A reason to explore…

It all began with backyard bird watching. Mild fascination about the birds I was seeing grew into insatiable curiosity: I put up different kinds feeders to attract a wider variety of birds; I bought field guides to obsess over little details that aided in identification; I took tons of pictures to keep track of the birds that visited. The list of bird sightings grew, my camera skills improved, and I developed a love of photography. It wasn’t long before I wanted to see more than just what landed in my yard.

I started to go birding (bird watching) further afield. At first, I traveled to city parks and suburban forest patches. Before long, that wasn’t enough either and I was inspired to go to more remote locations. Portland, Oregon, is a fantastic location for a home base of exploration operations. Adventures await within a couple hours drive in any direction. We’re spoiled here! And I took advantage of it: I went on a literal wild goose chase at the coast, almost melted trekking through the desert, and climbed to mountain summits. I explored across the region, all in pursuit of discovering new-to-me birds. It was a LOT of work to get to some locations, but SO rewarding!

Who-who inspires me…

One of my most inspiring excursions took me up Larch Mountain, Oregon. The area is laced with steep trails and rewards hikers with old growth forests, waterfalls, and amazing geology. It felt like I had the entire mountain to myself that summer day, which is always a treat. In the early afternoon, as I walked in the shade of ancient trees, there was an unfamiliar screech just off my current path. I froze in my tracks, and waited. Another screech!

This started a game somewhere between Marco Polo and hide-and-seek. I did my best to inconspicuously creep closer (standing in the open with a purple pack on and a large camera clutched in my hands) each time I heard the sound. Confident I’d zeroed in on the right tree, I was optimistic it was a juvenile begging call. Then, I spotted tail feathers poking down from a limb, and my heart rate went crazy. The ball of fluff they belonged to leaned forward and made eye contact with me. My breath stopped. I had been looking everywhere for owls and, unexpectedly, here was my first!

A fledgling Barred Owl was camouflaged among the moss and lichen covered branches. The feathered fluff and I watched each other with equally wide eyes for several minutes. It sat there, curious and unafraid, moving only its downy head to observe me from different angles. Meanwhile, I snapped photos that today are some of my most treasured. I knew that staying too close might discourage the parents from returning with a meal, or attract the unwanted attention of predators to the vulnerable youngster. Reluctant to end the magical experience, I said goodbye and started back down the trail with the biggest grin. 

A whole new obsession…

Tracking down the owlet was the tip of the inspired iceberg. That experience -along with moments like being surprised by a herd of big horn sheep while on a desert trail, and fording glacier-fed rivers to reach an incredible waterfall – ignited and continues to fuel a whole new obsession: experiencing more wild places. I will never get enough. There is no replacement for the sense of wonder and discovery that comes from spotting elusive wildlife. There is no stronger sense of achievement than standing on a peak and seeing the whole wide world spreading out around me. And there is no more fulfilling sense of purpose than sharing these moments with others. These experiences are so potent, long after the adventures have ended.

Knowing what inspires me gives me the energy to keep pushing myself, and the ability to visualize my success. It lets me imagine how it will feel to reach a destination. I can imagine the potential discoveries waiting to be made. Just writing about it, I want to drop everything and get to planning my next adventure right now. It’s incredible, and powerful. 

What inspires YOU to get outdoors? 

When you plan your future adventures, I encourage you to consider your inspiration. You’ll discover a stronger-than-ever drive to get out there! Share your inspiration with others. You’ll relive amazing moments when you tell the tale, and be inspired to keep exploring. You may also give others a boost of inspiration to experience their own outdoor adventures.