I Love Fall Most Of All

My favorite season has always been Fall. The cool crisp air lifts my spirits almost instantly. There is something about being able to snuggle in a blanket around a fire with your loved ones or reading a good book while it’s raining.

As my husband & I approach our second Anniversary we wanted to share with you a few things we did to celebrate... a little early of course.

We traveled to the Smoky Mountains to camp & hike. I will say that it was ridiculously packed with people & a little too crowded for our liking. The traffic was the worst. We later found out that we went during peak season... who knew?

We hiked two trails while there, The New Found Gap Appalachian Trail & Rainbow Falls Trail. Thankfully, the trails weren’t as jammed as the traffic was to get there.

No matter what the journey entails, the view is worth every step.

Here are a few things we packed for each hike:

• Layers of clothing- it was super cold in the mornings when we started. Once you start moving you warm up quick so it’s convenient to remove & add layers when needed.

• Hiking shoes- I got these Danner hiking boots last year for our Joshua Tree trip. They were fully inspired by the book/movie “Wild”. I felt this investment necessary as a gift to myself after my heart surgery. I needed something to look forward to & a goal to put many hiking miles on these boots.

• Water- while hiking in Joshua Tree, we packed our HydroFlasks in a bookbag that Zach carried for us. This trip was exactly 30 days post surgery which meant I was still recovering. I got winded so easily, & still do, but it’s so important to continue forward to strengthen my heart muscle. Although, he didn’t complain carrying both of our bottles of water, it was an inconvenience because when we did need to drink, we had to stop, pull it out of the pack, take a drink, then pack it all back up & continue on. Given we were in the desert & I was still recovering from my surgery, you can imagine we stopped often for a drink. This time we each invested in a CamelBak. Talk about convenient. I highly recommend one of these!

• Snacks-we were able to stuff a few granola bars, sausage, and cheese in our packs for some energy on the trails.

• Applewatch- I used my watch to track our distance & my heart rate. I track my heart rate because it is often times 30-40bpm faster than Zach’s when we exercise. If I don’t compare, I typically don’t slow down or take breaks because by nature I push myself to the limits.
  

After that we made our way North to stay a few nights on the grounds where we said “I do”, Columbia Woodlands. Not only is the place beautiful & secluded, you can hike and fish all you want. It is more of a “glamping” style stay, but it was the perfect way to end our outdoors anniversary trip before heading back home. I highly recommend a stay here too!

I hope you get outside & go for a hike before the first snow falls because it’s going to be a long winter.

Have you been on a hike this Fall? Would love to hear about your favorite trails! Let me know on Instagram @always_willow and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.

Always,

Erikka