HIKING IN SAN FRANCISCO

I used to hike a whole bunch in 2016. The last few months of the year I did more city explorations - a newfound like of mine - but looking back at these photos really make me crave the outdoors. I miss hiking, maybe even backpacking. I miss being on my feet, putting on the first clean pair of socks in my pack, walking around in my hiking boots, throwing on a dirty jacket, and not having to care how my face looked or if my hair was brushed. Granted, the outdoors doesn't have to be this messy, but I like it. I miss cooking veggie dogs by the fire. Or making a gourmet meal with cup ramen (just add enoki mushrooms, bok choy, and and egg). And the stars. Oh, how I miss the stars. I miss being outside with my closest friends.

Okay, so this post has nothing to do with 'hiking in San Francisco' ... But this trip to SF was back in May of 2016 and I don't remember much of what we did besides being tired all the time.

Land's End

On the way to Mt. Tamapaís, I think... this was starting from Stinson Beach Fire Station. Come early for the free street parking.

GRAND CANYON | SPRING 2016

hiking to plateau point 

view of grand canyon from south end

view from inside the canyon

plateau point + colorado river

HORSESHOE BEND

Photos taken from my trip to Horseshoe Bend April of 2016. We got here before dawn and hiked the short 1-mile trail as the sun rose before us. You can see the light gradually shine through in the photos. It was way cool.

from dawn 

it was a fairly cloudy day, hence the gloominess

when the light started to shine through

taken before taking off, the sun officially rose :)

UPPER ANTELOPE CANYON | SPRING 2016

This tour was later in the afternoon, giving way to deeper purple and more orange hues. Read more about my trip to Upper Antelope Canyon here.

LOWER ANTELOPE CANYON | SPRING 2016

I love everything about nature, but there's something about deep red canyons that stays with me long after I come home from my trips. I haven't been able to forget this place since. I think it's the way the light shines through the cracks, how the dust dances along the walls and the long hollow emptiness of the walkways that makes this place even more beautiful. I wish we got to stay here longer (and with fewer tourists), but it was still worth it. Definitely on my list of places to re-visit in the future. 

To visit Lower Antelope Canyon, you will need to book a tour with Ken's Tour or Dixie Ellis. My friends and I booked our tour with Ken's Tour for $20. The tour was about an hour and 15 minutes. 

Tips: to photograph the deep purples and orange hues of the canyons, reserve an early morning or late afternoon tour time when the sun is not as high in the sky. To capture the popular sunbeams and light, book a tour when the sun is highest in the sky (around 10:00am to 12:30pm). 

taken with canon t3i

JASPER NATIONAL PARK | WINTER 2016

Jasper National Park in the wintertime is fog city heaven. Although Banff and Jasper were both stunning, I liked exploring Jasper a little bit more because it was less touristy and wilder. Anywhere we went, there was no soul to be found. We had the place to ourselves and it was the type of peace that just grabs you and sucks you in. Canada, you stole my damn heart. 

Abraham Lake, Jasper National Park

Athabasca Glacier

Sunwapta Falls, Jasper National Park 

Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

Medicine Lake, Jasper National Park

Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park 

BANFF NATIONAL PARK | WINTER 2016

Oh, Canada. This was place surreal. The Canadian Rocky mountains are so massive, so beautiful, and just so unbelievably stunning. No place has left me so emotionally in-tuned with nature the way Canada did. I hope you enjoy the little bit of photos that I took here.