Yes, I am watching you gesture when you speak. And yes, that is sometimes distracting. I also might be jotting down sweet inversions and metaphors I hear at random. But I am more than my research, and when I can do so, I also enjoy hiking, camping, admiring plants, drinking good coffee, enjoying good beer, making silly doodles on sticky notes and some light woodworking.
I value exploration and curiosity more than bucket lists, but my "life goals" (for lack of a better term) consist of completing various long distance trails.
Backpacking
Ansel Adams Wilderness, California USA
June 2021
High Trail - John Muir Trail loop | ~40 miles, 4 days
a journey of the unexpected, from tree removal, to river crossings, to orienteering across snow packs.
Hoover Wilderness, California USA
August 2020
Tower Peak (+ orienteering) | 42 miles, 4 days
a momentary escape from the smoke.
Yosemite National Park, California USA
June 2020
Tuolumne - Vogelsang - Sunrise Loop | ~50 miles, 5 days
"ANOTHER life-changing view?" for five days straight. Main take away: always bring a bug net, no matter how silly you look in it.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California USA
October 2019
Cinder Cone Loop| 18 miles, 2 days
dust and sun in a dreamy moonscape.
West Higland Way, Scotland
June 2016
Glasgow to Fort Williams | 100 miles, 5 days
rain, wind, highland cows and Scottish magic.