We are Cynthia & Tex. A human and dog duo exploring the Pacific Northwest & beyond.

A dog wearing an orange jacket standing outdoors on a mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks and green trees in the background.
A black Honda Civic driving on a dirt road through a desert landscape with rocky terrain, leading towards snow-capped mountains in the distance at sunset.
A person in orange pants and dark jacket wearing an orange beanie sits on rocks by a calm mountain lake, with a dog beside them. The lake reflects the surrounding pine trees and snow-capped mountains under a cloudy sky.

Hello!

A dog with an orange collar looking at a mountain lake during sunset with snow-capped peaks in the background.
Yellow bicycle parked against a fence near a body of water during sunset with clouds in the sky.

Best Bike Rides In and Around Seattle

From City Trails to Hidden Forest Roads

Explore the List

Hi, I'm Cynthia. And the dog already at the trailhead? He’s Tex.

We're based in Seattle and spend as much time outside as we can manage while working full-time — backpacking, hiking, cycling, climbing, paddling, the occasional packrafting. It started with a solo road trip to Utah in 2018 and just kind of kept going.

This is where I document the adventures. Hopefully it's enough to get you off the couch and out the door too.

Read more about our story.
A woman wearing glasses and an orange beanie hugging a black and white dog by the water during sunset.

Solo Backpacking for Beginners: How I Got Started (and What I Wish I Knew)

A small camping tent set up on a dirt ground in a forested area with trees and mountains in the background, illuminated by sunlight.
A yellow and gray camping tent set up on a grassy area with snow-capped mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Snow-capped mountains at sunrise or sunset with colorful sky and rocky foreground.
A woman and her dog hiking on a dirt trail surrounded by tall pine trees with yellow and green foliage in a mountainous forest area.
Teach me your ways!

Hiking & Backpacking

Blog
Silver Peak & Tinkham Peak: A Great First Scramble
Washington, Hiking
Silver Peak & Tinkham Peak: A Great First Scramble
Washington, Hiking
Washington, Hiking
A Guide to Snow Lake: Backpacking, Packrafting, and a Secret Island
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Pacific Northwest
A Guide to Snow Lake: Backpacking, Packrafting, and a Secret Island
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Pacific Northwest
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Pacific Northwest
Backpacking the West Fork Foss Trail: A 3-Day Guide to Trout, Malachite, and the Heart Lakes
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Packrafting
Backpacking the West Fork Foss Trail: A 3-Day Guide to Trout, Malachite, and the Heart Lakes
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Packrafting
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Packrafting
Snowshoeing to Artist Point: A Guide to One of the Most Rewarding Winter Adventures
Washington, Pacific Northwest
Snowshoeing to Artist Point: A Guide to One of the Most Rewarding Winter Adventures
Washington, Pacific Northwest
Washington, Pacific Northwest
A Guide to Backpacking to Gothic Basin and Foggy Lake
Washington, Pacific Northwest, Backpacking
A Guide to Backpacking to Gothic Basin and Foggy Lake
Washington, Pacific Northwest, Backpacking
Washington, Pacific Northwest, Backpacking
A Guide to Hiking the Hannegan Pass Trail in the North Cascades
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Hiking
A Guide to Hiking the Hannegan Pass Trail in the North Cascades
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Hiking
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Hiking
Best Alpine Lakes for Packrafting in Washington
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Packrafting, Washington, Paddling, Kayaking
Best Alpine Lakes for Packrafting in Washington
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Packrafting, Washington, Paddling, Kayaking
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Packrafting, Washington, Paddling, Kayaking
A Guide to Hiking Heather-Maple Pass Loop in Washington
Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
A Guide to Hiking Heather-Maple Pass Loop in Washington
Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
The 20 Best Hikes in Washington: A Local's Personal List
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
The 20 Best Hikes in Washington: A Local's Personal List
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Hiking Lake Valhalla: A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Washington
Hiking Lake Valhalla: A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Washington
Backpacking to East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley and Tank Lakes: A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking to East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley and Tank Lakes: A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking to Royal Basin - Royal Lake (Olympic National Park): A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington
Backpacking to Royal Basin - Royal Lake (Olympic National Park): A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington
Backpacking the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail
Backpacking, Washington, Hiking, Pacific Northwest
Backpacking the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail
Backpacking, Washington, Hiking, Pacific Northwest
Backpacking, Washington, Hiking, Pacific Northwest
Backpacking to Lake Ann in the Mount Baker Wilderness
Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking to Lake Ann in the Mount Baker Wilderness
Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Kayak Camping in North Cascades National Park
Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Summer, Washington
Kayak Camping in North Cascades National Park
Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Summer, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Summer, Washington
A Guide to Hiking to High Rock Lookout
Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Summer
A Guide to Hiking to High Rock Lookout
Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Summer
Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Summer
Backpacking to Anderson and Watson Lakes in the North Cascades
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking to Anderson and Watson Lakes in the North Cascades
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
A Guide to Backpacking Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
A Guide to Backpacking Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
A Guide to Backpacking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington, Pacific Northwest
A Guide to Backpacking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington, Pacific Northwest
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington, Pacific Northwest
A Guide to Backpacking to Upper Crystal Lake via Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap (Mount Rainier)
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
A Guide to Backpacking to Upper Crystal Lake via Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap (Mount Rainier)
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Washington
A Guide to Backpacking Thornton Lakes in the North Cascades
Pacific Northwest, Washington, Backpacking
A Guide to Backpacking Thornton Lakes in the North Cascades
Pacific Northwest, Washington, Backpacking
Pacific Northwest, Washington, Backpacking
A Guide to the Chain Lakes Loop: Mount Baker's Most Rewarding Beginner Backpacking Trip
Washington, Backpacking
A Guide to the Chain Lakes Loop: Mount Baker's Most Rewarding Beginner Backpacking Trip
Washington, Backpacking
Washington, Backpacking
Dege Peak
Pacific Northwest, Hiking, Washington
Dege Peak
Pacific Northwest, Hiking, Washington
Pacific Northwest, Hiking, Washington

Cycling & Kayaking

Blog
A Guide to Snow Lake: Backpacking, Packrafting, and a Secret Island
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Pacific Northwest
A Guide to Snow Lake: Backpacking, Packrafting, and a Secret Island
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Pacific Northwest
Washington, Backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Pacific Northwest
Best Bike Rides In and Around Seattle — From City Trails to Hidden Forest Roads
Cycling
Best Bike Rides In and Around Seattle — From City Trails to Hidden Forest Roads
Cycling
Cycling
Kayak Camping for Beginners: How to Get Started in the PNW (No Hardshell Required)
Kayaking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Camping, Guide
Kayak Camping for Beginners: How to Get Started in the PNW (No Hardshell Required)
Kayaking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Camping, Guide
Kayaking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Camping, Guide
Cycling From Tai Wai to Sam Mun Tsai: Coming Home to Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Cycling
Cycling From Tai Wai to Sam Mun Tsai: Coming Home to Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Cycling
Hong Kong, Cycling
Best Places to Kayak in Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington, Summer, Packrafting, Kayaking, Pacific Northwest
Best Places to Kayak in Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington, Summer, Packrafting, Kayaking, Pacific Northwest
Backpacking, Hiking, Washington, Summer, Packrafting, Kayaking, Pacific Northwest
5 Beginner-Friendly Bike Rides Near Seattle You Can Do Year-Round
Washington, Pacific Northwest, Cycling
5 Beginner-Friendly Bike Rides Near Seattle You Can Do Year-Round
Washington, Pacific Northwest, Cycling
Washington, Pacific Northwest, Cycling
Best Alpine Lakes for Packrafting in Washington
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Packrafting, Washington, Paddling, Kayaking
Best Alpine Lakes for Packrafting in Washington
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Packrafting, Washington, Paddling, Kayaking
Backpacking, Pacific Northwest, Packrafting, Washington, Paddling, Kayaking
Hiking Lake Valhalla: A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Washington
Hiking Lake Valhalla: A Complete Guide
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Washington
Backpacking, Hiking, Pacific Northwest, Paddling, Washington

Everything Else

Catch Me Outside

View fullsize everything is going to be okay. especially when your best adventure partner is a dog that loves you unconditionally and is stoked to go everywhere you take them. every time. haven’t camped in a while and took a much needed trip exploring the
View fullsize
View fullsize I hardly set any goals for myself. The past few years have been rather turbulent in a lot of aspects of my life. Since then, everything has somehow become somewhat uncertain or spontaneous. But this year, I decided to sign up for the STP (Seattle to
View fullsize Bikes are fun. Riding has connected me to my younger self - that version of me had less social anxiety or any type of anxiety really. I couldn’t care less about what other people thought about me. Riding has also helped me reconsider how I a
View fullsize Holding onto the memories of a generally really fantastic year. Started a new job. Went on an epic road trip before the new job. Spent much needed time outside. Explored hikes that have been on my bucket list forever. Spent some quality time with f
View fullsize Growing up, my family and I always rode on this long route to a reservoir (大尾篤) and back. And honestly as kids, I was pretty amazed how we always managed to do that. After countless days of my parents being super patient, my sister and I became speed
View fullsize For some reason, this 9.2 mile round trip hike was one of the most difficult ones I’ve done this season. The stats weren’t any more different than other ones I’ve done. The elevation gain was comparable. But my body was indeed tired
View fullsize Trail shots of the CAMP BEEF crew out on the YAB trail. A trip that did make it out of the group chat. Took @chrischinn__ on his first backpacking trip. @mckayla.reanne is the real speed queen. Justin is just vibing and sharing insights about being