Where am I going? What am I doing?
Planned and spontaneous adventures for 2025
Sharing upcoming adventures
I love to plan adventures - the process, the research, the anticipation of exploring new destinations. I also like unplanned adventures - heading out the door on short notice to embrace the moment. Both kinds of adventures offer benefits and drawbacks. Traveling to a distant destination usually requires some advance planning with logistics and transportation needs. Weather can be a factor. It helps to have some flexibility built into the planning process. Spontaneous pursuits keep me feeling nimble and curious. I feel blessed that I live close to numerous recreational destinations for such adventures.
I hope you continue to follow me here to read all about my 2025 adventures.
Health and fitness preparation
As I get older, I know I need to stay on top of my physical fitness. My current fitness routine incorporates both endurance and strength training. For endurance, running and cross country skiing are my prime activities. Ideally I like to get in an endurance workout three times a week with running being the prime activity. I train mostly by heart rate zone now - not by how fast I am running (or skiing).
My go-to endurance workout usually involves running or fast hiking - both can be done most of the year.
Strength training
I have been lifting weights and doing other forms of strength training for about 8 years. I try to do a routine at least twice a week. This year, I need to focus on getting ready for one of my upcoming adventures.
Strength training can help you maintain and rebuild muscle at any age. Research shows that older adults see even greater improvements in their muscle strength. - Pamela Webert, MS, ACMS-CEP
Recovery - taking it one day at a time
As I get older, I try to pay more attention to my body and how I “recover” between pursuits. In the past, when I was training for marathons, I would just forge ahead - to get it done no matter what. This was the approach I used when I was trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
In 2024, I started using the approach of making a decision each day on what kind of activity or exercise I felt like doing. It seemed to work - I had less injuries and burnout.
In 2024, I started looking more closely at my health information using data from the Oura ring, my bloodwork test results and other sources. I try to pay more attention to my sleep patterns, my resting heart rate, my heart rate variability and my overall training readiness. You can read more about how heart rate variability can be used to determine overall readiness on Marco Altini’s Substack.
Below: here is a screenshot of my daily Oura report.
Current planned and unplanned adventures
Cross country skiing
I embrace winter by spending a lot of time “chasing the snow” to look for new ski trails. This year, I start with a “big” adventure. One of my goals is to build more confidence on my skis.
This month - January. I am headed to Austria to participate in the Dolomitelauf Ski Marathon! This event has been on my radar for a while due to the travel planning. Although I have completed several long distance ski events, I have not finished one in about 8 years (Engadin in Switzerland). I feel that my endurance is good and I have been able to train on snow for about a month. Although I feel I confident about the race I am nervous about the trip - the weather, the logistics, the travel to a foreign country. I am attributing my jitters to my age. When I was younger, I do not think this would have bothered me. I know I need to complete this adventure - to build my confidence
Read more about my adventure, training and preparation on Working Order with Jake Griggs.
Early February. A weekend ski trip with the Cayuga Nordic Ski Club. This is the second year that I have led our club on a weekend of skiing in the southern Adirondacks. We have a good time exploring the ski trails and enjoying our meals together - soaking in the camaraderie of friends and the outdoors.
Late February or early March. An unplanned cross country ski trip to Quebec. This trip depends on the weather, the snow and the driving conditions. Quebec is about a 4 hour drive from home.
The rest of the winter. Backcountry skiing on local trails - when the snow conditions beckon. Exploring new destinations.
Hiking Adventures
My overall hiking goal this year is doing more long-distance hikes to prepare for hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in one day. I have hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim over 3 days camping in the canyon along the way. I am excited to return. Hiking the canyon rim to rim in one day will be a challenge for which I need to prepare - both physically and mentally.
Hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day: a bucket list item
Here is the tentative hike plan for 2025 -
Hiking the Watkins Glen State Park Rim Trail and the Taughannock Falls State Park Rim Trail - both these New York State trails are close to home and I plan to use them to prepare for the Grand Canyon hike.
Other unplanned hikes to prepare for the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike.
Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike - early October. I’ve assembled a small group of hikers to hike the Rim to Rim in one day. Lodging reservations completed.
Hiking sections of the Northville-Placid Trail (NPT) in the Adirondacks - I’ve hiked the entire NPT but wish to return to hike some sections. Stay tuned for a future post on this historic and beautiful long-distance trail.
Hiking in Norway - we are heading to Norway in July and plan to hike. Still undecided on specific hikes but the Preikestolen 365 trail is in the mix. Stay tuned for more details.
Paddling Destinations
Some paddling adventures are already planned as I needed to book remote waterfront campsites 9 months in advance. I have three campsite reservations for August and September but may not use all of them depending on the weather and water levels. Here are the tentative paddles:
Paddling in the St Regis Canoe Wilderness in the Adirondacks (a series of several ponds and small lakes with connecting trails for portage)
Paddling into Boreas Ponds in the Adirondacks
Paddling into Lake Lila in the Whitney Wilderness in the Adirondacks
Angling
My angling journey continues. I am blessed to be able to share this journey with my husband who is an accomplished angler. I just started taking my angling skills seriously a few years ago.
This year, I hope to do the following -
More fishing on the Finger Lakes (lake trout, bass, perch, pike and other varieties). I am blessed to be close to a variety of fisheries.
Last summer was my introduction to fly fishing - definitely a journey. This year, I plan to focus on angling for Brook trout on local small streams. I am lucky to live near a good trout stream where I can practice. One of the attractions of small stream angling is being able to hike into a remote stream and fish where no one else is fishing. My goal this year is to catch one - yes one - Brook trout on the fly.
Family and Community
My family and community are a big part of my life and I enjoy sharing my adventures with them - hiking, skiing, paddling and more. This year, for the first time in my life, I have two major gatherings -
A major high school reunion in June
A family reunion in July - the first official reunion.
Personal enrichment
A big part of my life is continuing to stimulate my brain - by reading, writing and working on acquiring new skills. I try to read at least two books a month. I enjoy reading several Substack authors too.
As I get older, I realize that it is important to challenge my brain cells by learning new skills.
This year, I plan to focus on:
Improving my writing skills - become a more proficient, efficient and deliberate writer
Improving my skills in digital photography
Learning more about the Substack platform and how I can use it to achieve my goals
Last but not least, taking time to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Hope you can come along for my adventures. Stay tuned here.
My kid sister is ambitious. 👏❤️🆒
Ah, the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim—what an epic goal! That’s on my list for this year too. Such an incredible adventure, Jenn—absolutely inspiring!