Glacier National Park

The night before backpacking, Jess was giving Nik and me a few different tips on what to pack and why. I asked if we would need our bathing suits for any swimming fun and she answered, "Well, it is glacial runoff so I don't know how much swimming we'll be doing."

Noted. We leave our bathing suits at home. (The car.)

After our hike into backcountry we got up the ganas to take a dive sans clothing! (And by dive, I mean cautious but simultaneously clumsy tip-toeing off the rocks.) And guess what? Glacial runoff is COLD. We dunked ourselves in the lake, came up gasping for air, and took a really fast splash-bath. Reaching for the edge of the water almost as soon as we got knee-deep, Nikk and I had a new respect for backpackers who do this on the regular (aka Jess, our wise backcountry guide).

Here are some funny pics for our blog friends, and not our Facebook friends:

Note the CAMP SOAP, our BFF

Fly high!!

The Break Down//Miracle on Rt. 90

We're putt-putting along Route 80/Route 90 into Chicago, and Nik is in the driver's seat. She starts to tell me what to look for in case the car breaks down. (Her car shut down when she was coming home this summer with her mom.) Nikki says, "Kels, just in case it happens, I want you to be prepared. The last time it happened, we lost the ability to accelerate, we lost power-steering...oh, WAIT, IT IS HAPPENING NOW."

She smoothly glides the car onto the side of the road. I have to give her props, she seemed totally unfazed. I, on the other hand, after the car was safely stopped, instantly got out and opened up a bowl of pasta salad (from my Aunt Debbie, thanks!). WOOPS. Stressed-out eating habit, ay-yayay.

Anyway, Nik calls her parents to see what she should do. We're sitting on the side of the road, about 102 miles from our destination (Chicago). Not sure what to do, we take a look at our surroundings...

We're in SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. You might be wondering, "Um, what? What's that town like?" Well, person, it is home to Penn State rival Notre Dame. Do we want to celebrate the 4th of July in rinky-dink South Bend with a bunch of Fighting Irish? Let me remind you of who we are.

WE ARE....

...PENN STATE.

Speaking of which, we were also SHC scholars. Using her brain, Nik tries to restart the car on a whim. It runs. Perfect, leh-go!

Now, keep in mind that we were 102 miles from Chicago. Nikki has AAA insurance that allows for towing up to one hundred miles of the breakdown. We're just outside the window of 100 miles. (Get ready for el milagro) The car drives for about 5 more minutes when the engine totally shuts off again. We pull over to the side of the road and check the GPS...we're 92 miles (or so) to Chicago. Yes, that's right, by a strike of luck, we made it within 100 miles of our friend Daissy's house!!

The decision is made--if we're gonna be stranded, it will be in Chicago! Nik calls AAA and all we have to do is wait out the tow truck. A REAL LIFE MIRACLE. We're getting towed ONE HUNDRED MILES TO A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, SUCKERS.

In another post, you can read about the shenanigans we got into while waiting!

Wall Drug

Hey All,

As my blog recently reminded me on facebook, we've been a bit absent from keeping this up to date...mostly because we don't have internet! But we're aiming to do better. I'm adding a few tonight, and then in a few more days check back. We'll be out in the wilderness until Tuesday (I think). Tomorrow we're going on a backpacking trip through the "back country." YIKES BEARS! A REAL HIKE. This time, I'm all sorts of ready.

Check it:

1. I bought hiking pants (not gonna be sporting my NWMS gym shorts! not sure what I mean? check out a post on here from the inca trail)AND THEY ZIP APART. One pant leg up! what's it mean!
2. I'm wearing my sneakers (aka not breaking in hiking boots the day before and forming outrageous blisters)
3. I'm borrowing Jess's mom's sleeping bag and backpack so I won't die of frostbite.

But back to Wall Drug. Nik and I saw so many billboards along the road in South Dakota. They were made of wood. (not metal.) Most were encouraging us not to get an abortion, one suggested we start wearing fur! (for population control, of course) and mannyyy were advertising Wall Drug. This place was made famous during the Great Depression because it gave out free ice-water. NOM. It still does!

Here is a photo journal of our short time there:

Just sayin' HI!

Me and Jess being culturally sensitive!

Jess taming the mysterious, wild jackalope!

Me, being a party pooper. (That shit wasn't wild.)

Nikki riding a fake horse.

Boob-grab. BOW-WOW-WOW

Guns for kids!

So long, Wall Drug!

Bullshit

As we sit in a park listening to some marching band pop band (it's a band of nerds!) and playoff bs nik says to me- I am trying to collect all the cards because lying stresses me out! Haha, I predict she will not win that strategy!

On the road...again!

Just about to start our month long trip across the country! First up, State College and after Chicago.
Gotta figure out how to upload an image of our bucket list-- 11 items since it's 2011 and a mix of easy to complete and less easy but still pretty doable items.

I'm not even sure how to make this post! I still do not own hiking pants. I am reviving the traveling hat! It's with me.