Welcome All Dreamers

Hello family, old friends, new friends, and anyone interested in outdoor adventure! 
Adam asked me to write a brief introduction to his website.  The website is a compilation of many of Adam's amazing backpacking trips.  It all started with the Appalachian Trail in 2000.  It was a nearly 5 month adventure of a lifetime.  Thus, Dreamer was born!  For those of you who don't know, Appalachian Thru Hikers are known by their trail names and Adam's trail name was, appropriately, Dreamer.  

Since 2000, Adam has tried to backpack a long trip each year, but life, including the introduction of the amazing and powerful Isabela to our lives in 2004, has not always allowed those adventures to occur.  But he always finds time to squeeze in some incredible trip here or there. 
He loves to share his trips with others, though he prefers to hike alone, through his journal and photos.  This is the perfect spot to reach others and share his belief that whatever you do, dream big and continue to dream.  There are always new adventures around the corner.

Enjoy!  And thanks for your love and support of our family, Paula 
MY STORY

MY LATEST ADVENTURE

2024 Timberline Trail
Two loops around Mt. Hood.  One, a trail run clockwise and the other, a backpacking trip counterclockwise.
The loop trail was somewhere between 39 and 42 miles on your exact route. I hit my watch and got started. The first couple miles were in the dark downhill and through sandy like conditions. White River was my first crossing and it was still pitch black so finding somewhere suitable where I didn’t have to take off my shoes was quite challenging. It took a while. ​
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The climb was indeed long and enjoyable. I hiked alone to the high point and then with Ben to our campsite at Newton Creek.  On the way, we passed two women with two kids. Ironically, three days earlier, I’d seen these four camped and suffering a bit. They were back on the trail and almost done with the loop. The kids were 8 and 5. Amazing. 

Day #5 - 8/9/24
Daily Miles - 7.87
Total Miles - 44.96
Daily Elevation Gained - 2073 ft
Daily Elevation Lost - 1614 ft

Another wonderful night sleep in the backcountry. As I wake up on my last summer break backcountry morning, I’m reflecting on what an amazing summer I’ve had. Starting just days after my school year ended, I flew to Vermont and spent 16 days in that beautiful state walking fromMassachusetts to Canada with a stop in Stowe to run my first 50k. It was the most challenging hike of my life. Along the way I met people and formed friendships that I’ll be forever grateful for.  Immediately afterwards, the two most important people in the world flew across the country and our family spent just over 2 weeks on vacation, first with family then throughout the beauty of New England and onward to one of my dearest friends on earth’s camp in northern Maine. We finished by making our way down the Atlantic coast enjoying the air, the food and the time together. 
We flew home where I spent about a week getting caught up on front country responsibilities and also catching up with my closest friends. I then made the long drive to Washington and Mt. Rainier where I spent 5 glorious days on the Wonderland Trail in a completely different environment than I’d been in all summer. The weather, views, flora, fauna and people were amazing. Unlike a similar trip around the mountain 19 years earlier, it didn’t rain once. 
From there, I drove south into Oregon and to Mt. Hood. I spend a night in my tent in an incredible lighting and thunderstorm before setting off to complete the longest trail run of my life. Forty-one miles around Mt. Hood on the Timberline Trail threw every obstacle possible at me. It was amazing. I was lucky enough to stay at the historic Timberline Lodge for the night before my good friends, and a new friend, showed up the next morning for our 4 day relaxing hike around the mountain in the opposite direction of my run. Again, amazing. 
It’s not lost on me just how lucky I am. Lucky to have summers off. Lucky to have the means to adventure like this. Lucky to be in the physical shape to not only attempt, but succeed and enjoy my time in nature. And lucky to have a family that supports my wild adventures.
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