Summer in the Garden State!

Back to the states from our very eventful excursion; 5 months of traveling; 4 months in NZ, 1 month in AU!

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New Zealand - Wellington, Goodbye North Island!

We said goodbye to the North Island for now, anticipating even cooler landscapes and scenery to come!

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New Zealand - Waitomo to Wellington

Gorgeous scenery passing Tongariro National Park, continuing south!

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New Zealand - Waitomo Caves

A caving experience truly out of this world; Waitomo Caves!

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New Zealand - Rotorua to Waitomo Caves

Join us for some Kiwi fun! Zorbing in Rotorua!

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New Zealand - Hahei to Rotorua

Hahei’s Cathedral Cove with clouds not far behind!

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New Zealand - Auckland to Hahei

A spectacle in the Coromandel Peninsula known as Hot Water Beach in Hahei!

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New Zealand - Ahipara to Auckland

Another full day of lush landscapes, a ferry crossing, gorgeous beaches and Giant Kauri Trees!

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New Zealand - Waipu Caves to Ahipara

Glow-worms and beautiful beaches! Cheers from the lovely Bay of Islands!!

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New Zealand - Whangateau to Waipu Cove

December 14th - Pakiri Beach & Waipu Cove bird sightings!

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New Zealand - Auckland to Whangateau

After many months of drooling over Lonely Planet books of Costa Rica, Yucatan, South Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia, we finally decided to pack up shop from Los Angeles and begin our world traveling in New Zealand, a hikers paradise!

This is the beginning of the most exciting adventure we have ever had abroad!


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Mount San Antonio

The weekend of August 11th & 12th 2007, Chris & I went on an overnight training backpacking trip with our friends to the highest point in Los Angeles County, Mount San Antonio!

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Behind with too many to list!

It’s been too long since I’ve updated!

Chris & I have been on numerous trips this past year and soon enough I’ll be updating with photos and fun stories. In the meantime, here’s my blog “to-do” list! (eek!!)

2007
-Mt. Baldy summit camping, California
-Machu Picchu Inca Trail (4 day backpack), Peru
-Sacred Valley, Peru
-Cusco, Peru
-Lima, Peru
-Philadelphia

2008
-Santa Monica Grotto, California
-Anza Borego, California
-Salton Sea, California
-Joshua Tree, California
-Whipple Cave, Nevada
-Birthday Road Trip (3 day); California desert, mountains & coast
-Road Trip (11 day); California, Oregon & Washington
including:
*** Lassen Volcanic National Park
*** Lava Beds National Park
*** Mt. St. Helens National Park
*** Mt. Rainier National Park
*** Olympic National Park
*** Oregon Caves National Park
*** Redwoods National Park
*** Fisherman’s Warf, San Francisco

-Catalina Island (second visit!), California

Death Valley National Park, Thanksgiving - Jeeping & camping trip!

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So that's where we decided to go after all! more>

Thanksgiving trip ideas

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Thanksgiving is coming up and working at a big corporation means a nifty four-day weekend is approaching! November 22nd - November 25th. We're trying to decide between two awesome parks; Death Valley & Pinnacles National Monument! more>

Catalina Island

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We had a wonderful time on Chris’ birthday weekend checking out Catalina Island for the first time! more>

Sequoia National Park, High Sierra Trail backpacking trip - day 6

Our last day on the trail - we hiked 12 miles from Bear Paw back to Crescent Meadow - more to come!!

Sequoia National Park, High Sierra Trail backpacking trip - day 5

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The hike leaving Upper Hamilton Lake was beautiful. Chris took many photos of Valhalla & the amazing views on the way back down the trail. With each step we took extra note of the scenery, hoping to never forget the beauty of this remote area and its unique landscape. more>

Sequoia National Park, High Sierra Trail backpacking trip - day 4

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Fourth of July! We awoke early before the sun crept into the super-dome of a mountain range, with its sapphire sparkling lake and our tent in its font and center, VIP spot. Still awestruck with our surroundings, we made our morning coffee and perched on top of a nearby boulder overlooking our campsite and took in the mystical surroundings. more>

Sequoia National Park, High Sierra Trail backpacking trip - day 3

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We slept through the night and at times we both thought we heard bears rummaging around our campsite. There were definitely bear tracks leading to the more dense forest beyond our tent. We were thankful we camped at a site with a large bear-proof metal box for us to store our food, first aid kit and anything with a scent...
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Sequoia National Park, High Sierra Trail backpacking trip - day 2

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We slept well in the tent at 9 mile Creek and awoke to having multiple Sierra mule deer snooping around our campsite! The deer were timid yet not threatened by our presence, so we were able to enjoy watching them sniff through pine needles on the ground, to find their breakfast.
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Sequoia National Park, High Sierra Trail backpacking trip - day 1

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After two weeks of gear planning, one week of tedious weighing, and a year of anxious down time since we last backpacked, Chris & I made it to the High Sierra trailhead with our 45-pound packs, excitedly ready to begin our first back-country trip with significant milage!!
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