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Sarah Borgen | hiking & camping in the Pacific Northwest

@explorenborgen

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Sharing the best of recreation, travel, and life!🏕️🥾🏔️
Full-Time Teacher & Part-Time Adventurer
📧[email protected]
Trips & Washington Map⤵️

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You can now book the Rota Vicentina!

Do you love long walks on the beach? How about sipping espresso at a quaint cafe on the coast? Maybe you enjoy a glass of wine at sunset?

Then the Rota Vicentina, aka the Fisherman’s Way, in Portugal might be for you.

Comment “Details” and I will send you the trip page with everything you need to know about this incredible trip.

We’ve got six spots left on this trip, and I hope you snag one of them!

Have questions? Let me know! I would be happy to answer them. :) taken in Portugal by @explorenborgen

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a month ago

❣️Period on the trail?

There are a few different suggestions I have for dealing with your period while hiking.

1️⃣ Free Bleed - This is what I typically do if things are light enough. I actually did this for six years when I had my last IUD in. My period was the equivalent of spotting, so I didn’t have much need for products.

2️⃣ Using a Cup - Cups need to be changed less often than tampons so you likely won’t have to think about period products while you’re day hiking. If you’re backpacking, you will technically need to dig a hole to bury the blood, rinse, and reinsert.

3️⃣ Tampons - Tampons need to be packed out, so if you’re doing a hike long enough that you’d need to change your tampon, bring something to pack out your used tampons. I use a mini Nalgene with a dog bag to pack out my used products and other garbage. Tampons with applicators are recommended since they minimize germ contact, but I don’t purchase them for myself.

4️⃣ Period Underwear - I like @saaltco period underwear. You’ll definitely want full coverage period underwear for hiking if this is the route you go. I’d also bring a change of clothes to switch into at the end of your hike.

Have questions about getting your period in the backcountry?! Let me know! taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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12 hours ago

Have a guess as to how long these 19 miles will take?!

I had an idea of what I was getting myself into, but last time I hiked this trail, I did it as a 3-night backpacking trip and had no concept of time.

Looking at the stats and chatting with my hiking buddy, who had done this traverse 3 times, I figured it would take us anywhere from 12 to 15 hours. I was hoping for the lower end, but really just wanted to be back at the trailhead before dark.

Once we reached hour 13 the sun had already started to set below the surrounding mountains and the soft pink glow of sunset was on the horizon.

When we reached the car at 13 hours and 20 minutes, it was just light enough to throw our gear in the back seat and drive off to grab a beer and brat.

Since we didn’t need to get our headlamps out again, I am going to count that as a win!

Would you hike for 13 hours and 20 minutes? taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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a day ago

Hiking Washington’s Best-Known Trail...The Enchantments Traverse

My name is Sarah, and I am hiking all 100 Classic Hikes of Washington, a guidebook published by @mtnbooks and written by Craig Romano.

Be sure to follow @explorenborgen while I complete this challenge!

Here are the details of the Enchantments Traverse:
📍Alpine Lakes Wilderness
🥾 19 miles
📈 4,800 feet gain
⏰ ~13 hours or Overnight
🗓️ Late- July - October
🐶 No Dogs
🎟️ Need Northwest Forest Pass
⛺ Overnight Camping Requires Permits

Backpacking the Enchantments and staying in the Core is a coveted overnight in Washington, and people equate winning the permit lottery to the Powerball. I was lucky enough to win permits the first year I applied in 2022 and haven’t won them since.

Typically, people hike the trail starting from Colchuck Lake and end at the Snow Lake Trailhead. That is what I would recommend since navigating the descent down Asgard Pass is extremely challenging and can be dangerous.

Hiking it in a day is not recommended unless you have significant hiking experience and route-finding knowledge. Every year there are more and more rescues on this trail and, unfortunately, some deaths.

It took us just over 13 hours to complete the hike from start to finish, and I was extremely grateful to my friend Anne, who kept us on the trail during some of the more challenging route-finding areas of the hike.

But do you think the Enchantments should be a 100 Classic Hike of Washington? Let me know in the comments or share an alternative!

Don’t forget to hit “follow” to see more 100 Classic Hikes of Washington! taken in Alpine Lakes Wilderness by @explorenborgen

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2 days ago

next up in this series: 📍Monte Cristo Trail with special guests Meatball and Grizzly Bear!

#montecristotrail #seattlehikes #hikingwithdogs #seattlehiking taken in Monte Cristo Trail by @explorenborgen

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2 days ago

I couldn’t believe how calmly they walked past us on the trail the other day.

We had our luck seeing some mountain goats off in the distance on the trail but when we turned the corner and saw mom and baby, we were star struck. taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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3 days ago

When I set out on my goal to hike all 100 Classic Hikes of Washington, I just wanted to experience all that Washington had to offer.

I never expected this goal to almost consume my entire being. I am constantly thinking about the trails I have left.

I’m checking whether washed-out roads have been repaired, closed trails have opened, and whether last-minute permits are available.

I also know my progress toward this goal would be impossible without the help of my incredible friends, who are always willing to let me drag them around the state to hike some random trail we’ve never heard of.

Plus, when I started this goal, my dreams of having a platform to post it on were nonexistent. So I am low-key starting over??? I’m going back to the beginning and hiking the trails I checked off that I didn’t capture on camera.

I’m stoked to have you here! LMK if you have any questions! taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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6 days ago

how long it took us to hike📍Goat Lake ⏰

this is the first time in this series where we have been so under our predicted times 🤣 our times always include the time we spend at the lake / summit of a hike so I guess we didn’t spend as long at the lake as we thought!

#goatlake #hiking #seattlehikes #seattlehikers taken in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest by @explorenborgen

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8 days ago

Leash & Harness Set-Up for Hiking!

Follow Meatball (@explorenpaws) and Grizzly Bear (@ourseattletails ) for more adventures.

✨Meatball’s Set-Up✨
Harness: @ruffwear Web Master Dog Harness with Handle
Leash: Ruffwear Hitch Hiker Leash

I love the harness for the visibility and handle. It also fits Meatball really well because you can adjust the fit in three areas. It also has multiple attachment points for a leash!

I’ve been using the hitch hiker leash for over three years now, and it is the best hands-free leash for hiking that I have used. I love that you can control the length of the lead.

✨Grizzly Bear’s Set-Up✨
Harness: @nonstopdogwear Rush
Leash: Non-Stop Dogwear Trail Quest

The harness is great for pulling and fits Grizz comfortably throughout the hike.

Non-Stop Dogwear’s leash has a comfortable handle, is lightweight, and is long enough to give Grizz freedom on the trail while still maintaining hiking etiquette.

Have questions about hiking set-ups for dogs?! Let us know! taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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10 days ago

When I set out on my goal to hike all 100 Classic Hikes of Washington, I just wanted to experience all that Washington had to offer.

I never expected this goal to almost consume my entire being. I am constantly thinking about the trails I have left.

I’m checking whether washed-out roads have been repaired, closed trails have opened, and whether last-minute permits are available.

I also know my progress toward this goal would be impossible without the help of my incredible friends, who are always willing to let me drag them around the state to hike some random trail we’ve never heard of.

Plus, when I started this goal, my dreams of having a platform to post it on were nonexistent. So I am low-key starting over??? I’m going back to the beginning and hiking the trails I checked off that I didn’t capture on camera.

I’m stoked to have you here! LMK if you have any questions! taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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13 days ago

Hiking an underrated trail in Washington ✨

My name is Sarah, and I am hiking all 100 Classic Hikes of Washington, a guidebook published by @mtnbooks

Be sure to follow @explorenborgen while I complete this challenge!

Here are the details of Bear Creek Mountain:
📍Goat Rocks Wilderness
🥾 7 miles
📈 1,200 feet gain
⏰ ~3.5 hours
🗓️ July - October
🐶 Yes - On Leash
⛺ Overnight Camping Allowed - Self-Issued Walk-Up Permits

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I hiked this trail, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to see incredibly close-up views of Mount Adams and Mount Rainier when I got there.

These are the conditions as of 9/25. It will definitely get snowy as we progress into October.

Road Conditions: There is a TOUGH road spot about 0.3 miles from the trailhead. I made it to the trailhead in my RAV4, but there is also a pull-off you can park at that adds less than a mile round trip to the trail distance.

Let me know in the comments if you think Bear Creek Mountain should be a 100 Classic of Washington! taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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15 days ago

I almost quit teaching.

All my life I wanted to be a teacher. In fact, most of my life I knew I wanted to be a science teacher, and when I made it to high school, I graduated with 7 years of science credits because I wanted to discover WHAT I wanted to teach.

After two years on my first teaching contract, I was having regular panic attacks; my mental health was at an all-time low, and I was ready to quit.

So, I changed schools, and I vowed to make a change.

I assessed how much unpaid labor I was putting into my job and how that was impacting my personal life, or lack thereof.

Because, if I am being honest, I am not just a teacher. I am so much more. When I let education dictate who I am, I became less of myself.

I am extremely grateful to be in a district and to have an administrator who supports me. These hard lines are not always welcomed.

If you’re still reading this, I urge you to start making these small changes. Even one change can make a significant difference.

And if you’re not yet following me, hello! My name is Sarah, and I am a teacher in Washington who LOVES the outdoors. You’ll find content on teaching, but mostly you’ll see how a teacher can maximize their time outdoors. taken in Washington by @explorenborgen

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20 days ago