Jess on the Wild Way

Fred and I had a brief disagreement about who should be using the trail, but eventually we worked things out and I made it to the lake.
And I do not care how times I’ve hiked this trail. It still manages to blow me away every time.

The color of the water. 💧
The views of Dragontail Peak. 🐉
Aasgard Pass climbing into the Core Enchantments.
It’s one of those places that’s worth every step. ✨

Colchuck Lake 🏔️
9 miles 🗺️
2,400 feet of elevation gain
One very persistent mountain goat named Fred 🐐

Have you ever hiked Colchuck Lake?

I can confidently say grilled cheese tastes 437% better on top of a mountain 🏔️

The famous hikes are famous for a reason.
They’re beautiful.
But there is something really special about discovering a place you didn’t expect to love.
The ones where you get to the top and suddenly find yourself standing on a mountain with nobody else around.
Just you, and that urge to yell “I’m the king of the world!” like Jack from Titanic. 🤣
I don’t know.
Sometimes you just stumble across a hike like this and get the whole thing to yourself. And that solitude can make a good hike feel extraordinary.
And that’s a pretty amazing feeling.
📍 Iron Bear Trail, Washington

PART 2: The Results 🧊
After approximately 47,000 comments explaining why this was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done... I took my DIY PVC ice packs on a real camping trip to see what would happen.
The verdict?
They worked better than some people expected and worse than I hoped.
For a large cooler and a multi-day trip, I don’t think they’re a replacement for block ice. By day three they were completely thawed.
BUT...
For filling dead space, supplementing other ice sources, day trips, and weekend adventures? I actually think they’re pretty useful and I’ll continue using them.
A few quick notes since these came up a lot:
• No, they didn’t explode.
• No, they weren’t touching my food.
• Yes, PVC cement is commonly used to join potable water pipes.
• Yes, reusable ice packs already exist.
• And yes, this was a fun experiment because I like making things.
Not every project has to be revolutionary. Sometimes it’s just fun to test an idea and see what happens.
So did I invent permanent cooler ice?
Not exactly.
Did I make frozen pool noodles?
Also not exactly. 😂
I’m calling this one a partial success.

I am tired of buying cooler ice every camping trip... so I made my own “forever” ice packs. 🧊
Using PVC pipe, salt water, and a questionable amount of confidence, I built reusable ice packs that should (in theory) keep my cooler cold without dealing with bags of melted ice.

Now the real question is...
Did I save myself hundreds of dollars in cooler ice?
Or did I make a bunch of frozen pool noodles? 🤔
Part 2 is coming soon: a 72-hour real-world test during a camping and hiking trip.

Place your bets below. 👇

3 tent tips that can make a big difference:
🏕️ Make sure your footprint doesn’t extend beyond your tent and rainfly
💨 Open your vents to reduce condensation
🪢 Learn a taut-line hitch so you can easily adjust guy line tension
Simple stuff, but it’s amazing how often these get overlooked.
Save this for your next camping trip and send it to a friend who’s new to camping.

How I’d plan the perfect weekend getaway in Seattle with my bestie ✨ (hosted)
From flying over the skyline in a seaplane… to slowing down at a silent spa… to waterfront dinners and cozy mornings over the water — this honestly felt like the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and good food.

If you’re planning a Seattle getaway, save this itinerary 👇
✈️ 
Seeing Seattle from a seaplane might genuinely be one of the coolest ways to experience the city. I had such a good time!
🧖‍♀️ theladiesroom
A woman owned cellphone-free silent spa focused on slowing down, relaxing, and actually disconnecting for a while. The inclusive female safe environment was really special. I highly recommend
🌊 
Seattle’s only over-water hotel! Did you know? The Beattles stayed here and fished off their balcony back in the day.
🍣 .kohaku
Some of the most authentic Japanese food I’ve ever had. We were so incredibly full when we left.
🍸 
Waterfront cocktails, incredible dinner sunset views, and the perfect way to end the night.

Seattle is the perfect girls trip city!

One of the most underrated wilderness areas in Washington?! 🌋
Indian Heaven Wilderness feels like one of those places people accidentally skip on the way to bigger names — and that’s wild because this area is incredible.
Sawtooth Mountain was originally part of the Pacific Crest Trail before the route was changed in the 1970s, and now you get this quiet trail winding through forests, volcanic landscapes, and one of the coolest ridge lines I’ve seen.
This hike is about:
• 5.5 miles
• ~1,000 ft elevation gain
• exposed ridge sections
• views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens on a clear day
Adding Indian Heaven Wilderness to my list of places I’ll absolutely be returning to.
📍Sawtooth Mountain — Indian Heaven Wilderness, Washington