2 Sisters on Adventures

The cool morning begins with Molly discovering an unpleasant surprise. The girls set out and are thankful to find a small water source before beginning a long, dry stretch of trail. The girls contemplate a “universal truth” which occurs whenever you haven’t seen a person a trail all day. They ascend into the clouds, facing some unfortunate realities when they get cell service. Forging on, the sisters admire the beauty of Indian Bar in the fall. Molly is reminded of the importance of paying attention to the trail, and is left with a bloody knee. That evening’s menu includes hot electrolytes and the return of Rachel’s fateful chocolate cheesecake.

Join the sisters on trail as they discuss their favorite parts of camping at Klapatche Park and resolve their debate on the best place to pitch a tent in the rain. Molly and Carrie marvel in how close they got to Mount Rainier’s glaciers on this day, and catch their first marmot sightings. Molly reveals one of her favorite vistas from the trip while Carrie discusses the unique features left by glaciers on this section of the trail. The sisters cross a 200 ft suspension bridge and hear a surprising sound. Find out our theory on why a campsite was named “Devil’s Dream” and more!!

Morning brings a beautiful day for the girls to begin the Wonderland Trail, but the forecast tells a different story. The sisters find humor in parking preferences prior to beginning by a long distance hike. Carrie and Molly talk all things trail, including elevation profile, river crossings, and their first day lunch and dinner strategy. Upon arriving at Golden Lakes, the girls find a surprising form of refuge from the rain. They reflect on the discouragement that comes with hiking on a rainy day and compare it to facing tough times off trail.

The summit is only half way!! In our final episode on Sahale, the group must come down from the summit. They learn crevasse rescue skills and practice them on the Quien Sabè glacier. They return to camp, hike back to the car and discuss a framework for debriefing from adventures with your adventure partner.

Molly and Carrie meet their guide at the wilderness information center and set off on their first mountaineering journey. They learn about the concept of risk tolerance vs risk acceptance, pacing considerations for mountaineering, and the three biggest risks to manage while traveling on a glacier. They are spooked by the reports of a grizzly bear near their campsite and drool over their guide’s unorthodox backcountry dinner.

If you’re a backpacker who’s dreamed of climbing glaciated peaks, but doesn’t know how or if you should make the transition—this episode is for you! (Spoiler alert, it’s also for those who have no interest in mountaineering, but still love learning about different outdoor adventures!) Molly and Carrie talk about their progression from hiking and backpacking into the world of mountaineering. They talk about signing up for a mountaineering course and the process of obtaining necessary gear and preparing for a new adventure in the mountains. They discuss their objectives for delving into mountaineering and can’t wait for you to join them in a new journey!

Carrie and Molly head into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness to explore the beautiful terrain. They discuss ways to reduce impact in popular areas and recount the climb up to Tuck and Robin Lakes. Stick around to hear about goat’s unusual dietary preferences and how to keep them from being unwelcome visitors to your tent at night.