FAMILY, FRIENDS & 2026 ADVENTURE IDEAS

I wrapped up my Via Alpina Trek blog series a couple of weeks ago, sharing stories from the trail- long days of hiking, meeting new people, and eating unforgettable Swiss food. As I reread my journal and continued reflecting, I realized I had left out one of the most important parts of that experience: the support I received from family and friends back home.

Their texts and notes made me feel safe while I was halfway across the world doing something that stretched me beyond my comfort zone. I’ve always valued my relationships, but seeing how my people showed up for me, from afar, was special. Each day, I wrote in my journal about this support and how it kept my spirits high while hiking “alone.” With an entire team behind me, it never felt that way.

I don’t think we’re meant to do life alone. The older I get, the more I understand that the quality of our relationships shapes the quality of our lives. With good people around you, there’s always someone to lean on, ask for help from, or confide in. We get to double each other’s joy, halve each other’s pain, and- my personal favorite- cheer each other on as we pursue big, impossible-feeling (and sometimes delightfully delusional) dreams. Life is simply better with good people in it.

At the end of December, I spent a couple of weeks visiting family and friends throughout the Midwest, running my yearly Christmas circuit from Chicago to Toledo to Michigan. Between time together and moments of rest, I reflected on the year behind me and began shaping my vision for the year ahead. I love creating a yearly vision board. It lives on my phone lock screen, reminding me daily of what I’m moving toward.

2025 was a really good year. Not challenge free and I wouldn’t want it to be. I think our greatest growth comes from the hard parts. This year was filled with new experiences and familiar ones seen through new lenses. Highlights included completing part of the Via Alpina trek in Switzerland; my first overnight canoe trip in Alaska with my uncle; fly fishing the Au Sable River with my dad; quality time with each of my siblings and my mom in Colorado; celebrating friends’ weddings; a good year at work filled with travel and meaningful client engagements; countless hikes and camping trips in Colorado; turning thirty; completing my first year volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse as a literacy tutor; visiting new national parks; volunteering for the Leadville 100 ultramarathon; prioritizing my health; writing in various coffee shops & compiling lists of my favorite ones; reading- a lot; watching countless sunrises & sunsets; joining a yoga studio (150 classes later!); and, throughout it all, enjoying the slower, quieter moments of life.

Every year, my sister and I talk about how each one somehow keeps getting better. I’ve come to the realization that there’s no upper limit on joy. If each year continues to improve, it means the best is still ahead and that feels pretty incredible, especially when life already feels so full.

2026 Adventure Ideas

During my time in the Midwest in December, I noticed a subtle pull in my heart to be closer to family and friends. I’ve lived in Colorado for nearly twelve and a half years and never imagined feeling drawn back to the Midwest. I love my life and lifestyle in Colorado but I also love my people and doing life alongside them. While I still see mountains in my future, the door to moving closer to home isn’t as closed as I once thought.

That realization sits at the core of my vision for 2026. Front and center on my vision board are my family and friends: prioritizing time together and shared experiences. Surrounding them are personal goals and space for a larger 2026 adventure (or adventures) that hasn’t fully taken shape yet.

I daydream often about what outdoor experience to pursue next. Some of the adventure seedlings I’ve been noodling on for 2026 include:

• Biking across the US, stopping along the way to find the best burger joint. A bold idea, considering the last time I rode a bike seriously was in a charity road race in 2019 and I crashed. As for the burgers, they’re my favorite food group and I’m convinced there are some incredible ones scattered across the states.
• Walking the Island Walk on Prince Edward Island, Canada- a 435-mile coastal route often called Canada’s Camino. I’m always up for a long walk.
• A section of Spain’s Camino de Santiago, paired with time in the Canary Islands.
• The Charlevoix Traverse in Québec- a 65 mile hut-to-hut trek through mountains and boreal forests that takes about seven days- PTO friendly!
• Exploring the US by rail– Denver to San Francisco or Boston, hopping off along the way. Seattle to Vancouver also has my attention. After experiencing Switzerland’s railway system, I thought it was time to see what the US has to offer. 
• Riding the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Bellingham, Washington to Sitka, Alaska- a multi-day journey through Southeast Alaska.
• Backpacking Patagonia’s Huemul Circuit in Argentina- 41.5 miles over 4-5 days.
• Backpacking the Colorado Trail– Stretching 567 miles from Denver to Durango, the trails described as the most beautiful mile-for-mile in America. I’ve hiked sections of it but I’d love to, non-consecutively, backpack the entire route.
• And, of course, building an A-frame- this one never leaves the vision board.

This list is far from complete and is subject to change, but these ideas excite me as I look ahead in 2026. We’ll see which one(s), if any, take root.

Happy New Year. With so much to explore in this life, I hope we all water a few adventure seedlings in 2026- choosing what makes us feel alive, leaning into what scares us a little, nurturing the relationships that make lonely trails feel full, and continuing the search for the upper limit on joy (one, which, I do not believe exists 🙂 ).

Until the next tale… Happy trails.

-Hannah