Tanya Nikolic Photography

For my 30th birthday I drove from Rochester New York to Acadia National Park in Maine. This would be my first time car camping outside New York State. Last summer I converted my CR-V into a makeshift camper. It’s not perfect, it’s no #vanlife but it works just fine for Koda and I. We fit like puzzle pieces in there.

We left Rochester at about 7pm on a Friday, I had a three day weekend ahead and needed to make the most of my time. It was a 7 hour drive to Portland, which was my first stop. After a short walk around Cape Elizabeth to stretch our legs, we continued on our next leg of the journey..3 hours to Acadia! 

Our first hike was the North and South bubble. We got the last parking spot in the lot and for this I was grateful. The sun was shinning bright and peeking through all the leaves of the tall trees surrounding us. It was still spring so a lot of the foliage still hadn’t bloomed, but it was in the 60s and a perfect Saturday afternoon. 

Acadia is not a very large park and you can drive around it in an afternoon, which I basically did a couple times. I scrolled through my All Trails app at the list I made and I decided to meander near Jordan Pond. But first we made some ramen in the parking lot. This was possible thanks to my JetBoil, which I would highly recommend if you’re an avid adventurer/camper/hiker. You can use it to make tea and coffee in the morning which is so relaxing after a hike. But also hot water for any other dehydrated food..beats eating pb&j’s all weekend. Or spending a lot of money on take out…which I did with Lobster rolls…more on that later.

We walked the perimeter of Jordan Pond, not quite completing the whole thing. The weather was perfect and the sun glistened on the water. Everything felt like magic. 

We decided to head towards Winter Harbor next. There was a spot on the water I wanted to check out, it was tucked away from what I read and if you’re not careful you’ll drive right past it. We chased the sun on this one, I pulled over so many times because everything was beautiful and the ocean felt so therapeutic. There were less people out this way and the parking lots were pretty empty. We took our time climbing over rocks getting closer and closer to the ocean, closer to that soothing sound. I realized at this moment why so many people use ocean waves as white noise to fall asleep. 

We drove past my secret spot and since the road was a one way, we took another loop around the park, which I did not complain about. I drove slow and found the pull off. I had no map to go by and just hoped I’d find a trail somewhere, and to my surprise, I did! We got to Raven’s nest just in time before sunset. I lost track of how many photos I took, I couldn’t believe we were the only ones there. It felt truly special to be here. We sat for a while and soaked it all in, Koda too. I love taking him to new places. I love watching him, as he looks out. I always wonder what he’s thinking, if anything at all. Honestly, my brain shuts off too and I learn to just become present in the moment. 

Once the sun started to go down we decided to head back to the car. I didn’t have a sleep plan…I was hoping to pass some rest stops on the way into the park but unfortunately we didn’t. We did pass a Walmart and so I headed there. Way of the road is you can sleep in most Walmart parking lots. 

One more stop at a gas station right before close, fill up on gas and use the restroom one last time. We got to Walmart and I parked towards the back of the lot, climbed into the back of my car and closed my curtains. I got my sleeping bag out, blankets, my pillow and I fell right asleep. After a long night of barely any sleep and a full day of driving and hiking, my body was in off mode. 

We woke up just before sunrise and headed back towards Gorham Mountain. This was a 3 mile hike with outstanding views, lots of change in scenery. If you use All Trails, type in Ocean Path and Gorham Mountain. We stopped A LOT and I mean A LOT. This hike took us way longer than it should but we were in no rush and just went with the flow. We summited Gorham and made our way back down, the weather turned overcast with a drizzle on and off. For me it was perfect hiking weather. 

It was our last day in the park and I wanted to head back to Winter Harbor which was about a half hour drive from where we were. I liked that it was a bit more quiet than the main island and I felt it had some moody coastal vibes that I wanted to explore further. I spent a lot of my last day just driving around aimlessly. We pulled off anywhere we saw fit, one really cool and scenic spot was Schoodic Point. The trails we went on were short and ended at the ocean every time. 

We scrambled down the mountain, sunset was at 4:30. Getting up there took a while, but I thought I’d have just enough time. Koda attached to me, dragging me with his quick pace. I reminded him many times to slow down but a husky doesn’t truly know what that means. 

We chased the sun the whole way down. Frantically I checked my phone for the time, worried we wouldn’t make it. One foot in front of the other, big fast steps. My crampons gripping to all the snow and ice. In the distance I see more layers of mountains, changing colors from a dreamy blue to a soft orange and then pink. I stop every so often to snap a photo with my phone. But it’s no good, a photo will never replicate what I see and what I’m experiencing in this very moment. Being here fills my heart up to full. 

We return to the car, Koda’s legs with spots of frozen mud. I clean him up as best I could and we chug water and head to the rest stop where we will be car camping for the evening. 42 minutes said my GPS. The evening slowly fades and it gets dark quick. I soak up every turn and peek of mountains. When we arrive I keep the car on for a while to keep it warm. This is my first time car camping in the winter and I have no idea what I’m doing. I eventually make it to the back where I will be sleeping and where Koda is currently resting, spread out and exhausted. A happy sight to me. I try to use my JetBoil but have no luck getting it to light. No soup tonight I guess. Damn, I was looking forward to the soup to keep me warm throughout the evening. Cold tamales it is! I give Koda his dinner, and he eats it up quickly. Mostly eating the sausage topper I put in there. I crawl into the back and begin spreading out my stuff and mapping out my plan for the evening. Sun sets early in winter and I have a few hours to kill. I Brought plenty of reading material. I quickly grab Carrot Quinns zine about long distance hiking. Something I day dream about quite often. I love her writing and how her words sound just like her. Even though I have never met her. I still find comfort in this. The heat from the car fades fast and I start to feel cold. I spread out my sleeping bag and wrap myself in a wool blanket. Hoping it’s enough. I crawl in and realize I need a hat and gloves. I begin reading and constantly need to readjust. Anywhere but inside the sleeping bag is frigid. 

I occasionally check my phone and message my partner about my day. I stop to day dream about living in my car this summer. Still contemplating if I could do it and how I will do this. My mom calls me to wish me a happy new year, I don’t tell her where I am, if she knew I was sleeping in my car right now at some rest stop in the mountains of New York I think she would have a melt down and that is the last thing I want right now.  I glance over at Koda, still asleep, exhausted from our hike. I look up at my string lights and they are a soft warm color and they are glowing in the night. This makes me feel less cold as I begin to prepare to sleep. I feel tired yet awake.  Restless but exhausted. I go to the restroom one last time for the evening, there is no one inside the reststop. But it’s clean and warm in there.  The weather tonight calls for snow, freezing rain and sleet. It’s 9pm and hasn’t started snowing yet. I worry as I’m in a place I do not know very well and the roads will be dangerous. I keep checking my weather app as if it were going to clear up the more I check it. I turn my lights off and begin to fade. I am in and out of sleep as I try to get comfortable and the sound of freezing rain wakes me every so often. I don’t want to move, any movement lets more cold air into my sleeping bag. One big downside of this bag is that it does not zip and I can only sleep on my back or my right side and I can’t seem to get completely comfortable. I feel lonely and cold, I think about my apartment and how warm it is and how it holds people I love. How I can’t wait to be in my warm living room. But then I think about the adventure I had earlier today and I’m happy, floating. I drift back to sleep. 

Tree appreciation post. These were taken on one of my many morning walks through Mt. Tabor. This place is incredible no matter the weather conditions but something about that fog turns it into a magical forest.

From a hike at Forest Park, Oregon. Typical rainy day in the PNW. I came here without a real plan, this park is massive and there are a ton of trails so it's easy to get lost. It’s right in the city of Portland which means you don’t need to travel far for adventure.

from a moody hike at Beacon Rock, Washington.

I had such a great time at Beacon Rock. The hike, in my opinion is really unique. You go up the switchback and are greeted with amazing views of endless forest and the Columbia River Gorge. I love the railing walkway as it made for some fun photos.

Early morning foggy walks

Chasing Fog

Therapeutic drives through the Olympic National Forest. This was my first time going out here and it was ever changing weather and of course beautiful views of Washington. Winding mountain roads, rain and adventure ahead. 

Eerie dreary hikes through the Columbia River Gorge, such an epic day. We hiked one of the less popular hikes near Multnomah falls. We got horribly lost and it was pouring rain. I thought my camera wouldn't survive but luckily everything still works! The Columbia River Gorge is notorious for these moody days and I absolutely love it. Side note - come prepared for all types of weather and make sure you have a rain cover for your equipment. 

In complete awe staring at the moss covered Olympic National Forest.

I remember this hike so vividly. The fog was so enticing, it started pouring rain, I worried for my camera and we got horribly lost. A true adventure in my book and a great way to explore the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

A view looking up this time.

Moss covered trails in Eugene Oregon. We wandered around Sweet Creek Falls for a few hours before heading to the coast.

Hiking to Triple Falls a few years back, captured on film. This was one of my first hikes in the Columbia River Gorge after moving to Portland Oregon. It was a little rugged but lead to such great views and a much needed workout.