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Sleep in a Spoon: NEMO Viola Sleeping Bag Review

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Attention side sleepers! I have the sleeping bag for you! This post will cover all the reasons I love my NEMO Viola 20 Sleeping Bag.

View looking out from a tent with sleeping bags looking at trees and mountains in the distance

I don’t do too many gear reviews, but this sleeping bag has really blown me away so I felt like I had to share it. Unsurprisingly, sleeping bags were some of the first pieces of gear Catherine and I bought when we set out on this crazy camping journey. We were able to borrow a tent, but felt a little weird about using someone else’s sleeping bag. So we took the plunge (and used our REI 20% coupons) to buy ourselves sleeping bags.

Choosing a sleeping bag can be tough, but one trip to an REI and you’ll probably be able to figure out what you like and what you don’t. Of course the REI staff are always there to help and in our case they offered some really great advice. After trying several sleeping bags I ended up purchasing the Nemo Viola 20, a spoon shaped sleeping bag that works great for side sleepers.

If you’re interested in all the technical specs and a video scroll down to the bottom of this post. If you want to know why I love this sleeping bag keep reading.

Here are my THREE favorite features of the NEMO Viola Sleeping Bag:

1. The Spoon™ Shape: According to NEMO’s website 70% of people sleep on their sides, and I’m one of them. During our testing phase I tried out two mummy bags and knew without a doubt that I would feel way to claustrophobic in a bag that shape. The Viola is kind of a hybrid between a traditional rectangle bag and a mummy bag. Which basically amounts to more room at the elbows and knees so you can sleep on your side with your knees or arms bent without feeling compressed inside the bag. For me it’s the perfect shape. I never feel like I don’t have enough room to move around and I can move from side to side easily.

2. The Blanket Fold™ : The first couple times I used my Viola I had no idea what to do with this silly flap of comfort. Since I was sleeping in warmer temperatures I just left it outside the bag or tucked it in depending on how hot or warm I was…which is actually the purpose of the fold.

It was during our Joshua Tree camping trip that I really figured out the value of the Blanket Fold™. Even though Joshua Tree is a desert there had been a freak snow storm before we arrived. At night the temperatures fell to 36 degrees Fahrenheit. This might seem tame to seasoned campers, but we had never camped in weather that cold. The Blanket Fold™ was perfect! I tucked it into the bag for added warmth and if I felt like my face was getting cold I used it to cover up a bit more. Even though it was 36 degrees Fahrenheit I felt warm and cozy and had no trouble sleeping. In fact, it was one of the best nights sleep I’ve had on a camping trip.

3. The Thermo Gills: This feature was one of the main selling points brought up by the REI staff member who sold me the bag. Basically the Viola has two extra zippers that run along the top of the bag. When opened these gills release heat, allowing you to regulate your temperature a little better. If it’s cold you can keep them closed to keep cold air out. As a mostly Southern California camper I usually keep these gills open and have found they really help to keep me from getting too warm inside the bag.

Bonus Favorite: Integrated pillow pocket!

It’s only recently that I purchased a camping pillow so before now I had no need for this feature. With our Rim to Rim backpacking trip coming up I decided to go ahead and purchase a Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow to actually put in this pillow pocket. I’m excited to try it out mostly because it means my pillow will stay in place all night. I won’t have to deal with it sliding out from under my head!

NEMO Viola Full Features Video

Specs & Material

  • Minimum Weight: 2lb, 11oz
  • Packed Size: 12.0 x 8.0 in diameter
  • Temperature Rating: 20 degrees
  • Fill Type: Synthetic
  • Shell Material: 40D Nylon Ripstop w/ DWR
  • Lining Material: 40D Nylon Taffeta w/ DWR

For a full list of product specs, sizing and materials head over to NEMO’s product page.

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Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike: Planning Stage

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Several years ago when Catherine and I went on our first trip to the Grand Canyon we hiked 3 miles down Bright Angel Trail. As we staggered back up we kept running into this couple who were on the same break schedule as us. In an effort to prolong our break time we started chatting. Turned out they had hiked about 11 miles down into the canyon to stay at Phantom Ranch, one of the hardest National Park lodge reservations to snag. They went on to tell us about crazy people who hike from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim (Rim to Rim hikers). This was an idea that I didn’t even know was possible. It was in that moment that we decided we were going to do that hike someday.

Well, someday turned into this summer. Yep, you heard me right. This summer Catherine and I are going to do the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike. Since it’s a little difficult to navigate and plan I thought I’d write a post each month until August (our hike month!) to give you all the details on the trip, the planning, and our training. First things first.

Woman wearing hat and backpack looking out on the Grand Canyon text overlay says Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike Planner

What is the Rim to Rim hike?

For me, it’s a bucket list hike. I know it’s not going to be easy, and quite frankly I’m pretty freaked out by it, but we have committed to doing it. One thing I’ve taken comfort in so far is the fact that it’s been completed by kids, young adults, people my age, and many elderly hikers. With planning and some training anyone can create a hike on these trails that will work for them.

How Long is Rim to Rim?

24 miles (one-way). I say one way because there are people even crazier than us who do the Rim to Rim to Rim hike. Yes, that’s right they go there and back again…sometimes in one day!

Level of Rim to Rim

Most hikers know that trails or long distance hikes come with a difficulty rating. Rim to Rim is rated as strenuous. Not too surprising, right?

Recommended Route

North Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Trail
This is the first option for most hikers for several reasons. Starting at the North Rim means you hike downward for 6,000 feet, cross the canyon, and then climb out 4,500 feet. Looking at those numbers it seems obvious why most people go from North to South. In addition, Bright Angel Trail has several water stops, rest areas, bathrooms, a ranger station and some shade. This is super important because the climb out is going to be the toughest park of the whole hike.

Other Option – North Kaibab Trail to South Kaibab Trail
A second North to South option is to hike back up on the South Kaibab Trail. While this route is shorter than the Bright Angel Trail route it has no water stops and very little shade. I’ll take shade and water in exchange for a little longer hike.

How Long does Rim to Rim Take?

The answer to that my friend is completely up to you and how prepared you are. If you can’t be bothered with booking Phantom Ranch and patiently waiting for a backcountry permit, you can hike Rim to Rim in one day. As long as you’re in and out in one day none of that paperwork is necessary.

Catherine and I will be hiking Rim to Rim over 4 days. So from here on out I’ll be describing the trip we’ve planned.

Planning Our Rim to Rim Hike

Where to start:

If I were to tell someone how to go about planning this trip I would say start with the hardest reservation to get, Phantom Ranch. Reservations for Phantom Ranch open up 13 months in advance (yep!), so if you have a date in mind make sure you’re online or on the phone when the reservation lines open.

For more information on Phantom Ranch check out this post I wrote about all the Grand Canyon Lodges (scroll down to the bottom for Phantom Ranch). You can also check out the reservation page for Phantom Ranch to enter the lottery or you can call 888-29-PARKS.

Snagging this reservation can be tough, but if you have some flexibility in your dates that can really help. Truth be told I didn’t get my first choice date, but when I called there were two other days open so I grabbed one. Being flexible will help you a lot as you plan this trip.

Phantom Ranch Grand Canyon
Planning the rest of the trip:

With your Phantom Ranch reservation booked you can start building out the rest of your trip. If it’s possible financially, I highly encourage you to book your other hotel stays at the same time as your Phantom Ranch booking. This can get expensive pretty fast, but lodging options inside the Grand Canyon Village and at the North Rim fill up fast. If you want to stay at National Park properties book as soon as you can.

We knew that we wanted to start our hike from the North Rim. Since we’ve never been there we thought it would be fun to stay one night in the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim. This was the next reservation we booked. This meant we had the night before we left arranged and one night in the canyon. We also went ahead and made a reservation at El Tovar for the night we made it out of the canyon. I’m pretty sure we will be clamboring for a shower by that point so I wanted a place right on the rim.

While it’s best to book everything at once I totally understand that that’s not possible for everyone. I had to spread out these bookings in order to afford them. I booked Phantom Ranch first, then a couple months later the North Rim and several months after that El Tovar. We were lucky to get all the dates and locations we wanted. All this is to say book early if possible, be flexible and you can spread out the expense if need be, it’s gonna be okay.

Backcountry permits:

I know it seems like all of the reservations should be done by now, but sadly they’re not. We wanted to spend several days down in the canyon and take our Rim to Rim hike slow (we’ll be averaging 6-7 miles per day). That might seem ridiculous to you, but we figured that we wanted to have lots of time to enjoy the trip, explore, take in the views and not be rushed. If you want to get things done faster you can completely skip this step.

BUT if you want to camp in the Grand Canyon you are going to need a backcountry permit. Applications for backcountry permits need to be submitted 4 months prior to the month you plan to hike. So, for example, we’re going to hike in August, so our application was due April 1st. For a list of application dates relative to your start date head over to the Backcountry Permit page and scroll down to the bottom.

I highly advise that you add a reminder to your calendar to alert you to apply for the backcountry permit. I thought I’d done this. Maybe I put in the wrong date or the information didn’t transfer over when I got a new phone. This meant that I faxed off our application for a backcountry permit on April 8th. Cue the sad Charlie Brown music. Yes, after all of my planning and reservation making I missed this crucial deadline. I’ll find out in the next couple weeks whether or not we got a permit. If you could keep everything crossed for us it would be most appreciated.

Summing Up

I think that’s enough information about Rim to Rim for now. I said at the beginning of this post that it’s an involved process. So far we’ve covered the length of the hike, the recommended route, my recommended order for making reservations and how to get a backcountry permit.

What’s next in the series

  1. Training for a big hike
  2. Gearing up for Rim to Rim
  3. What do do right before you set out on your big adventure

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Income & Traffic Report – March 2019

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Text overlay March 2019 Income and Traffic Report and a bar graph

I’m hoping that by now you know what this post is about, but if not I’ll give ya the quick version. I’ve decided to spend this year consistently showing up. Part of that process includes me taking a little time each month to review how the previous one went. It’s not always a fun post for me to write, but it is a good way to keep track of my accomplishments, things I need to work on and remind me that showing up pays off. So without further ado, here’s how March went.

blog work this month

March Blog Posts

What I Worked On This Month

  • Figuring out how to get ahead on this whole one post per week thing. I’ve come up with a system to batch create posts in a way that works for me. Don’t worry I’ll share my system soon, but I still have to iron out the kinks. As you can see from the list above it’s already paying off. I managed to publish a lot of content in March and I’m hoping to keep this gravy train going in April.
  • I started incorporating one of my big scary goals into the content of this blog to keep me accountable. My secret dream is that one day a pattern I design will show up on your water bottle or your favorite piece of hiking gear.
  • I worked through another module of Irresistible Email and made some changes to my newsletter format.
  • I went back and did some SEO optimization on this post and this one too!

The Numbers

March 2019 Revenue Total: $1.38

  • Income Breakdown
    • Amazon Affiliate Income: $1.38
    • Awin Affiliate Income: $0.00

Monthly Blog Expenses Total: $57

**A note about the links below. Several of them are affiliate links. Which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

I you remember (and I hope you don’t), I lost $1.30 last month…so technically I’m up eight whole cents in March!

March Traffic Numbers

march traffic report google analytics graph

March seems to have been a good month for the blog. My pageviews went from 918 last month to 1313 in March. Not a huge jump, but I’ll take it! I had a pretty major spike on March 18th and I can’t quite figure it out. If anyone knows how to I’d appreciate the help.

Once again my best performing blog post was Perfect 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary: Grand Canyon Plus Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon . That’s three months in a row!

March on Social Media

Most Popular Instagram Post:

woman dancing in living room

The wheels really fell off on Instagram for me this month. I posted a mere 7 times in the feed…and way fewer Stories than usual. AND YET my engagement rate was higher this month than in the past….it’s perplexing.

My top performing post was this one where I danced like a fool out of sheer joy. Thank you to everyone who kindly double tapped or wrote a comment. Ya’ll are the best.

Conclusions and Going Forward

Well I didn’t quite meet all of my March goals, but I did work through several things on my list. I managed to hit publish many more times than last month, I SEO-ed two old posts and I worked my way through another module of Irresistible Email.

The place where I fell short was on the Instagram front. I posted more sporadically than usual and didn’t even manage to meet my 3 posts in the feed per week baseline. I could get really down on this, but quite frankly I’m not going to bother. This thing is always going to ebb and flow. Some months you win and some months you lose.

Goals for April:

  • Continue publishing 1 post per week.
  • Reach the point where I have one month’s worth of posts ready to publish.
  • Instagram was on the back burner in March, and it may well be the same in April. I’m trying to come up with a IG plan at the moment. BUT until that comes to fruition, I’m gonna just keep trying to do my best.
  • Participate in at least 1 collaborative post.
  • Go back and update SEO on 1 post.

9 Podcast Recommendations for Indoorsy & Outdoorsy Listeners

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You might have caught my post last month called 15 Outdoor Podcasts to Listen to Between Adventures. I love each and every one of those shows and listen to them as often as I can. BUT I also like to listen to other stuff…like some of the favorite feminist podcast recommendations, podcasts about design, podcasts food and body image and podcasts about other things I’m curious about. This is a list of those podcasts.

microphone with text overlay 9 podcast recommendations you don't wanna miss

Podcasts I’m Loving:

favorite feminist podcast recommendations

Favorite Feminist Podcast Recommendations

Unladylike

I warned you that I enjoy listening to several feminist podcasts. This one is probably my favorite…aside from The Waves. Cristen and Caroline are hilarious, fun, sensitive and amazing storytellers. They’ve opened my eyes to all kinds of things I had never thought about. If you love them like me you might also want to check out their book, Unladylike: A Field Guide to Smashing the Patriarchy and Claiming Your Space.

Hosts Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin investigate how sisters are doin’ it for themselves in spite of all those unwritten but all-too-real bullsh*t expectations of how we should live our lives. Each episode starts with a question that C&C tackle through their trademark obsessive research, stories from rule-breakin’ ladies and a solid dose of delightful feminist rage. 

The Waves

I listen to these ladies weekly and am rarely disappointed. Each week they cover three topics about gender, politics, pop culture and tons of other topics where gender comes into play. You can also look forward to their recommendations which have brought me to all sorts of great things.

The Waves, formerly known as the Double X Gabfest, is a weekly conversation about news and culture examined through the lens of gender and feminism. Every Thursday, join the hosts—including Invisibilia co-host Hanna Rosin, New York magazine’s Noreen Malone, Slate Podcasts’ June Thomas, Slate staff writer Christina Cauterucci, Marcia Chatelain of Georgetown University, and Thirst Aid Kit’s Nichole Perkins—for frank discussions about the ways gender shapes everything. Our new name reflects generations of women from the various waves of feminism, the sound waves that carry us to your ears, and the waves we intend to make.

food, body image and bravery podcasts

Podcasts about Food, Body Image & Bravery

Love Food

If you struggle with food and body issues like so many of us I highly recommend this podcast. Julie Duffy Dillon approaches food and our complicated relationship with food, body image and trauma in a kind, thoughtful way. She offers great advice and brings on guests to cover hard topics in a way that is gentle and helpful.

What if you could write a letter to Food? Pen to paper, you hash out the love/hate relationship and Food’s undeserving power. Details go back years, to your first childhood diet trying to fit in. In this letter, you examine your dusty Food beliefs and wonder which go in the trash, are for others, and which remain in your heart. What if you wrote this all down and Food wrote you back? This is Love, Food. It’s a weekly podcast series for those with a complicated relationship with Food hoping to rewrite their fate.

Harder to Kill Radio with Steph Gaudreau

My sister recommended this one and over the last month it’s become one of my favorites. In particular I love this episode titled Dealing with Negative Body Image w/ Beauty Redefined – Harder to Kill Radio 183.

Steph Gaudreau from Stupid Easy Paleo interviews the best experts in fitness, nutrition, sleep, and mindset so you can apply their lessons to optimizing your own health and wellness. Discover how to improve your health using a multi-faceted, holistic approach so you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy in life instead of being a slave to diet and exercise. Steph weaves her science teaching experience with her holistic nutritionist training and years as a competitive athlete into a rich tapestry supplemented by the experiences of her expert guests to bring you a useful show. Topics range from paleo, primal, real food nutrition, weightlifting, CrossFit, mobility, interval training, fitness, personal development, mindset work, meditation, sleep, stress management and more to help you dial in your lifestyle.

Do it scared with Ruth Soukup

I’ve been trying to stay away from blogger/entreprenwur podcasts lately mostly because they were stressing me out. Ruth covers business, blogging, life struggles and all kinds of topics and situations where you can use your bravery to push you forward. Her book of the same name comes out in May.
Do It Scared: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Adversity, and Create a Life You Love

Do It Scared™ with Ruth Soukup is the podcast created to help you face your fears, overcome adversity, and create a life you LOVE. Each week you’ll discover actionable strategies for greater productivity, motivation, entrepreneurship, creativity, fulfillment, success, and happiness, along with the motivation and encouragement to actually start making real changes that lead to big results. Each week we’ll address topics that delve into those things that we are so afraid of, and how it holds us back in our day to day lives—then focus on easy-to-implement advice for how we can face our fears and overcome adversity in order to create a life we truly love. The podcast will also feature bi-weekly interviews with authors, influencers, and other notable guests who have dared to do it scared in their own lives.

creative, mystical and curious podcast recommendations

Creative, Mystical and Curious Podcasts

99% Invisible

This is the podcast for people who are curious about the world around them. My current favorite episode is The Secret Lives of Color, but that will probably change next week.

99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. With over 250 million downloads, 99% Invisible is one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes and is available on RadioPublic, via RSS and through other apps.

Tarot for the Wild Soul

If you follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my Schmoozletter you already know that I recently signed up for an eight week tarot course called Tarot for the Wild Soul. This podcast is by Lindsay Mack, the teacher of that course.

Hosted by Lindsay Mack, Tarot for the Wild Soul is a weekly podcast that looks at Tarot as medicine, exploring it from a soul centered lens.

It is a weaving of unique tarot lessons, Ask Lindsay episodes, intuitively channeled downloads for the month ahead, and medicine interviews with folx who embody the essence of certain Tarot cards, or live in alignment with the Tarot in their lives.

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

Have you been watching Queer Eye? If you haven’t you should leave this blog post immediately. Jonathan Van Ness hosts this eclectic podcast that answers questions about anything and everything.

A weekly exploration of all the things Jonathan Van Ness (Queer Eye, Gay of Thrones) is curious about. Come on a journey with Jonathan and experts in their respective fields as they get curious about anything and everything under the sun.

weekly must listen podcast political gabfest

Weekly Must Listen

Slate Political Gabfest

I have zero interest in making this blog political, but I had to include this podcast because some weeks it’s the only thing I listen to. Funny enough none of these amazing writers work for Slate anymore, but they still come together weekly to discuss the weeks news and events. It’s my must listen every week.

A favorite of Stephen Colbert, which should be a good enough endorsement for this podcast! Each week the Slate Gabfest Team of Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz focus their attention on the week’s high profile political developments with their trademark banter, incisive analysis of the important issues of the day, plus a nugget of fun water cooler conversation. Enjoy this entertaining and hugely informative podcast on demand.

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Life Experiment: Surface Pattern Design

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I live in a world filled with surface pattern design. Some people go for solid colors, muted colors, or subtle textures.

Not me.

I go for big bold graphic surface pattern designs. I’ve been this way since I can remember. Gravitating towards a Minnie Mouse red and white polka dot, picking up the striped t-shirt instead of the solid and drooling over Marimekko fabrics.

Pictures of sketches, sketchbooks and colored pencils with text overlay saying Life Experiment; Creating My First Surface Pattern Designs

You might not know this about me, but I work full time as a book conservator (a weird very niche career that I love). But before I went to grad school to study this tiny weird morsel of the world I worked as a graphic designer. I did this for what I now consider a blip of time. I worked for a special collections library (which is where I found out about book conservation) and I also worked for an online marketing company. Sadly, both of these jobs were very dissatisfying from a design point of view. I was very constricted in my work and spent a lot of time explaining why every design element didn’t need to be shiny and rounded.

Looking back now I realize that I didn’t like working as a graphic designer because I didn’t love what I was creating. I loved surface pattern design. I went through a period where I designed weird wrapping papers and shopping bags. I dreamed of somehow turning those designs into real rolls of gift wrap, but alas it was the early 2000’s and there was no Society6, Spoonflower or REDBUBBLE to upload my work to and share it with the world. So I went to graduate school and left that whole surface pattern design idea behind.

Until now that is.

I’ve been telling myself for years that I was going to get back to that eventually…I know we’ve all been there.

Well, this year I decided to bring that goal towards the front of the queue. I started doodling more, creative journaling, and listening to some pretty amazing ladies.

It was one of those ladies that led me to start a “life experiment”.

What the hell is a life experiment?

Well according to Sarajane Case it’s “30 days of small intentional action that builds or breaks a habit. I’ve decided to think of my life experiments as a way to slowly build the bridge to creating surface pattern designs. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to go from doing zero drawing to creating a surface pattern. For me that was way too big a jump. So I’ve been slowly working to build up the drawing habit to bring me closer to creating a pattern. Here’s a little glimpse on the experiments I’ve done so far this year.

Small sketchbook with drawing of arugula leaves surrounded by dots

February Life Experiment: Journaling & Doodling

So in February I started doing some creative journaling. I used journal prompts to get myself thinking about a topic or a feeling and once I was done writing I drew whatever came to mind. One day that was Ariel from The Little Mermaid, another it was arugula leaves and dots. To me it didn’t matter what I drew or wrote, so long as I kept doing it.

That concentrated week of journaling led me to start keeping a bullet journal. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t have one of those incredibly beautiful bullet journals filled with elaborate drawings and meticulously drawn out spreads. I have a bullet journal that meets my needs. Which for me means it’s simple, tracks what I want tracked, and gets me to sit down once a day and write a journal entry. I’ve been keeping this practice for several weeks now and have found that I really love it.

Sketchbook filled with small drawings of nature patterns in pen.

March Life Experiment: Draw in 5 Boxes

This month I decided my task would be to draw in five boxes three times a week. Sometimes an entire piece of paper can be really intimidating, so to get over that I break it up into smaller chunks. The five boxes can be any size or shape and I can fill them with whatever I want. Some days I take pictures of things I want to draw later. Other days I sit and draw while I wait for Catherine to get off work. If I’m being completely honest none of these little box drawings are all that impressive, many of them are super simple and uninteresting.

BUT what I love about filling the 5 boxes is there’s no pressure. I don’t feel pressure to create a composition or a polished finished product. All I’m trying to do is create a habit and get my pen or pencil moving on the page. I have one more week of this drawing in five boxes habit before I move on to my April experiment.

I’ll be super honest with you and say that I haven’t met my three a week quota every week, BUT I’ve come close. Quite frankly I don’t care that I didn’t hit the exact number of boxes I was supposed to. What matters to me is that I’ve drawn WAY more this month than I have in many other recent months. To me that’s progress and that’s all that matters.

A sheet of blank white paper surrounded by pens, pencils, markers and an apple pencil

April Life Experiment: Pen & Ink to Apple Pencil

In my research on how to become a surface pattern designer all arrows seem to point to a tablet and an Apple Pencil. Basically you need a way for your drawing to go from pen and paper to mouse and screen. The simplest way forward that I’ve found is an Apple Pencil. The old Kristi would have needed to buy a brand new top of the line tablet and the newest generation of Apple Pencil plus Apple Care before she could get started. Why bother otherwise?

Luckily the 2019 version of me knew that right now is not the time to throw down a bunch of money on a new supercharged tablet. Instead I opted to buy a 1st generation Apple Pencil to go with my perfectly adequate old tablet. So on Sunday I handed over just over $100 instead of giving away a month’s pay and I’m ready for my April life experiment.

In April I’m going to spend some time figuring out how to use Procreate (thank you Skillshare!) and take a few of my drawings and get them ready to turn into patterns.

My impulse is to jump ahead and say I’m going to create several patterns in April, but I know myself and sticking will these smaller goals will mean I get closer to achieving the ACTUAL big goal. So I stand by my statement. My plan for April is to continue drawing twice a week and spend some time learning Procreate. Drawings can be in my sketchbook or on the tablet, either way seems fun to me.

Summing Up

I realize this is a weird off topic post for this outdoorsy blog. Most people who come by my little corner of the internet are much more interested in my perfect road trip recommendations or what I thought about a campsite.

But I am called the indoorsy camper so you can also find out about books I love and why I think creativity should be part of your life. You can expect updates on this life experiment at the end of each month. It’s like my monthly income & traffic reports…but way more fun.

I also encourage you to start a life experiment of your own. In my humble opinion they’re way better than a New Year’s Resolution (which I’ve already established that I hate). If you do decide to start your own experiment let me know about it in the comments. Sometimes telling one person about your little adventure can make you feel more accountable, which is essentially why I’ve written this post. I’m happy to do the same for you.

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Four Best Hikes in Zion National Park According to Outdoor Bloggers

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Zion National Park is located in red rock filled southern Utah. Inside the park you’ll find hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous, a historic lodge and cabins as well as wildlife and stunning rock formations. Like most national parks one trip just isn’t enough. If you’re short on time and wondering which trails to explore I’ve put together a few reviews from my fellow outdoor bloggers to get you started. I’ve organized the descriptions from easy to strenuous, so if you’re looking for a big adventure I encourage you to scroll down to get the information you’re looking for. I promise I don’t mind. Check out the best hikes in Zion below.

Woman with backpack hiking on canyon trail, waterfall coming over cliff edge and green trees surrounding the trail text overlay says Best Hikes in Zion National Park

Best Easy Hike in Zion: Riverside Walk

Difficulty: easy (paved trail, wheelchair accessible)
Length: 2.2 miles
Elevation change: 57 feet

Riverside Trail in Zion National Park, tall red rock canyon walls, trees and a paved trail with hikers

If you’re looking for a truly family friendly hike this is the best hike in Zion for you. To get there simply take the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, which is the last stop on the route.

The trail is smooth and paved, making it accessible to wheelchairs, those with mobility issues, strollers, dogs, bikes, and little feet. While a paved trail might seem boring, the park has installed several exhibits along the way to help you learn about the surrounding geology, wildlife and water features. As you walk you can enjoy views of the Virgin River, the canyon’s weeping walls and many hanging gardens.

Along the way you might start to notice wet footprints and people walking back to the start in soggy shoes and clothing. This will all become clearer as you approach the turn around point of the trail. The Riverside Walk leads to the beginning of The Narrows, a much more strenuous hike that’s covered later in this post.

Best Moderate Hike in Zion: Emerald Pools

Difficulty: easy-moderate
Length: 1-3.6 miles (depending on route)
Elevation change: 69-402 feet (depending on route)

Wall garden and waterfall on red rock in Zion National Park

This hike is highly dependent on the waterfall conditions, so check with the rangers before you go. If the water isn’t flowing, or only very light you might want to pass. This is a pretty hike but I just don’t feel it showcases the best of what Zion has to offer if the water isn’t flowing.

The lower trail is a nice gentile sandy path through the trees with the tall canyon walls above you. Birds flit about and bold squirrels dart around the trail.

You may hear the first pool before you reach it. Often there are one or more waterfalls trickling down the canyon wall. You can look from a distance or walk right under them, but watch your footing and your gear because the trail is usually wet and sometimes you have to walk through the mist.

The middle pool is a bit farther on, up above the overhang of the lower falls, which it feeds. It is often a good for place for catching reflections and peeking out at the valley. You will have to cross a spot that is often muddy to proceed to the final pool.

A bit more climbing up will take you to the final pool. This pool is at the foot of a sheer multicolored cliff and if you are very lucky there may be a waterfall here as well.

Things to consider:

  • Algae colors the pools and the pigment varies depending on the time of year.
  • Due to the accessibility this can be one of the more crowded hikes.

Patricia is the blogger behind Savvy Exploring. While working full time she blogs evenings and weekends, with website help from her husband and foot warming from their pup.  Her goal is to show that, with a little planning, you don’t have to be rich or rough it to travel the world. Check out her itineraries page to start planning your next adventure.

Toughest Hike in Zion: Angels Landing

Difficulty: strenuous
Length: 5.4 miles
Elevation change: 1488 feet

Woman at the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park looking out at a deep canyon

The angels landing hike is probably one of the most iconic hikes in Zion National Park, and for a good reason. The angels landing hike is an out-and-back kind of hiking trail that is a steep uphill hike with breathtaking views of Zion National Park. In order to reach these views though, you must be willing to hike over 2.5 miles (5 miles roundtrip) and 1,800 feet up a series of steeply graded switchbacks, and along a scarier narrow trail toward the final half of the hike.

This narrow path to the top of Angels Landing is part of what makes this hike so classic, but if you are afraid of heights it will certainly make your heart flutter. The trail is also very popular, so not only must you learn to battle the fear of heights you might experience, but you must learn to share the trail with a continuous flow of hikers. There are chains and safeguards in place along the trail though, so that if you take your time, mind your step and remember to breathe, it could quite possibly become one of your favorite hikes of all time.

Pro Tip: If you are visiting Zion in the summer, this area can get very hot. This kind of heat can cause extreme heat exhaustion, which would be really dangerous to experience on this hike. If you want to do this hike in the summer, make sure to wake up very early in the morning to tackle it when the temperatures are cooler, and bring plenty of water. You’ll want to bring a backpack with you too so you can remain hands free while hiking the narrow portion of the trail.

Allison is the founder and primary voice behind She Dreams of Alpine, where she teaches others about backpacking, rock climbing, and how to truly step into their own unique courage and become confident, self-sufficient, and brave outdoor adventurers. She believes that each one of us has the potential to break through physical feats we once thought were impossible, and that outdoor adventure is the ultimate self-discovery tool.

Most Adventurous Hike in Zion: The Narrows

Difficulty: strenuous
Length: 9.4 miles
Elevation change: 334 feet

The Narrows hike in Zion National Park People wading through a the Virgin River

One of the most diverse hikes in Zion is the famous Narrows. The Narrows is a hike through the Virgin River. That’s right, you are hiking right through the river. On our Utah National Park road trip this hike was on the top of our bucket list because of its unique nature!

On this hike you are deep in a narrow canyon carved out by the river. The walls along the Virgin River reach 1000 feet into the sky. The canyon walls are nature’s art, the colors in the rock layers polished by centuries of erosion are amazing.

It is possible for any skill level to have a memorable hike in the Narrows. Hiking the full 16 miles is a challenging 2 day backcountry trip. For a low difficulty hike, start at the Temple of Sinawava. Here you will find children and seniors alike wadding in the water as they move up the canyon corridor. The deeper you go into the canyon the more challenging the hike. We happily hiked several miles and found the crowds really thinned out.

You will need special equipment to hike the Narrows. At minimum a walking stick is advised to keep you steady in the rapidly moving water. Thin water shoes or sandals don’t work very well here because of the sandy and rocky river bottom. You can rent special shoes in the town of Springdale, or use an old pair of shoes like we did. Any time other than the heat of summer dry suits are basic equipment when wading through the cold snow melt river.

The Narrows are closed to hiking if current speed is extremely high or if there is a risk of flash flooding. This is posted at the visitor center shuttle stop as well as at the Temple of Sinawava.

Ladona Stork loves to write about our US National Parks at Walking The Parks. She and her husband just finished a Utah National Parks Road Trip where they had a blast in the Narrows.

Looking for More Hikes in Zion National Park?

This post only lists four of the best hikes in Zion National Park. If you have more time to spend there are lots of other hikes to check out. For trail maps, descriptions and locations head over to the Zion National Park Plan Your Visit Page. There you can find more trails, currently conditions and closures and updates for your trip.

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Joshua Tree: Black Rock Campground

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Black Rock campground is located at the northwest corner of Joshua Tree National Park among one of the thickest Joshua Tree forests. This part of the park is not connected by road to the rest of the National Park, but don’t be deterred. You might not get to see lots of big cartoon-like rocks, but the surrounding mountains and sculptural Joshua Trees do more than make up for that fact.

bright green joshua tree against bright blue sky text overlay says joshua tree: black rock campground review

How to Reserve a Campsite at Black Rock Campground

Like Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree’s busy season is in the Fall, Winter and early Spring. Since both parks are in the desert you can imagine why this is the case. Reservations during the busy winter season at Black Rock Campground can be made using the National Park Service online reservation system Recreation.gov. In June-September 29 campsites are available on a first come first serve basis.

What to Expect at Black Rock Campground

orange tent set up near Joshua Trees in Black Rock Campbround

On arrival make sure to check in at the visitor center. Inside you’ll find a small exhibit about the natural features of the park, a few souvenirs and a small selection of snacks and beverages. Please note that no firewood is for sale inside the park. You will need to pick that up on the way in if you’re planning on building a fire. The park also has very particular instructions when it comes to tent camping. Tents need to be no more than 100 feet away from the picnic table or fire ring. We made the mistake of placing our tent a bit further than 100 feet and were told so the next day by the ranger.

As mentioned above each campsite comes with a picnic table as well as a fire ring. The campground has 4 bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks but no showers. Drinkable water is also available in several areas of the campground. Additional amenities include dump stations, a small visitor center, an amphitheater, on-site staff and pretty good cell reception.

Hikes Around Black Rock Campground

If you decide to go hiking during your stay make sure to print out the Black Rock Canyon Hiking Trails Map before you go. They did not have paper copies when we were there so I took a picture of their enlarged map with my phone. This did the trick, but there were several times that I wished I had a paper map as well. During our visit we hiked the West Side Loop as well as the High View Nature Trail and part of the Short Loop trail.

woman with hiking poles on trail in Joshua Tree national Park with snowy mountains in background

While all of our hikes were gorgeous with tons of Joshua Trees, there was some trail damage thanks to unexpected rain and snow coupled with the government shut down. When hiking the West Side Loop we lost the trail 3 miles in and had to turn back. While this was disappointing I cannot stress the incredible natural beauty that this hike included. Unlike the main part of the park, Black Rock Canyon has fewer large boulders but many many Joshua Trees. It was more Joshua Trees in one place than I’ve ever seen.

I can’t remark on the entire West Side Loop hike, but the first 3 miles boasted several fantastic features. Namely the large number of Joshua Trees, views of all the surrounding mountains and total peace and quiet. During our hike we passed very few people and never felt like the trail was overcrowded. We hope to return someday to complete the entire loop.

Black Rock Campground Pros

  • While Black Rock Campground has 99 campsites, I didn’t feel like it was overcrowded or noisy. People generally kept to the quiet hours which made for an enjoyable stay.
  • You can make reservations during the winter months, and the cost of a tent site is only $20 per night.
  • There are several hiking trails around the campground to explore that for the most part were well maintained.
  • You get to camp surrounded by Joshua Trees which is pretty amazing and magical!
  • The campground is close to civilization if you need to get something.

Black Rock Campground Cons

  • Black Rock Campground isn’t directly connected by a road to the main part of the park. If you want to explore there you need to drive about 30 minutes to the West Entrance.
  • If you’re hoping to see lots of big boulders this isn’t the campsite for you, consider camping inside the main part of the park.

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Income & Traffic Report – February 2019

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February 2019 Traffic and income report with picture of graph

If you’re wondering what this post is about, check out my very first Income & Traffic Report. I give you all the nitty gritty details there.

If you’re too lazy to head over there (and I get it), here’s what this thing is in a nutshell. Every month I’m writing a post to report on how the previous month panned out. After writing this up the first month I felt like total crap. BUT I decided to keep writing them for the next six months, because maybe over time they will get easier. If I’m wrong, oh well, I’ll stop, but for now I’m gonna keep going.

blog work this month

February Blog Posts

What I Worked On This Month

  • For the most part February felt like a blur. I had trouble staying focused, and to be honest writing my January report kind of started February on a real slump. I felt a little discouraged and kept thinking to myself, “why the hell am I doing all this work?”. To pull myself out of that downward spiral I participated in a Creativity Challenge. I wrote all about it in this post. It was a week of thoughtful reflection, journaling and joy. I loved it so much that I joined Kira’s membership program.
  • I continued showing up on Instagram daily, although I wasn’t as good about engaging as I’d hoped. Sounds like a goal for March!
  • I worked through another module of Irresistible Email and made some changes to my newsletter format.

The Numbers

January 2019 Revenue Total: -$1.30

  • Income Breakdown
    • Amazon Affiliate Income: -$1.54
    • Awin Affiliate Income: $0.24

Monthly Blog Expenses Total: $57

**A note about the links below. Several of them are affiliate links. Which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Well that was unexpected. I managed to lose money on Amazon. It’s a bummer, but I totally understand someone deciding to return a purchase…I do it all the time.

February Traffic Numbers

Google analytics graph showing traffic for Indoorsy Camper in February 2019

This month had some good news and some bad. My number of users and pageviews went up! Quite a bit for me, 918 views compared to 615 last month. While that’s good news the amount of time spent on those pages was a few seconds less, and my bounce rate went up. Something to think about for March.

Pinterest continues to be the biggest driver to my site. The one change I’m most excited about is I’m getting more organic search results through Google. This is great because it means I’m less reliant on social media. My goal is for that number to continue to rise over time.

Best performing blog post of February (same as last month!): Perfect 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary: Grand Canyon Plus Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon

January on Social Media

Most Popular Instagram Post:

woman with hiking sticks on Joshua Tree trail with snowy mountains in the background

This way by far the post with the most engagement in February. It was a carousel post with this as the first picture and a second second picture of me looking totally beat during this hike.

Once again the crowd has spoken. In the caption I talked about how hiking can look really idyllic on IG, but in reality you can quickly become a hot mess. People really responded to the fact that I posted both sides of the story, proving once again that what people want is a taste of reality. Thank you my people!

Conclusions and Going Forward

February was a short month, literally and figuratively. The time flew and I found myself falling short on several of my goals. I didn’t manage to go back and improve SEO on two posts, and there was one week where I didn’t even get a post published. Rather than dwell on that I decided to give myself some grace and keep moving forward.

I have lots of high hopes for Indoorsy Camper and while it’s easy to let one tough week set you way back, I’m doing my very best to fight those feelings.

One thing I’m very happy about was our first camping trip of the season sneaked in there at the end of the month. There was snow in Joshua Tree! It was cold. It was beautiful. It was fabulous. Don’t worry there will be a post about it soon!

Goals for February:

  • Publish 4 posts this month. (including one that’s out of my comfort zone)
  • Continue showing up on Instagram daily (specifically I’m planning to comment on 5 posts per day)
  • Participate in at least 1 collaborative posts this month.
  • Go back and update SEO on two old posts. (gonna happen this month!)