Author: emily vollmar
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Iceland: An Epic Ring Road Adventure
The first time I wanted to go to Iceland was watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty snuggled in my college dorm room freshman year. This was a point when I started dreaming up different adventures I would go on in my life. I recently rewatched this movie and couldn’t help but feel nostalgic that…
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Embracing Adventure: Lessons from My Dad
Many know the captivating feeling of wonder when our Dads start storytelling. Hearing about Don Vollmar’s adventurous, intriguing past ensues excitement in our family. You know you’re in for a treat. More importantly, when your Dad shares a story, you gain a deeper understanding of who he is, inevitably leading to greater self-insight. I grew…
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AllTrails Unfiltered: The Good, The Bad, and The Funny
AllTrails has given me advice on current conditions, gotten me out of some sticky situations when I’ve found myself off-trail, and (for the most part) has provided an accurate view of terrain on a new hike. Like many others on the internet, this platform serves as a black hole for people to dump their opinions.…
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Pause, Reflect, Have fun: The Value of a Gap Year Experience
The COVID-19 pandemic hit during the spring semester of my junior year at Texas A&M. We don’t have to relive all that trauma, but you could say the university experience had undoubtedly changed. When I got to the fall semester of 2020, and classes were still online, I figured it was time for a change.…
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5 Books That Will Make you Crave Adventure
The Alchemist follows Santiago’s journey as he embarks on his personal legend. More than that, we have the pleasure of joining him on an adventure of self-discovery and relentless pursuit of following one’s heart. Through this tale, we delve into the fears harbored by a young boy, the yearnings of his soul, and the transformative…
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6 Highlights of Japan
In last month’s post, I detailed how I prepared to pack up my ski gear for my trip to Japan. As an update, this was more convenient than I could have expected. Dropping off my bag at Yamato to be sent to my hostel and then having it shipped and stored at the airport was…
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Pack With Me to Ski and Travel Japan
There is little more challenging than packing when it comes to ski trips. As a proud owner of my ski gear, I have become a bit spoiled in my refusal to rent. I will go to extensive lengths to be in my own boots and ride my Elan Ripsticks. That being said, I have done…
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Traveling in Your Own City
My ideal job would be to travel around the world— hiking, camping, and skiing. I haven’t quite figured out how to monetize that yet, so while I’m working it out, a good solution is to travel around my city. Sounds cheesy in theory, but this has enhanced my quality of life tenfold. For context, I…
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Hut-To-Hut in the Julian Alps
It is my firm belief that everyone needs a friend like Carly. Carly is the type of pal that will say “yes.” She will book a flight for a Big Sur road trip you can’t bear to cancel just because of a breakup. She will convince you of the need for bear spray in Glacier…
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Pack Up and Go!
Very few people end up going to high school with their lifelong friends. Even fewer people end up moving in the middle of high school and finding their lifelong friends. Lucky for me, I did just that. The 4 of us hail from the little town of Darien, Illinois, in the southwest suburbs of Chicago,…
Expedition 9 to 5 