Anne
Hi! I’m Anne, a 47 year old get up and go type person. I’m a wife of 22 years and a mother of two teenagers and our dog, Floki. I live what might be considered a typical suburban lifestyle in the capital district of upstate New York. I hold a Masters of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in Theatrical Costume Design and Construction. For 25 years, I have worked at various professional regional theatre companies around the country, and taught at the university level as well as in children’s theatre. Those skills have translated easily into the bridal industry and for many years I have run a small custom bridal design and alterations studio out of my home.
I am not a professional hiker by any stretch, but I have been doing it for as long as I can remember. I love getting out of suburbia and into nature. I am certainly a person of faith in the concept of things outside of and bigger than myself, so being in the mountains connects me to the breath of God. I am adventurous, but not a big risk taker. I can be very lazy, but once I get latched onto a specific goal, I am very motivated to make it happen. I loved backpacking as a child and young adult, but these days we enjoy the camping lifestyle that comes with a pop-up camper. In the winter, I love to ski (downhill) and in the summer my heart wants to be at our family farm in Maine, but I don’t get nearly enough time to do either of these things. Despite all of the selfies I take for our hiking challenges, I’m actually rather camera shy. I love to sing just for fun, bats are my favorite wild creature, and I have a shamefully large shoe collection.
Christy
Hey! I’m Christy. Unlike Anne, I’ve already crossed the 50 year mark (but let’s not get any more specific than that!). I’ve been happily married for over 25 years and I’ve spent the last 17 years raising two wonderful teenage boys. Prior to diving into the world of parenthood I had a career in personal finance and traveled quite a bit with my hubby, but once we had our second child I made the decision to stay at home and spend my days with the kids. We also have a loveable Golden Retriever named Zeus but, unlike Anne’s dog Floki, he’s a puker once he gets in a car so I don’t often get to bring him hiking.
When my boys started going off to school I started doing a lot of cycling and running. I’ve done a few half marathons, duathlons and even took a few wonderful cycling vacations in Italy and Spain. I also managed to get my black belt in Tae Kwon Do. These days I work for a local charity that supports a number of different programs in our community. In my free time I enjoy baking (cooking … not so much), reading, exercising, and most of all hiking, which is what lead Anne and me to create Expedition Midlife.
Floki
Hi! I’m Floki, a 6 year old GSD Mix, otherwise known as an American Shelter Dog. I was 8 months old when I was adopted by my furever family (Gotcha Day: 2/28/16). I’m about as perfect as a dog can get. I love to snuggle with my kids (a teenage girl and boy who worship me!), play rope tug with Dad, chase the chippies and squirrels, and talk to all the neighbors that pass by my large corner yard. Turkey pepperoni is my pot o’gold. I love people so so much and just want to be loved back. Mom (Anne) has always wanted a dog to hike with and I have made her dream come true. I hate getting up early to get in the car, but once out there I have a great time on the trails. I would love to run free but for safety, Mom and I stick together with a leash. My favorite thing is submerging in every creek and pond we pass and slurping Mom’s face when she tries to take selfies with me. I am definitely the leader of this pack, but I always check to make sure my packmate (Cool Aunt Christy) is not to far behind because I love her too. You can see more of me on Instagram @ the_floki_chronicles.
The Expedition’s Beginning
When our kids were little, our families had hiked together just a few times. In April of 2019, Anne discovered Dig The Falls (www.digthefalls.com) and the newly launched Adirondack Fifty Falls Challenge. Hiking to waterfalls is a very different experience from hiking the peaks, so we decided to give it a try . Together we finished it in about six months, spending all summer and part of the fall traipsing all over the beautiful Adirondacks seeing these amazing falls.
Shortly after finishing that challenge and receiving our patches, Anne texted Christy a picture of more books she’d bought for waterfall challenges all over the state of New York. We had just started the NYS 100+ and the Hudson Valley challenges, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in the early part of 2020. Many of the trails for the waterfall hikes were closed. When one door closes another opens. We decided to focus on other hiking challenges that we could do, like the Lake George 12ster, Adirondack Quest, Indian Lake 4-3-2-1, and Moriah Challenge. Since the reopening, Anne and Floki have completed 2 more waterfall challenges and Christy is very close to the finish line. (Anne by the way is addicted now to collecting these patches).
Being in the woods and mountains gives us a tremendous sense of inspiration, self-confidence, and wonder at the beauty of nature. We have gained so much from our time hiking-mentally, emotionally, and physically. We want to share our experiences, the tips and tricks we’ve learned in planning our hikes, and recommendations of some of our favorite adventures with the hope of inspiring you to “go take a hike”.