Teen Treks

A different start this morning with a flat right off the bat. After we quickly fixed the flat, we headed to Illahee Nature Preserve and saw a palliated woodpecker. The temperature got hot super fast today which was a change from our other pretty chilly days. We stopped at Starbucks and got really really good coffee to try and restart our day on a better note. After our coffee break, we rode to lunch and it was super pretty as we rode next to the ocean and saw sailboats. Later, we had a super fun ride to our next camp spot and even got to swim!! Day 4 had some challenges but we pushed through and got to see some amazing scenery. Really nice night watching the sun go down on the beach at Kitsap State Park and we did “highs and lows and grows” for the trip. Plus some funny pictures! 

-written by Abigail! 

Super hilly and some more difficult climbs, but we all made it through! Started out with some affirmations led by Zori, with a resounding “life is tough but SO AM I!” from every member of the group. Next we biked to REI to grab some last minute gear before going to catch the ferry to Vashon. Island. On the ride over the bridge to West Seattle we saw some great views and then we picnicked in Lincoln Park, chowing down some sandwiches and grapes and other snacks. After finishing up we went to the dock and got on a huge ferry where we had the chance to go up on the top deck to look out over the water at all the islands. The view was so beautiful (see photo!) and we are looking forward to more ferry rides in the future! Right off the ferry we challenged an enormous hill where many of us had to hop off our bikes but we made it up and down that and quite a few more on this island! After shopping at a Thriftway for dinner and breakfast items (and ice cream of course) we biked to the beautiful AYH campsite which has been amazing so far. After an awesome dinner of quesadillas, grilled cheese, and avocado salad cooked by our trekkers, a few went out biking onto the trails on the property and then another group of us went for a short walk to a pond. After all this, we sat around a campfire and talked about the day and made s’mores. A beautiful day on Vashon Island!

Hi everyone! Today we got started by visiting a bike shop to purchase some missing parts and get a couple things straightened out. After that, we headed off to the Space Needle to talk about trip logistics and Trekkers couldn’t contain their excitement for our super fun 😉 signaling communication drills for the trip! (Haha!) Then we grabbed groceries for lunch which we ate at the park right near the Space Needle and then we biked to a pocket beach to dip our toes in the water (freezing cold!). Later in the day we pedaled off to see the famous “troll under the bridge”, did affirmations at Gasworks with Seattle and Lake Union behind us. Lastly we meandered through the University of Washington. We tackled hills, tubs of ice cream, and city biking! Looking forward to the ferry ride tomorrow to Vashon Island!

 -PNW trekking crew 

Eight teens and two Trip Leaders from all around the U.S. (NY, CA, FL, WI, AL, PA, & MA) had a rendezvous at the Seattle International Airport early this afternoon to start an 18 day bicycle journey around the Puget Sound. Their tour includes the beautiful San Juan Islands, the rainforests of Olympic National Park, the vibrant city of Seattle, and many ferry rides connecting the islands and mainland of northwest Washington State. Stay tuned over the next 2+ weeks for wonderful stories and photos of their adventures.

Hey trekkers, I’m Justin, an Aeronautical Engineering student at the University of Buffalo. I’m looking forward to leading the Great Allegheny Trek this summer. For some information about myself, one half of me likes staying home watching tv shows and playing video games while the other half enjoys socializing, karaoke, and exploring places. During my senior year in high school, I worked as a tutor for kids with learning disabilities. I really loved getting to know them and seeing them grow throughout the year. In that same vein, I’m looking forward to getting to know you all and exploring all that the trip has to offer.

Hi everybody! My name is Elisabeth (I usually go by Lis!) and I am from just outside Buffalo, New York. I’m really excited to lead some fun treks this summer and I can’t wait to meet everyone! I just graduated from the University of Rochester where I was on the cross country and track teams for the school. I rediscovered my love of biking a few years ago, especially going for long day trips along the Erie Canal. At U of R I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Quito, Ecuador as well as Granada, Spain, and I absolutely love traveling. One of my favorite things is running or biking around new cities, especially with friends, because it lets you experience life on the ground so you can get to know the people and the cool nooks of each area. Quito was fantastic because we got to do a lot of hiking and adventuring besides classes, and I loved Granada for the people I went exploring with there as well 🙂 Besides running and biking, I really enjoy spending time with friends and family, especially outdoors hiking or chilling in a local coffee shop, and I also love to read, play music, and cook! These past four years in college I spent a lot of time volunteer tutoring at local schools and mentoring, and I am so pumped to get on the road and start exploring with a whole new group of people!