Adventure Essentials ~ Matador Gear

Hey Folks,

Full disclosure, Matador Sent me some products to review, however, there were no special instructions on what to say or how to use this gear. As a traveler, photographer, and a person that has been known to jump off waterfalls whenever she runs into them.... I couldn't be more happy with all of these products! I'm sure you can imagine how useful they all are! Yes I have written on most of these products before, and that's because I really felt that they deserved their own post! This brand is a hikers best friend!

Camera Essential

First, I have to talk about their Camera Base Layer, this is a product I haven't mentioned in a previous blog posts, but it is probably my favorite. Here is why...

Protection

When I'm traveling through airports, or even on road trips, I usually like to have my camera handy, just incase I see something I want to take a shot of. This base layer adds a little bit of padding to protect my camera incase I bump into something, or if I'm in a car and someone has to slam on the breaks. It just makes me feel a little more secure having it around my shoulder while maneuvering through the world! It's also great if you're climbing up boulders! In addition, it has a blue waterproof cover that you can pull out. This is such an amazing plus, especially for me because I always seem to be near water and I always end up getting wet. 

Water Filter

Next, I'll jump into the Hydrolite pack. I recently created a blog on this, but in short this thing is exactly what every adventurer needs. Whether you are traveling through another country or hiking for a long period of time, this pack is a must! It has a built in water filtration system, so you can fill up your water pack anywhere with almost any water and stay hydrated safely! This pack also rolls up into a a compact case that takes up minimal space. It's great if you plan on going on an overnight hike somewhere that you believe will have streams or waterfalls. Instead of lugging around large water vessels, you can simply just fill up this pack when you see some fresh water. It also has plenty of room for extra clothes and snacks!

Backpacks

Matador makes a bunch of backpacks, and they are great for a bunch of different reasons. Again, these backpacks are made for traveling. They are super compact and take up barely any space, making it perfect for road trips or airport travel. If you check out my previous blog on this pack you can see just how much stuff I was able to fit into this bad boy!  I was able to pack a tapestry, thick sweatshirt, sweatpants, thick socks, a bikini (of course), and so much more! If you are hiking with a partner, I would recommend taking this pack, along with the Hydrolite pack, they are a great combo!

Travel Towel

Last but certainly not lease, we have the smallest item I own from Matador. Don't let the fact that it's tiny fool you on it's level of importance. In fact, because it is so small it makes it an essential for anyone who travels and likes to get wet! That's because this little towel is super absorbent and dries fast even if you have to roll it up and put it back in its case. The case that it comes in can clip onto your pants, backpack, or even water bottle. If you'd like to read the blog where I venture to this hot spring and talk more about this amazing towel click here.  

That sums up my essentials for adventures! Let me know if you have any questions by either leaving a comment here, or finding my on Instagram! 

Happy travels,

Nikki 

On the Go Water Filtration- Unbelievable Results

I have Discovered an Outdoor Adventure Essential and I Can’t Wait to Tell You About it!

I’m sure you’ve seen a Camelpak before, right? I know when I was kid spending weekends at festivals, all the kids with Camelpak’s had lots of friends circling around them trying to get a sip of water out of the water pack.  I never had one, I was always sucking off of my friend’s pack! Haha! But if I would have known about this Matador Hydrolite Hydration Backpack, you can bet I would have been wearing one around! I can remember one festival I went to that was super small, and just starting out, it was in the middle of Ohio on a new field, and the water spigot had just been put in. Well, on the third day of the festival everyone was getting sick and there were signs put on all the spigot telling people not to drink from them. Some type of bacteria had infected the water, and it was a serious bummer for everyone in the middle of the summer heat. If I would’ve had this Matador pack then, life would have been great! You know why?

I’m going to tell you!

The filtration in the Matador Hydrolite Hydration Backpack is made by Sawyer. The great thing about this filtration is it takes out pretty much all of the bad bacteria. The In-line assembled Sawyer® MINI water filter removes 99.99999% bacteria + protozoa for up to 100,000 gallons of water.  It removes things that can cause stomach irritation and serious infections. It takes out fecal coliform(E-coli), giardia, and Cryptosporidium. When you are drinking out of streams and rivers, these are the most common molecules that can harm you.  So not only is the water pack perfect for festival travel, but for any traveling! If you are going to a foreign country and you’re not so sure about the water, just run it through this! Or if you’re outside on a hiking trail, you can drink easy out of streams you may find knowing that you have this filtration system on your back! Check out the slide show to see all the steps to put water in your pack!

I used this water pack on a hike around South Lake Tahoe last week. I had extra clothes packed in my pack, a travel journal, and a small camera. I filled up my water pack in a waterfall that my hiking partner and I stumbled upon, and was able to drink that sweet natural Tahoe mountain water with no worries of bacteria entering my body! The water tasted pure and real, it was unbelievable! I was also able to fill up my pack in different waterfalls multiple times during the day. That was great because I was able to stay hydrated and not have to ration my water throughout the hike. 

The pack is also great for packing in luggage when traveling. The water pack rolls up into a compact pouch and can easily be attached to another backpack, or put in my suitcase.  Needless to say, I’ll be taking this on every hiking trip from here on out no matter where it is!

If you enjoyed this article please let me know by leaving a comment or sharing it with your friends! Thank you so much for reading, I wouldn’t be able to do this without all your love and support! 

Adventure on lovelies,

Nikki 

Seven Magic Mountains

If you look at my Instagram feed, you’ll notice that many of my travel shots are taken at sunrise. This isn’t because I love waking up early, this is because there is something magical about that morning light. And also… the other tourists aren’t up yet, making it a great time to get some one-on-one time with your destination. Even if you’re not planning on taking pictures on your trip, it’s nice to experience destinations without loads of other people around you. When you look at the Seven Magic Mountains on Instagram, most photos are populated with people in the background.  

If you decide to visit the Seven Magic Mountains, please leave no trace.

 

About the Seven Magic Mountains

First things first, this is not just a bunch of colorful rocks someone put in the desert. It’s actually a very thoughtful art installation. The art piece was constructed by Ugo Rondinone. This piece is a critique on destinations such as Las Vegas and was placed midway between the artificial (Las Vegas) and the natural world (the desert).

The piece, as colorful and beautiful as it is, clearly acts as an invasive opposition to the natural surroundings. You’ll read many reviews claiming the art installation is an eyesore on the natural landscape, but isn’t that what all cities are? As beautiful as a city can be, every city is mankind’s scar on the surface of the Earth. This piece acts as a reminder that humans have left many marks on the natural surface of our beautiful Earth. Perhaps this will it inspire you to only purchase from brands that are eco-friendly, or that give back to repairing our Earth.

How to Get There

There are no restrooms on site, so just be prepared if you're shy about peeing in the bushes. There is also no place to get water onsite, make sure you bring lots! Remember this public art piece is in the middle of the desert, you’ll want to stay hydrated.

From the parking lot, there is a dirt path that leads you to the sculpture.

Driving There

From Las Vegas: Follow I-15 S to Sloan Rd (exit 25). Turn left (east) to Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive approximately 7 miles south on Las Vegas Blvd. and the artwork will appear on your left (east).

From Los Angeles: Drive north on I-15 to Jean, NV (exit 12).  Turn right (east) on NV-161 toward Las Vegas Blvd. Drive approximately 5 miles north on Las Vegas Blvd. and the artwork will appear on your right (east).

Please park in the onsite parking lot. Street parking is discouraged. No public transportation is available to the installation site.

 

What are your thoughts on this art installation? 

 

Travel on lovelies,

Nikki 

Discovering The Birthing Cave

This is a Sacred Space!

Be Respectful!

Leave NO Trace!



The Birthing Cave in Sedona Arizona is an amazing experience for the adventurous soul. We decided we wanted to make the trek, but as far as how to get there, we got a little turned around. So here you’ll find everything you need to know to get there easily.

This is what you can expect to see when you arrive at The Birthing Cave. If you crawl up into the cave you'll have a pretty epic view.

View from inside the cave. You will feel as though you are in a womb.

And here is a step by step visual aid of how to get there! I suggest you screen shot these to have on your phone, because you won't get any wifi service here! 

To get to the Birth Cave you'll want to GPS your way to Long Canyon Road. While driving you'll see this sign, and you want to turn right down the road. When we visited it was 2018 and once we turned down this road, we lost all cell service, so be prepared! 

Keep driving, past where the GPS directs you, until you see this dirt parking lot. 

You'll see a sign that says "Trail 122" and from there you can keep walking. You'll want to stay on the Long Canyon Trail. Here is a visual to help you on this journey. 

Go straight on Long Canyon Trail.

Eventually you will see a Trailhead. You'll want to take a hard left when you get to it. I've taken a close up of the correct trail you should go on. This is point one on the map. 

You'll come to a fork and you'll want to keep left at this path and stay on the Long Canyon Trail. This is point two on the map.

When you're walking you may see this fallen tree, seems that it's been there a very long time, making it a good landmark.

Keep left here. You'll start to notice that you can see the ridge that The Birthing Cave sits in.

Go straight over the step and towards the ridge.

Keep walking straight towards the cave.

You'll see a little path to the left of the trail that you walk up to reach the cave.

Here are some of the views you'll enjoy on the walk up. 

You'll see a little ledge, if you're feeling like a dare devil you can go for a stroll! 

Once you get to the top, You can run and crawl up the ledge to get inside the actual little Birthing Cave. You'll notice lots of sage and frankincense smudging has happened in this little hole for sacred rituals. It is an incredible experience to be inside of the rock wall and look out on the view. You feel so small, yet so big.  The picture shown here was taken by Ignacio while he sat inside The Birthing Cave and I stood on the little ledge below.

Hopefully you can experience The Birthing Cave without any hassle of getting there. We ended up parking in the wrong area, hiking the wrong trail, cutting through the cacti filled forest and somehow making it there. On the way back we took the normal path, SO MUCH EASIER! Pictures cannot describe this place, you really must go.

Happy Travels,

Nikki

The Essential Traveling Hiker's Pack

The Beast28 backpack is one of my favorite hiking essentials for local adventures and exploring while traveling. What makes it a great travel pack is how compact it is. When traveling, You can easily attach it to your carry-on or additional backpack, or you can fit it in nicely into your luggage. You can see in the picture that it rolls up into a nice little pouch very easily.

This pack is also great for an overnight hike. There is plenty of room to pack some warmer clothes, and snacks. The compression straps, lumbar padding and hip belt also make it super comfortable when hiking. I was able to pack everything I needed for a sunset hike and to sleep overnight. The hammock clips perfectly to the backpack allowing me to have the perfect sleeping device for the night.  The outer coating of the Beast28 is also water resistant, so I felt comfortable storing my computer in it while I hiked. Being a photographer, I often times have clients that need photos taken in epic places and want them edited and sent to them quickly, so having my computer is a must!

Check out the images below to see everything I was able to take on a an overnight hike. The photos of me hiking out in the world were taken on a day we hiked to a swimming spot, I had everyone's swim gear along with towels and a few beverages. Every time I use this backpack I'm amazed at everything I can fit in it!

Happy Travels friends.

Adventure On,

Nikki

The Perfect Adventure Towel!

Ever been out on an adventure and stumble across an unexpected body of water that you just had to take a dip in? I know I have! And while I'm almost always wearing a bikini under my socially acceptable clothes, I'm usually not carrying around a giant towel to dry off with after a spontaneous swim. However, I have found a solution! It’s a compact, light towel that is super absorbent!

My most recent expedition took me to a hike with Hot Springs at one end of the trail. The Gaviota Hot Springs are one of the hidden secrets in the Santa Barbara area. They are about 30 miles north on Highway 101. You take exit 132, and at the end of the exit ramp, you turn right, and then make another immediate right. At the end of the road you’ll see places to park. There are a few trails in the area that are beautiful, but if you feel like going for a soak in the sulfur water, just make your way to the top of the main hiking trail and you’ll see two beautiful aqua pools at the top. The first one you see has an extremely muddy bottom, when you step into it, you’ll find yourself knee deep in gunk. However, the other hot spring has a solid bottom. 

When you enter the water, you’ll notice little bubbles start to form on your skin. The temperature of the water is lukewarm.  The great thing about these hot springs, and many others, are their healing qualities!

The Iron in Hot Springs, along with other minerals, can build up your immune system!

Hot Springs improve your body's Circulation.

Relaxation of the mind and body occurs when you enter these warm pools of water.

Hot Springs also contain Sulfur!

Who is ready to find a hidden Hot Spring near them?!?

When you do go, make sure you grab your Matador NanoDry Towel! Seriously a girl’s best friend on adventures like these. This towel comes with a case that you can clip on your backpack, shorts, or wherever is convenient for you! The towel itself has a snap loop so you can hang it anywhere to dry! On your backpack while you finish hiking, on a tree branch while you picnic, anywhere! 

What’s awesome is that these towels are super versatile. They make a great pool companion, gym buddy, or just something to have while traveling. Because you never know, when adventure will call, and water will be shouting your name!

Or you just might need a towel to wipe stuff up! 

Adventure On Friends,

Nikki