About

My name is Autumn, I’m a mother to a three year old and a seven month old. You will get to know them as the Cub and the Bay Leaf, respectively. I’m married to a chef and restaurateur, Ben. I also have a dog named Marmot who’s social media presence is way more impressive than my own. This little family of mine lives on top of a hill in Portland, Oregon.

I’m a PNW woman to the bones! I was born in Washington and was raised in the wilderness as an only child to two extremely outdoorsy parents. I was summiting when I was six and never looked back. When I contemplated the impact of motherhood I knew nature was going to be a very large part of it.

I’ve always been a firm believer in the healing powers of wilderness connection. We are better people when we can get outside and feel the largeness of an untamed world. When I was in college I took a class that allowed me to create lesson plans and structure hikes with local school children. That class quite literally changed my life. Getting kids outside is my absolute passion, and what better way to induce that passion then to practice it with my own kiddos?

I’m hoping my personal forays into the wild will, if not inspire, at least amuse. Trust me when I say that there is no better teacher of silence, patience, curiosity, biology, and bravery, than the great outdoors.

That being said, this blog is also a way to document the day-to-day life of motherhood and my approach to it. I knew basically nothing about babies before I had one and what has ensued has often been challenging, hilarious, and unexpected.