Favorite ecosystem:
Honestly, I love nature in general. I like to think I have a favorite ecosystem but then each time I come across a new one I am completely flabbergasted by how amazing the natural world is. I will say I love, love, love trees. All trees. Every time I’m out and about in the world and I see a cool tree I must point it out to everyone around me. Maybe the calmest I’ve ever felt was hiking through Redwoods National Park. And rocks. Big ones, small ones, ugly ones and pretty, smooth ones. I love to collect rocks, and I love to climb rocks. You won’t catch me walking past a boulder without at least trying to climb it. I also love all bodies of water. Streams, ponds, rivers, OCEANS, amazing. Honestly the Oregon coast has some of the best of all three and that’s why it’s one of my favorite places to visit. But whenever I need to relax, you’ll most likely find me by a body of water on a rock or up a tree journaling. There’s something about being near water that just resets everything.
Favorite thing to do when not working:
I love taking road trips, both to visit friends and to visit different state and national parks. Solo hiking is one of my favorite ways to explore new areas and just enjoy being in nature. In the last year I’ve driven almost 20,000 miles to hit 22 National Parks. One of my life goals is to hit all 63 National Parks in the US before moving on to Canada and Europe.
Role model(s):
My parents. They have absolutely fostered my love of nature and travel. It’s thanks to them that I understand the importance of the natural world and have been gifted with the independent spirit to explore it.
Childhood career ambition:
I wanted to be everything; I could never make up my mind. I read a lot growing up and every single job sounded so cool that I couldn’t fathom settling down with just one for the rest of my life. I wanted to be a cowgirl in Wyoming, a lifeguard in North Carolina, a librarian in Oregon, and a park ranger in Utah. You name it, I probably thought about being it.
Favorite book or film:
I love to read, and I love to watch movies, but I’ve never been very good at picking favorites. When it comes to reading, I really like poetry, fantasy, and historical romance. I have a hard time stopping things once I pick them up so unless a book is bad, I’ll probably read it in one night. When it comes to movies, I love action, animation, and rom coms.
If you could be a superhero, what would you want to be your superpower?
I think it’s a tie between being able to fly and being able to breathe under water. I’d love to be able to fly across the country without having to book a flight or stand in airport security. Plus, being able to see all the beautiful scenery from so much closer and stopping at every cool spot to explore would be stellar. BUT it would also be amazing to be able to explore the ocean without having to worry about scuba gear or oxygen tanks. To be able to stay underwater as long as I wanted. Honestly if we’re going back to what I wanted to be when I grew up, mermaid was top of the list.
Hometown:
I was born and raised in Southern Pennsylvania, right on the PA/ MD line and kind of got the best of both Maryland and Pennsylvania as a result.
Pets:
We have a little old man dog named Allen who is the star of the show anytime anyone comes over and two cats: Boots and Murphy, who hide under my bed or in my closet anytime we have guests. We also have two horses who are only partial to you if you bring treats and even then, they might not be interested.
A special talent/skill/passion that people may not be aware of:
I really like to paint and draw, mostly gifts for family and friends. Growing up I took a lot of art classes and won a few awards at fairs and exhibits. I haven’t taken the time to paint in a while and it’s one of the things I’m looking forward to getting back into this year.
One of Annie’s most memorable experiences in nature:
I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences in nature, but most recently I went to Crater Lake National Park and hiked a trail that went up to one of the peaks overlooking the lake. It was a cold, rainy day and I had driven about 5 hours from Portland to get to Crater Lake, passing through a lot of wildfire smoke and rain. I was already tired by the time I got there, and I was worried the trail would be a loss because I wasn’t dressed for the rain or the cold, and the elevation was also killer. But I’d wanted to visit Crater Lake since I learned about it as a kid, and I’d already missed it the last time I was in the area because the roads into the park were closed from a major snowfall. I had a 13-hour drive to Wyoming the next day, so I pretty much knew it was now or never, and no way was I going to wait another year or two when I was so close.
It ended up being one of my favorite hikes of the trip. Getting to the top felt even more rewarding because I hadn’t been sure I’d make it, and the entire trail was a level of gorgeous that felt otherworldly. Standing on the peak overlooking the lake I couldn’t help but think of little kid me who would’ve been so excited to be where I was. And one of the best parts was that on my way back down, I got to encourage some other hikers who were struggling to get to the top.
Favorite food to eat or make:
Is there even an answer besides pizza? It’s really the best of all worlds because you’ve got cheese, bread, and any topping you could possibly be in the mood for. Plus making pizza dough is super therapeutic and who doesn’t love a little free therapy?
