From my latest column. I’m here in the Middle East covering the story.
A year ago, my mom suffered a serious stroke. But it takes more than a stroke to fell someone as strong and determined as Jane Kristof. A year later, she’s still taking the dogs on long walks twice a day on @kristoffarms, and at 91 she’s still interested in world news. She remains a wonderful role model, and she sends her thanks to all who have sent love and concern since the stroke. ❤️❤️❤️
Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail with my wife and daughter today, I came across this three-foot long jellyfish, still alive. There were about a dozen of this kind of jellyfish washed up over a couple of miles of deserted beach south of Cape Lookout. Anyone know what kind it is?
This bear visited our farm and showed up on our wildlife camera—and look what he’s got in his mouth! A @kristoffarms apple! We’re thinking of making him a mascot for our cider, with a cider club membership and twice-a-year delivery to his den—as long as he promises to drink in moderation.
My weekend column for the @nytimes encourages young people to travel off the beaten path, to build perspective and empathy. My own youthful travels shaped my life and career and made me more attuned to human rights issues. Here I’m riding on the train in north Sudan to Khartoum. Fortunately, there were no tunnels.
We were planning to backpack in the Cascades this week, but smoke from forest fires sent us off to the Oregon Coast Trail instead. The trail is incomplete — there are road walks where no trail or beach is available — but still glorious. We used the @faroutguides app for navigation, and it’s a very different kind of backpacking when you can stop for a meal at @moschowder during a break. Sheryl @wudunn likes this more than meals of protein bars and prefers the sea air to clouds of mosquitoes, and Caroline is happy with everything wild. The Oregon Coast Trail is also a reminder of how much of the Oregon coast is empty and deserted even in August. Spectacular!
We were planning to backpack in the Cascades this week, but smoke from forest fires sent us off to the Oregon Coast Trail instead. The trail is incomplete — there are road walks where no trail or beach is available — but still glorious. We used the @faroutguides app for navigation, and it’s a very different kind of backpacking when you can stop for a meal at @moschowder during a break. Sheryl @wudunn likes this more than meals of protein bars and prefers the sea air to clouds of mosquitoes, and Caroline is happy with everything wild. The Oregon Coast Trail is also a reminder of how much of the Oregon coast is empty and deserted even in August. Spectacular!
We were planning to backpack in the Cascades this week, but smoke from forest fires sent us off to the Oregon Coast Trail instead. The trail is incomplete — there are road walks where no trail or beach is available — but still glorious. We used the @faroutguides app for navigation, and it’s a very different kind of backpacking when you can stop for a meal at @moschowder during a break. Sheryl @wudunn likes this more than meals of protein bars and prefers the sea air to clouds of mosquitoes, and Caroline is happy with everything wild. The Oregon Coast Trail is also a reminder of how much of the Oregon coast is empty and deserted even in August. Spectacular!
Connie and I spent the weekend hiking on the PCT and Eagle Creek trails over the weekend, in northern Oregon. Eagle Creek Trail is an old favorite that I hike at least once a year, but I also love the PCT south of Wahtum Lake and Indian Springs. Wilderness therapy!!
I just backpacked the loop around Three Sisters mountains in Oregon, and it was glorious as always (I do it pretty much every year). Sadly, our dog Connie is aging out of backpacking, so I was on my own. I’ve been hiking the Cascades since I was a kid, and the big difference: more fires. Now I pass through a huge burn, and this time there was smoke in the area from distant fires. Firefighting is also consuming the Forest Service budget so that less is left for trail maintenance. And yet! All that said, wilderness is still heaven.
I just backpacked the loop around Three Sisters mountains in Oregon, and it was glorious as always (I do it pretty much every year). Sadly, our dog Connie is aging out of backpacking, so I was on my own. I’ve been hiking the Cascades since I was a kid, and the big difference: more fires. Now I pass through a huge burn, and this time there was smoke in the area from distant fires. Firefighting is also consuming the Forest Service budget so that less is left for trail maintenance. And yet! All that said, wilderness is still heaven.
Winding up our hike on the Oregon Coast Trail. Perhaps one sign that God is a west coaster is that the sun sets over the ocean. East coasters get sunrises over the ocean, but who sees sunrises?! Our hike, from south of Tillamook to Newport, has also been a reminder of how many of our beaches are deserted even in August. A glorious break with Sheryl @wudunn and with Caroline!
Winding up our hike on the Oregon Coast Trail. Perhaps one sign that God is a west coaster is that the sun sets over the ocean. East coasters get sunrises over the ocean, but who sees sunrises?! Our hike, from south of Tillamook to Newport, has also been a reminder of how many of our beaches are deserted even in August. A glorious break with Sheryl @wudunn and with Caroline!
Winding up our hike on the Oregon Coast Trail. Perhaps one sign that God is a west coaster is that the sun sets over the ocean. East coasters get sunrises over the ocean, but who sees sunrises?! Our hike, from south of Tillamook to Newport, has also been a reminder of how many of our beaches are deserted even in August. A glorious break with Sheryl @wudunn and with Caroline!
Celebrating Pinot Noir at the @ipnc_pinot International Pinot Noir Celebration at @linfielduniv. Sheryl and I are so grateful to the many local winemakers who have helped us produce our own @kristoffarms Pinot. It’s true that PN grapes are hard to get right, but, oh, the result!
Delighted for my buddy Eric Pleger, who lost his driver license 13 years ago to fines — which then made it much harder to work and pay the fines. Now there’s recognition around the U.S. that this is a dumb policy, and Eric was able this week to become a legal driver again. A special shout-out to the @OregonLawCenter (thanks, Jamie, Sybil, Katie and Grace), which provided pro bono help, and to @rep.benbowman for his guidance. It took four months of effort to defeat the bureaucracy, but Eric once again has his license — and that’s good for him and for society. I hope others also get help recovering licenses lost to fines. Congrats, Eric!
The couple that skis together stays together. Or at least breaks legs together. At @mtbachelor this weekend with Sheryl @wudunn
One of my favorite books recently (and Sheryl’s!) was @bonnie_garmus_author’s “Lessons in Chemistry.” It’s such a great read—and funny, too. So I’m thrilled that Bonnie has endorsed my forthcoming book, “Chasing Hope,” as “the kind of memoir that changes the world.” Nudge, nudge, “Chasing Hope” is now available for pre-order wherever books are sold.
The wait for reviews when a book is published is nerve wracking. So I’m thrilled by this review today in Publishers Weekly, “the bible of the book business.” My book, “Chasing Hope: A Reporter’s Life,” will be out in May from @aaknopf @penguinrandomhouse and is available now for preorder wherever books are sold.
My other world: the apple harvest at @kristoffarms! Don’t the apples look luscious? They will be turned into top-quality cider by @baumanscider (our trees bow to Bauman’s). Huge thanks to the pickers—those buckets are heavy. We’ve also just started a cider club to access the liquid, fermented version of these apples, shipped to your door. More info at kristoffarms.com. What an adventure this is!
This kitty cat shows up on our wildlife cameras. We think she’s requesting a bottle of rosé as thanks for her rodent control services.
