This Chick Climbed Mount Washington

I am determined to get back into shape. Although losing weight, catching eyes, and rediscovering my formerly fabulous figure are certainly not at the bottom of my "why" list, my true reasoning is far more selfish. I want to be able to run away with a pair of good hiking boots and explore the whole world. Nowadays, I'm out of breath just walking upstairs at the office. Once upon a time, I hiked 600 feet over a mile. Now, I sit on my ass in an office job 40 hours a week.

I'm restless. I have this crazy desire to just pack a back pack and get the hell out. Maybe come back in a week, maybe just hop from town to town. If I had the money to get away with it, that's exactly what I'd do. Just run away. Fill my passport with stamp, after stamp, after stamp.

Step One: Set your Goal

One of the biggest items on my bucket list is to visit all of the U.S. National Parks at some point in my life. A secondary goal is to make it to as many of the State Parks and National Forests as possible, but that starts to stretch the list considerably. Still do-able, I'm sure, but a bit more intimidating to think about.

I've already seen a handful of the Nationals on various family vacations and such, but I would love to not only make it back to the ones I saw when I was younger (read: didn't appreciate), but to cross each one off that I have yet to experience. According to Wikipedia, there are 58 national parks in the States. Some of these will be easy to get to - the Shenandoahs are practically in my back yard. Some of them will take a bit more planning and saving (US Virgin Islands and American Samoa, I'm looking at you!). But over the course of my life, I hope to experience each and every one of them.