We took a long detour.
We didn’t exactly plan to disappear. But like most great hikes, things took longer than expected.
Over the last couple years, life happened, sometimes beautifully, sometimes like a boot to the face. We traveled more than ever, visiting Italy, Australia, and New Zealand (proof that scraping together PTO and travel points can work). On the less-fun side, the company I worked for was bought, and my responsibilities ballooned like an overstuffed backpack. We also lost our dog, Kona, to a mystery illness that left us with no answers and a giant hole in our home. A few months later, we adopted Roo, a shelter pup described as a “black lab.” Turns out, she’s half Labrador, half Great Pyrenees, and 100% chaos tornado. And then came the biggest shift of all: a career opportunity that relocated us from Idaho to Naples, Florida. Mountains to mangroves, snow boots to flip-flops. With so much in motion, the blog fell by the wayside. For those probably dozen loyal readers wondering what happened, thank you for sticking around.
But guess what? We’re back!
And this time, with a fresh logo, a reimagined site, and something we haven’t had in a long time: time. New jobs = better work-life balance = more adventure, more photos, more stories (And still plenty of terrible jokes. I can’t fix that, and I won’t apologize for it).
What’s Changed?
Honestly? A lot.
Back in the early days, It Started Outdoors was all about hiking, camping, and crawling out of depression; one wheezy mountain trail at a time. And while that spirit hasn’t changed, our “outdoors” just looks a little different now.
Less granite cliffs, more sandy boardwalks. Fewer alpine lakes, more ocean views. But we’re still chasing beauty, adventure, and the joy of exploring something new.
What Hasn’t changed
We don’t live on the road. We don’t have remote jobs. We’re not rich. (Though if someone wants to sponsor us with a tricked-out travel van and a stack of airline points, let’s talk.)
What we do have is the same thing most of you probably have: full-time jobs, limited PTO, and a spreadsheet that balances budget hotels with breakfast burrito money (just me on the last one? Got it). We travel how most people travel, scrimping, saving, and squeezing the most out of every trip.
Behind the Scenes: A New Look
The Logo
I loved the old bear logo. But it was time for something that better reflected where we are now and where we’re headed.
- The grizzly is still here. To me, it’s the ultimate symbol of strength, solitude, and raw, wild beauty. It reminds me that adventure isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
- You’ll notice the mountain on the bear’s back is gone and is instead behind him, a nod to our departure from Idaho’s peaks and pine forests.
- And now there’s a little airplane, looping around the bear. Because while we still love a good trail, travel has become the bigger story.
The Colors
Originally, the blog was black and white because that’s how life felt when I started it. But after seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, something shifted. It was one of those rare, soul-igniting moments. I wanted to hold onto that feeling.
So now, the color palette reflects that.
- Bright Lime: captures that flicker of green from the aurora.
- Cool Teal: pulls in the oceans and lakes we love to explore.
- Dark Blue: No deeper meaning, it just looks good with the other colors. Also… blue is my favorite color. So there’s that.
Honest Reflections
I like to think I’m a creative person. But writing? It’s never come naturally. I type like a confused chicken pecking at a calculator, and I’ve lost track of how many posts I’ve abandoned halfway through because the words just didn’t feel right.
I even tried AI. But like most of my shortcuts, it just leads to being lost.
So this time, I’m keeping it simple:
- Write when I have something worth saying.
- Tell real stories.
- Let the photos do the heavy lifting when words fall short.
If the blog grows again, cool. But that’s not the goal. The goal is to create something honest, something useful, something that might help someone plan a trip or simply stop scrolling long enough to say, “Hey, that’s a cool photo.”
What’s Coming Next?
I’d love to promise epic cinematic reels, drone shots soaring over remote cliffs, and perfectly edited TikToks that go viral overnight.
But here’s the reality:
- I haven’t learned to fly a drone.
- I am still learning how to use Capcut and Premier Pro
- And I have a day job.
So here’s what’s actually coming:
- New travel itineraries
- More photos
- Gear and food recommendations that we actually use
- Honest reflections from the road (or beach, or boardwalk, or angry airport layover)
A Personal Invitation
If you’ve made it this far, I owe you a beer. Seriously. The internet is loud and overwhelming, and the fact that you chose to read this means the world.
This blog started as a way to find light in a pretty dark time. I’ve struggled with depression for most of my life, and hiking gave me a reason to keep moving forward, literally and emotionally. Over time, travel added to that. So did photography. So did storytelling.
And now, I hope this blog might do the same for someone else.
If you want to tag along, I’d love it if you’d:
- Follow on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest
- Subscribe to our monthly newsletter (no spam, just good stuff)
And to sweeten the deal: For every new subscriber, I’ll give our dog Roo a treat. So if not for me, do it for the dog.
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