Quick overview of this newsletter:

1. 🌱 Hanna’s Waterfall Insights
2. 💧 Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
3. 🧳 Don’t Overpack, Prepare
4. 🏕️ Product of the Month
5. 💭 Website Feedback - Vote Now
6. 🌸 Seasonal Treat

Happy May, my darlings,

It’s that time of year where it feels like it’s always been bright and sunny, as if we didn’t have rainy days in the 40’s not that long ago. Early sunsets are a distant memory, and I always feel a little clumsy trying to remember how to wear my summer clothes. Maybe the shock of the seasons changing in Oregon will fade for me eventually, but not yet! However, I am eager to get outside to see the rhododendrons and waterfalls.

The lovely thing about waterfalls is that they are great to visit in a variety of weather. However, there is nuance in what to expect at different points of the year. Let’s discuss my experience of waterfalls through the seasons:

• Winter: High flows and low crowds, but foliage is hibernating
• Spring: High flows, high foliage and possible blooms, medium crowds
• Summer: Medium to low flows and high crowds, but it’s soooo nice to cool off and there may be a berry or two to snack on along the way
• Fall: Low flows and medium crowds, but fall colors with the waterfalls is lovely

As I mentioned back in January or February, I’ve discovered that I like to visit the most popular waterfalls in winter as a microspike hike, when flows are high and crowds are low. There’s also a particular beauty in seeing a waterfall surrounded in snow.

But for all the other waterfalls, spring is a phenomenal time to go waterfall chasing. Snowmelt and spring rain ensure high flows for those smaller waterfalls you may be interested in seeing. Foliage is bursting to life at this time of year, with a high possibility of seeing some wildflowers. And typically, the crowds are not quite at peak, when people are seeking ways too cool off.

I’d highly recommend going for a waterfall hike in May or June to see how you like it!

Hanna

Let’s Go Chasing Waterfalls

The most popular post on my site right now is about the Waterfalls of Havasupai, where I discuss each one and how to get there. I’m not surprised that it’s popular now, as it would be a great time of year to trek down into the canyon.

In Oregon, I’ve visited Silver Falls State Park in every season and will keep going back because I love it there. The density of waterfalls in one trail, PLUS some walk-behind falls, ensures this is my favorite state park, maybe anywhere. It also has the most adorable gift shop and seasonal coffee drinks. What could be better?

But don’t you dare ignore one-off waterfalls, like Burney Falls in northern California. This split falls in winter was so impressive. Highly recommend!

Left: Mooney Falls in Havasupai, Right: Burney Falls in Northern California

Don’t Overpack, Prepare

I tried out the Sudoku Packing Method (this parade article breaks down this method) during my Banff trip back in March. We didn’t have a firm itinerary for that trip due to the weather, and I believe the packing method worked well to be able to mix and match my outdoor winter weather clothes. What I did like about the method was that it reinforced color-coordination and choosing pieces that were multi-use.

However, what I didn’t love was having to figure out my outfits each day. Because typically, and this may sound crazy to you, I prefer to pick out all my outfits for a trip while packing. Due to the way that I plan trips (see my trip planning template), I have a very good idea of what I will be doing each day. From there, I pick out outfits for those activities, lining them up against each other to see how much overlap/color-coordination I can create. Then I throw in a few extra items for flexibility. This way, I am exactly prepared for what I’ll be doing while traveling. It’s not minimalist packing, but I tend to wear 95% of what I brought on a trip and am prepared for my adventures - whether that be hiking up a volcano or taking a horse-drawn carriage up to a castle.

Want to try my method of packing? I’ve written up a blog post about it and have a worksheet to download.

Product of the Month

It’s official. During a Teams meeting yesterday, a coworker said that Oregon camping season kicks off this weekend. And this was completely unprompted. So, as camping season arrives, I’ve got two recommendations for inside-car camping:

• ​WeatherTech Sunshade Full Vehicle Covers - you buy these for the exact make and model of your car. I’ve seen people DIY these for cheaper, but I’ve been very happy with my purchase, as they fit right into the window without having to close the window on them or anything. I’ve been to cooler destinations with these, so put the black side out, making my twinkle light reflect on the inside - an added dash of whimsy. The full vehicle kit option is available once you put in your car details and whether your car has eyesight, etc.

• ​Airflow window cover - I leave at least one window cracked with an airflow/bug cover instead of the privacy cover. These go over the door and are stretchy, so it doesn’t have to be the exact make/model/year, but it does need to be close. I got mine on Amazon after trying to find them in person at REI and Dicks (no luck). I recently got approved to have an Amazon Storefront (yes, I have mixed feelings about this), so you can find the brand I used in my car camping folder, but you'll want to shop around for one that fits your car door.

Is it crazy that I'm looking forward to doing my face routine on a maybe-greasy campground picnic table with a too-small mirror? Because I am.

Memorial Day Sales

Also, everywhere seems to be having a sale, urging you to be fully prepared for your upcoming adventures. Here are a few you may want to check out:

Website Feedback - Click to Vote!

Nearly every day, I get emails with people asking to place a link or write blog post or add content in a story form. I often ignore these emails as it is incredibly obvious that they have not even read through a single page on my site. But other times I am tempted by a well-thought-out idea. With just me writing and posting, I’ve been able to maintain a consistent voice and quality. But with just me writing, new posts have slowed to a drip with my full-time job. So, I’d like to get your thoughts.

Seasonal Treat

2026 is my third year of visiting Shreiner’s Iris Garden outside of Salem. Before going, I had only seen solitary clumps of Iris in people's yards and didn’t fully appreciate the wide variety of Iris color combinations possible. The Iris at Shriener’s completely blew me away, and I love their display garden, which feels like a fairy tale. This year, I did the Posey Workshop (LOVED IT) and also made sure I went early enough in the month to buy the 10 cut steps. It’s been a highlight of my month thus far to find out what colors I got in my mixed variety.

If you go to Schreiner’s, I highly recommend popping over to Adelman’s Peony Garden as well. Don’t let the crowds dissuade you -- they have parking attendants and extensive fields of peonies that you can find a quiet place to appreciate the massive flowers alone. Needless to say, my house has been filled to the brim with peonies and iris.