In 2025, I made it a point to camp every month. It was meaningful, harder than expected, and taught me something important: consistency matters, but sustainability matters more. sometimes, I was just throwing together short, mindless trips at the end of the month.
For 2026, I wanted something that still pushed me outside, literally without turning into a numbers game or a pressure cooker feeling. So not doing one 1 per month on this one and it can include camping (in any form) or doesnt have to have anything to do with camping.
What is Anchor Adventure?
Anchor Adventure is a year-long project built around 12 intentional outdoor weekends. Each one is centered on a single place and focused on long, unhurried movement; trail running, hiking, backpacking, or any mix of the three.
These aren’t races. They’re not about pace or distance. They’re about:
-time in the woods-staying healthy enough to keep going all year
Distance will happen. Miles will add up. But they’re not the point.
One Goal Per Adventure
Each Anchor Adventure has one clear intention for the day. This goal is simple, achievable even on a bad day, and guides how I make decisions on the trail. Some examples include:
“Finish feeling like I could come back tomorrow.”
“Stay in one place long enough to really know it.”
“Move slow enough to notice details I’d usually miss.”
“Let the trail set the pace, not my watch.”
“Respond to situations early instead of pushing through it.”
“Keep effort easy enough to stay relaxed all day.”
“Choose sustainability over ego at every decision point.”
“Treat this as exploration, not a test.”
“Accept the day exactly as it shows up.”
“End the day grateful, not depleted.”
Before each trip, I’ll pick one goal from this list, or set a new one. If conditions change weather, fatigue, or life the goal stays; only the plan adapts. At the end of the day, the measure of success is simple: Did I honor the intention?
The rules (simple on purpose)
One place per Anchor AdventureOne combined effort (even if spread over multiple days)
One intention for the trip
If weather, fatigue, or life intervenes, the goal is to respond well; not force the plan.
Why “Anchor”?
Each adventure is meant to act as a fixed point in the year; Something grounding to return to. A reminder of what matters when training, schedules, and expectations start to drift.
How I’m tracking it
Strava: One post per Anchor AdventureVideo blog: Short, simple reflections from each trip
By the end of 2026, the goal isn’t to say “I hit my numbers.”
It’s to say I anchored down, on trails, in neat places all over, stayed slow, took it all in. It's sustained time on trails, in the outdoors; ultra immesrsed.
