Tessa and her mom in the Aosta Valley

Adventures, reflections, and stories we brought home from the trails we’ve walked - from the Macs Adventure team 

Tessa is an Adventure Sales Specialist at Macs Adventure. When she's not helping travelers plan their adventures, she's usually outside hiking, skiing, or finding a new trail with friends and family.

Dear Trail Diary, 

My mom and I have always had a special bond. Being the youngest of three (by quite a bit), I was lucky to have a lot of one-on-one time with her growing up, especially while my dad was often traveling for work. 

Some of my favorite memories growing up are of being my mom's hiking buddy. We live in Golden, Colorado, with trails right in our backyard, so most afternoons after school she'd pick me up, we'd head out for a hike, and then we'd grab dinner together. She always knew exactly where to go and led the way while I practically jogged to keep up behind her. 

Looking back, those evenings were pretty special. 

My mom was also the one who encouraged me to study adventure tourism in college. After I graduated and moved back home, we slipped right back into our after-work hiking routine. It felt like no time had passed. 

Then life changed. 

I moved out. I found a job I love, met an incredible boyfriend, and started building a life of my own. My mom lives just 15 minutes away, but somehow the time we used to have together became harder and harder to find.  

It wasn't anyone's fault. It was just life. 

So when I had the chance to hike Hadrian's Wall with Macs Adventure last year, I knew exactly who I wanted to bring. 

The weather was absolutely brutal. Wind, rain, cold... it felt like we had England at it's worst. But somehow, that's what made the trip so memorable. We still laugh about it because it wasn't a trip that was ruined by the weather. If anything, we came home even closer because of it. 

This year, I let my mom choose our next adventure, and she picked Italy's Aosta Valley. 

It couldn't have been more different. 

Instead of rain jackets and muddy trails, we spent our days hiking through the Alps, lingering over long lunches and watching the sunset over the mountains. We even survived a 100-degree hiking day which was finished off by 2 double scoops of gelato and a slushie...each.

Some things never change, though. 

My mom still slips into "mom mode" the second I'm tired or hungry, convinced she can fix everything. And honestly... she's usually right.  

One of my favorite moments was watching her tackle these alpine hikes after multiple knee surgeries. She never once complained, reminding me why she's always been someone I look up to.

Of course, I also spent half the trip confidently pointing at the wrong mountain, convinced it was Mont Blanc. I kept sending photos home to our family saying, "There it is!" Turns out... it wasn't. We laughed so hard when we finally saw the real one and it was glaringly obvious. 

Traveling with my mom has become one of my favorite traditions. 

When I was little, she was the one showing me the outdoors. Now I get to introduce her to new places around the world. 

No matter where we go, it always feels a little like those evenings back in Colorado. 

– Tessa