Welcome to Fit to Wander!
I’m Rachel and I am extremely passionate about traveling, food and fitness. I currently live in San Diego, CA with my husband Tristin, our two year old son, and our adorable lioness pup Scout. I’ve started this blog to share and cultivate my life passions as well as to hopefully help improve my reader’s health and well-being by promoting living a balanced lifestyle. I believe that being healthy involves more than exercise and healthy eating. It also involves improving one’s state of mind. My background in psychology has led me to view health from a holistic perspective. I believe that health is not only shaped by what we put into our bodies, but also how much we move, how well we sleep and our mindset.
Yes, I do eat Paleo, well, more Primal, but I love to eat. In fact, love is a bit of an understatement. I might be slightly obsessed with food and have been known to even become “hangry” (thankfully, I have a very patient husband). I’m hesitant to put a label on how I eat because of the stigmas that can come along with any label, but the most important thing to me is to just eat real, unprocessed food as often as possible. I definitely believe in the 90%/10% rule, as there is no way I am ever going to give up chocolate, especially not dark chocolate!
The one thing I love more than eating is traveling (although it is a close race). I love everything about traveling…whether I am exploring an ancient ruin, wandering around a new city, learning the history of the country, people watching while sitting in a cafe or trying a new cuisine that the country is known for. If I had to pick out the one thing that I love most about traveling, it would be that every time I set out, traveling opens me up to an array of new experiences, which appeases my almost insatiable curiosity.
If you love food, love to travel, and love living a healthy/active lifestyle, then you’ve come to the right place. I invite you to share in my journey as I wander down this ever-changing path called life.
As one of the my favorite writers once said, “not all who wander are lost…” ~J.R.R. Tolkien
DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blog, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, testimonial, recommendation and/or link to products or services on this blog.
Fit To Wander 
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RACHEL;
First of all please accept heartfelt congratulation for creating this very dynamic,vibrant, colorful, charming, cute, lovely and very sweet blog, each word and each image on this blog reflects your live-wire personality.
Keep it up the good work you are doing.
Wishing you all the best…………………
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Thank you very much for such kind words!
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Hi
Going to NZ soon and want to do a
dayhike on Routeburn
Which side is the prettiest?
Oh, I do live in Colorado if that helps
Thanks
Linda
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Hi Linda, I would say the side of the divide closer to Milford Sound is the prettiest part!
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Hi,
Appreciate you writing out all the details for Routeburn Great walk. I have been late in booking the hut so i have got Flat huts and nothing else. Routeburn Falls Hut , Lake Mackenzie Hut , Lake Howden Hut are all booked out. how much time it would take for an average hiker to cover all three huts and reaching some meaningful point to get a hostel or so near divide?
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Hi Rajesh,
You’re very welcome. I think it is possible to walk from the flats to the divide. We walked from the flats to Howden hut and arrived by 4PM with a moderate pace, time to enjoy the top, and a half hour stop at Routeburn Falls, and 1 hour-ish stop for lunch at Lake MacKenzie. I believe it’s only about 1.5 hours from Howden Hut to the end, so you could make it to the parking lot all in one day. I’m not sure how far hostels are. I know Milford Sound was about an hour drive from the parking lot, but I’m not sure if there is something closer. I’m sure you could find a hostel or campsite for the night.
Best,
Rachel
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Thanks for your reply. What time did you start from the flats?
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I believe we left around 5AM in the morning so we wouldn’t have to rush.
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Hi Rachel!
I just read your blog about the Routeburn Track! Thanks for the gorgeous pictures! I’m facing the same “problem” The Routeburn Falls huts are all booked but the Routeburn Flats campsite is still available. I’m only worried about the 2nd day longer track. How long did the 2nd day take you? Any insights would be helpful, thank you!
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You’re very welcome! We started early (around 5AM I believe) and took our time, stopped at the Falls Hut for breakfast for awhile, stopped at the top for awhile, hung by Lake Mackenzie for lunch for like 45mins-1 hour, and then made it to Howden Hut by 4:30PM or so I think? It’s definitely do-able. We just left extra time so that could enjoy all the scenery on the trail. Hope that helps!
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We hope to do the Routeburn Track next week. The Routeburn Flats and Howden Lake are the only accommodations left available. After your stay at Routeburn Flats where did you stay subsequent nights on the trail since McKenzie Lake sites were booked out? Thanks for your posts.
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Thats what we did for our stay. We stayed at Routeburn Flats, started early, and made it to Howden Hut the next day in the late afternoon. We did the trail in 2 nights still and did not stay anywhere else. Hope that helps!
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