Glamping in Oregon

An adventure-loving couple takes a more luxurious route to celebrate their anniversary.

When my wife, Tonya, and I explain the unique way we first met, we tend to get strange looks. Twelve years ago, we were introduced on Mount Everest and climbed together to the top of Earth’s highest point.

I’d been hired as a cinematographer for an expedition film project, and Tonya was one of the crew members. When we arrived in Nepal, romance wasn’t on either of our minds. But you can’t help but reveal your true personality in mountaineering, and our experiences on Everest helped us get to know each other. We’ve been experiencing life and going on adventures together ever since.

We enjoyed breakfast on our quaint patio and decided to head up the coast to find out what Oregon had to offer. Our drives along the Pacific Ocean and through the deep forests were breathtaking.

On our first day, we enjoyed kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on the Nehalem River, crabbing in Nehalem Bay and exploring the famous Cannon Beach. Some of the secluded spots along the shore were incredibly beautiful and offered a chance to relax while listening to the ocean. At the end of the day, we headed back to our base camp for more wine, food and even movies on TV. Would we survive another day of such hardship? Only time would tell.

The second day was just as satisfying. We rode scooters along the beach and hiked gorgeous trails in Hug Point State Park, which featured trees and stunning fern forests. Along the way, we picked blackberries along quiet paths. We even managed to squeeze in a couple’s massage. Hunting for seashells, starfish and sand dollars along the beach was a big change from the days when we would toil across glaciers and spend hours hacking out tent platforms in the high-altitude ice.

This trip had no steep ice slopes or hidden crevasses on frozen glaciers. There were no cold tents or small stoves to light. Instead, we enjoyed our second evening by the fire pit with prosecco. The next morning, we packed and drove along scenic highways to Portland for flights back home.

Glamping proved to be the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary. Tonya and I experienced all nature had to offer against a vivid ocean and mountain backdrop, but we also enjoyed the luxury of our cabin by the sea.

Mountaineering represents the essence of who I am. It is a physical and mental endeavor that requires you to make serious decisions in risk-prone environments. Glamping can’t replace that thrill. However, I walked away from Oregon smiling and reflecting on what makes travel, nature and adventure worthwhile. It turns out that glamping and high-altitude climbs share something in common: The most valuable part of both experiences is spending time with people you love and respect.

Have we become soft? Hardly. Are we acting older? Probably. Is that a problem? Not so much. Tonya is sending me daily emails about our next glamping possibilities. Life evolves. Here we go.