Hi, I’m Lisa “Deepdive” Holmes, a graphic designer, photographer, and outdoor adventurer based in Portland, Oregon.
I like to go on overnight trips year round, backpacking from late spring to fall. Once backpacking season ends, instead of carrying everything on my back to reach overnight destinations, I’m camping in my car – literally – usually at the coast in Oregon & Washington.
In between trips, I hike in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Coast Range, and in the Cascade Mountains and foothills, and I post trip reports of all of these adventures on this website.
I Heart Pacific Northwest website
Initially started in 2007 for posting trip reports, this website has evolved to become a resource for info about hiking, backpacking, and camping – with sections on gear, outdoor apparel, skills, and food. I write all of the articles on this site myself, and I don’t accept guest posts, ads, sponsorships, or paid content. My goal is to help empower others to go on outdoor adventures with easy to understand info that isn’t biased due to outside influences.
Thank you for being a reader and supporter of this blog! And feel free to reach out with questions about the site’s content… I love talking to the trail community! Connect via the email and social media links at the bottom of the page.
“Best Blogs” Listings
- Adventure Junkies – Top 25 Hiking Blogs of 2025
- Feedspot – Top 25 Backpacking in the U.S. Blogs
- Brooke in Boots: The 23 Best Hiking Blogs to Plan Your Next Adventure
Support
Wanna support this website? I’m determined to provide free content without bias from sponsorships or paid advertising. Any support you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
- “Buy Me a Coffee” for as little as $5 (click on the orange button at the side of the page, no signup needed)
- Use these affiliate links when buying gear (at no additional cost to you): REI Co-op, Garage Grown Gear, Outdoor Vitals, Sea-to-Summit, Therm-a-Rest, Enlightened Equipment, Zenbivy
Gear Reviews
I’m a bit of a gear nerd, and I frequently test and review gear for outdoor companies. Check out my gear reviews and outdoor apparel reviews on this site. My policy is to only review gear that I regularly use and would recommend to others. If you have a product that you would like me to consider reviewing, please contact me. Media kit available on request.
How I Got Started Hiking
In 2007, I moved from Kansas City to Portland with my husband, thinking I was moving here for the city. I didn’t even think about the outdoors other than I’d be close to the coast for the first time in my life.
To get to know our new home, I began collecting all kinds of touristy info, and a brochure for hiking at Silver Falls State Park in Silverton, Oregon got me interested in giving hiking a try. After doing that hike, I fell in love with spending time discovering trails.
Initially, the concept of spending time in the wilderness made me uncomfortable. There were so many unknowns. I had never hiked until I moved here. I hadn’t even spent that much time outside. And I certainly had never been a strong person. At the age of 22, I had ovarian cancer and it took a toll on my body. That was over 40 years ago and now I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, and I have the wilderness to thank for that.
To get past the things that make me feel uneasy, I try to learn and practice new skills and push myself while keeping safety at the forefront of the experience. I also love landscape photography and am constantly learning how to be a better photographer. I’m not sure that process ever ends…
Getting Started Backpacking
In 2015, I went on my first ever backpacking trip. I’d been leading hiking trips through Meetup for a couple of years, and the women in those groups went to places that I’d never been and didn’t think I was capable of getting to. A friend took me on an easy trip and showed me the ropes, and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. Since getting started, I’ve been on almost 90 trips in Oregon and Washington, and I’m hoping to make it to 100 in a couple of years.
After taking a series of beginner backpacking classes, I teamed with the instructor to create a book about getting started backpacking. I want to share this experience with more people and give them the skills they need to get out there and discover how empowering the wilderness can be. I love getting stronger every day, and now I can’t imagine life without spending as much time as possible in the backcountry.
Camping
I also love camping, whether it’s glam camping in a tent, or camping in my car during the winter. My favorite places to camp are at the Oregon Coast and in the foothills and forests of the Cascades. See my favorite campgrounds in the Where to Go section of this site.
Guidebooks
I’m a graphic designer specializing in publication design and map design, so creating my own hiking guidebooks has been a good way to tie my love of hiking in with my design skills.
- Memorable Backcountry Meals: 44 Recipes Worth Making
- I Heart Backpacking: How to Get Started
- I Heart Oregon’s Seven Wonders
- I Heart Oregon (& Washington): 25 of the Portland Area’s Best Hikes
Giving Back
I believe that we are all responsible for taking care of the places that we adventure in. A good way to do that is to follow low impact practices and be a mindful steward of the wilderness. Supporting organizations that focus on protecting, maintaining, and advocating for outdoor recreation areas is another good way to give back. These are the organizations that I’ve supported: