Kim is vegan and a 50 states 🇺🇲 marathon finisher. She enjoys travelling and hiking in the mountains. Her every New Years’ resolution? Take more adventures.

She has a new word in her dictionary – Travitude (n.)attitude caused by restlessness and lack of travel. Meatless Movement recently had a chance to chat with her.

Tell us more about yourself, please

Hi, I’m Kim, originally from Chicagoland, went to college in Michigan and now live in Denver with my husband and 2 dogs.

And while I love travel and exploring… I am actually very much a homebody

mountainkimbo
mountainkimbo

I am definitely a mountains over beach girl. I love finding new areas to explore. Growing up in the midwest, my family often vacationed at our National Lakeshores but I never really appreciated the beauty until recently.

I started an App years ago mainly to document my National Park travels and 50 state marathons. Then I got a little more involved with it when we live the RV life full-time. It was a great way to network with other outdoor enthusiasts.

Mesmorized watching the waves crash into the cliffs

mountainkimbo
“Until one has loved a dog, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ❤🐾 –
mountainkimbo

I’ve always loved landscape photography but never wanted to invest the time (or money) into an actual camera.

This past Christmas, Mike and I finally bought a Sony and regret not buying one year ago. Phones can take awesome pictures but they will never capture what a real camera can. Can’t wait to keep learning and experimenting 📸

This heart of mine was made to travel. I have an insane calling to be where I’m not.

Hawaii – whenever I needed a reset.

mountainkimbo

Hawaii Volcanoes landscape is forever changing. I was fortunate to revisit after my trip here many years ago. This time, I got to witness an eruption and lava flowing across the summit crater floor of Kilauea volcano both nights.

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I get rewarded with not only an awesome view when I hike in the mountains, but also a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands. Nowhere will you find more company of a soothing peace-be-still kind.

I realized adventures are the best way to learn too.

Some people travel because they have places to go. Others travel because the journey is their true home. They want to see and experience and live as much as possible in their short time on this earth.

I do miss the days of being able to be spontaneous; not having to worry about planning every little aspect and having to apply for everything.

Ready is an understatement. I may be slightly obsessed

mountainkimbo

I often forget how underrated our national monuments are just because they aren’t one of the 62 designated national “park” sites. Our monuments are filled with so much history, beauty and culture and I am going to make it a priority to explore more of them (along with finishing visiting our parks).

I am always homesick for all the places I’ve never been. I am not bored, just restless between adventures.

I’m usually the one always itching to go somewhere and planning our weekends out. Discovering more and more beautiful places in the US.

Do you like to visit the same place more than once? I’m learning revisiting beautiful places can still be a fun and different experience and you can gain a new perspective each time.

The journey is the destination – mountainkimbo

Decision to go vegan and stay vegan

Is there anything better than an escape to an eco friendly, tropical paradise that includes the most delicious plant based brunch

mountainkimbo

I actually read the book “the jungle” in high school for extra credit and that night I remember not eating my mom’s spaghetti/meatballs and never ate meat again. About 5 years ago I went vegan.

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I played soccer and ran in highschool and college, i remember my parents so worried i wouldn’t be strong enough but i was actually the healthiest and in the best shape of my life then.

I think people just need to not only give vegetarian/vegan products a try and be willing to experiment and have fun with certain seasonings, non meat/dairy options. But also, education is so important. Certain documentaries are eye opening- What the Health, Cowspiracy, Forks over Knives, Game Changers, Food Inc.

There is never a better time to be vegan than now

mountainkimbo

I feel at peace being vegan. Knowing i did not cause harm to any animal (or the planet) with what I am eating. Nowadays its so much more easier to order and find vegan products. There is so much more available than 10-20 years ago. 

Whole Foods, Sprouts and Trader Joes are my go to when shopping Native foods and Veggie Grill are my favorite restaurants. 

People continue to deny science and climate change

mountainkimbo

The trouble is, you think you have time – The biggest lie humans can believe is that we have all the time in the world.

Only when the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.

I think many people believe you can’t be strong being vegan.  I have run a marathon/half marathon in every state being vegan as well as hike numerous Colorado 14ers.  I just hope more people open their minds and eyes and hearts to living kindly.

mountainkimbo

ᨏTravel•Natl Parks•Hiking ᨏ
IL/MI￫ RVlife 🚐￫ CO🏡🥾📍
50 states 🇺🇲 marathon finisher 🏃‍♀️👟🏅
58/63 US National Parks 🏞🏜🏝
9/49 Canada National Parks 🗻💍🌲🇨🇦
Ⓥ🌱🐾❤ 🌎
🐕 mom

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all images courtesy of mountainkimbo