On June 11th through June 16th several Zapponians, vendor reps, a customer winner, and a couple guides journeyed to Washington state in an attempt to summit Mount Rainier. Very well known around the world as a must-do for the hiking enthusiast, Mount Rainier is located approximately 54 miles southeast of Seattle. With a peak sitting at 13,210 feet at it's highest, Rainier is an excellent journey for those looking for a tough, but rewarding expedition and definitely serves as a must-have feather for any adventurer's cap.

Zappos was lucky to be represented by Andy H., Kelly., Lindsay R., Braden M., Megan R., and Alicia M. Jesse and Ed, two of our vendor reps from our new outdoor gear brand C.A.M.P. USA and well known footwear company La Sportiva, respectively, also lent themselves to the journey. Some time ago there used to be a button on the outdoor vertical site that allowed people to click on it to enter into a drawing to join everyone on the trip to Rainier. A gentlemen named Hugh, who amusingly could not say what he did for a living, but only that he worked for the government, was the lucky customer winner of that contest. Hugh joined the group along with mountain guides Jason, Eric, and Bob.

"It was like rollin' with a posse, all that luggage and our big group," says Alicia. Due to the imposing nature of this trip, however, the size of the group was necessary and the preparation was intense.

"They did a gear check on what we already had and what we would need...and we hiked up to clearing with areas that had some steepness to them, specifically for ice arrests, techniques and how to actually walk on snow," Alicia explained.

"Day two we were just practicing our snow skills," she continues, "we did different techniques for walking on snow in high terrain. We did a cross-over walk in crampons...then we did what's called a duck walk. We practiced without our crampons on descending from steep areas in the snow...we roped up together and did rope work...then we did self arrests, which is when you fall and your sliding down and you have to dig your ice axe into the snow and really kick your feet to stop yourself."

With all that intense training, the proper gear was definitely a must. Fortunately for the group, Jesse from C.A.M.P. USA was there to provide ice axes, crampons, and helmets. Even so, there were still the basics to be met, as Alicia again explains. "I had my backpack, my Jansport Whittaker, I had base layers, tops and bottoms, and Grandoe gloves. We had to get plastic, heavier duty boots that had an insulated inside. I ended up having to by an extra water bottle and I forgot to buy silverware and a bowl so I was borrowing other people's," she finishes with a chuckle.

Fortunately for the group, everything went really well and there were no accidents or problems. "We had perfect weather, we got really lucky," Alicia says. "It was cold, but as far as wind and any other kind of weather it was perfect. Another group...was going a day before us to the summit. The night they left it was freezing cold and the wind was just brutal. We were all in the tents sleeping, but I couldn't believe they went up, it was just crazy. Not all of them made it, but the majority of their party did," she concludes.

In the end the trip was a great success. Would she do it again? "Yes!" she replies emphatically, "it was an unforgettable experience. As hard as part of it was, I just kept thinking I would do this again in a heartbeat. I’m so happy I was lucky enough to experience this with old friends, new friends, and got to build relationships with reps and customers! The guides said we were one of the craziest and most fun groups they’d ever had. What would you expect though, we’re from Zappos!"

Who doesn't love animals? You might have a brand new puppy at home or a curmudgeonly cat who feels he runs the entire household, but how often do you get to see wild animals up close and personal? Animals are a feature of many U.S. outdoor vacations, and Arbuckle Wilderness is no exception.

We used to go to Arbuckle at least once a year when I was a teenager, and some of my favorite memories include staring out the window of my parents' minivan, watching the animals as they grazed on lush vegetation or herded one another from one end of the park to another.

Animals you'll find in Arbuckle Wilderness range from giraffes to monkeys to lions and tigers to zebras, goats and even rhinoceroses.

Arbuckle Wilderness offers a number of activities, from hay rides with knowledgeable park rangers to walk-thru and drive-thru tours of the animals. Visitors can purchase feed cups with which to charm the more docile animals, and they arrange cook-outs for large parties and family reunions. The walk-thru zoo allows you to pet and sometimes feed the animals, including monkeys and lemurs.

Even if you aren't quite as fascinated by animals as I've always been, you and the kids will probably enjoy the amusement park at Arbuckle Wilderness. It doesn't hold a candle to Six Flags or Disney World, but Go-Carts and Bumper Boats have a certain charm. The walk-thru zoo allows you to pet and sometimes feed the animals, including monkeys and lemurs.

If you want to stay in the Arbuckle area, you might want to check out the log cabins, cottages and lake houses they offer for rent throughout the region.

It gets chilly in the evenings at Arbuckle Wilderness, even in the summer time, so you'll want to pack a sweatshirt or two, such as the Ezekiel Nevermind Reversible Hoodie (for women) or Adio Repent Hoodie (for men.) You might also want a pair of sturdy hiking boots to protect your feet and a camera to capture the event.

Make sure you also bring some spare cash if you want to feed the animals or ride the rides! Arbuckle Wilderness is located off Interstate-35 in Murray County, Oklahoma, about one hour from OKC and about two hours from Dallas, Texas.