Lissy L'Amoreaux: A Wanderful Life

East coaster turned west coaster, Lissy grew up in upstate NY around lakes and waterfalls which sparked her love for nature and the outdoors. As a person who isn’t a fan of winter, she made Los Angeles her home and really enjoys all that the city has to offer. There truly is something for everyone in LA, and with the ideal weather any activity can be enjoyed all year round. Since her very first trip overseas to New Zealand and Australia, she makes it a point to travel to a new country each year. Her husband and her husky Cloud are her main travel and activity partners.

We love following your adventures throughout California, and beyond. What are some of your favorite local spots for adventure?

I live in Los Angeles, and there is no shortage of things to do – all year round! On the weekends you can often find me at local beaches – Playa Del Rey, South Bay, Malibu or hiking nearby.

There are hundreds of great hikes in my vicinity, but my favorites I frequent are: Solstice Canyon, Westridge Canyon, Will Rogers St. Park, Franklin Canyon, Kenneth Hahn Park and of course Griffith Park.

Southern California is a place where you have access to a variety of outdoor activities year-round. What are some of your favorite activities, and how did you become involved in them?

Hiking – I hike pretty much every weekend when I can, either locally or on a road trip.

Biking – When I’m not hiking or when it’s hot out, I have the Ballona bike path behind my house so I am able to ride my bike to the beach and the path along PCH. I also enjoy mountain biking in places like Mammoth or Big Bear.

Kayaking – I will kayak in any lake or body of water that I’m able to! My most recent was Convict Lake up in Mammoth.

Snorkel/Scuba diving/Paddle boarding/other water sports- when I can, these are ones I would like to get back into more. I love being by the water, swimming and doing any sports or activities in the water.

All of these activities I’ve done since I was young- I grew up in the finger lakes region of upstate NY, where there are lots of lake activities, trails and plenty of waterfall and state park areas to explore.

How has living a life of outdoor adventures made a positive impact on your life?

For one, it keeps me fit! I am not a gym person other than yoga, and I like to eat, so living an active lifestyle outside keeps me in shape and doesn’t feel like work.

Since I live in a big city and work in advertising, I’m constantly fighting traffic, crowds, and crazy days at the office. It’s nice to escape to the

outdoors to relieve stress and break away from the constant hustle. I like being in LA because it gives me the opportunity to have both a city and nature lifestyle which gives me a good balance.

We see you travel around the Southwest quite frequently. What are some of your favorite trails in the region?

I love Utah and Arizona the most in that region. The Narrows is my favorite hike to date in Utah. Antelope Canyon is really unique and you can’t go wrong with pretty much any trail in Sedona!

What are some of your “bucket list” adventure destinations or activities?

I have a REALLLY long bucket list. But here are some highlights–local, and international:

Big Pine Lakes
Glacier National Park
Mt Rainier National Park
Havasupai Falls
The Wave
Vancouver and surrounding areas in Canada
Greenland
Iceland
Peru- Machu Picchu
Africa – Egypt and a safari
And many many more!

What are some of the most hilarious or memorable stories or achievements from your travels and adventures?

The hardest hikes I’ve ever done are Camelback Mountain, and Siphon Draw/Flatiron trail in AZ, and of course the famous Angel’s Landing in Utah. When I first started hiking, I could barely complete 2 miles and that was mostly on flat terrain. Now I average between 5-6 miles a hike–with any ascent, and have really pushed myself to overcome hiking with steep ascents and drop offs!

Another really challenging adventure was abseiling into the Waitoma Caves in New Zealand. Dropping down into the cave was no problem, but climbing up the 50m ladder to get out was pretty scary!

I have a problem with ascents vs descents, so I’ve been trying to push myself to over come that so I can enjoy these great places. So far, I’ve come a long way!

We at This Adventure Life want our readers to live life fearlessly in the pursuit of living their ideal life. What would your advice be for someone who wants to live fearlessly and pursue their wildest dreams?

I know it’s cliche, but If you work hard and go after what you want, you’ll get it! Never let fear or insecurity hold you back from what you want to do.

I was a small town country girl who moved to LA with nothing but $5k in savings and a car. I didn’t take any money from my family, and I got a job at a movie studio without having a single connection or contact in the business. I often felt discouraged and I struggled at times, but I never settled or made any excuses. I set goals and just figured things out.

I learned that certain things take time and dedication, and even if it seems so sometimes for others, nothing happens overnight. Use that as motivation and don’t compare yourself to others. You’ll make it if you just go for it!

Where is your next big adventure?

I’m heading back to Sedona in November, for Devils Bridge, Soldier’s Pass, and anything else I can fit in! I also plan to finally do the Bridge to Nowhere hike here in Los Angeles, once it cools down. Next year I’ve got London and Italy on the books!