I ride bikes year-round in all weather for both commuting and exercise, but please don’t call me a bicyclist. I’m just a human being who uses bicycles as tools for a healthier, happier, and more affordable lifestyle. Why the semantics? Because the term ‘bicyclist’ is a term that dehumanizes people who ride bikes in the eyes of some people. “Get …

Hannegan Peak Few hikes in the North Cascades offer a better, more intimate view of Mt. Shuksan than the hike to Hannegan Peak. The trek up the Ruth Creek Valley is beautiful in its own right, a tonic for the winter-weary soul. After a brief, rigorous climb to Hannegan Pass, turn left on the trail to the peak, then hike …

Some years ago, I had an amazing experience. I was in Indonesia on the island of Bali, travelling with my family. We had been exploring the inspiring landscapes and culture of this incredible island, completely spellbound by the unfamiliar. We heard talk about some islands off the coast of Lombok (the next island in the Indonesian chain) known as the …

Jones Island Loop Located in the San Juan Archipelago, Jones Island is a place apart: rocky shores, sculpted cliffs, beautiful madrone forests, and impressive groves of weather-beaten Garry Oaks. From the dock on the northern shore of Jones Island, an ADA-accessible trail crosses through deep coastal forest to the southern shore and the delightfully named Raccoon Island Campground. From here, …

Was this the worst coffee I’d ever tasted?  A definite possibility. Clearly, the pot had been sitting on the burner for many hours (days? weeks?) with just enough viscous liquid in the bottom to pour two cups, one for Susan and one for me. We were sitting in a somewhat shop-worn restaurant perched above the shores of the Strait of …

The sojourn to Huntoon Point is a study in contrasts – it starts amidst the hustle and bustle of the Mt. Baker Ski Area and ends in the serene silence of Kulshan Ridge, where the icy winds blowing off the glaciers will cleanse your soul. If there’s a snowshoe trip with more scenic bang for the buck in the North …

Troubled by the increasing levels of trash along Whatcom Creek in Bellingham, Washington, Matt Bryant decided to do something about it, and Trash Club was born in 2020. Bryant brought the idea to The Hub Community Bike Shop, a Bellingham-based non-profit committed to keeping waste out of landfills by building refurbished and custom bikes with donated frames and parts. What prompted you …

Eagle Creek For waterfall lovers, it doesn’t get much better than the Eagle Creek Trail, one of the premier hikes in the Columbia Gorge. This supremely well-engineered trail follows its namesake creek up through a verdant gorge that’s as green as St. Patrick’s Day. In places, Italian engineers blasted the route out of the basalt cliffs, and chain “handrails” are …

If you want to experience impermanence, I recommend a visit to the Dawes Glacier, located at the head of Endicott Arm in the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness of Southeast Alaska. The approach up the sinuous fjord, beneath the towering cliffs and countless waterfalls (many of them unnamed), will prepare you for the spectacle. The ice is eternal…and ephemeral. When the …

Windy Pass The hike to Windy Pass is one of the most user-friendly hikes in the North Cascades. Suitable as a day hike or (better still) backpack, this stretch of the PCT literally glides along an open ridge with splendid views, starting right at the trailhead. In fact, the Windy Pass Trailhead is the highest automobile-accessible trailhead in Washington. Round-trip …