Hike/Climb

Stand on a peak in the North Cascades, and you probably can’t tell whether you’re in Northern Washington or southern British Columbia. Both sides of the Coastal Range offer prominent peaks, often highlighted by glacier and avalanche lilies in the spring, yellow arnica and crimson paintbrush at the height of summer, and an abundance of indigo-hued blueberries in the early …

West Fork Methow River Trail I used to think of this hike along the Methow River as a consolation prize. It was my bail-out destination when the high country around Hart’s Pass was snowed in. But, over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate this beguiling walk along the river in its own right.  One can meander as far as one …

            “Each of us has an Up North. It is a time and a place from the here and now. It’s a map on the wall, a dream in the making, a tugging at one’s soul. For those who feel the tug, who make the dream happen, who put the map in a packsack and go, the world is never …

The mountain that we call Mt. Rainier had another name bestowed upon it, long before European settlers made their way to the Pacific Northwest: Tahoma. Tahoma means “frozen water,” or “snow-covered mountain,” or “the source of nourishment.” All of these are far more eloquent—and apropos—descriptions than “Mt. Rainier.” I can’t help but notice that the middle sound of the word …

Of all the seasons, autumn is unquestionably the glory time in the North Cascades. The high country is open for exploration, the snow mostly gone, the bugs done for the season, and the meadows are ablaze in a kaleidoscope of vibrant color. The crowds––like the insects–– have thinned, and the nights are crisp and ablaze with stars. The sense of …

The weather wasn’t ideal. The views weren’t guaranteed. Before I left home, I made myself a promise: if I was going to spend the day on the mountain, I wasn’t just going to see it—I was going to experience it. Somewhere between the clouds, the wildflowers, and a hidden glacier, I discovered that the greatest gifts are often the ones …

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 …

The saying, “Build it, and they will come,” is true: the Olympic Discovery Trail, with nearly ninety-five miles already completed, is a magnet for walkers, hikers, and bikers. It wanders through evergreen forest, crosses over gently flowing rivers, stretches along pristine lakeshore, traverses prairie farmland, and borders lovely marine shoreline. This multi-use pathway highlights incredibly scenic portions of the Olympic …

I left my cabin in the drizzle and dark. Beyond a bluff on the Oregon coast, gulls hovered and wheeled, their cries riding the wind above the waves. I pedaled my bike past pools left behind when the ocean abandoned the land. Haystack Rock stood in the surf like a mountain risen from the sea. On its grassy slope, puffins …

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, …