Sheep Lake Backpack
With my son off to teen camp this week, I wanted to do something special with my 8-year-old daughter (she has picked the trail name Queen Alacorn, or QA). She really wanted to go backpacking with me,...
View ArticleColumbia Gorge Discovery Center – Spring Break 2014
This is the fifth post from our Spring Break Trip. We are almost done! The first was about hikes from the Catherine Creek Trailhead. The second post was about the Vista House and Gorge waterfalls....
View ArticleFinding Nature Around the Edges
We got back last week from spending two weeks with my parents. A large chunk of that time was spent driving down to California and back for my cousin’s wedding. Dad drove the truck and RV down, and...
View ArticleGear Review: Lowepro Passport Sling III and Toploader Zoom AW II
Earlier this year, Lowepro sent me some more camera bags to review. First is the Passport Sling III, a sling-style camera bag with room for much more. I use this bag all the time now. It’s become my...
View ArticleThe Hike That Wasn’t
I was so excited last Friday to take my new friend Susana on a hike in the mountains. She just moved here from Spain a few months ago, and I wanted to show her the beauty of our wilderness. We …...
View ArticleMt. Rainier, End-of-Summer Fling, Part 1(Paradise and Cougar Rock)
We are gearing up to begin our school term in another week, and we wanted one last big trip to enjoy the gorgeous weather at the end of summer. I had been yearning to get to Paradise to see the …...
View ArticleMt. Rainier Fling Part 2, Backpacking to Snow Lake
In Part 1 of this series, I wrote about our first day at Mt. Rainier last week. This post covers our second and third days, backpacking to Bench and Snow Lakes. We took our time on Tuesday morning,...
View ArticleHunting Beauty
I am a hunter of beauty and I move slow and I keep the eyes wide, every fiber of every muscle sensing all wonder and this is the thrill of the hunt and I could be an expert on the … Continue reading →
View ArticleBook Review: Day Hiking the San Juans and Gulf Islands by Craig Romano
I was fortunate to receive a review copy of Craig Romano’s new hiking guide, Day Hiking The San Juans and Gulf Islands. I’ve been browsing through it often, and found my mind was opened to new...
View ArticleGuemes Channel and Ship Harbor Trail, Anacortes
A couple of weeks ago we took advantage of a warm afternoon to hike a new trail to us: Guemes Channel and Ship Harbor Trails up in Anacortes. We found these little gems in Craig Romano’s newest hiking...
View ArticleFeels Like Home: Another Trip to Big Four Ice Caves
There are some places we go that just feel like home. We’ve been there many times over the years, sometimes multiple times a year. We’ve seen these places in all different seasons and weather. Big Four...
View ArticleLarch Love: Blue Lake (North Cascades) Trip Report
If you spend much time around serious Washington hikers, you are sure to hear stories of the mythical larch. You’ll see photos of glowing golden trees set against bluebird skies, brilliant red...
View ArticleConstruction Mode
I’m in the middle of a major website overhaul, so you might see some glitches and messes. When I’m done, I hope the site will be more appealing and useful! But in the meantime, there are some things...
View ArticleBook Review: The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby
The North Cascades Cover, Photo by Thom Schroeder A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to attend one of the book launch gatherings for a new book. The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in...
View ArticleBirding Camano Island – Port Susan Bay and Iverson Spit
Mt. Baker from Port Susuan Bay We’ve had some lovely sunny, cold weather here lately, and we were happy to have time on Friday to enjoy it. I’m recovering from some chronic foot problems, and am only...
View Article2015 Northwest Flower and Garden Show
Romance! Flowers! Lush greenery! Excitement! My kids and I love the Flower and Garden Show. We look forward to it every year, and enjoy seeing the display gardens, shopping in the marketplace, learning...
View ArticleWinter Camping – Salt Creek Recreation Area and Dungeness Spit
Camping in February? This was a first for my family. I don’t think I’ve ever braved late winter/early spring camping before, but the weather was looking so nice, and we had two bonus days off from...
View ArticleMcLane Creek – Trip Report, 3/7/15
I’ve been on restriction and not allowed to hike since last October. But now I’m allowed short walks on mostly level ground, so I’ve been trying to find walks that are easy and flat but still give me a...
View ArticleBook Review and Giveaway: How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott Sampson
A decade ago, Richard Louv came out with the groundbreaking book Last Child in the Woods. He sounded the alarm for parents and caregivers about how our children are not getting enough time in nature,...
View ArticleOdds and Ends
I thought I’d take a moment today to catch up on some of the details of what’s been going on here on the website. I’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes. First of all, congratulations to Sarah...
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