Day Hiking North Cascades
Independence Day Themed Hikes to set you Free!
Happy Independence Day! Hiking and spending time in the outdoors is a great way to celebrate our nation’s independence. Our parks, forests and preserves are one of the best attributes of our nation (along with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of course)! Here are eight great Independence Day themed Washington hikes for you…
Read MoreInslee axes full funding for Blanchard– beloved Oyster Dome threatened with clear-cutting
It was nearly one year ago when I first reported to you that one of Puget Sound’s most popular hiking spots may soon succumb to clear cut logging. The Oyster Dome, the Pearl of the Chuckanut Mountains—the only place in the Cascades where the mountains meet the Salish Sea—is in very real danger of being…
Read MoreThe Moose is Loose in Washington State
I grew up hiking in New Hampshire, one of the moose-densest states in the union. Moose are everywhere in the Granite State. Highway signs warn of hitting them which is a real road hazard in the state. On return trips to my home state to hike and paddle, I almost always see these largest members…
Read MoreThe Oyster Dome to be Clear-cut?
One of Puget Sound’s most popular hiking spots may soon succumb to clear cut logging. The Oyster Dome, the Pearl of the Chuckanut Mountains—the only place in the Cascades where the mountains meet the Salish Sea—is being considered for a large logging operation. A large segment of trails including a portion of the Pacific Northwest…
Read MoreWashington’s Top Three White-knuckle Trailhead Roads
It’s nice when we can reach our favorite trailheads via nice paved roads—or at least wide, well-graded and regularly maintained gravel roads. But unfortunately that’s not usually the case—and we are often faced with the dilemma of having to drive a harrowing road to get to the trail. While some of us drive pickups and…
Read MoreThree Western Washington Bursting with Autumn Colors Hikes without the Crowds
Seasoned Northwest Hikers know that the best fall foliage hikes in the region involve larch trees. Washington’s larches are legendary when it comes to gorgeous colors. But many of Washington’s larch hikes are also quite popular. It can get downright crowded at places like Maple Pass, Lake Ingalls, and Cutthroat Pass. Fortunately there are quieter…
Read MoreLarch Madness
October is one of my favorite months to hike. I love the cool nights—warm days—and vibrant foliage. But this is the Evergreen State, where Douglas-firs, western hemlocks, and western red cedars make up most of the vast forests of western Washington. I pine for the deciduous forests of the northern Appalachians where the hillsides turn…
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