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Smash and Grab! What’s a hiker to do?
There’s nothing like spending a day on the trail deep in the wilderness far from the ills of modern society–to return to your vehicle at the trailhead to see that the ills of modern society have paid you a visit. Car break-ins, smash-and-grabs, car clouting-whatever you want to call it is far too common at…
Read MoreHappy Presidents’ Day and a Bipartisan plea for more Mount Roosevelts
Today is the day we honor our presidents. I remember when we had two separate holidays in February for specific presidents—one for Lincoln’s birthday and one for Washington’s. But somewhere down the road of watering down holidays to make them just three day weekends and excuses to go shopping, we amalgamated those two days into…
Read MoreNational Squirrel Appreciation Day–what a nutty idea!
How could I get through most of January 21st without realizing that it is National Squirrel Appreciation Day? Yep-another one of those appreciation days decreed by some declaration somewhere sometime in the past. Evidently this one was founded back in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator in Asheville, North Carolina in the Great Smoky…
Read MoreTwenty-five and going strong-What a streak!
Oh how I wish this headline referred to my age-but alas time keeps marching on! And boy has it! It was January 1990 when I entered and ran my first Nookachamps Winter Run race. And I have run in this race every year since. Yesterday marked my 25th consecutive Nookachamps! It is my longest running…
Read MoreMeet Mazie the Manx
Many of you know that last February, I lost one of the loves of my life, when Scruffy Gray headed to kitty heaven. Scruffers’ departure left a huge hole in my heart and a vacancy in my home office. Giuseppe our Maine coon is still with us and while he is great at getting me…
Read MoreWinter Sunsets set my heart aglow!
I absolutely love winter sunsets–and there’s no better place to experience them than at the ocean. Now, naturally some of the finest sunsets that I have witnessed have been along the Pacific Ocean–particularly at Olympic National Park. Pick a dry spell at this rainy coast and be delighted with a fiery red horizon come late…
Read MoreHere Comes the Sun
Do you celebrate the Winter Solstice? Most folks who partake in the more secular aspects of the Christmas season in essence do celebrate the Solstice in one way or another. For me, this time of year is usually a deeply reflective time. In fact, when the Solstice arrives with its promise of more daylight each…
Read MoreSugar Maples and Joshua Trees–On the Trail in 2013
I love this time of the year. The short days and long nights of the Winter Solstice prompting me to slow down, recharge, reflect, and relax. The spiritual and joyous nature of Christmas instilling in me hope, renewal and an appreciation of family, friends and blessings. And the excitement of the New Year allowing me to…
Read MoreMerry Christmas Bird Count!
There was a great front page story today in my local newspaper, the Skagit Valley Herald on the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts in the county. Skagit County is one of the best places in Washington state for bird watching and this region is known for its thousands of wintering snow geese, trumpeter and tundra swans,…
Read MoreSave the Whistler Canyon Trailhead!
The Whistler Canyon Trail (Hike no. 2 in my Day Hiking Eastern Washington book) is a gem. Located just south of Oroville, this Okanogan River Valley Trail is part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. One of the best places in the state to see California bighorn sheep, this trail also offers stunning valley…
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