Blog
Backpacking Washington
Backpacking: Washington: Overnight and Multiday Routes (Mountaineers Books) Paperback – June 1, 2021 Second edition Veteran guidebook author Craig Romano hits the trail again to uncover amazing backpacking opportunities all over Washington’s wilderness. This second edition of Backpacking Washington details 80 routes, from the lush Hoh River Valley to breathtaking vistas in the North Cascades to the open…
Murder Hornets Attracted to Loud Music
Scientists have recently revealed that Asian Giant Hornets, lovingly referred to by many as Murder hornets are attracted to loud music. There have been several incidents over the past year where hikers were viciously attacked and repeatedly stung by the insects. The one thing that every one of these hikers and groups of hikers had…
Pandemic Ponderings
It’s been a long past 12 months. But on this First day of Spring 2021, the sun is finally shining a little bit brighter on us. I spent a lot of time on the trail this past year doing a lot of thinking about us as a society, our relationships with the land, and what…
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Marmots
Happy Groundhog Day! Today marks the 135th Anniversary of this Holiday being celebrated in the United States. The tradition of Groundhog Day in America started with Pennsylvania Germans. The custom of the groundhog predicting weather goes back to ancient Europe where a badger was actually used for the prediction. There are very few badgers in…
100 Classic Hikes Washington
The all-time best-selling hiking guidebook for Washington State This edition has all new hikes, all new maps, and full color throughout Updated by Washington’s most prolific and popular hiking author 100 Classic Hikes: Washington has been an iconic state trails guidebook for decades. Initially written by the godfathers of Washington guidebooks, Ira Spring and Harvey Manning, 100…
Just Released! A Beautiful New Book of Breathtaking Trail Images
Hiking Trails of the Pacific Northwest Get your copy of this gorgeous hardbound book published by Rizzoli New York. The photographs are by Bart Smith. I co-wrote the text with William L. Sullivan. And the Foreword was written by the honorable Daniel Evans.
Finding Solitude in Motorcycle Country
I love wilderness areas—especially wilderness areas with a large W. In those federally protected areas I am assured that the land I will be hiking or camping in is protected from incompatible uses such as resource extraction, roads, and developments. It will remain untrammeled. No bikes, motorcycles, motorized equipment, drones and other modern day intrusions,…
Hike-a-thon was a huge Success!
325.1 miles hikes and more than $7700 raised for our trails! Wow. I am still catching by breath and catching up with my work after an amazing August. Since 2012 I have participated in the Washington Trails Association’s annual Hike-a-thon as a way to have a little fun and help give back to the trails…
Trails too Crowded? Take a Break from Hiking!
Long before Covid-19 disrupted our lives and closed or strongly altered many of our activities, I avoided crowds. I just don’t care to be around large groups of people. I’m no introvert. I love company and companionship—but not crowds—and especially unruly and clueless ones. It’s no secret that our trails, parks, and forests have been…
Day Hiking North Cascades
Day Hiking North Cascades: Mount Baker * North Cascades Highway * Methow Valley * Mountain Loop Highway Paperback – Illustrated, July 2, 2020 This guide covers Mount Baker, the North Cascades Highway (SR 20) corridor, North Cascades National Park, Winthrop and the Methow Valley, the Pasayten Wilderness area, parts of Glacier Peak Wilderness, and the Mountain…