In a boulder field just below the summit of Mailbox Peak, a chatty pika babbles away, seeking attention from any and all. Its urgent tone reminds...
By Mike McQuaide | June 26, 2008
From the wide waters of the mighty Columbia River to the top of the
blue and gold wildflower buttes above, Columbia Hills State Park is all
about the past, the present and the future.
By Greg Johnston | May 15, 2008
Blanchard Mountain towers more than 2,200 feet above Samish Bay -- along with adjacent Chuckanut Mountain it's the only place where the Cascade Range touches the briny tidelands.
By Greg Johnston | May 8, 2008
Sometime in the spring, when most area ski lifts roll to a halt, I
imagine dogs across town heave a communal sigh of relief. The season of
their people heading to the mountains without them is finally over.
Now, when the backcountry beckons, dogs -- trail dogs, that is -- can
answer the call. Ahhhh-ooooh.
By Lisa Wogan | May 12, 2008
Outdoor enthusiasts love the holiday season.
By Dan A. Nelson | December 7, 2006
Hike of the Week
The Snoqualmie Lake Trail No. 1002 is a long haul no matter where you start.
It begins on the Taylor River Road in the Middle Fork Valley near North Bend. Our Mountaineers club group preferred starting there rather than the alternate approach from Dorothy Lake on U.S. Route 2, a long drive.
The Dorothy Lake Trail is easier, but it is still a long walk, putting Snoqualmie Lake just beyond the reach for most day hikers.
By Karen Sykes | August 31, 2006
Hike of the Week
We prefer trails with solitude but make an exception for trails at Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park. Here, hikers and non-hikers mingle, all part of the experience because everyone's happy when The Mountain is out.
Some of the best hiking at Sunrise begins on the Sourdough Ridge Trail, whether you are a seasoned backpacker or a first-time visitor seeking a short stroll for unobstructed views of Mount Rainier.
By Karen Sykes | August 24, 2006
Hike of the Week
You'd better be jolly if you take this hike on a hot day, especially with time constraints. You may find yourself grumbling well before you get to the summit because the trail is anything but good-natured.
Want solitude? If so, this trail is ideal since few hikers tackle it in summer because you have to gain a lot of elevation for views that are more easily gotten from other trails. True, you may run into an occasional horseback rider or motorbike, but I had this multiple-use trail all to myself on a recent day.
By Karen Sykes | August 17, 2006
Hike of the Week
What's the difference between a tarn and a lake? If you go as far as Wildcat Lakes, you'll get a feel for the difference, because you'll see both.
Webster's dictionary defines a lake as a "considerable body" of standing water and a tarn as a "small, steep-banked mountain lake or pool."
By Karen Sykes | August 3, 2006
Hike of the Week
As much as I try to resist such adjectives as "best," that shopworn word does describe the hike to Ingalls Lake, a popular destination in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Forgo fancies of solitude, or visit in fall when the tarns freeze and the larch trees turn color. Then it will be cold enough that you may not want to get out of your sleeping bag.
By Karen Sykes | July 20, 2006
