Beyond Grand Park

Beyond Grand Park - Rainier

One of my favorite hikes here in the Pacific Northwest is Grand Park and it’s one I do nearly every year.  But, this year we went a bit further.  Although the views at Grand Park are A…Mazing (look at these), Continue reading Beyond Grand Park

Big Four Ice Caves

Trail to Big Four Ice Caves

It’s January, so it’s time to renew my hiking exploits.  A couple of weeks ago some friends and I decided to head to Big Four Ice Caves off the Mountain Loop Highway in Western Washington. In my usual way, I Continue reading Big Four Ice Caves

Not Just an Average Water Taxi & a Hike Too

View of Anchorage

The day we visited Abel Tazman National Park our tour leader told us we’d be taking a water taxi to Anchorage and then hiking back to Marahau (about 12.5 kilometers).  It turned out that the water taxi was the highlight Continue reading Not Just an Average Water Taxi & a Hike Too

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Emerald Lakes

Deciding whether or not I would do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing kept me fairly distracted for a couple of days.  My knee had been doing pretty good, but not perfect.  My biggest concern was there being a time limit.  I Continue reading Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Wildflowers at Mowich Lake

Wildflower

This summer I hiked to Spray Falls, but we also took the opportunity to hike around Mowich Lake (both of which are in Mount Rainier National Park).  I thought I would share some of the amazing wildflowers I saw that Continue reading Wildflowers at Mowich Lake

A Grueling Adventure…Bandera Mountain

Trail

It’s taken me a while to write about this hike.  The hike was beautiful, but it was a major personal challenge.  When I did this hike I was only seven months post my sixth knee surgery.  I’d done several hikes Continue reading A Grueling Adventure…Bandera Mountain

Grand Park to Backdoor of Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier with Foreground Tree

Our most recent hiking adventure took to Grand Park Backdoor via Lake Eleanor.  The temperature on Sunday got up to the mid-70s, but it started out a bit chilly (around 49).  We had a time constraint which meant that we Continue reading Grand Park to Backdoor of Mount Rainier

Alpine Lakes of Washington

Lake Serene

In January I decided to set a goal for myself…to walk/hike every single Saturday in 2013.  I wanted it to be hike every single Saturday, but I had just had knee surgery for the sixth time in November so I Continue reading Alpine Lakes of Washington

Being Independent on Independence Day

Small Falls

Yesterday was Independence Day here in the US.  Most folks I know spent it hanging out with family, eating obscene amounts of food (some even drinking a bit too much), and shooting off explosives disguised as brightly colored fireworks. I Continue reading Being Independent on Independence Day

Ashland Lakes

Upper Ashland Lake

Today my friend and I hiked the Ashland Lakes trail.  Despite the endless torture of mosquitoes, for which were ill prepared for, this was still one of my all time favorite hikes. The trail-head parking lot was easy to find, Continue reading Ashland Lakes