Tag: Hiking
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the oregon trail’s start and finish lines re-visited
Over the years, in my travels, I’ve come across portions of the Oregon trail. Where possible, roadside markers indicate the exact location of this famous emigrant route. You look and see two ruts where the wagon wheels traveled. There must have been a lot of wagons traveling the road to embed such tracks. We called…
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Good day, bad night on the skagit
I’m enjoying being at home sometimes day after day. However, i get the itch to go camping. In january i packed up and made reservation at rasar state park in skagit county. the park is located along the skagit river. The river flooded in december so I expected to see some evidence of the flooding…
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Golden; Ghost Town of Southern Oregon
In Golden we have standing structures that can be entered, at least some of the structures as of this writing (October 2025). There are five main structures to Golden and these were vital to the community when it had residents roughly from 1890 to the mid twentieth century. The structures include a one room schoolhouse. These were common in rural areas and in this case…
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River access makes this park rock
The park with the unpronounceable name is just 6 acres. New to most of us, ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis Park has the one feature that puts it at the top of the list: direct access to the Sammamish River, and with that; boat, kayak, canoe, and SUP storage. River access is more than a muddy trail to the…
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Mt. Olympus from atop Hurricane Ridge
If the Olympic Mountains were a crown, Mt. Olympus would be the jewel. Protected by miles of deep valleys, glaciers, and thick forests, they’re only viewed from afar by most. To have a grand view of the entire range is to appreciate a place called Hurricane Ridge (elevation 5,242 feet). Hurricane Ridge is popular with…
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Big Four Ice Caves
Expect company on this immensely popular ADA accessible trail to ever-present ice caves. Though highly unstable, the caves remain a year-round sensation for some 50,000 visitors annually. For many, it’s simply an awesome sight to behold, and for others, an irresistible opportunity for deep exploration. Because of the many hazards associated with the ice caves,…
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From Grand Coulee to Leavenworth on Highway 2
One last glance back at Coulee Dam before we start back home. We go at our own pace becausenobody’s behind us pushing, pushing, pushing. However, we’ve got to make good time because I told Michele we’d be home by noon. With the dam behind us, we breeze through three towns whose existence is owed to…
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Grand Coulee Dam
The goal lay ahead; Grand Coulee Dam. I’ve wanted to come here since talking to an older lady some 30 years ago when Curt and I lived off the Hood Canal. She went on about her husband working on the Coulee Dam. Every other sentence had the words “Grand Coulee” and she was boisterous as…
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The road less trampled: Omak, Okanogan, Tonasket, and Republic
With the North Cascades behind us we drop into the high desert of Eastern Washington. Temperatures will reach and exceed 100 degrees in the next couple of days. At State Route 97 we head north through the towns of Omak and Okanogan. From here on out it’s small dusty towns with the road leading right…
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The beautiful Methow Valley and a town called Winthrop
When Michele returned from Atlanta on Tuesday she asked if we could go on a road trip for the rest of her week’s vacation. No problem, when Aaron gets out of summer school on Thursday we’ll go. But where? The first and last portion of the trip was planned some time ago as a small…
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Iron Goat Trail and the vanished town of Wellington
A vanished town, weird structures, and a tale of death by avalanche. I had high hopes for this hike. But an error on my part caused three of us to turn back. It went like this. The town of Wellington no longer exists. It was a railroad town for the Great Northern Railroad (now BNSF).…
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Returning to Hoodsport and Lake Cushman
Sunday after a long weekend. We are returning home after circling the Olympic Peninsula in aclockwise direction. If the peninsula were a clock, Hoodsport would be at 4:00. To say Hoodsport is a small town would be an overstatement. Thirty years ago, it was even tinier. Today, it has a winery bearing its name, a…
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The Hoh, Hoh, Hoh, Rain Forest
Everything we’ve done on this day is a run-up to the Hoh Rainforest. I believe we stopped here on our 1972 trip to Canada. We didn’t stay long as I remember, but long enough to get an eye full of the rainforest. They call this a temperate rainforest instead of a tropical one. Storms come…
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A Forks in the road
We’re making our way up the Olympic Peninsula, traveling on the western side with mountains on our right and the Pacific Ocean to our left. We’re returning to Highway 101 from a short visit up the Hoh River. Our next stop is the town called Forks. Those familiar with the Twilight novels and movies will…
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Day trip to the Hoh Rain Forest
The Hoh Rain Forest is reason enough to explore the western side of the Olympic Peninsula. The drive along Upper Hoh Road penetrates a good 18 miles up the Hoh River and deep into a primeval wilderness dominated by massive conifers. With annual rainfall reaching 170 inches, the forest is fertile and thriving. A couple…
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Lake Quinault and the Valley of the Rainforest Giants
We’re moving along Highway 101 from Ocean Shores to La Push. There’s a lot to see and more time is needed. With precision and quick execution, we just might manage some sightseeing along Lake Quinault. But once in the Quinault Valley, it’s inconceivable that we can just turn around and leave. Being the off-season, it’s…
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From Grand Coulee to Leavenworth on Highway 2
One last glance back at Coulee Dam before we start back home. We go at our own pace becausenobody’s behind us pushing, pushing, pushing. However, we’ve got to make good time because I told Michele we’d be home by noon. With the dam behind us, we breeze through three towns whose existence is owed to…
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The last hike – Mt. Pilchuck
If you remember I was writing hike reviews for North End Metro. My last submission was a hike up Mt. Pilchuck. Not sure if they published it. I got busy with inspections and they quit asking for more reviews. I think as they grew to be a trendy magazine the trail review didn’t fit in.…
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NO TURNING BACK: RANDLE AND THE ROAD TO MT. ST. HELENS
No turning back. Though the thought crossed my mind between the snow and the noro virus sweeping through the family. On this trip we headed south to Mt. Rainier and then east to a small town called Randle, the gateway to Mt. St. Helens. When the mountain blew up on May 18, 1980, it was…
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A LOOK AT THE OLD WAYNE GOLF COURSE
Park at the old club house and make your way down to the Sammamish River via gravel trail. There’s a bridge over the calm waters with plenty of room to wander off trail. It’s quiet and pastural. The City of Bothell purchased the property in 2017. In total there are 89 acres of which 68…