-
Lena Lake Trail
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST, WA: Fueled by confidence from my last waypoint, I felt optimistic about my search for a new trail. The Olympic National Forest resonates with my spirit. I rise early, embarking on a serene two-hour drive to the Lower Lena Lake Trailhead, located off HWY 101 on N Hamma Hamma Rd (NF-25). It…
-
Palisades #1198
MT. BAKER-SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST, WA: It was an early Sunday morning, a day that held a special kind of weight—it was Mother’s Day. As I set out on my journey, my heart was heavy with thoughts of our children, who are navigating the rocky terrain of what this day may mean for them now and…
-
Lovers Lane and Sol Duc Falls
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST, WA: Returning home this week, I looked forward to getting back out on a beautiful Pacific Northwest trail, which was a delightful contrast to my recent desert adventure in Arizona, just as beautiful in its own rugged way. Lovers Lane & Sol Duc Nature Trail in the Olympic National Forest seemed like…
-
Ford Canyon
WHITE TANK MOUNTAINS, AZ: This waypoint takes a delightful turn from the lush Pacific Northwest to a sunny Southwest desert near Surprise, Arizona, the home of my in-laws. During this brief visit, I was thrilled to seize the opportunity for an early morning hike just minutes away in the beautiful White Tank Mountains. The park’s…
-
Crestline, Greenline
CAPITAL STATE FOREST, WA: It’s Easter and a nice cool day for a morning hike. Up and out early, I arrive at the Capitol State Forest by 6:30, and on the Crestline, Greenline trail before seven. At just under six miles with a modest 833 ft elevation gain, my hike was filled with all kinds…
-
Upper Big Creek
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST, WA: What reason would someone have to rise at 5am on a Sunday morning if not to embrace the beauty of a gorgeous Pacific Northwest sunrise? This week, I had the motivation to travel to the peninsula for a hike in the breathtaking Olympic National Forest, and I was eager to arrive…
-
Licorice Fern Trail
COUGAR MOUNTAIN REGIONAL WILDLAND PARK, WA: was a perfect day for a hike! I must admit, I was preparing for a wet and rainy day, which I was ready to embrace, but I was delighted by the cool, overcast weather that accompanied me throughout my journey. An early riser, I arrived at the Licorice Fern…
-
Mima Falls
CAPITOL STATE FOREST, WA: I was thrilled for my hike this week and eagerly anticipated stepping up to a trail with a little elevation. After resting my knee for a couple of weeks after my first hike, then my returning last week for an urban hike on a relatively flat trail, I was excited to…
-
Puyallup Riverwalk
ORTING, WA: I was truly inspired to hit the trails again today, feeling grateful that my minor injury from my first hike had fully healed. This morning, I decided to take a leisurely approach and indulge in the joys of the outdoors. I explored an invigorating urban hike down the hill from my home in…
-
Little Mashel Falls
CHARLES LATHROP PACK EXPERIMENTAL FOREST, WA: There’s always a first, and today marked a wonderful milestone! This morning, I embarked on my very first solo hike, filled with excitement and anticipation. I woke up early to enjoy the beauty of Bashel Falls in Eatonville, Washington, just after the sunrise. This invigorating hike spans approximately 5.7…
Musings 