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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Dedication
My reflections primarily take place in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, but it feels essential to begin with the heart of my inspiration. My beloved wife and best friend, Kelly, departed this world on July 15, 2024, enveloped in the love of her family after bravely enduring a prolonged battle with cancer. Her journey began on…
Musings 