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Dry Creek & Bridal Veil Falls
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE NATIONAL SCENIC AREA, OR: With an early morning start that really felt like the night before, I had plenty of road-time to Bridal Veil Falls in Oregon, a quick stop before my hike at Dry Creek Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. The stillness of the early morning was like a gentle…
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Fragrance Lake Trail
LARRABEE STATE PARK, BELLINGHAM, WA: As I stepped onto the Fragrance Lake Trail this morning, the world around me began to awaken in a gentle glow illuminating over the Chuckanut Mountains. The air was crisp, invigorating my senses, while the soft crunch of an earthly-mix underfoot harmonized with the symphony of birds greeting the dawn…
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Hole-in-the-Wall + Hoh + Ruby Beach
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, FORKS, WA: As the first light of dawn was still an hour away, I felt a surge of excitement for the day’s adventure ahead visiting Hole-in-the-Wall, in the Olympic National Park, on the coast near Forks, WA. The promise of exploration and reflection beckoned me to Rialto Beach, where nature would unveil…
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Dirty Harry’s Balcony
MIDDLE FORK SNOQUALMIE, WA: As I stood at the trailhead for Dirty Harry’s Balcony an hour before sunrise, the cool, predawn darkness shrunk my physical space. The faint glow of my headlamp cut through the misty drizzle, illuminating the path ahead, while the rich aroma of damp moss filled the air. In that moment, I…
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Mount Walker
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST, WA: Arriving at Mount Walker just before dawn, I was enveloped in a world of anticipation that danced in the crisp air around me. Stepping out of my car, I felt the chill bite at my skin, yet the beauty of the tall evergreens, silhouetted against the dark blue sky, soothed my…
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Skyline to Glacier Vista
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, PARADISE: In the darkness of my early morning drive to Mount Rainier, a thrill of anticipation coursed through me. The sun was still a couple of hours from revealing its golden rays over Paradise, yet the magic of the moment was palpable. Each breath of the crisp morning air filled me…
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Chambers Creek Trail+
UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA: Today, I embarked on my final hike of 2025 at Chambers Bay, feeling the crisp air invigorating my spirit as I set out just past noon for this urban trek. The sun was in a playful tug-of-war with the clouds, a fitting metaphor for the day ahead. After making my way down…
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Spruce Railroad Trail: Lake Crescent
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, WA: This morning, as dawn began to unfold along the Spruce Railroad Trail at Lake Crescent, I found myself enveloped in an atmosphere of serene anticipation. The air was crisp, with low fog draping the landscape like a soft blanket. Each step I took felt like a gentle awakening, a reminder of…
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Dash Point Trail
DASH POINT STATE PARK, FEDERAL WAY, WA: This morning, I found myself at Dash Point Trail, sticking to urban hikes as floods continue to impact much of Western Washington. It was just before sunrise, and the world was cloaked in a hushed stillness that felt sacred during hustle and bustle of the holiday season. The…
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Point Defiance Park
POINT DEFIANCE PARK, TACOMA, WA: As I embarked on my early morning drive to Point Defiance, the darkness of the road felt familiar yet full of promise. I rolled down the window and the crisp air filled my lungs as I anticipated the sunrise, a rare Pacific Northwest seasonal occurrence, and a moment that would…
Musings 