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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…
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Twin Falls Trail
OLALLIE STATE PARK, NORTH BEND, WA: Today, I ventured to North Bend, WA, the crisp air invigorating my spirit as I parked my car at the trailhead just before sunrise. The deep blue sky promised a beautiful clear day and I felt a familiar thrill coursing through me. Today’s hike would be a gentle journey,…
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Colchuck Lake
THE ENCHANTMENTS, ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS, WA: This morning, as I navigated the stillness of the early morning, just before dawn, with my headlamp illuminating the path ahead, I was filled with a deep sense of gratitude. The crisp air carried hints of winter, and the anticipation of my hike to Colchuck Lake in Leavenworth’s enchanting…
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“One Square Inch of Silence”
HOH RAINFOREST, OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, WA: Before the sun began to rise, I embarked on yet another adventure into the heart of nature, a ritual that nourishes my body, mind, and soul. Driving through the coastal darkness, the road felt like a blank canvas, inviting me to reflect on the profound gratitude I carry for…
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Packwood Lake Trail
GOAT ROCKS WILDERNESS, WA: As dawn was about to break, I found solace in the quiet of my early morning drive. The roads provided a blank canvas for gratitude and today’s trail-thought. This morning, my heart embraced the cheesy romantic comedies that offer a break from reality, even if only for a couple hours. Romcoms…
Musings 