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Talapus and Olallie Lakes
ALPINE LAKES WILDERNESS, WA: As the clock struck four, I slipped out the door, greeted by the gentle hush of the early morning. The tranquility of the next ninety minutes on the road to Talapus and Olallie Lakes offered a comforting prelude to the adventure that awaited me. The serene drive allowed my mind to…
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Skyline Loop, Paradise
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, WA: Today marks a poignant milestone, a year since our beloved Kelly took her last breath. It’s a heart-rending moment, a delicate balance of sorrow and renewal, a reflection of the 7.3 million breaths I’ve taken since, without her. Each breath feels heavy yet transformative, a reminder of the love we…
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Lewis River Falls Trail
GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST, WA: This waypoint excursion began the day before my hike, as I journeyed to Southwest Washington, where I found a comforting place to rest for the night, positioning myself only a couple of hours from the trailhead of the Lewis River Falls. With a little time on my hands, I ventured…
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Rattlesnake Ledge Trail
SNOQUALMIE VALLEY TRAIL, NORTH BEND, WA: Stepping into another week of exploration, I found myself reflecting on life’s trails—both the ones that wind through the forest and those that weave through our hearts. Each hike offers a new opportunity to embrace the beauty around me, while also navigating the deeper valleys of my emotions. Following…
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Carter and Madcap Falls
MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, LONGMIRE, WA: As the first hints of dawn began to paint the sky, I found myself behind the wheel, embarking on my cherished ritual of early morning drives to a trailhead. With much of the Pacific Northwest still tucked away in bed, the quiet hum of my car accompanied me through…
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Dry Creek Trail
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST, HOODSPORT, WA: Today, I set off for the Olympic National Forest, eager to tackle the Dry Creek Trail near Hoodsport, WA. The drive was mostly in darkness, my headlights cutting through the early morning haze, as I anticipated the sunrise behind the mountains surrounding Lake Cushman. I made the most of my…
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Lake Twenty-Two
MOUNT PILCHUCK STATE PARK, GANITE FALLS, WA: An early start finds me out the door by 4am, eagerly heading to Mount Pilchuck to hike the Lake Twenty-Two Trail. This beautiful destination, a couple of hours north, opens up an opportunity to stop by my mother’s—today is a special day, her birthday. As I embark on…
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Wallace Falls and Lake Loop
MT. BAKER-SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST, WA: It’s Memorial Weekend, one that I don’t recognize. The house is quiet, the cooler sits empty, and the grill stands there, waiting to be broken in for the season. In this stillness, I sit in my thoughts, resisting to what nowadays is commonly called a “new norm.” I’m not a…
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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…
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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…
Musings 