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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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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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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…
Musings 