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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 let my mind wander…
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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 run through our hearts. Each hike offers a new opportunity to embrace the beauty around me, while also making my way through the deeper valleys…
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Wallace Falls 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 what nowadays is commonly called a “new norm.” I’m not a big…