Bad Marks Against Parks
The sight is jarring and seems completely out of context. It’s akin to, I don’t know, seeing an elephant walking down a city street. That unexpected, at least to me. This is how I saw what I saw, leading me to break this story at...
Low Snow’s Mixed Blessing
The mixed blessing of record low snowpack along the West Coast is that access to national parks is earlier than usual – in some cases, far earlier. National parks, from North Cascades in Washington state to Yosemite in California, are already are virtually at summer...
Bench & Snow Lakes (WA)
This down-and-back has a lot of what the average hiker might look for — enough up and down for aerobic challenges but not too strenuous for children and the creaky kneed, nice wildflowers and foliage, a couple of good payoff lake destinations, and breath-taking views...
Green Lake (WA)
In Seattle, when you suggest, “Let’s go walk Green Lake,” you head by the Woodland Park Zoo and brave the crowds around the paved pedestrian/wheeled path. In this iteration, you have an emerald-green alpine lake probably all to yourselves, listen to the roar of a...
Van Trump Park / Mildred Point (WA)
A breathtaking hike, both sometimes in effort and scenery. This takes you past iconic Comet Falls to one of the grandest views of Mount Rainier in the park. The Van Trump Park Download Highlights: Several cascades and waterfalls, including Comet, the most photogenic in the...
Crystal Lakes (WA)
A trip with almost constant ascent to a pair of beautiful alpine lakes, ringed by peaks. Along the way are views of Mount Rainier. The last mile or so is heavenly and well worth the effort. The Crystal Lakes Download Highlights: Two gorgeous alpine lakes,...