What to Wear for a Hike in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska
This post is all about what to wear for a hike in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. As I talked about in my post about hiking for absolute beginners, you don’t need a lot of gear to get started with hiking. You may not bring the exact same things...
Lake Clara: Year round mellow hike near Wenatchee
Lake Clara is a lovely little lake a short and mellow year round hike from the Mission Ridge parking lot near Wenatchee. This is a great outing for the whole family to enjoy the forest and a small lake. The trail is almost 3.5 miles round trip with 900...
Hike to Mirror Lake and Cottonwood Lake near Snoqualmie Pass
If you’re looking for a mellow hike to an alpine lake, or a short and not too steep backpacking trip near Seattle, the hike to Mirror Lake is a great option as long as you don’t mind driving on a very rough road. Mirror Lake lies along the Pacific...
Lodge Lake: Less Crowded Alpine Lake Hike at Snoqualmie Pass
Looking for an alternative to some of the really busy alpine lake trails near Snoqualmie Pass (like Snow Lake or Annette Lake)? Lodge Lake is a mellow hike to a much less visited lake along the Pacific Crest Trail. Lodge Lake is 4.25 mile round trip hike with 900...
Spectacular Skyline Trail Loop at Mt Rainier
The Skyline Trail loop absolutely has it all and is a truly gorgeous hike from Paradise in Mt Rainier National Park. Wildflowers? Yes. Marmots? Yes. Epic Mountain views? Yes. Glacier views? Yes. Fall Color? Yes. This trail is extremely popular and parking can be impossible on summer weekends (see...
Silver Falls Loop Hike in the Entiat Valley
Silver Falls in an absolute gem of hike located in the gorgeous and lightly traveled Entiat Valley between Wenatchee and Lake Chelan in Central Washington. This is one of Washington’s most gorgeous waterfalls and can be enjoyed with a fraction of the people of some of the others that...
Best Alaska Itinerary by an Alaska Guide
The best Alaska Itinerary for you depends on how you like to travel and how much time you have so I’ve curated five options for you to choose from, from road trips to car free adventures! I lived in Alaska for many years and still spend several weeks a...
The Best Afternoon Tea in Victoria
Afternoon tea in Victoria is one of the most popular activities for visitors and with good reason. This British tradition is available all over Victoria and is a fun and unique classic Victoria experience. I grew up with this tradition both at home and when visiting Victoria. My great...
Mt Townsend Hike: Epic Olympic Mountain Views
One of the best hikes on the Olympic Peninsula and certainly one of the best views, the Mt Townsend hike is challenging at 8 miles and just over 3000 feet of elevation gain. The trail climbs steadily but it’s so worth the more than 25 switchbacks as you climb...
Mt Washington Hike near Seattle: WAY better than Mt Si!
Looking for a classic Cascades climb to an incredible view? Need new ideas besides Mt Si? Appreciate a less crowded trail? If any of that sounds like you then get ready to fall in love with Mt Washington. At 8.5 miles round trip and 3200 feet of elevation gain,...