Ethan’s 1st Backpacking Trip
I took Ethan on his first backpacking trip this week. It was a 2-day 1-night trip to Barclay Lake. It was the perfect introduction as it was only 4.2 miles…
Honorable Mention in the 2012 Washington Trails Northwest Exposure Photo Contest
After entering our family photo in the 2012 Washington Trail Northwest Exposure Photo Contest last October, we were excited to hear that our photo of Laura and Ethan hiking on Boardman Trail was selected as honorable mention.
There were 13 winning selections and 10 honorable mentions and editor’s picks. You can view all the selected photos in the January 2013 Washington Trails Magazine or on the Washington Trail Association site. More of our outdoor hiking and camping adventures can be found over here on our site. We look forward to an outstanding year of new and old hikes.
Thanks to the Washington Trails Association for the excellent work they provide to our State, natural environment, and us.
Big Four Ice Caves (without the ice caves)
After being away for 6 days in San Antonio and the family stuck with a rainy week in Seattle, we took advantage of a beautiful Saturday to hike the Big…
Hiking Season has arrived! First Stop: Lord Hill Regional Park
With the sun shining a bit more than usual, and the temperatures staying above 55 a tad longer, the family is more inclined to hit the trail more frequently. On a favorable hiking day, we tend to do 2-4 mile hikes with the kids. Those miles don’t always work well in the winter or rainy days unless you want to deal with crying, cold kids who never want to hike again. On the other hand, we continue to “break” them in with mild easy hikes that leave them wanting more.
Boardman Lake on the Mountain Loop Highway
In the San Francisco Bay Area, I cut my teeth hiking in the coastal redwood forest. As a resilient species that deserves respect, I found solace in their beauty and sheer presence. They will always be my favorite, especially those found at Sanborn County Park, but cedar and hemlock have a unique beauty that shouldn’t be ignored. They are the giants in the western Cascades.