Monthly Archives: October 2015

Sea-to-Sky

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

Autumn in Whistler meant one cannot enjoy the lakes and watersports of summer nor the splendor of white powder of winter. However, I was already in Vancouver and had the desire to venture slightly more north, especially since it meant driving … Continue reading →

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Vancouver (…and how I found out I was Canadian)

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

I visited Vancouver as a child a number of times to visit relatives, but I hadn’t been back since. Vancouver would be not just a beautiful city to me, but also a place that would trigger old memories from my … Continue reading →

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North Cascades

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

Between Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Park we spent a quick night boondocking at a Walmart in Arlington.  Normally nights at Walmart are straightforward, perhaps sometimes loud and unmemorable, but our vicinity to the Cascade mountain range delighted us with … Continue reading →

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Mount Rainier

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

At 14,409 ft., Mt. Rainier stands slightly taller than Mt. Shasta.  But with its icy glaciers, deep crevasses, and steep slopes, technical climbing skills are required to summit Mt. Rainier.  Summiting Mt. Rainier will be another dream I hope to achieve … Continue reading →

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Olympic National Park

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

Places like these are the reasons why domestic travel is incredible. Before arriving to Washington I hardly knew that Olympic National Park (commonly referred to as the Olympic Peninsula) existed, but upon research the day before entering the park, I … Continue reading →

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Mount Saint Helens

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

Conditions were crap for Mount Hood, but conditions were perfect for summiting Mt. St. Helens.  While we sat in the parking lot of Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood figuring out our next excursion, we quickly discovered that summiting Mt. St. Helens … Continue reading →

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Mount Hood

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

Had it not been for the hunting hillbillies telling us we weren’t welcome at a dispersed camping area outside of Mount Hood, we wouldn’t have spent the next 45 minutes driving in the dark frantically searching for a place to … Continue reading →

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The Northern Coast of Oregon

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

Despite its epic reputation, we hadn’t planned on making it over to the Oregon coast.  But we did, and boy, were we glad we did.  The original plan was to mosey over to Mount Hood after Portland, but I found out about … Continue reading →

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Willamette Valley

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

With wine country being just a convenient, short detour southwest from Portland and with the weather so perfect for sipping wine outdoors, we spent one brief day in the Willamette Valley.  After touring our local Napa wine valley and Mendoza’s wine country, … Continue reading →

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Waterfalls and the Columbia River Gorge

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Jean Nguyen

Images of drizzly, gray skies come to mind when I think of the Portland area.  Although wet weather was a known, I failed to connect water and mountain and was surprised to find out that Oregon is not just full … Continue reading →

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