Washington

  • Washington

    North Cascades

    October 27, 2015 - By 

    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 a superb sunrise as we set out that morning. And sometimes nights at Walmart are followed by pleasant nights in a charming, new campsite. Having done my research prior to entering North Cascades NP, I discovered that the Goodell Creek Campground (right outside the visitor center) was open and free by mid-October. It also wasn’t quite winter yet, so the…

  • Washington

    Mount Rainier

    October 23, 2015 - By 

    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 once I attain the technical skills in the future.  Thus, we left behind the ice axes and crampons and stuck to trails along the mountain and nonetheless enjoyed its scenic hikes during a brief period of perfect, sunny days. First things first.  I was craving a bike ride.  With its gradual climbs and descents and switchbacks along a valley of mountains, the ride…

  • Washington

    Olympic National Park

    October 19, 2015 - By 

    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 was mind boggled by its diverse and breathtaking beauty. Who knew that just one federal park, one unpretentious area of land, could present its visitors dramatic landscapes of the unforgiving northern Pacific coast, rainforests seemingly from another continent, and panoramas of alpine mountains? If the weather cooperates (which it rarely does in this region), one can summit a glacier-filled mountain,…

  • Washington

    Mount Saint Helens

    October 15, 2015 - By 

    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 required purchasing a permit in advance.  Luckily the following day was Monday, and while weekend permits were sold out for the year, there were plenty of permits remaining for the weekdays.  We purchased and printed the permits there at Timberline Lodge, spent the rest of the afternoon at Lost Lake, and then made our way over to the Mt. St. Helens…