Nature Galleries

Rachel Lake : 5 Oct '09. A rewarding hike to a gorgeous lake on a day with crisp weather around 50 and brilliant sunshine.

Rachel Lake

5 Oct '09. A rewarding hike to a gorgeous lake on a day with crisp we ...

Updated: Oct 06, 2009 12:54am PST

Heliotrope Ridge (Mt.Baker) : 13 Sep '09. We approached the north side of Mt.Baker's Coleman Glacier over Heliotrope Ridge. Not a long hike, but pretty exciting--and really challenging in places--due to the need to ford several fast-moving and deeply-refreshingly-cold creeks. The reward at the end was great, though.

Heliotrope Ridge (Mt.Baker)

13 Sep '09. We approached the north side of Mt.Baker's Coleman Glacie ...

Updated: Oct 18, 2009 7:55pm PST

Mt.Rainier day trip with the Stepanovas : 12 Sep '09. Day trip to Mt.Rainier (Sunrise area) with special out-of-town guests: V's sister and her boyfriend from Boston.

Mt.Rainier day trip with the Stepanovas

12 Sep '09. Day trip to Mt.Rainier (Sunrise area) with special out-of- ...

Updated: Oct 18, 2009 7:24pm PST

Scorpion Mountain : 30 Aug '09. Nice summer hike in the Central Cascades. The trail was mostly shaded and the views from the top (5540 ft) rewarding enough for the workout. The best part was gorging with blueberries. :-)

Scorpion Mountain

30 Aug '09. Nice summer hike in the Central Cascades. The trail was mo ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2009 7:44pm PST

Davis Peak and beyond : 4 July '09. What a better way to celebrate our independence than to take another peak? :-) This was Jay's plan. The hot weather forecast made me think twice, but it was hard to resist the allure of the area (Salmon La Sac, next to the Teanaway), some off-trail exploration and chilly alpine lakes. Indeed, it was an exhausting and knee-beating 12 miles roundtrip--and all worthwhile.

Davis Peak and beyond

4 July '09. What a better way to celebrate our independence than to t ...

Updated: Jul 05, 2009 6:37pm PST

Bean Peak scramble : 20 June '09. Did a rare off-trail venture, to a rocky peak in the never-disappointing Teanaway area. We had perfect weather. It was cool for the climb and just warm enough at the top. The scramble to Bean Peak was relatively mellow and didn't feel long at all. The views were awesome: jagged, snow-covered peaks in all directions, just enough clouds for more interesting pictures.

Bean Peak scramble

20 June '09. Did a rare off-trail venture, to a rocky peak in the nev ...

Updated: Jun 21, 2009 10:30pm PST

Lake 22 : 14 June '09.

Lake 22

14 June '09.

Updated: Jun 21, 2009 10:12pm PST

Shi-Shi Beach : May 1-3 '09. A trip with a bunch of people from the Seattle Backpackers Meetup to Shi-Shi Beach - one of the most scenic stretches of the Olympic peninsula shore. The forecast was for heavy rain that weekend, but most people were undeterred. In fact, thanks to the "bad" weather we got a fairly interesting variety of atmospheric effects and unique scenes. Only my expensive camera didn't enjoy it as much, but it held up well.

Shi-Shi Beach

May 1-3 '09. A trip with a bunch of people from the Seattle Backpacke ...

Updated: May 25, 2009 12:05am PST

Hex Mountain : 28 Feb '08. An eagerly anticipated snowshoe hike after a fresh snowfall in the mountains and yet another overly intense workweek... The sun did not cooperate, but we still had a good time. We met a couple of other parties at the trailhead and up the mountain. Everyone seemed to be looking for the right trail, including us. We ended up approaching the peak from a lower ridge on the west side, which was a little longer but not as steep as the 'summer trail', which is (probably!) the one we used to get back.

Hex Mountain

28 Feb '08. An eagerly anticipated snowshoe hike after a fresh snowfa ...

Updated: Mar 01, 2009 11:08am PST

Carne Mountain : 13 Oct '08. In pursuit of inspiring yellow views... Carne Mountain rises to over 7000 ft in the Mount Baker National Forest, about 35 miles north of Leavenworth, WA. We had the perfect day hike: crisp & dry air, plenty of sunshine, sweetly yellow larch trees standing out sharply against the backdrop of jagged peaks and fresh snowfall. It was a long drive from Seattle, but we didn't leave very early, and it was totally worthwhile. Oh, and we had a very lively and lovely companion--Matt's dog.

Carne Mountain

13 Oct '08. In pursuit of inspiring yellow views... Carne Mountain ri ...

Updated: Nov 16, 2008 1:07pm PST

Knoble Knob - Mt. Rainier : 28 Sep '08.

Knoble Knob - Mt. Rainier

28 Sep '08.

Updated: Oct 04, 2008 4:40pm PST

Mount Adams : 13-14 Sep '08. After two years of deliberation, finally got around to climbing Mount Adams. I went with my coworkers Eddie and Ryan. The climb was somewhat grueling due to the distance and roughness of the terrain, but definitely worthwhile. We caught the last weekend of nice weather in September. On the downside, there wasn't enough good snow left for glissading, which seems to be the biggest draw for many people, but we had our big highlight by taking a 'shortcut' through the glacier near the false summit...

Mount Adams

13-14 Sep '08. After two years of deliberation, finally got around to ...

Updated: Sep 20, 2008 8:13pm PST

Lake Serene : 9 Aug '08. A surprisingly rewarding hike not far from Seattle, on a not-so-promising day weather-wise. Lake Serene is reachable via a 3.5 mile somewhat steep trail starting just a little off SR-2 in Index, WA. Since it was a drab and occasionally wet day, there weren't too many people on the trail. But the woods spared us from getting wet, and we enjoyed some great scenery around the lake, with a surprising amount of snow left from last winter--at < 2300 ft elevation!

Lake Serene

9 Aug '08. A surprisingly rewarding hike not far from Seattle, on a n ...

Updated: Aug 11, 2008 8:59am PST

Granite Mountain : 2 Aug '08.

Granite Mountain

2 Aug '08.

Updated: Aug 05, 2008 10:16pm PST

Goat Lake : 6 July '08. Goat Lake is nestled in a beautiful cirque off the Mountain Loop Highway, just a few miles past Barlow Pass. This was supposed to be a July 4th calorie burn-off hike. ;-) It wasn't challenging but good length: we did 11-12 miles roundtrip, with some scrambling around the lake. The sun decided to sleep in that Sunday, but that only made the light effects around the lake more interesting.

Goat Lake

6 July '08. Goat Lake is nestled in a beautiful cirque off the Mountai ...

Updated: Jul 13, 2008 10:34pm PST

Ingalls Trail : 7 June '08. Got together a bunch of coworkers and old hiking buddies for a day hike in eastern WA. The trail follows Ingalls Creek, which is at the SE end of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The creek was full and roaring due to the snowmelt higher in the mountain. A variety of wildflowers were blooming all along the trail. We had dry and mostly sunny weather all day. This was a welcome change of scenery, especially after ten days of hardly any sunshine in Seattle.

Ingalls Trail

7 June '08. Got together a bunch of coworkers and old hiking buddies f ...

Updated: Jun 11, 2008 9:26pm PST

Boulder River trail + Darrington, Kirkland : 4 May '08. A day hike with Veronica and my coworker Bart. The Boulder River trail is near Darrington, WA. The highlight of the trail are two pretty high and full waterfalls--pretty impressive. After the hike, we had dinner in Darrington and then enjoyed the sunset at the Kirkland marina.

Boulder River trail + Darrington, Kirkland

4 May '08. A day hike with Veronica and my coworker Bart. The Boulder ...

Updated: May 31, 2008 11:00am PST

Sauk Mountain : 22 March '08. This will remain my best snowshoe hike for the winter. Everything was great. We had the mountain pretty much to ourselves. Heaps of pristine snow. Warm, dry weather with good sunshine. Very nice folks. And one perpetual motion dog. An avalanche chute stopped us from reaching the peak, but we had enough of a workout already breaking trail.

Sauk Mountain

22 March '08. This will remain my best snowshoe hike for the winter. ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 11:36pm PST

Snowshoeing around Paradise (Mt. Rainier) : 24 Nov '07.

Snowshoeing around Paradise (Mt. Rainier)

24 Nov '07.

Updated: Dec 09, 2007 12:03pm PST

Gothic Basin (N.Cascades) : 13 Oct '07. The Rain Season started early this year. But after several weeks of wet & gloomy weather, we finally got a clear warm weekend. It was about the right time to see the fall colors. We went to hike to this alpine lakes area in the N. Cascades, off the Mountain Loop Highway.

Gothic Basin (N.Cascades)

13 Oct '07. The Rain Season started early this year. But after severa ...

Updated: Oct 14, 2007 9:14pm PST

Mt.St.Helens : 10 Sep '07. Finally got a chance to climb one of the volcanic giants in our state - 2549 m (it was several hundred meters higher before the huge eruption in 1980).

Mt.St.Helens

10 Sep '07. Finally got a chance to climb one of the volcanic giants ...

Updated: Oct 14, 2007 7:17pm PST

Kendall Katwalk (PCT) : 11 Aug '07. We hiked a section of the Pactific Crest Trail near Snoqualmie Pass called Kendall Katwalk. Parts of the trail were blasted into a steep rock face, hence "catwalk". It was a gorgeous day, and the views were awesome.

Kendall Katwalk (PCT)

11 Aug '07. We hiked a section of the Pactific Crest Trail near Snoqua ...

Updated: Aug 20, 2007 9:36pm PST

Navaho Pass (Teanaway area) : 4 Aug '07. Bingram, Dr. Jetchev and I did a ~12 miles loop hike on the east side of the Cascades. It was unusually nice and green there for this time of year.

Navaho Pass (Teanaway area)

4 Aug '07. Bingram, Dr. Jetchev and I did a ~12 miles loop hike on the ...

Updated: Aug 19, 2007 7:57pm PST

Mt. Persis : 7 Apr '07. Near Index, WA.

Mt. Persis

7 Apr '07. Near Index, WA.

Updated: Apr 08, 2007 5:00pm PST

Wenatchee Crest : 18 March '07

Wenatchee Crest

18 March '07

Updated: Apr 08, 2007 4:01pm PST

Lichtenwasser Lake : Dec 31st... What better idea than a snowshoe hike? :-) This is a little off Stevens Pass. The weather was crisp, with good light for pictures, tons of fresh, pristine snow!.. It was a lot of fun, especially coming down the hill with the snowshoes. The snow felt like mashed potatoes, almost *fluid* underneath your feet. :-) In the end most of us got wet and started shivering, but it was all worthwhile.

Lichtenwasser Lake

Dec 31st... What better idea than a snowshoe hike? :-) This is a littl ...

Updated: Jan 16, 2007 10:39pm PST

Lookout Mountain : 21 Oct' 06. Northern Cascades, off the town of Marblemount. Probably the last good hike for this year...

Lookout Mountain

21 Oct' 06. Northern Cascades, off the town of Marblemount. Probably t ...

Updated: Nov 09, 2006 10:49pm PST

Hidden Lakes Peak : 26 Aug '06. Nortern Cascades, off the town of Marblemount. This was my best hike this summer: dry, sunny weather, awesome views, snow(!), blueberries ... and no vicious flies/mosquitos like in some other places.

Hidden Lakes Peak

26 Aug '06. Nortern Cascades, off the town of Marblemount. This was my ...

Updated: Nov 09, 2006 11:21pm PST

Blanca Lake : "The lake of all lakes"

Blanca Lake

"The lake of all lakes"

Updated: Aug 01, 2006 10:13pm PST

Beach hike to Strawberry Point : 1-2 July '06

Beach hike to Strawberry Point

1-2 July '06

Updated: Jul 09, 2006 3:31pm PST

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Meeks Table

17-18 June '06 Това е ед ...

Updated: Jul 09, 2006 11:18pm PST

Indian Henry's Hunting Ground :

Indian Henry's Hunting Ground

Updated: Aug 01, 2006 10:01pm PST

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Lake Dorothy

29 May '06 На еднодн& ...

Updated: Jul 09, 2006 9:42pm PST

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Olympic loop

21-26 May '06 Мартин м ...

Updated: Jul 09, 2006 7:01pm PST