mountains

Fall became winter in three glorious days of Ullr’s blessings nuking the landscape with blankets of white. Early season powder was upon us, and with it the decision of picking the right terrain. Our plan was to get out early, polish off a good tour, and ski sick pow. Quality… Read the rest

Rain. Surprise. With fall starting, the forecast for the Pacific NW was not alarming in the least. However, an also rapidly decreasing freezing level piqued my interest. Maybe, just maybe there would be some of the good stuff. Like a kid sneaking pumpkin pie early at Thanksgiving dinner, the idea… Read the rest

My idea of what a mining town might have been like is probably skewed severely by the many westerns I used to watch with my grandpa while growing up. However, the possibility of seeing the remains of the city that was once the center of Washington’s gold rush was extremely… Read the rest

Sometimes it’s nice to relish and enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. Often times, if berry picking is the purpose of the hike then the phrase becomes a bit more literal. Although, “enjoy” seemed like a term that understated the sharp burst of tart sweetness every time I smacked a… Read the rest

The temperature was finally beginning to drop to a normal level and the forecast was looking good. It was time to head out to another beautiful area in the northern area of Mt. Rainier National Park, only this time the focus was getting in July ski turns. Kyle had returned… Read the rest

The Sunrise area of Mt. Rainier National Park, at 6,400 ft., is the highest point one can drive to within the park boundaries. Its location at the northeast corner of the park offers views that many visitors claim are unsurpassed by any other area of the park. From here, one… Read the rest

As I reluctantly stepped out of the tent and into the cold, my spirits were lifted when I saw our next objective jutting into the bluebird sky. Mt. Bailey stood across Diamond Lake from us, taunting us with the current perfect conditions. ”Hey you guys, we’ve got bluebird!”
“Really?” came… Read the rest

When Camp Muir on the south side of Mt. Rainier reaches 69 degrees in January, something is wrong. In this case, it’s the weather inversion taking place in the Puget Sound region. Low clouds and stagnant air have consumed the lowlands, creating fog so thick ‘pea soup’ sounds like an… Read the rest