Before heading to the mountains in the winter, it’s crucial to have at least a rudimentary understanding of avalanche danger, risk assessment, and safety tools. Until you feel comfortable with your awareness and skills, it’s not a bad idea to stick to lowland or no-risk hikes, and even after you have taken courses and developed … [Read More]
Washington Trails Association: www.wta.org WTA is Washington State’s ultimate hikefinder; their hiking guide is the most comprehensive database of hikes in Washington, and comprises content written by local hiking experts as well as user-submitted information. All data is vetted by WTA staff. This resource is made possible by the donations of WTA members. Each trip … [Read More]
Nestled deep in the Teanaway River Valley is a brilliant royal blue lake in a granite basin featuring Mt. Stuart as its backdrop and ample opportunities for scrambling, rock climbing, and goat-watching around its perimeter. At just a few hundred feet across, it’s not a big lake size-wise, but it packs a wallop of a … [Read More]
The Mountaineers: www.mountaineers.org The Mountaineers is an alpine club serving the state of Washington. Founded in 1906, it is an outdoor recreation, education, and conservation nonprofit organization. The Mountaineers host a wide range of outdoor activities, primarily hiking and alpine mountain climbing. The club also hosts classes, training courses, and social events. The club runs a … [Read More]
Granite Mountain is best known for three things: a decommissioned yet still super cool fire lookout tower, sweeping views, and remarkably high avalanche danger. It’s a beautiful mountain, especially once you get above about 4000 feet and the terrain shifts to a nearly-alpine fantasyland of little tarns, ice cold waterfalls, and stepping stones crossing mossy … [Read More]
Mount Rainier Recreational Forecast/National Weather Service, Seattle, WA: https://a.atmos.washington.edu/data/rainier_report.html The most detailed, most accurate weather information on the most moody, most I’ll-do-what-I-want mountain I know. As the country’s most glaciated volcano, it often scoops up all the air that blows in off the Pacific and spins it around on its icy flanks to form lenticular … [Read More]
There are women that hike just to be outdoors, to be with friends, or to take beautiful photos. There are women that like well-maintained trails with gentle slopes, no routefinding, and easy terrain. There are women that want an uneventful morning in nature, a good view, and then to go about the rest of their … [Read More]
We’ve all had level-up moments in our hiking careers. When you buy your first pair of spikes, when you realize a ten mile day doesn’t feel all that long, when you start using the word “bivy.” Even your first solo hike can feel like a big step if you’ve only gone with people, and beginning … [Read More]
There is a reason Mount Si is one of Washington’s most popular hikes, seeing more than 100,000 people per year on its gently graded and well maintained trails. It’s a friendly mountain, giving off an air of comfort and security, as if nothing bad could ever happen there, as if its wildness is somehow tame. … [Read More]
Until about March of 2020, I only wore my Buff to hold my hair back, keep my neck from getting sunburned, or protect my ears or face from cold wind. For the most part it was a hair accessory that I wore like a do-rag or a nun’s habit, keeping my hair completely contained, or … [Read More]
