Be the cryptid you wish to see in the woods
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20251003-09 High Cowlitz Grand Tour
Best laid plans and all… I had intended to enjoy a big hike along the Pacific Northwest National Trail for my vacation the first two weeks of October. I’ve been crazy busy at work, its been very stressful, and I was really, really looking forward to some time in the Olympics. I was not looking…
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20250825 William O. Douglas Trail, Part 6
Took the day to explore a section of the William O. Douglas Trail, this time from the White Pass PCT trail head to the Round Mountain Lookout trail. Gorgeous sunny day, but I lost my blue sport-towel, which made me very sad. I must have dropped it on the trail, but I lacked the energy…
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20250726-28 Rattlesnake
I’m really getting into “Hammondland” as Nick Zentner @ CWU refers to it… that area north of Hwy 12 and south of Hwy 410. Old and new(-ish) volcanics dominate the landscape. Extreme erosion has revealed ancient North Cascades-related rock. The area is extremely rugged and isolated, and wildfires in the previous decade have all but…
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20250712-14 Coyote Ridge, GRW
Parked along the NF road above Packwood and hiked ‘sekrit’ trails into Packwood Lake, then up to Beaver Bill camp on Coyote Ridge trail. Enjoyed perfect weather, had a very enjoyable time, hiked out via Three Peaks trail, which is newly re-opened after the fire. Interestingly enough, the closed sign is still up alongside the…
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20250622-23 William O. Douglas Trail, Part 5
Finally! The high country is starting to melt out. This leg of my exploration of the William O. Douglas Trail finds me setting out from the Sand Ridge Trail head late in the morning and hiking 10 miles in to Apple Lake, high up on the Tumac Plateau. The trail head is located just off…
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20250530-0602 William O. Douglas Trail, Part 4
More William O. Douglas Trail, but this time, with a pack. And in the desert! I made my way to Naches, where I turned off the highway and drove along county roads toward the Snow Mountain Ranch. The ranch is now under conservancy, and the Cowiche Conservancy has an established parking lot off the Cowiche…
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2050529 William O. Douglas Trail, Part 3
This time, I drove up to the Round Mtn trail head and set up camp right alongside the small parking area. Enjoyed a lovely evening, then in the morning, set out on the trail. I had intended to hike to the PCT if I could get that far. Turns out, I could not. Images taken…
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20250520-23 William O. Douglas Trail, Part 2
I covered a lot of ground these 5 days. Having the week up, I drove up on the 19th and set up a base-camp alongside the NF Tieton River just off the USFS 1207 Rd, a very private and lovely site right on the water. 5/20 Day 1 – Bike ride from base camp to…
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20250414 Waterworks Canyon Loop
I always enjoy a hike up the Waterworks Canyon in the spring. The flowers are always so effusive and abundant. I forgot to turn my tracker on until I was some way up the canyon, but I had just been following the trail. In the past, I would hike up to the ridgeline, then head…
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20250413 William O. Douglas Trail, Part 1
I’ve been exploring the Willam O. Douglas Trail between White Pass and Yakima. This is a National Historic Trail commemorating Justice William O. Douglas’ boyhood in Yakima and his travels into the highlands and Mt. Rainier. Part 1 of my exploration took me to the USFS 570 Rd south of Rimrock Lake. I drove a…