A weekend of Hok skiing in northern Ferry County, Washington at the Altai Skis Backcountry Festival with perfect snow, fantastic weather, and a welcoming local community of Hoksters.
Essays
Random thoughts, mostly about the outdoors, conservation, and adventure.
I jokingly refer to myself as a serial soloist and think "don't hike alone" is terrible advice. I think the better advice is "never underestimate nature."
The desert Southwest is a magical place of extreme contrast and powerful energy. When life throws you some unexpected hits, there really isn't a better place to find yourself again.
The Wild Olympics campaign would permanently protect more than 126,000 acres of new wilderness in the Olympic National Forest and designate 19 rivers and their tributaries as Wild And Scenic Rivers. What does the natural beauty of the Olympics mean to you?
Who inspires you to get out and explore? My outdoor hero is my amazing 70-year old dad who is living proof that staying fit and having an intrepid spirit keeps you eternally youthful.
All of us have fears, yet living in fear keeps us from truly living. Since my childhood I've been terrified of the water and it's taken me over 30 years to finally defeat it. Recently I was able to fulfill a dream to sea kayak to the beautiful San Juan Islands, which is proof that all of us can conquer our fears!!
11 years ago I walked into an animal shelter and came home with Crazy Jake dog. In the years since he's become my peakbagging partner, camping companion, and road trip co-pilot. I can't think of a single memory without him! Here's the story of Jake dog and how to cope when your best adventure buddy grows old.
Last summer I did something completely crazy: I spent 3 days at a silent yoga/meditation retreat. What I thought would be my worst idea ever actually became my best. I learned a lot about myself, rebooted my brain, sharpened my senses, and experienced first-hand how powerful the mind can really be.
I think it's easy for most of us to support our local search and rescue teams, but it's tough to grasp the level of effort required for a rescue. Some friends and I played mock victims for a large avalanche training exercise and witnessed firsthand the amazing skills and dedication of search and rescue volunteers.
I often call myself a serial soloist because I love solo hiking, backpacking, and adventures. When someone told me I should be scared to be in the woods alone it got me thinking. How many of you hike alone? Some thoughts and tips for going solo.
After being stranded on the Middle Fork by flood waters after a visit to Goldmyer Hot Springs, I returned with friends and Goldmyer's caretakers to retrieve my Jeep and help clear the road of debris.
In January 2015, a simple visit to Goldmyer Hot Springs turned into quite the 24-hour adventure when I was trapped with two friends by one of the largest floods Snoqualmie Valley has seen since 2009. Mother Nature is mighty awesome.