Middle Tiffany (7,967') and Rock Mountain (7,971') in North Central Washington are on the State's top 200 most prominent peak list AND offer a spectacular summer wildflower show.
Over the Memorial Day holiday I had an unplanned summit of Muckamuck Mountain, the site of a former D-6 cupola lookout. I also had a chance encounter with a fan club of sorts in the middle of nowhere!
After a rainy and cold ascent of Navajo Peak in the Teanaway we were treated to clearing weather and lovely views! There be snow in the mountains!
Tales of surviving a remote hike in near triple digit temps and finally checking off a summit that has evaded me for four years!
This year, the beautifully restored D-6 cupola fire lookout at the summit of North Twentymile is celebrating a centennial and a dedicated group of volunteers is committed to maintaining trail access.
Not to be deterred by one of the worst September storms Seattle has ever seen, I packed my rain gear and met up with my crazy friend Annette to bag a peak on Sunday. Sounds like a perfect outdoor hiking weekend, right?
While I might not recommend the awful gauntlet of a deadfall route required to get to Ramsey's summit, exploring the Methow Wildlife Area is always a quiet, beautiful experience.
A week spent with volunteers painting Lookout Mountain in Twisp, swapping stories, and remembering the beautiful history of fire lookouts.
A return visit to First Butte to check on the condition of the lookout and see the rapid deterioration of the once photogenic ground house.
Another great ridge line ramble to an old fire lookout site, this time to Setting Sun Mountain (7,253') 5 miles northwest of Goat Peak near Mazama.
The Enchantments Death March, a one day thru-hike gaining over 6k in 18 tough, rocky, granite-filled miles is simply stunning and a mountain goat paradise.
My friend Annette and I have a track record of adventurous outings that never end up ordinary. With our crazy 3 dogs in tow we set out for Mt. Clifty, deep in the Cle Elum Ranger District to bag a peak for Sahaptin Outfitter's "Summit the District" contest. We had no idea it would turn into a 20-mile, all day outing!