Tue, Apr 1, 2025
Originally intended as a West Tiger 1-2-3, due to previous illness and rain/snow, we modifed this to TMT - Tiger 2-3 and included Talus Rocks, a beautiful, new-to-most stop. 18 bird species (including 2 pileated woodpeckers), and first buds including yellow violet, trillium, and sweet coltsfoot.
Tue, Mar 25, 2025
Three destinations in one afternoon with short drives between each, encompassing views, history and a beach!
Thu, Mar 20, 2025 - Sun, Mar 30, 2025
The Monumental Loop is an awesome and challenging route! We did the North Loop in 3 days and began the South Loop but could not complete it as it was cut short abruptly by a serious accident.
Sat, Mar 29, 2025
A paddle in windy conditions to Magnolia Bluff.
Sun, Mar 30, 2025
A great day for birding the Montlake Fill. Many of the wintering ducks have gone and some of the returning songbirds have appeared. No Osprey, Turkey Vultures, nor Rufous Hummingbirds today.
Sat, Mar 29, 2025
At 880cfs this is a pushy class II-. Too fast for good practice. Below 700cfs would expose more rocks and make easier practice.
Fri, Mar 28, 2025
A challenging but fun winter scramble to Silver Peak via Annette Lake trail. We made the best of it despite the weather.
Sat, Mar 29, 2025
Low coverage was an issue and snow quality wasn't great, but I still had a fun time! Skied up to Tronsen Head.
Fri, Mar 28, 2025
8th & final conditioning hike with an enthusiastic group (and one fairy nymph) on a drippy day.
Sun, Mar 23, 2025
Worth a day hike for sure. Great place.
Sun, Mar 9, 2025
Middle Fork - unexpected views and better weather than predicted
Sat, Mar 22, 2025
This was a successful crag trip to the Feathers at Vantage. For many students, it was their first outing climbing in the great outdoors.
Sat, Mar 22, 2025
A fine spring paddle around Ketron Island and over to Oro Bay with a great group of paddlers.
Sat, Mar 22, 2025
Late season XC skiing -- get it in while it lasts!
Sun, Mar 23, 2025
The Palmer gauge was reading 2,200 CFS. This was a Class III reach at this level. We put in at Franklin bridge and took at at Flaming Geyser. River time was 2.5 hours. Very fun, active, level.
Sat, Mar 22, 2025
After a long stretch of wet days in the region we were greeted with perfect weather. The last mile before the summit became a winter wonderland. The views were mesmerizing as we stood above clouds in awe of a panoramic view of snowy peaks, Lake Cushman, Hood Canal, and Mt. Rainier in the distance.
Fri, Mar 21, 2025
Lovely area to paddle. This is where the Penn Cove mussels are commercially grown and harvested. The commercial facility is just east of Coupeville along the southern area of Penn Cove. Coupeville is also a cute town to view from the water.
Fri, Mar 21, 2025
3 waterfall route at a brisk pace. Water gushing over the falls.
Sat, Feb 1, 2025 - Wed, Feb 26, 2025
New Zealand stands out for some of the most gorgeous trekking terrain you could ever find (they call it 'tramping'!) combined with an amazing can-do attitude (they'll solve any challenge for you) and fantastic resources and support systems for trip planning and logistics. On this trip we did the Abel Tasman Coast Track, hiked amazing trails in Aoraki/Mount Cook park, did the Routeburn and Kepler Great Walks, took a bus and boat tour of Milford Sound, and hiked to the Aspiring Hut and tracks around it in Aspiring National Park. In between we really enjoyed the lovely towns of Queenstown, Te Anau, Nelson and Wanaka with lots of shopping and great food!
However New Zealand also faces the same intense demand for limited spots on their most popular trekking trails and huts that we do in the PNW and elsewhere, so I had to improvise in terms of how to get approval for the trip and a list of participant names in time for a May-June booking period for huts but without committing to any specific set of huts or itinerary in advance of securing the huts. In the report below I'll describe each of the segments, what we did in between, and the unorthodox booking process I used.
