Zone 1 Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington) Washington Hurricane Hill 3.2 miles out & back; 668ft. elevation gain; Moderate Views, meadows, wildflowers, mountains, Olympic National Park Hurricane Hill Trail Report Bird Mountain 10.25 mile loop; 1,875ft. elevation gain; Strenuous Views, meadows,…
Mt. Hood Views from the Zigzag Overlook
If you’re looking for a hike on the side of Mt. Hood that poses only minor challenges and you want a big reward at the end, I highly recommend the trail to the Zigzag Overlook. While views are limited on…
Gloria Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon
I needed a short hike on a rainy day south of Salt Lake City that didn’t have an entry fee. That’s a lot of specifics for a single hike, but three different waterfalls hit the spot: Gloria Falls, Hidden Falls,…
Day Hiking the Famous McAfee Knob
They say that McAfee Knob is the most-photographed point of the Appalachian Trail. Even thru-hikers stop to get their picture taken on the little point of rock that hangs over the edge of the cliff face – it’s almost a…
Faithfulness and Purity
If we read through the Gospels – and really, through the entire Bible – we see that faithfulness is an important aspect of our faith. Jesus even said, “When the Son of man comes, will he find faithfulness on the…
Explore Willow Springs Canyon
Willow Springs Canyon is a mostly-unknown scramble of a hike near the western border of Arches National Park. You’ll need 4×4 to get to the trailhead, but with high clearance, you can get close enough to the trailhead to walk…
Scrambling up Lake Hill (aka the Chocolate Drops)
In my perusals of unofficial routes in Death Valley, I ran across three hikes that seemed fascinating (to me, anyway!) in Panamint Valley: Panamint Dunes (which is actually an official route, though its trail is pretty much invisible in many…
The Best Hikes in Canyonlands National Park
At this point, Canyonlands ranks as one of my favorite national parks to visit in Utah. I love the variety of long-ranging canyon views, rock formations, arches, slot canyons, mountain views, and exploration opportunities. There are also hikes for every…
Seven Ways to Support a Friend who is Struggling
As I wander through life, people cross my path – or maybe they’re dear friends or family – who are struggling. Sometimes there’s a reason for their feelings, and sometimes they have no reason, or the reason doesn’t seem big…
Lake Tahoe from the Basalt Overlook
To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure if the trail I took from Skyland to the Basalt Overlook (just off the Tahoe Rim Trail) is all that official. But I found it on AllTrails, so that counts for something, right? …