Hidden Lake Lookout! What a trail that promised much and delivered more! The name evokes pictures in my mind of a half-frozen lake, rocky crags still studded with snow, and wildflowers galore along the trail. Its 9.3 mile length also…
Skyline Divide: Best Views around Mt. Baker
Skyline Divide! What can I say for the jaw-dropping views, the endless vistas, and the snowcapped peaks nearby and far away? Every time I thought we’d gotten to the best of the best views, we crossed another high point on…
12 Places Worth Visiting at Least 10 miles Down a Dirt Road
I can’t say I travel to get to the dirt roads. But when that’s all that is between me and a lovely I hike I want to take, let’s just say I’m very willing to tackle the road. Some are…
Lovely Mt. Rainier Views from Spray Park
Often, the reason the lesser-known parts of national parks are lesser-known is because they aren’t worth seeing. Or at least, they’re not as nice as the better-known parts. But that simply isn’t true of the northwest section of Mt. Rainier…
Canyon Ridge Trail – “Peak” into Canada
There are two really good things I can say about the Canyon Ridge Trail: 1) it wasn’t too terribly difficult, and 2) it gave a very different view than the other hikes around Mt. Baker (into the Canadian Cascades). Add…
Artist Ridge Trail – So Short, So Awesome Shuksan!
Artist Point, at the end of the Mount Baker Highway in northwestern Washington, is a very popular place (at least when it’s thawed out – which is about two to four months of the year). Cars drive in and out…
Ptarmigan Ridge – So Many Exclamation Points!
“Ptarmigan Ridge or bust.” That’s what he told me one beautiful morning a few days before we planned to leave on a trip. I stared at him in disbelief. Usually a quiet, easy-going guy (particularly when it comes to which…
The Chapin / Chiquita / Ypsilon Loop: 3 Summits, 8 Miles!
Ever since I read about the Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita, Ypsilon Mountain loop trail in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2006, I’ve wanted to hike it. I had it all planned, too: We’d go in September, before the snow fell,…
The Alpine Ridge Trail: Topping Huffers Hill!
How about a short hike this week with an awesome view? Sound good to you? Because the trail up Huffers Hill (as it is informally known) is only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) RT yet offers outstanding views of the Never…
A Hike from Independence Pass to UN 12812 – Spectacular!
Hiking to UN 12812 just above Independence Pass was a life saver. Well, ok, that’s too strong, but it did meet a need rather nicely – and spectacularly. I needed a short hike near Independence Pass – and one above…