I’ve been to Craters of the Moon National Monument several times, and it’s got to be one of the best volcanic areas in the US. For miles, it seems, there is nothing but cinder cones and lava fields. And the…
The Summer Blossoms, Pt. 2
Ok, so we finally did find the Summer Blossom Trail…it took us a while, but we finally did find it! After finishing up the Summit Trail hike the day before, we continued down the road for another two miles and…
The Summer Blossoms, Pt. 1
Driven away from the Mount Baker/North Cascades area due to too much snow, and unable to visit other places on our Washington itinerary due to unfavorable weather reports, I needed to find someplace nice to spend a day. I’d read…
Mississippi Watchtower
While visiting the Headwaters of the Mississippi River, a park ranger told us about another of the park’s features: a 100-foot observation tower, located in the middle of Itasca State Park. Having an hour or two to spare, we decided…
The Best View of Mt. Stewart in Longs Pass
Mt. Stewart has got to be one of the prettiest mountains in the Teanaway area. It seems to be visible from just about any viewpoint in the area, and it gives you a reference point: “Oh, there’s Mt. Stewart again!” …
Teanaway Ridge
The Teanaway region of Washington is absolutely beautiful. Snowcapped peaks rise among low-lying hills, with a cross between northern-US desert and alpine forest. As our introduction to the region, we hiked up Teanaway Ridge, a 3 mile trail up to…
Eastern Washington Lookout on Columbia Mountain
On a recent trip to Washington State, my group found ourselves in the middle of Colville National Forest, way too far from our intended hiking destination to drive there and then take the hike on the same day. Just as…
Neon Canyon: The Beeline Route
In a previous post, I talked about the Golden Cathedral in Neon Canyon in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This canyon and the Cathedral are awe-inspiring examples of the beauty of the monument, with pretty desert varnish staining the walls of…
Earl Peak: The Cascades Laid Out Below You
The view from Earl Peak has got to be one of the best in the entire Teanaway region of Washington State. Well, Bean Peak, across the valley, rivals this view, but they are quite different senses of “best”: from Bean…
Kootenai Falls: Swing Bridge, Train Bridge, and Waterfalls!
Several years ago, we were driving down a small highway in Montana looking for a place to eat lunch. A roadside sign that said “Kootenai Falls” caught our attention, so we pulled into the parking area. We were rewarded, too:…