When Bobby first posed the idea of camping my immediate and emphatic response was a resounding NO! As I continued to reflect upon the idea of camping it soon hit me that no matter where I am or what I’m doing, at 30 weeks pregnant, I am generally uncomfortable. Sleeping has become a chore even in the comfort of my own bed. So, why not go camping? Camping is one of my all time favorite activities, maybe I’d sleep better in a tent then I was in my own bed! We left early Saturday morning with Latigo and Beth, a…
Schmitz Park
At 29 weeks pregnant walking long distances or anything with much of a change in elevation has become virtually impossible. After a week of hot weather and sunshine in Seattle, the weekend promised clouds and rain. We headed out early on Saturday morning in an effort to beat the forecasted rain showers that would plague the city and most of the surrounding areas. We drove the short distance to West Seattle and found our way to Schmitz Park. Schmitz Park is a gem held within the boundaries of West Seattle and offers walking trails amidst old growth forests that were saved…
Mailbox Peak
There are some hikes that you continually hear about when you talk to other hikers in Washington. Having recently joined the new Washington Hikers and Climbers group on Facebook and seeing repeated posts about the hike I figured it was time to see what all the fuss is about. The Mailbox Peak trail is known for its difficulty. And rightfully so, it gains 4,000 feet in just 2.5 miles. At the trailhead you’ll find plenty of warning signs about the strenuous nature of the trail. The trail starts leisurely enough on an old forest road which leads to the beginning…
Yakima Skyline Rim
We set off on a sunny Sunday morning in the pursuit of wildflowers. The unusual sunny weather we’ve been enjoying in Seattle had us itching for a glorious spring hike away from the slushy snow that still covers much of the Cascades. We decided to make the long drive east, over the Cascades and into the more arid part of our state. Looking at recent trip reports on the Washington Trails Association website, we saw that wildflowers were beginning to bloom on trails around Yakima. Bobby pulled out his 100 Classic Hikes in Washington guidebook and found the Yakima Skyline…
Rattlesnake Ledge
Saturday had a threat of rain in the afternoon and weather forecasts indicated that Sunday would bring rain all day. So we made ready early in the morning on Saturday and set off for a hike. I am now 21 weeks pregnant and am really getting used to the body I find myself living in with the added bonus that our little baby boy seems to have shifted and has eased the bad back pain that I had been enduring throughout the first 20 weeks of my pregnancy. So, I agreed to do a hike that had some elevation gain. Bobby…
Potholes State Park and White Bluffs
Lots of snowfall in the Cascades made for some pretty high avalanche dangers this weekend. So, we decided to make the longer trek over the mountain pass and into the more arid areas of Eastern Washington. We decided to make a weekend of our adventure seeing as we were looking at a 3+ hour drive for a hike that was free of snow and a bit warmer. Finding a spot that was open and had camping available was a little tricky, but Bobby succeeded in finding the perfect spot. Potholes State Park is a popular destination for boaters, with over 6,000-feet…
Barclay Lake
It’s been far too long since we have hit the trail and posted to our blog. Two primary reasons are responsible for our overly long absence from the outdoors scene. The primary reason being that Bobby and I found out we’re expecting our first baby this July! Dealing with the woes and wonders that come along with first trimester of pregnancy left me feeling unenthused about spending a day hiking about the woods. The secondary reason is that it’s snowboarding season for Bobby (the pregnancy has kept me sidelined from such a potentially dangerous activity). This past weekend though we…
Wonderland Trail: Longmire to Carter Falls
We decided that it was about time we visited Mount Rainier National Park for the first time! We have lived in Seattle for over a year and a half and our lack of visits to such an incredible National Park was getting ridiculous! We left Latigo at home and headed south. Two and a half hours later we found ourselves entering the majestic woods of Mount Rainier National Park. It had been our intention to snowshoe to Panorama Point but upon reaching the entrance we learned that, due to severe winter storm warnings that would be in effect throughout the…
Snoqualmie Tunnel
Want a great, spooky hike for Halloween night? Look no further than the Snoqualmie Tunnel. Part of the 110 mile long Iron Horse trail, this 2.3 mile long tunnel cuts under Mount Hyak and the Summit at Snoqualmie ski area. The tunnel was constructed during 1912-1914 in order to allow trains to easily cross the pass while avoiding avalanches and deep snow. For Halloween 2013 we rounded up a group of our friends to tackle this hike. We figured since we’ll be in a tunnel we won’t miss any scenery by going in the dark. Plus it adds to the spookiness! All of us met at…
Mount Pilchuck
A thick fog engulfed the trail and there was a definite chill in the air as we set off from the trailhead for Mount Pilchuck. We hoped that upon reaching the summit of the mountain at 5,324 feet we would find ourselves above the fog with glorious views of mountains floating above the clouds. We began the trek up the 2200 feet of elevation gain in just under 3 miles and were soon huffing and puffing. We had gotten a late start to the day and didn’t reach the trailhead until a little after 11:00. Though foggy and rainy the…