Snow Lake Trail, Snoqualmie Pass, Washington
Described as the best hike near Seattle, Snow Lake Trail is the most frequented hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, in the Central Cascades Mountains, it is well worth the long drive from Coeur d’Alene. I have a habit of needing to just leave. To not be at […]
The Enchantments, Central Cascades Mountains, Chelan County, Washington
The Enchantments, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, is exactly as magical as its name suggests. It is a rugged alpine backcountry paradise for trail runners, hikers, and backpackers. There are over 700 alpine lakes here. Depending upon side quests and your GPS, it is approximately 20-miles point-to-point, with nearly 5,000′ elevation gain. You can access […]
Dry Gulch Preserve Trails, Wenatchee, Washington
I have said it before – give me all the sunshine. And of course, adventure. Wenatchee, Washington provides that for me. It is a few hours from Coeur d’Alene. An easy drive. Clear roads and loud music are the perfect setup for a solo weekend getaway to spend a couple days on exposed trails. The […]
Blue Creek Bay Recreation Site and Trail, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Time spent among trees is never wasted time. – Katrina Mayer We have had a strange winter. The Inland Northwest has received less than half the amount of snow that it usually gets, and honestly, what it needs. The region counts on snow melt in the spring and summer so that our wild areas are […]
Ben Burr Nature Trail, Spokane, WA
Between Liberty Park and Underhill Park, in Spokane, is the Ben Burr Nature Trail. Part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, it is a paved trail that connects to the Centennial Trail, which I have written about a few times, and also has many access points to the named parks. IT IS ALSO THE TRAIL WHERE I […]
Prairie Trail, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Now that I know we are moving, I am in a low-key panic to try to write about the trails around here I have not written about yet. Why? Sigh. Probably because I am ridiculous. Anyway, I have written about the North Idaho and Spokane Centennial Trail, which is a 64-mile mostly-paved trail that connects […]
Fernan Lake Natural Area, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Writing is hard. Writing for a website where your work is immediately available for public viewing and scrutiny is hard. Writing for the public in hopes of connecting to others in some way is hard. “They” say to write like no one is ever going to read it, to write like everyone is dead, to […]
John Pointer Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
24 Christmases as a mom. My first one as what they call an empty-nester. Things 2 and 4 are in the world and chasing happiness. Thing 3 is settling into his first duty station and being a new homeowner in Virginia. Things 1 and 5 are making their way through the Rockies to then slog […]
Stevens Lakes, Murray, Idaho
This is hike 30 in 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: Popular among weekend campers, this hike quickly leads from Interstate 90 to an area of quiet alpine lakes in the western reaches of the Bitterroot Mountains. The lakes are situated at the brink of timberline below Stevens Peak and just a ridge west of […]
Marie Creek, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
The trees know about the winter about the change about the falling about the loss and they grow anyway Grow anyway. I wanted to hike with SB, a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. She had invited me on a last-minute trip to Nelson, British Columbia, but I had to decline, so she […]