After the awesomeness that was the April Alpine Trails Book Club camping trip, our May outing had a lot to live up to. May has always felt to me like an awkward time to plan a hike. Do I stick to the low altitude trails I've been hiking through the winter or contend with potential avalanche danger and the annoyance of postholing in the mountains? Thankfully, the sunny eastern slopes of the Cascades provide a few options for snow-free hiking early in the season. Instead of lowland mud, on our Sunday hike to Icicle Ridge we found a dusty trail lined with ponderosa pines and sprinkled liberally with an assortment of wildflowers.
Read moreDalles Mountain Ranch
Confession - I almost didn't make it to the April Alpine Trails Book Club outing. Our destination for the month was Columbia Hills State Park for a weekend of camping, hiking, and other adventures. With such a long drive, going for just one day to join the group for our Sunday hike was out of the question, but spring is always a busy time for me at work, and in years past I've ended up working at least one day each weekend from late April through late May. Thankfully, I not only managed to avoid working through the weekend, but was able to take Friday - all without falling to far behind! Three whole days spent away from my computer, soaking up the glorious sunshine in the company of an inspiring group of women was just what I needed to restore me. Our weekend was filled with all sorts of adventures, but my favorite was definitely our Sunday hike through the wildflowers studded hills at Dalles Mountain Ranch.
Read moreMiddle Fork Snoqualmie River
Until very recently, I hiked almost exclusively in the summer. Happily, thanks to monthly hikes with the Alpine Trails Book Club, I've had reason to do a lot more hiking year round, and I've found my favorite times to hike are during the transition between seasons. Hiking outside summer has also led me to discover all kinds of new trails, including the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River. The trail a perfect meandering riverside hike that I was happy to share with the Alpine Trails Book Club. It also turned out to be a meaningful trail to pair with our book selection of Reclaimers in ways I hadn't expected.
Read moreMargaret's Way
Something magical happens on the trail in the rain. With distant views obscured by mist and cloud, the world becomes smaller. Instead of landscapes of jagged, snow-capped peaks, your views are of moss and bark, puddles and branches. Sound is literally dampened by the weather, with the drip-drumming of the rain on your trusty rain jacket as a persistent soundtrack. Unless you're not wearing a rain jacket, but if you're out hiking in the PNW in January, I very much hope you are!
Read moreGold Creek Pond Snowshoe
Typically, when planning an Alpine Trails Book Club outing, I start with the book, then wrack my brain to come up with the best possible trail to pair with it. To start off 2018, for once I knew exactly where I wanted to go: a short snowshoe around Gold Creek Pond paired with a stop at my nearby family cabin would be the perfect way to ease out of the holiday season. I envisioned a laid-back morning of snacking, hot beverages, and meandering conversation. The trouble was I couldn't come up with a fitting book, but when Ashley suggested reading The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, I knew we'd found the perfect combination. I'd already unintentionally planned the perfect hyggelig day for our meeting!
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