by As Seattle and the towns of the Puget Sound, Skagit Valley and Olympic Peninsula prepare for another dose of lowland snow, a report from the US Department of Agriculture is issuing some trouble news. Despite snow falling all around the Evergreen State, our mountain snowpack is still way below average, once again leading to a …
The Hidden History of Olympic National Park’s Lake Crescent
Our National Parks are filled with incredible history. From buildings and battlefields, to the cultural importance of these lands to the first people’s, every single one of these places of Public Lands is steeped in historical wonder. Our Public Lands have a lifetime’s worth of stories and tales, iconic figures and shady characters, allowing us …
Healing a Hurting Soul at Lake of the Angels
I was stressed and sad, or as I called it in 2013, Tuesday. We were in the midst of a Government shutdown and I was surviving my job as a political consultant on fumes and alcohol. My job was safe for the year, but the future was not. I had reached my breaking point and …
Do We Need to Close Public Lands During the Longest Government Shutdown in US History?
The sounds of chainsaws shattered the silence of the desert landscape at Joshua Tree National Park while the stench of human feces rose from the ditches along the pull outs at Yosemite National Park. It was a great start to 2019. Across the nation, at Wildlife Refuges, National Forests, National Parks and federally funded Public …
Hoping 2019 Will Be An Amazing Year On Public Lands
Each new year, we find ourselves full of hope and optimism. When the clock strikes midnight, we look ahead to wonderful times with friends and family, as well as ourselves. In those few few hours, days and weeks of the new year, we have a pep in our step and feel motivated to make the …
Mount Rainier’s Nisqually Gate Is Now Closed Due to Latest Government Shutdown
Despite Mount Rainier National Park staff’s best efforts to let visitors explore the lands around the iconic Washington State mountain, the only entrance road open into the park during the winter months was closed on Sunday, January 6th, 2019. A simple announcement on the park’s website greeted visitors with the following:
A Nourished Soul in Slot Canyons and Sandstone Sculptures
Born and raised in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, anytime I explore a public lands location that doesn’t get feet of rainfall each year feels, I feel incredibly strange. I am used to endless green, to rivers constantly flowing and to signs of life around every corner. I am accustomed to seeing towering trees …
Serious Snowfall is Returning to the Olympic Mountains!
Snow is finally coming to the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula! While lowland residents bemoan the return of the rain, the drought beleaguered summits of the region are rejoicing. A atmospheric onslaught of moisture is currently dousing the Pacific Northwest and will continue to do so for the next week, bringing a winter wonderland to …
Free Avalanche Awareness Class at Olympic National Park Visitor Center
As the snowy season has officially kicked off, Olympic National Park and the Northwest Avalanche Center have joined forces to provide a free event to the public for avalanche awareness. This event is a great way to brush up on some tips, ask avalanche related questions and get to know the park a bit better …
Five Outdoor Themed Books You Need to Own and Read
There is nothing quite like reading a good book. Page after page, we find ourselves intoxicated with what is next, learning and becoming motivated by the printed word. Books inspire us, teach us, and connect us to hobbies and landscapes near and far. For us, and maybe even you, books are a way to relax …