by America’s first National Park is giving quite the gift to the American public for 2016’s National Park Week. While most parks will be giving are entrance to their parks, numerous events and awesome Junior Ranger programs, Yellowstone National Park is opening road to a few of the most picturesque destination in America. According to a …
Junior Ranger Day at Olympic National Park is April 16th, 2016
From the Desk of Olympic National Park: Children of all ages are invited to bring their favorite adult to National Junior Ranger Day at Olympic on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Olympic’s Junior Ranger Day will take place at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center located at 3002 Mount Angeles Road …
My Favorite Pacific Northwest Trail is Too Crowded. Now What?
Let’s face it. There is nothing quite like the shock that comes when the weather warms up on your favorite trail. All fall and winter long, when everyone else was watching sports ball or complaining about the rain and snow, we had the wilderness to ourselves. That is no longer the case.
Olympic Mountain Snowpack Update: April 4th, 2016
Despite extremely warm temperatures and sunny skies to end March and start April, the snowpack of the Olympic Mountains has barely changed. In fact, it appear that in the higher elevations, barely any snow had melted. Many of you will probably assume that the high temperatures put a nice dent in our snowpack, but the …
Here Comes the Sun: Hikes to End the Gray Season in the Pacific Northwest
Long before the giant yellow orb in the sky makes its triumphant return, residents around the Pacific Northwest start to buzz with sunny anticipation. On TV news stations around the region, anchors and meteorologists exchange flirtatious banter, hinting at something great looming on the horizon. I swear, Seattle TV news anchor Dennis Bounds once even …
All Wilderness Camping in Mount Rainier National Park to Be First-Come, First Serve in 2016
Lightning destroys the summer hopes and dreams of thousands of backpackers to Mount Rainier National Park. You can blame the weather and our reliance on technology, I guess. According to rumors from park rangers, a lightning storm helped ruin the old reservation system for backcountry permits in Mount Rainier National Park. All who applied for …
Olympic Mountain Snowpack Update: March 21st, 2016
For anyone that has headed out on a hike into the elevation of the Olympics, you know that the snowpack in the mountains is quite impressive this year. Last year, when we should have been neck deep in powder on our favorite trails, we were met with snow-free summits and dry creek beds. Hikers were spoiled …
Five Examples of LaPush’s Amazing Culture and History
Everyone loves the LaPush region of the Olympic Peninsula. From amazing sea-stacks, salmon, whales and eagles, to some of the most beautiful sunsets on the planet; the remote, rugged beauty of the LaPush has been and will attract visitors for all of human existence. Most didn’t know LaPush even existed until the “Twilight Phenomenon”, but for …
Six Olympic National Park Regions to Close Before Impending Storm
Due to ridiculously strong spring storm heading toward the Pacific Northwest, Olympic National Park officials have decided to close six of the most-popular areas of the region to ensure public safety. Winds over 60MPH are threatening to cause a havoc, and the park wants to prevent visitors and employees from being injured or trapped by falling trees …
The Gray Outdoors: Exploring Seven of Olympic’s Best ‘Bad Weather’ Hikes
As the gray covers the Pacific Northwest, negative attitudes about the weather become as commonplace as raindrops. When the clouds and dreariness return, a collective sigh is emitted, and pictures of the summer make #tbt that much more special. It seems like years ago that we were in swimsuits (hell, even in shorts) on the beaches or lakes, …