by Love is in the air for the Roosevelt Elk in Olympic National Park, meaning the the fall elk rut is upon us. As the rain starts to fall and the leaves transition from green to orange, male elk, known as bulls, get quite excited. During this time, male elk attempt to become the dominant elk …
Experience Staircase This Fall
Ninety minutes from downtown Olympia, a wilderness destination sits patiently waiting for visitors. During the summer months, the Staircase Region of Olympic National Park see’s over a hundred thousand visitors. Yet, when the leaves become orange and the days grow shorter, the crowds stay away. It is during the fall months that Staircase becomes even …
Olympic National Park Visitation Drops 18.41% in August 2015
The numbers for Total Recreation visits through August, 2015 are in, and they come as quite a shock. Despite the long summer and the incredible weather, visitation for Olympic National Park has dropped in August, a usually peak month for tourism. Some say it dropped because of the wildfires and burn bans ruining camping trips. Others …
120,000 Anti-Navy Wargame Signatures Delivered to Olympic National Forest
While the rest of Washington seemed to be consumed with news of the return of the Seahawk’s Kam Chancellor, the Chinese President’s visit, and his impact on traffic, a group of 65 people met quietly in a small parking lot in Olympia, Washington. Surrounded by fir trees and the crisp fall sun, one of the …
Breaking Up with the PNW Summer of 2015
Summer, When you leave, we will have officially been together for 93 days, 15 hours, and 42 minutes. We made it official on June 21st, but everyone knew we were an item long before that. Our relationship had grown hotter and hotter since Valentines Day, when we enjoyed 80+ degree days at Smith Rock and Crater Lake …
The Pacific Northwest Trail Route Will Soon Be Complete
Every hiker knows about the Appalachian Trail, and millions across the nation know of the Pacific Crest Trail. The north/south trails running along the mountains of each coast have been featured in movies, written about in books, and have been responsible for millions of dollars of endorsement deals from outdoor companies around the world. Everyone and …
The Spruce Fire in Yellowstone National Park
Guest Post by Ranger Kaiti May From a young age, we are taught that forest fires are dangerous, destructive, and horrible. As we grow older, we hear about the destruction on the news. Homes are destroyed and lives are taken; while we struggle to make a dent in keeping the fires at bay. Growing up …
Hike Summit Lake Near Mount Rainier
There are more classic hikes around Washington State than can be listed, though many authors try. It seems like early every road, from the gravel ones in the forest service to the paved ones in the National Parks, leads to a trail that is incredibly, jaw-dropping and beautiful. Around every bend, and in every corner …
Navy Jets: Coming Soon to the Olympic Wilderness. Seriously.
The Olympic Peninsula is isolated, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Made up of six wilderness areas, including Olympic National Park, this remote peninsula in Washington State is the scene of millions of vacations each year. Olympic is the 6th most visited National Park in America, with 3 million+ visitors coming from around …
UPDATE: Missing Hiker Found Safe at Olympic National Park’s Mount Storm King
Good News Update!!! Park officials announced Thursday morning they have found a hiker missing near Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. David Galbraith, missing since Tuesday evening, was found alive, cold, tired and hungry, by an Olympic National Park search team at about 11:15 this morning. Original Post: The man, David Galbraith of Victoria, British Columbia is 51 …