by It was an unseasonably warm winter day in 2014, and I decided to take a quick run into the Brothers Wilderness on the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula. Past the ever-popular Lena Lake Trail along the Hamma Hamma River, the silence and isolation the Brothers Wilderness is incredible. The trail leads hikers through a …
Volcano Eruption Pictures Never Cease to Amaze: Villarrica Edition
I was born in the shadows of volcanoes. My life has been spent looking in craters or exploring the slopes of volcanos that could erupt. I live in the Pacific Northwest, home to volcanoes that are dead, erupted or waiting for their moment. My year of birth is 1981, meaning I missed the eruption of Mount Saint …
Department of Natural Resources Denies Navy’s Electromagnetic Warfare Training on Olympic Peninsula
The silence of the wilderness of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, which houses Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest and six Wilderness Areas, is under attack. The attack on silence isn’t coming from the growing number of tourists looking to fall in love with the region, it isn’t coming from highway noise or cities, nor is …
A Glimpse into the Wilderness of Joshua Tree National Park
Who can name three facts about Joshua Tree National Park? Now who can name three facts without mentioning the U2 album? Mathias, that last comment is directed at you.I may be wrong on this, but I think it is fair to say that few outside of California and Arizona know much, if anything about Joshua …
Bison Charges Parked Car in Yellowstone: Video
Anyone that knows me knows I preach and practice keeping proper distance from wildlife at all times. From writing blogs about it for other publications, to educating people on the issue every chance I get, I am always telling people one thing- If you stay far away from an animal, you will be fine. Sometimes, …
The Lack of Snow in the Olympic Mountains Could be Terrible News for Salmon
As has been well documented over the past few months, the winter of 2014-15 is shaping up to give the mountains of the west one of their worst snowpacks in recent memory. While many look at the lack of snow this year and are concerned about the economic impact on ski areas and the increase …
Grizzlies to Return to the North Cascades?
In the isolated forests and rugged mountains of the North Cascades of Washington State, grizzly bears could be making a comeback, if the National Park Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have their way. While the plans are just plans so far, the movement to bring the large …
Port Angeles: One of the coolest towns in America
In a list complied by the Matador Network highlighting their 20 coolest towns in America, the small city of Port Angeles came in at number 16. For many, the city of Port Angeles serves as a gateway to Vancouver Island and the remote Olympic National Park, accessible along a gorgeous drive along Highway 101 or …
Channelling the Winter of 2005 in 2015
As most everyone around the western states knows, this winter has been beyond disappointing for those hoping for a normal snowpack. Mountains across the region, from the Rockies and the Cascades, to the Olympics and the Sierras, the amount of snow that has fallen in the winter of 2014-15 has been disappointing.
Disgusting Facts: Salmon Sperm Helps Recycling, Herring Sperm Stops Fires
In a story that I can only describe as disgustingly creative, Japanese researchers have discovered that salmon sperm can help separate rare earth elements (REEs) from scrap metals. In a study conducted by the University of Tokyo, salmon sperm was found to separate REEs from ore, magnets and electronic waste.