by The fate of West Coast starfish is now in the hands of congress. Unlike the starfish, the hands of congressmen aren’t melting off, which is probably why they aren’t rushing to address this issue. First discovered on the rugged and isolated wilderness beach of Olympic National Park, starfish along the West Coast of the United States …
13 Questions for an Olympic Peninsula Kayak Guide and National Park Ranger
Living near Olympic National Park, I am lucky enough to be able to meet and converse with some of the most outdoorsy people in the world. Tucked away in out little corner of America, those who flock to the wilderness around Olympic National Park are a special breed, full of adventure, excitement and a love …
Amazing Video from Greenland’s Ilulissat Glacier
Nature documentaries are my not so guilty pleasure, especially ones who show remote parts of the world that seem foreign and remote. That is why, when I caught a glimpse of this video from the documentary “Chasing Ice”, I had to not only share it, but watch it on iTunes. It is well worth the $13. …
Climbing Mount Saint Helens: Worm Flow Route
The Experience Mount St Helens is often overlooked, now a hollowed out shell of what used to be a majestic mountain in the southern Cascade Mountain Range in Washington State. On May 18th, 1980, the mountain, which once stood 9,677 feet above sea level, experienced a violent eruption. The eruption took 1,310 feet off the …
Racism and Bigotry on the Trails of the Olympic Peninsula
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 …