A look back at some of my biggest outdoor adventures of 2018, mostly to remote Washington State fire lookouts, and some funny fire lookout bagging stats along the way. What were your big 2018 accomplishments?
Essays
Random thoughts, mostly about the outdoors, conservation, and adventure.
A day spent at the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center working on the Badger Mountain fire lookout and learning valuable skills in the art of lookout restoration, especially window glazing!
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) provides local, fresh, seasonal produce to consumers, supports small farms, and is great for the environment! Especially now, I've never been more happy to have a local supply of delicious produce!
I think it's easy for most of us to support our local search and rescue teams, but it's tough to grasp the level of effort required for a rescue. Some friends and I played mock victims for a large avalanche training exercise and witnessed firsthand the amazing skills and dedication of search and rescue volunteers.
Two dozen or more of our remaining historical lookouts in Washington State are still staffed by during fire season. Here is a list of staffed lookouts as well as some etiquette tips for visiting a lookout on active duty.
I jokingly refer to myself as a serial soloist and think "don't hike alone" is terrible advice. I think the better advice is "never underestimate nature."
Who inspires you to get out and explore? My outdoor hero is my amazing 70-year old dad who is living proof that staying fit and having an intrepid spirit keeps you eternally youthful.
This year, the beautifully restored D-6 cupola fire lookout at the summit of North Twentymile is celebrating a centennial and a dedicated group of volunteers is committed to maintaining trail access.
A week spent with volunteers painting Lookout Mountain in Twisp, swapping stories, and remembering the beautiful history of fire lookouts.
The desert Southwest is a magical place of extreme contrast and powerful energy. When life throws you some unexpected hits, there really isn't a better place to find yourself again.
The Wild Olympics campaign would permanently protect more than 126,000 acres of new wilderness in the Olympic National Forest and designate 19 rivers and their tributaries as Wild And Scenic Rivers. What does the natural beauty of the Olympics mean to you?
The story of my dad and stepmoms accident on a remote peak in the Sierras and a reminder that trail angels really do exist! You can never be too prepared in the wilderness.