Topping Off My Gear List With the Perfect Summer Hat
I knew I was dialing in my gear list when I started browsing for hats. For the longest time, I wore a simple ball cap that I didn’t mind getting … Read More
A New Trail Leads to A New Perspective
In May, I had the privilege of exploring the West Fork Humptulips Trail #806 with Rites of Passage owner, Emma Welch. Located in the southwest quadrant of the Olympic Peninsula, … Read More
25 Things I’m Grateful For
One of my favorite activities that the Rites of Passage therapist gave the group is to write out a list of 25 things we are grateful for. We always start … Read More
Hiking Old Trails Again for the First Time
We stepped off the Upper Big Quilcene Trail in the Olympic National Forest to find a spot for lunch where we could see the water tumbling over rocks and under … Read More
Cinderella Goes Shopping for Hiking Shoes A quest for the perfect hiking shoe
I hiked El Camino in 2014, a 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain, wearing some Targhee II Lows made by Keen. I loved those shoes! I’d also purchased a pair of … Read More
When I Am Among the Trees
When I am among the trees, I breathe slowly, deeply. I listen. I might sway with the treetops or I might be still and hushed in the company of shadows. … Read More
Crystal Lake Trail #299: The Knee Breaker
Trailhead Coordinates: 45.656273, -115.650857 Elevation Low: 7400 ft High: 8600 ft Gains: 1560 ft (one way) Distance: 6.8 miles (one way) Difficulty: Difficult Best Seasons: Summer Maps USGS Topo Map Quadrangle: North … Read More
Saved by the Things That Ignore Us How Nature's Quiet Assurance Draws Out Our Greatest Potential
“The things that ignore us save us in the end.” – Andrew Harvey A twisted ankle had us digging through several inches of snow to uncover a fire pit and … Read More
Who’s Leading This Hike, Anyway? The Clearwater Trekkers Explore the Lochsa Downriver Trail #2
Trailhead Coordinates: 46.345433, -115.309014 Elevation Low: 2000 ft High: 2640 ft Distance: 17 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Best Seasons: Late Spring to Early Fall Maps: USGS Topo … Read More