Growing up in Seattle, Matt and his family judged the weather – at least in part – by whether “The Mountain” was out (and that’s still true to this day). That “Mountain” is, of course, Mount Rainier, which rises 14,000 feet above the surrounding area, which is largely at sea level. That juxtaposition makes it…
Why do we love the North Cascades so much? It’s our kind of national park. And by that, we mean two things. First, while some national parks (looking at you, Yellowstone) are all about the attractions that are just off the road, accessed by a short boardwalk (which means crowds galore), North Cascades National Park…
Looking for a hike up in Northern Washington with amazing views of Mount Baker and the other peaks of the North Cascades and impressive displays of wildflowers or fall color (depending on the season)? Let us introduce you to Yellow Aster Butte, one of our favorite hikes near Mount Baker (and in the entire state!)….
Let’s start this guide with a lukewarm take: the Maple Pass trail is our favorite hike in the state (and potentially the entire Pacific Northwest). We’re here to bring our experiences on the trail to help you plan an incredible day out in the wilderness of the North Cascades. We love this hike, and have…
While we live in Portland now, Matt grew up in the Seattle area (in Issaquah, which is where a few of the closer-in hikes below are located) and we regularly come up to Seattle to visit friends and family, oftentimes including a hike or two during our visit. There are very few big cities with…
When most hikers in the Seattle area think about hiking near North Bend, the first trail that inevitably comes to mind is the epic hike up to Mount Si. However, that trail is really only accessible to a small percentage of would-be hikers thanks to the steep climb and relatively long mileage that puts it…