Hike Highlight: PCT to Twin Lakes

Accessible from two different trailheads on the Pacific Crest Trail, south of Mt. Hood in Oregon, the Twin Lakes Trail hike features stops at two beautiful turquoise alpine lakes surrounded by dense evergreen forests. Choose your adventure on this segment of the PCT with a loop-hike, out-and-back, or weekend backpacking. I opted for an 9-mile

Chush Falls Hike – Summits and Spray

Best laid plans never pan out, so lately my weekend trips have been a bit more ad-hoc. Snow, snowed-out a camping reservation and unusually cold and wet spring fronts have kept me bundle inside more ready for a book than trek. But when it comes to a long-weekend like Memorial Day, classic Pacific Northwest June-uary

Weekend Warrior Trip: 2-Day Metolius River Camping

If you have trouble sleeping these days like me, power through your work week and book a camp ground along the wild Metolius River. Better than any white-noise machine, the roaring rapids of these crystal-clear waters will sooth you to sleep like a sweet lullaby. Recently, I have been super stressed and my anxiety high,

A Look Back at 2020: Adventures During a Pandemic

I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a hell of a year. Looking back on the last 12 months, I feel like it’s all a fog – a blurry merge of months, virtual meetings and happy hours, walks past the same houses, and long, lonely days spent indoors. And unfortunately, the hope

Three Days in the Three Sisters Wilderness

Before the snow even finished melting away for the summer months, I headed out and into the backcountry for an overnight adventure. With a three-day weekend, like Memorial Day, it couldn’t be wasted on the couch, so I packed my new Black Diamond backpack, grabbed the tent, and spent some much needed time with nature

10 Oregon Winter Hikes to Hit this Year

This past week the mercury fell and we looked head first into winter – and a winter that may be more wild than we think (let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!). But being a true northwest native is all about not letting the rain, sleet, ice, and cold wind slow you down, especially

Tamanawas Falls

Each droplet of water crashing over Tamanawas Falls takes your breath away. The Hike: From the trailhead follow Cold Creek as it meanders down the eastern slopes of Mt. Hood and through dense evergreen forests for 2.0 miles to reach this impressive waterfall. The trail is easy and very family friendly with two bridge crossings

Ski season is almost here!

While it may still be September and the sun is shining in Oregon, winter is coming! And with it snow, skiing, and mountain bliss. To kickstart ski season, I hiked up to the top of the Palmer Glacier today, about 8500 feet up Mt. Hood, to get in a few early turns. To continue with the

Yocum Ridge via Ramona Falls

With hardly a soul in sight and only the path leading me forward, I savored the feeling of dirt and rock beneath my feet. The air smelled like ripe honeysuckle and high Cascade wildflowers. The wind was cool and crisp against my neck, which tingled with droplets of sweat. The river and streams, roared and

Winter Views of Crater Lake

This weekend, I spent three days at Crater Lake. Graced with glorious weather, I enjoyed snowshoeing along the rim, sledding and going out for my first night photography sessions. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the trip:   First time to Crater Lake? Go on the free, guided snowshoe tour at the