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The Hiker’s Guide to Search and Rescue   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here and the companion web pages here   For Josh Hancock, 31, there was never a reason to suspect that his daytrip to Alpental would end any differently than the dozens of excursions he’d done before. It was an ordinary Wednesday, and the environmental consultant was taking a day off work with his climbing partner, Kjel. The weather was beautiful and the climbing conditions were favorable—it should have been a fun day away from the office and enjoying the great outdoors. Instead, it was one of the scariest days of Hancock’s life. The two friends hiked 3 snowy miles toward Kiddie Cliff and a spectacular frozen waterfall that was...

Time for Spring Cleaning   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here and the companion blogs here   There are many things to love about spring: warmer temperatures, longer days and the sweet promise of another hiking season just around the corner. But before you hit the trail, it’s time for some good old-fashioned spring cleaning. Don’t know where to start? It’s as easy as one, two, three. One: Reorganize | Two: Refresh | Three: Restock Reorganize Your Gear Small Items Don’t let your matches or your toothbrush get lost in your pack—give them a home. Here are some of our favorite organizers for everything from toiletries to odds and ends. Toiletries: Tired of trying to squeeze the last bit of ecofriendly shampoo out...

Revolutionize Your Life With an Outdoor Challenge: One Inspiring Woman Shows You How   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published magazine article here and the companion blog here   Do you have trouble keeping your New Year’s resolutions? Maybe you’re thinking too small. Whether it’s to get outside more, hike farther or discover new trails, there’s a cure for the common New Year’s resolution. It’s a big, bold audacious yearlong challenge. Think it can’t be done? Meet Beautiful Existence. We first learned of Beautiful Existence (yes, that’s her legal name) and her signature yearlong challenges in early 2014, as she set out to spend the year trying every sport that REI offers gear for. In the process, she revolutionized her...

Forever on Trail and in Hearts: Lessons from Karen Sykes   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here   I often find myself wondering about the meaning of life. Don’t we all, at some point? There comes a time when we simply can’t go through the motions—getting up, going to work, coming home, falling asleep and living for the weekend—without wanting something more. But knowing you want more is the easy part. The hard part is discovering what that means. How, exactly, do you go about having a more meaningful life? An ancient proverb says, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” And I know no better teacher than Karen Sykes, the beloved and prolific Northwest outdoors writer who introduced thousands to hiking...

Harvest Hiking   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here   In autumn, the golden glow of larches pulls focus to Washington’s high country. But in the hidden folds and river canyons of central Washington, another color riot is taking place. Butter yellow, pumpkin orange, rhubarb red: For a few short weeks, the normally dry, hide- colored earth explodes with color and harvest bounty. Ripe apples decorate stout trees; plump grapes weigh down delicate vines. It’s a feast in every sense of the word. It’s also the ultimate autumn destination: Yakima Valley. Fall colors and fresh crops aren’t the only reasons to visit Yakima Valley. The region boasts more than 300 days of sunshine annually and warm temperatures that...

The Down and Dirty   Written for Washington Trails magazine   Visit the published article here   It’s an intoxicating thought: trade in an office for a forest, a suit for a hard hat, a computer for a shovel. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to quit your day job and do trail maintenance for a living, you’re not alone. Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods tells the true story of Christine Byl. She forewent graduate school in favor of trail work and has since made a career out of 16 seasons spent building trails. Byl’s narrative begins before she ever holds her first Pulaski, back when she’s just a new college graduate who’s broke and looking for a life change. Moving from Michigan and an intellectual upbringing to Montana and manual...