Can't Leave the Pacific Northwest Without...

Hi Folks,

While getting ready to leave, I wouldn't feel right taking off without once again talking about how great the Pacific Northwest is. 

Showing excitement for the PNW in a mountain meadow near Mt. Rainier

At various points in the last year I lived in Seattle, WA, worked at Snoqualmie Falls, WA, regularly visited family in Bellingham, WA, went on overnight site visits to Mount Tahoma, WA, was often stuck in horrible traffic in Portland, OR, because of a new long distance relationship with a wonderful man in Eugene, OR. So yeah, I logged more than my share of miles traveling all over this fair region of ours.

Rather than listing all the best places and why I love them I'll do the short version and use pictures. Each one is worth a thousand words, so this may end up being one of my wordiest posts... 

Mt. Rainier from Mt. Tahoma nearby.

Same view ten hours later. Rainier wearing its cloud hat in early October.

(Did you know?!)
There are three huts on gorgeous ridges in the Mt. Tahoma forest that you can rent for a few days for EXTREMELY cheap? It's true. The catch is that you have to park your car a cool 3-5 miles back down the mountain depending on the time of year and hike up to the huts. If the idea of a long hike in snow ending in some amazing skiing and gorgeous views of the Cascades and Mt. Rainier doesn't scare you, check them out here at the the MTTA website.

View from High Hut in the Tahoma

I think these are mountains on the way to Leavenworth WA. Which by the way has a

KILLER BRATVURST.

 Run, don't walk to Leavenworth and get a brat and a beer. It's a 2.5 hour drive from Seattle via Highways 522 and 2 so plan on staying the day or overnight. 

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Mt. St Helens

I had never been to Mt. St. Helens before last September and was (like most probably) totally blown away by the extent of the devastation. It's an awesome,(extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear.) site.

Waterfall on the way to Lake Twenty Two 

The aforementioned Lake Twenty Two.

The hiking in the Pacific Northwest is beautiful and plentiful, and it is also often damp, if not soaking. If you're ok with some wet shoulders (or hiking with an umbrella) on a misty mountain hike, you'll never be without a fun thing to do here.

A waterfall in the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve

A standard breathtaking sunset over the San Juan Islands

A giant nurse stump in the Middlefork Snoqualmie River Valley, at Oxbow Lake

A huge driftwood tree at La Push, WA

In conclusion, the Pacific Northwest is a lovely place to come home to. The ability to hike, bike, kayak, swim, ski and surf within a hundred mile radius is a rare, wonderful thing.

Looking forward to a month from now, last minute ideas are taking shape, reservations made, Eurail passes bought,chosen outfits scrutinized and edited within an inch of their lives.
Soon it will be time to be off!