This web site is dedicated to my family and friends. They have allowed me the opportunity to discover the great North West and Western States. Our group of friends are avid backpackers and hikers for the last 30 plus years. The group originated out of my sons participation in Scouts and continues until today.

The web site originated in 2000 and has just undergone a major change in 2009. I haven't kept track of all my previous hikes and even for 2009 I'm missing some. However let's see how it goes.

I live in the outskirts of Seattle near the Issaquah Alps and the I-90 corridor with my wife. This location offers us easy access to a multitude of hikes and climbs with in minutes of my home. Tiger mountain is my standby when I have weather and time restraints.

These beautiful days must enrich all my life. They do not exist as mere pictures--- maps hung upon the walls of memory---but they saturate themselves into every part of the body---and live always.
From the pen of John Muir

Retired in 2007 and spend most of my time exploring. Now that I'm retired my wife and constant companion get out almost every day and schedule as many longer back packs and travel as we can fit in. Our first trip when I retired was a car trip to the tip of Baja and a backpack on the Washington coast. Then spent the summer hiking the PCT Mex-Can

I describe following Hikes, backpacks and climbs so that other outdoor enthusiast like ourselves can relive or learn of new and interesting trips. Please write us and let us know of some of your trips and adventures in the great outdoors.

I am a man sitting in the desert. My hands are clasped at my ankles, knees drawn to my chest to make my body small and simple. A flash of lighting sparks from a thunderstorm miles off. I’ve breathe and listen. No thunder. Below me, around me, cliffs and canyons swim in the litany of moonlight and shadows.
Soul of Nowhere Craig Childs

Newly added pictures:

new Lake Ingalls photos by Doug

Doug's Wilderness Photographs

A must do for this Summer:

Mount St. Helens Institute

Previous Years:

2009 hikes.

2010 hikes.

2011 hikes.

2012 hikes.

2012/2013 Hikes

Date/Dates	Hike/Trip	Miles	Elevation
6-9-13	Ira Spring Trail - Bandera Mtn (Just a simple day no snow)	8	3200'
6-4-13	Tiger 2 (Sam and Driedel cool off in Charlie's pond)	8	2300
6-4-13	Tiger 1 (Sunny and warm great views with Sam and Driedel)	8	2600
6-2-13	Little Mt Si (Warm and wet!)	4	1200'
5-29-13 to 5-31-13	Surfcrest 2013 (Eagles and other shore birds!)	-	-
5-28-13	Tiger 3 (Lower trails around Tiger 3 with Emmett, Sam and Driedel	4	500
5-26-13	Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake (Lots of snow at lake)	7.5	2800'
5-21-13	Tiger 3 (wet hike with Sam and Driedel)	6.5	2000'
5-19-13	Mt Si (Talus loop with Sam)	4.5	1200'
5-16-13	Tiger 3 (Hike with Sam and Driedel)	6.5	2000'
5-14-13	Tiger 3 (Hike with Sam and Driedel)	6.5	2000'
5-12-13	Rattlesnake (rainy day with doug)	6	1200'
5-11-13	Big Chief (Sunny and warm snow climb)	6	1500'
5-2-13 to 5-5-13	Rialto to Lk Ozette (Wow what a Kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and smells!)	20	0'
4-30-13	Tiger 3 (Hike with Emmett, Sam and Driedel)	3	500'
4-28-13	Little Mt Si(rainy sunday!)	4.5	1200'
4-25-13	Tiger 3 (another sunny day)	6.5	2000'
4-23-13	Tiger 3 (sunny day)	6.5	2000'
4-21-13	Tiger 1 (new bridges at Ruth's Cove)	9	2400'
4-18-13	Tiger 3 (lots of friends)	6.5	2000
4-6-13 to 4-16-13	National Park road trip and Grand Canyon backpack(Amazing!)	many	lots
3-31-13	Rattlesnake before Easter Brunch(Home by 10am)	6	1800'
3-24-13	Twinfalls to iron horse trail(Icy trail beyond bridge!)	6	1800'
3-21-13	Tiger 3 (snowing on top)	6.5	2000
3-19-13	Tiger 3 (Talus caves Hike with Emmett)	4	1000
3-17-13	Talus Loop Mt Si(snow down to snag flats!)	5	1500'
3-14-13	Tiger 1 (short loop Dwight's way)	5	1400
3-12-13	Tiger 3 (Hike with Emmett)	3	500
3-10-13	Little Mt Si(Warm and wet!)	4	1200'
3-5-13 to 3-7-13	Surfcrest 2013 (Emmett and Sam play on beach!)	-	-
2-28-13	Tiger 1 (Wet Wet Wet)	5	1400
2-26-13	Tiger 3 (Hike with Emmett)	3	500
2-24-13	Mt Si(Snow down to snag flats!)	8	3200'
2-21-13	Rattlesnake Ridge (cold and blowing snow)	5	1400
2-19-13	Tiger 3 (Hike with Emmett)	3	1200
2-17-13	Twinfalls(Very northwesty mossy green every where!)	4	1200'
2-14-13	Tiger 3 (Nice long talk with old friend)	6.5	2000
2-12-13	Tiger 3 (Hike with Emmett)	3
2-10-13	Mt Si (one of those foggy bottoms and sunshine on top!)	8	3200'
2-7-13	Tiger 1 (Cool woods warm sun on top now off for 45th)	8	2600
2-5-13	Tiger 3 (Water falls	5	1500
2-3-13	Mt Si(Typical winter day ice on top!)	8	3200'
1-31-13	Tiger 1 (Lower trails around Tiger 1 very wet day	6	1500
1-27-13	Tiger 3 (cool quick hike and time to party with Emmett	6.5	2000
1-24-13	Tiger 3 (warmer temps feel good quick hike	6.5	2000
1-20-13	Kendall Lk Snowshoe (Beautiful warm sun and views	7	1900
1-17-13	Tiger 3 (soaked up the warm sun	6.5	2000
1-15-13	Tiger 2-3 loop (sunny top foggy bottoms)	7.5	2300
1-13-13	Rattlesnake Ridge (beautiful Sunny cold crisp air)	5	1400
1-10-13	Tiger 1 (Fun Fun day breaking trail knee deep in snow)	8	2600
1-8-13	Tiger 3 (Warm, Wet and Windy)	6.5	2000
1-6-13	Mt Si(Search and rescue was out Icy toward top!)	8	3200'
1-3-13	Tiger 3-2 loop (Sunny day very pleasant hike)	8	2500
1-1-13	Source Lake (A great way to start the New Year 2013)	4	1200
12-30-12	Kendall Peak Lakes Snowshoe (Wonderful sunny day after breaking through the fog)	7	1900
12-27-12	Tiger 1-2-3 loop(Brown trails to 3ft snow on T1)	9	2700
12-23-12	Mt Si(Snow-sunshine-friends!)	8	3200'
12-20-12	Tiger 3 (waterfall loop)	4	1200
12-18-12	Tiger 3 (First big snow-lots of camp robbers)	6.5	2000
12-16-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (A toast of nog with the guys!)	4.5	1400
12-11-12 to 12-13-12	Surfcrest 2012 (Snowy Owls are back!)	-	-
12-9-12	East Peak -Rattlesnake Ridge (Snow Yea!)	7.5	2000
12-6-12	Tiger 3 (groaning trees and blowing snow and wind)	6	2000
12-4-12	Tiger 3 (Rainy Day lower trails w/Emmett)	4	1000
12-2-12	Mt Si(Into our winter pattern of WET Mt Si hikes. Snow soon please!)	8	3200'
11-29-12	Tiger 3 (Rainy Day not so bad.)	6.5	2000
11-27-12	Tiger 1 (Rainier with winter skies)	8.0	2500
11-25-12	Tiger 1-2-3 loop(Foggy and dry a good day for a hike)	9	2700
11-23-12	Little Mt Si trail(Boulder Loop)	4	1200'
11-22-12	Tiger MT Poo-Poo Point (Happy Thanksgiving!)	4.0	1650
11-20-12	Twinfalls (Rainy day hike)	4	1400
11-18-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (rainy but fun)	4	1200
11-15-12	Tiger 1 (Foggy Bottoms Sunny Tops!)	8.0	2500
11-13-12	Tiger Waterfalls (Emmett and the gang!)	6.0	1000
11-11-11	Mt Washington (Got to the summit before the snow)	8	3200'
11-8-12	Crystal Peak-Mt Rainier (Fun Snowy day to beautiful peak)	8	3100
11-6-12	Tiger 3 (Emmett's fourth summit on T3) Let's vote today.	6.5	2000
11-4-12	Bandera/Mason Lake (Brilliant fall colors have faded to a palatte of water colors.)	7	2800'
10-31-12 to 11-2-12	Surfcrest 2012 (Hiking between the raindrops!)	-	-
10-28-12	Granite Mountain (First snow hike on Granite this fall)	8	3800
10-25-12	Tiger 1 (Good time catching up with Jeanne!)	8.0	2500
10-11-12 to 10-22-12	Southwest 2012 (Vermillion Cliffs - Paria Plateau)	lots	?
10-9-12	Tiger Talus Caves (Emmett and the gang!)	6.0	1000
10-7-12	Kendall Katwalk (Fall foliage at it's peak!)	12.0	2700
10-4-12	Tiger 1 (This was a good day!)	8.0	2500
10-2-12	Iron Horse Trail(Fun Mountain Bike Ride.)	21	-2000'
9-30-12	Lake Ingalls(Annual March to the Larch)	9	2500'
9-25-12	Tiger 3 (Emmett's third summit on T3)	6.5	2000
9-23-12	Bandera Mtn. (Fall colors)	8	3300'
9-19-12 to 9-21-12	Surfcrest 2012 (Cool moist fresh air, a pleasant change!)	-	-
9-18-12	Tiger 1 (no other hikers pleasant day)	8.0	2500
9-16-12	Mailbox (mailbox and lots of smoke)	6	4200'
9-13-12	Bandera (Fall colors and lots of smoke)	7	2800'
9-11-12	Tiger 1 (watched puffy clouds move accross the sky)	8.0	2500
9-9-12	Rachel Lake- Lila Lake-Alta Mountain(Blueberries and fall colors plus much more.)	12	3800'
9-6-12	Granite Mountain (Ripe blueberries and perfect blue ski day)	8	3800
9-4-12	Tiger 3 (Emmett summits Tiger 3 for second time!)	6.5	2000
9-3-12	Silver Peak(Blueberries and the start of fall colors)	7	1800'
8-30-12	Tiger 1 (Ripe Thimble Berries always a treat)	8.0	2500
8-28-12	Tiger 1 (Warm and sunny on top)	8.0	2500
8-26-12	Snow Lake-Gem- Wright Mt	12	3000
8-23-12	Snow Lake-UnSun-Emmett-Sam)	8	1800
8-13-12 to 8-22-12	Mt Rainier Wonderland Trail (One of the best Backpacks ever)	93	11000
8-12-12	twinfalls/Rattlesnake Ledge (Coordination hikes)	7	2100
8-8-12 to 8-10-12	Surfcrest 2012 (Warm sunny days on the beach!)	-	-
8-7-12	west Tiger 3 trails (Talus Rocks and trails south and west)	5	1000
8-5-12	Bandera Trail head to Granite Mtn trail head(Always a fun time)	11	2800
8-2-12	Tiger 1 (no one on trail for second time in a row)	8.0	2500
7-31-12	Tiger 1 (Lots of ripe Salmon berries)	8.0	2500
7-29-09	Melawka Lake-Melawka Pass (Spring flowers as snow melts)	12	3500'
7-26-12	Tiger 1 (Another great day just little more heat)	8.0	2500
7-24-12	Tiger 1 (Rainier is bright and clear at the Hikers Hut.)	8.0	2500
7-22-12	Mt. Defiance (Flower Fields are stunning)	11	3800
7-20-12	Mt. St. Helens (Lightning, Rain and wind)	5	1500
7-17-12	Tiger 2 and 1 (Tiger Lilies are in bloom)	9.0	2700
7-15-12	Snow Lake-still ice from ridge on down)	8	1300
7-12-12	Tiger 1 (Fog covers Rainier as I summit Tiger 1)	8.0	2500
7-10-12	Tiger 1 (foggy bottoms sunny tops)	8.0	2500
7-8-12	Bandera (Bear Grass Extravaganza)	8	3300'
7-5-12	Tiger 3 (Emmett summits Tiger 3)	6.5	2000
7-3-12	Tiger 3 (A few drops and friendly conversation)	6.5	2000
7-2-12	Mt Townsend (Blooming Rhodes and fantastic views)	7	2500
6-30 t0 7-1 2012	Luke Wakefield turned me on to this please check out "First People of Mount St. Helens" event. Dates and times on web site.Mount St. Helens Institute Archaeologist Rick McClure June 30th - July 1st as we explore ancient tribal sites along the gorgeous Lewis River. This is an opportunity to gain perspective and knowledge about how Native Americans used to live off the land for thousands of years. Rick McClure has an uncanny ability to engage an audience and make you feel as if you were living alongside these local tribes many years ago. Take advantage of this incredible seminar and you will surely feel a deeper connection with our local forests	-	-
7-1-12	Granite Mountain (Avalanche debris and the Bear grass is making its way up the slope)	8	3800
6-27-12 to 6-29-12	Surfcrest 2012 (Emmett learns to dig in the sand from Sam!)	-	-
6-26-12	Tiger (Emmett hikes with us on Tiger)	5	1200
6-24-12	Mason Lake (Rainbows and raindrops)	7.5	2800'
6-21-12	Tiger 2 (warm pleasant hike)	8	2200
6-20-12	Bandera (summer solstice a great start to summer)	8	3300'
6-19-12	Tiger 1 (Bees, Salmon berries and bear prints)	8	2300
6-17-12	East Tiger (rainy day lots of hiking)	10	2200
6-12-12	Tiger 1 (Misty day)	8	2300
6-9-12 - 6-10-12	Winchester Canoe trip(Fun time canoeing and camping with friends)	25+/-	na
6-7-12	Tiger 3 (Crazy Rain again)	6.5	2000
6-5-12	Tiger 3 (Crazy Rain)	6.5	2000
5-31-12-6-4-12	Prince Creek-Stihekin (Wonderful backpack perfect time)	19	up and down
5-29-12	Tiger 2 (First Salmon Berries)	8	2200
5-27-12	Tiger 3 (from High School via unmaintained section line trail)	7	2200
5-25-12	Tiger 1 and 2 (sunny,rainy, sunny and alot of good hiking)	9.0	2700
5-20-11	Mt Washington (Snow just before pond about 5' on top)	8	3200'
5-17-12	Tiger 2 Devil Club's leaves are getting big	8.0	2300
5-15-12	Tiger 1 and 2 (sunny and warm trilliums are turning redish on the way out)	9.0	2700
5-13-12	Mt Si(Happy Mothers Day!)	8	3200'
5-8-12	Tiger 2 (Sunny and warm lots of wild flowers)	8.0	2200
5-6-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (Sunny and warm)	4	1200
5-3-12	Tiger 1 (Rain, Rain, and more Rain)	8.0	2500
4-28-12 to 5-1-12	Spring Ocean Backpack (Rain Drops, Seals and Glass Balls)	20	.
4-26-12	Tiger 3 (Misty rain and AC/DC)	6.5	2000
4-24-12	Tiger 1 (Lots of wildflowers)	8.0	2500
4-22-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (Sunny and warm)	4	1200
4-19-12	Tiger 1 (Pleasant day on the mountain)	8.0	2500
4-17-12	Tiger 2 and 3 (Good day for hiking. Fun talking to Dan!)	8	2300
4-15-12	Little Mt Si(Sunny and warm welcome back Doug!)	5	1500'
4-12-12	Tiger 1 (Sun, snow, wind, rain, lighting and thunder)	8.0	2500
4-10-12	Tiger 1 (Sun shine and wild flowers)	8.5	2500
4-8-12	Mt Si(Happy Easter Beautiful day!)	8	3200'
4-3-12 to 4-6-12	Surfcrest 2012 (A time to chill!)	-	-
4-1-12	Twinfalls - Mt Washington TH (Snowing and Skunk Cabbage bloomin)	6	1200
3-29-12	Lower Tiger Loop (Muddin on the TMT with my buddies)	6	1500
3-27-12	Tiger 1 (Springtails and lots of snow)	8.5	2500
3-25-12	Mt Si(Sunshine and no wind...Perfect day!)	8	3200'
3-22-12	Tiger 3 (Sun felt good today!)	6.5	2000
3-20-12	Tiger 3 (Hey dad are these spring flakes?)	6.5	2000
3-18-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (Shrouded in clouds)	4	1200
3-15-12	Tiger 3 (wet and very very wet)	6.5	2000
3-13-12	Tiger 3 (Deep soft snow lots of fun)	6.5	2000
3-11-12	Mt Si(snowy fun!)	8	3200'
3-8-12	Tiger 1 (Soaking in the sun)	8.5	2500
3-6-12	Tiger 3-2 (A day for remembering our friend)	8	2200
3-4-12	Kendall Peak Lakes Snowshoe (Fun snowshoe with my buddys)	7	1900
3-1-12	Tiger 3 (Fresh soft snow on Tiger)	6.5	2000
2-28-12	Tiger 3 (Micro Spikes felt good)	6.5	2000
2-26-12	Tiger 1 (Fun snow hike with the guys!)	8	2300
2-21-12 to 2-24-12	Surfcrest 2012 (Magical Time!)	-	-
2-21-12	Tiger 3 (wet and then windy)	6.5	2000
2-19-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (Snow on the Ledge)	4	1200
2-16-12	Tiger 2-3 (Fresh snow and salmonberry flowers)	7.5	2300
2-14-12	Twin Falls (Hike with Bill!)	3.5	700'
2-12-12	Mt Si(Fresh snow on Top!)	8	3200'
2-9-12	Tiger 3 (warm and misty)	6.5	2000
2-7-12	Tiger 3-2-1-2-3 loop(sunny spring like day)	9	2700
2-5-12	Guy Peak Cave Ridge(Sunny day great views)	7	2200
2-3-12	Kendall Peak Lakes Snowshoe (Sunny windy day on Kendall)	7	1900
2-2-12	Tiger 1 (Sally and Ed today)	8	2300
1-31-12	Tiger 2-3 loop(lots of blow downs)	8	2200
1-29-12	Twin Falls (Rainy Days are Good Too!)	5	1200'
1-27-12	Dirty Harry's Peak (Sunny day snowshoe rare)	8	3300'
1-24-12	Tiger 3 (Lull before the storm)	6.5	2000
1-22-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (Wind, snow and icy trails)	4	1200
1-17-12	Tiger 3 (Fun snow day)	6.5	2000
1-15-12	Mt Si(Snowy day friendly conversations!)	8	3200'
1-10-12 to 1-13-12	Surfcrest 2012 (Sunny days lots of Birds!)	-	-
1-10-12	Tiger 3 (Fresh snow)	6.5	2000
1-8-12	Ira Spring Trail (Icy slopes Ice Axe a must)	7	2000'
1-6-12	Rattlesnake Ledge (On the Edge with Unsun and Sam)	4	1200
1-5-12	Tiger 1 (Moaning trees pelt us with ice)	8	2600
1-3-12	Tiger 3 (Lots of friendly faces)	6.5	2000
1-2-12	Kendall Peak Lakes Snowshoe (Dry day good snow)	7	1900
1-1-12	Tiger 1 (A wonderful way to start the new year - 2012)	8	2600