In my 70 years hiking, backpacking and climbing in both North and South America, Europe and Asia I have seen dramatic changes in outdoor equipment and apparel. This is a sample of the changes I have …

It was late afternoon on Oct. 12, 2023, when Chris Johnson spotted his nephew pulling up to the docks at Ross Lake Resort. The lake was as low as he had ever seen it, the result of a dry summer that …

Four decades ago, when North Cascades National Park was still one of the newer national parks on the scene, a group of park rangers, educators and environmentalists were working to get an educational …

It takes a rare combination of courage, perseverance and writing acumen to achieve what author Heather Lea did with “Riding Full Circle: What the World Taught Me About Motorcycles, Risk, and …

Summer in the North Puget Sound arrives with light that lingers and with fields and foothills offering themselves up in a kind of generous excess. The mornings are softer, yes — but they are also …

The 53rd Ski to Sea relay brought more than 500 teams across seven legs and nearly 100 miles from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay on May 24. With low snow conditions shortening the cross-country ski …

Picture a distracted, fidgety seventh grade boy sitting in a middle school science class. The teacher lectures about the interconnections of old-growth forest ecosystems as the boy’s eyes drift to …

Originally published December 5, 2025 on Dale’s substack, Afflatus https://khundale.substack.com/p/in-the-wake-of-wipha?r=84rkl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true …

Chaos and color! Spring may not be official, but between the traffic jams and technicolor flower fields, confluence of snow geese and beckoning blue skies, the Skagit Valley welcomed its first full …

Being told to stay in your lane isn’t a dis when it comes to the annual Dandy Daffodil Tweed Ride in La Conner. In fact, it’s a badge of honor. “A tweed ride is a throwback to a …

Kingfisher Bookstore Staff Picks: DISASTERS AT SEA Coupeville, Washington's Kingfisher Bookstore staff recommend their favorite winter reads, this time with a nautical theme!  …

Drive west on Highway 101 at night during the winter months, and you're in for a long, dark, lonely journey. From the Hood Canal Bridge all the way to Sequim Bay, it’s mostly just you and the …

If a final “Jeopardy!” clue was: “A brush, hammer, hog line, and biter have this in common,” a contestant might be tempted to respond with, “What are things you’d …

When most of Washington’s trails turn to slush and mud, Whidbey Island keeps the pedals turning. Tucked in the Puget Sound rain shadow, the island dodges much of the winter downpour that soaks …

There's something magical about white flakes falling from the sky. As the first ones materialize, our mind starts to wander. Our hands begin to move as we form snowballs in our mind. We check the …

Spend enough time in the North Cascades and you're bound to end up in Fred Beckey's footsteps. Whether it's his writing, his name on climbing routes or just stories about his adventures, the …

One of North America’s premier adventure sports photographers, Bellingham’s Grant Gunderson has been a frequent contributor to a who’s who list of international magazines, outdoor …

The 2025 Mt. Baker Hill Climb delivered, yet again, an unforgettable test of endurance, scenery and community spirit. On September 14, a sold-out field of 450 cyclists embarked from Chair 9 in …

Fall shots from Mt. Baker, B.C. and beyond.

Northwest Tune-Up (NWTU) returned to Bellingham this July and once again delivered an unforgettable weekend of riding, rhythm, and good times. Set against the lush trails of Galbraith Mountain and …