Nothing like the experience of ice climbing By Jason D. Martin Photos by Kurt Hicks and Jason D. Martin Swing. Thunk. My ice axe bit deeply into the vertical blue ice. Swing. Thunk. The pick of my …

    Getting prepared for backcountry skiing By Sam Lozier Photo by Patrick Kennedy You’ve seen tracks out on Shuksan Arm or read about backcountry skiing in magazines. The allure of …

Don't go into the backcountry without it Story by Pat Grubb Photos by Louise MugarIt’s pretty simple, actually. There’s only one thing you need to know about avalanches and this is it – you …

The communication rule to live by TALK BACK The communication rule to live by Story by Molly Baker Photo by Jefferson Morriss Many people have theories about what makes skiing, backcountry skiing in …

When a shortcut turned dangerous By Erik Burge Photo by Jay GoodrichThree of us decided to take a shortcut traverse across an exceedingly steep pocket meadow while we were boot packing to our …

A series of mistakes led to a near-fatal disaster. Story by Patrick Kennedy Photos by Patrick Kennedy and AAI Photo Collection Five days of cool nights and rain on my metal roof had lulled me to …

Mountains beg to be climbed. Their tall, unwavering peaks inspire dreams of conquering towering heights and call with siren-like attraction, daring men and women to risk life and limb to make the …

Skiing under the light of a full moon Story and photos by Sam Lozier Last year’s ski season started with an unusually early storm. I’d been talking to my friend Allen only a few days earlier …

Exploring the little-known mountain bike trails Story and photos by Ryan Hasert Chances are if you’re a mountain biker, you know the Whistler Bike Park, located just a few hours’ drive north of …

Polar plunge Snow snorkeling in Alpine Lakes By Patrick Kennedy Backpacking used to be something I looked forward to every spring, but that was life on the east side of the Cascade Mountain range. …

Easy summits in the North Cascades Reaching the top doesn’t have to mean weeks of preparation – these peaks offer huge rewards for minimal investment Story and photos by Aubrey Laurence The North …

Hiking the Nooksack Cirque and Yellow Aster Butte trails Story and Photos By Ryan Hasert The book drops with a familiar thud and joins the many other hiking books scattered across my kitchen table. …

Mountain Runners By Jeremy Schwartz Like the original Mt. Baker Marathon runners they’re seeking to portray, the crew behind the docudrama “The Mountain Runners” has had to battle the …

Ski to Sea by Kitty Bond Race day is May 27 this year. As soon as the official time hits 7:45 a.m., the first leg of the journey takes off. The Mount Baker Marathon started in 1911 as “America’s …

Book Reviews By Pat Grubb Sea Kayaking: Basic Skills, Paddling Techniques, and Expedition Planning by Dan Henderson Dan Henderson is a long-time paddling coach and world-renowned expert in kayak …

Divine Divergence Hiking the Nooksack Cirque and Yellow Aster Butte trails By Ryan Hasert The book drops with a familiar thud and joins the many other hiking books scattered across my kitchen table. …

Summer gear, 2012 By Molly Baker Keen Shasta WP Light Hiking Shoes The Shasta WP (waterproof) light hiking shoe is ideal for weekend hikes, urban treks around town or brisk walks with friends on your …

Liquid light Paddling in search of bioluminesence By Sue Madsen Bioluminesence! I’d heard of it but had never seen this liquid light. As we paddled along the floating docks that ring the marina, …

Farmers Markets Anacortes Farmers Market Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. anacortesfarmersmarket.org Bellingham Farmers Market Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. bellinghamfarmers.org Birch Bay Public Market …

Home grown Deliciously local food and drink By Sherry Sennet From delicatessens to fine dining establishments, more restaurants are seeking local food producers to supply their culinary needs. While …