“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” -Mark Twain
The Pacific Northwest and in particular the State of Washington is a magnificent natures playground with beautiful mountains, boundless rivers, rambling streams, vast forests, tranquil meadows, and sparkling lakes with enough wilderness to get yourself lost in and in so doing find yourself.
The objective of this blog as part of the ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ series of sites is to inspire, through stories, photographs, and helpful trip reports. Get off the couch, stretch the legs, fill the lungs with fresh air, flood the heart with joy, and release the soul so it may soar. Our lives are so busy rushing here, rushing there, punching a time clock, paying bills, chores, meeting obligations, don’t you think that we all need a little balance in our lives? Don’t we all yearn for a little break? A moment to listen to ourselves, and discover who we are? What better way to accomplish this than in the middle of no where drinking in an grand adventure and boundless natural beauty.
I invite you to join me in this pursuit to find one’s inner self through adventures that shows you marvelous things, perhaps takes you a little out of your comfort zone, and so importantly balance the hectic existence that is life. The idea is to inspire you so that you can do the same or if need be I am happy to share and you can live vicariously through my ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure.’
‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ has multiple websites encompassing adventure opportunities throughout the West. This particular site will show my adventures in Washington. A place I have lived in for a short time in the past. It was fabulous to be in the Northwest again and I kept saying to myself now these are proper mountains.
This gorgeous area has splendid panoramic vistas at the top with plenty of outstanding peak-a-boo views along the trail through proper PNW woods featuring so much green. There are ruins of an old cabin on a spur trail on the way up. At the top is a refurbished structure of the Fire Lookout.
Ancient ruins of the old cabin.
This hike is at Sherman’s Pass a place that has been important as a throughway for hunters, loggers, trappers, pioneers, and military expeditions. Native people have traveled these same routes for as long as there have been people in the North West and that is a long time.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Columbia Mountain CLICK THE PIC!
The idea is not to escape, but to experience the beauty of the mountain.
Thanks for joining me on this trek to Columbia Mountain in Central Washington almost in Canada. Hiking days have their own sort of charm when you find yourself ‘Pursing Balance Through Adventure”. The premise of PBTA is finding yourself during a journey of self discovery, to gain a feeling of peace and contentment through the immersion of bold experiences in Nature. To locate that sweet spot between the routine of responsibility and wild abandonment. In order to set off on this path I challenge you to LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW and SHARE. If you explore the menu above you will discover many places that PBTA travels to and while they are not Nirvana: a state of perfect happiness, an idyllic place- they certainly are pretty close to the mid point we are seeking between that and the drab monotony of our every day routine in this fast paced, crazy mixed up world. If you indeed set off on a journey towards Nirvana then you will need a hat and shirt proudly displaying the PBTA logo and mantra. You can find that at SHOP APPAREL.
3 miles, 194’ elevation gain, 75 min duration, rated Easy
There seems to be some discrepancy regarding the actually spelling. Is it McLoughlin Canyon or McLaughlin? I have seen it spelled both ways in different accounts and even both ways in the same account. The one thing I know is that there is signage near the spot from the Okanogan Historical Society spelling it McLoughlin, but the road in is spelled McLaughlin Canyon Rd.
History tells us that on July 29, 1858 David McLoughlin, (Most accounts I have read spelled his name that way, however I did see one that spelled it the other), brought a group of more than 150 prospectors, most of the men with a US Army background having fought in the war with Mexico, through this area up from the Okanogan River below. This spot with it’s cliffs and bluffs funneled the men into a natural canyon ripe for an ambush. Native Americans Warriors of the Chelan, Okanogan and Columbia tribes had enough of the miners encroaching on their land and attacked from above. Possessing the advantage of the high ground killed 6 men and wounded almost three times that many before the miners group retreated back down and across the Okanogan River. This skirmish along with other such incidents sent fear through out the North West which lead to a Military backlash and ultimately to a treaty being signed later that year.
Today this area is a quick easy jaunt out into nature where you can experience the terrain around Tonasket in North Central Washington.
The hike begins in a canyon bearing a grim reminder of how devastating wildfires are in the west. The large trees are burned, but the area is springing back with green grass, wildflowers, and desert brush.
After the first half mile some firs are back to decorating the canyon area properly and there are scenic cliffs, and a grassy meadow to enjoy. I took an animal trail a bit further to snap a picture of the valley as it stretched out before me with a glimpse of the Okanogan River. If you walk in the meadow, off the trail, you will be picking cheat grass out of your socks for 10 minutes. Yes, I learned that from experience, lol.
To get a photo from above I continued the back country road ‘McLaughlin Canyon Road’ which was a great 4×4 drive through the countryside.
“The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.” -Chief Seattle
Thanks for joining in this scenic Nature Walk in McLoughlin Canyon a very pleasant way to spend an hour ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. By the way, I reached out to the Okanogan Historical Society and they sent detailed information that McLoughlin is the correct spelling setting at least this record straight. Please stick around for more adventure by doing some simple tasks: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. The menu above shows hiking areas all over the West and is mostly categorized by location. Each is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. I invite you to checkout my line of Adventure Wear at SHOP APPAREL it is top quality and carries the PBTA Logo and Mantra.
Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resource Conservation Area
Near North Bend
Activity: Day Hike, Peak Bagging
10 miles, Summit 4,679′, 3,537 elevation gain, 6.5 hour duration, rated HARD
My journey began beside the fast moving Snoqualmie River and into a dense forest of thick, tall, dark green fir trees. I was so captivated by the immense natural beauty that all I could do was walked on wide eyed and praying not to awaken from this heavenly dream.
When you challenge yourself to engage a “HARD” rather remote wilderness hike you have to ask yourself, “Do I feel lucky?” Actually Dirty Harry’s Peak is not named after famed actor Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of Inspector Harry Callahan. The peak got it’s name after Harry Gault a relentless and determined logger who would not let anything stop him, even steep, rough terrain. He cleared lumber even in this place which others though impossible.
Actually Dirty Harry’s Peak has nothing to do with a 44 Magnum, the World’s most powerful handgun.
Trekking poles are most helpful for this adventure because above Dirty Harry’s Bench it all gets kicked up a notch. My plan was originally only hiking to the Bench, but while on this journey I found out about the peak and it was just too intriguing for a Peak Bagger not to accept this challenge. Double the pleasure, double the fun, and that goes for the altitude, mileage, duration, and rating. Trekking poles are good not only for the steeper portions, but certainly come in handy for the multiple creek crossing. A bit of the trail is actually a creek.
Dirty Harry’s Bench
On the upper portion of the mountain I saw very few people. This allowed me to become fully immersed in my surroundings, enjoying nature and the solitude. I really had the top all to myself.
As I climbed higher and higher there was even quite a bit of snow lasting into the early Summer. The poles, of course, were great for the snow. Maybe I should not have left the micro spikes in the rig… Oh well, I didn’t know there was a peak until I was well into the hike.
I thought that I was once again going to get skunked on the view from the top like I did at Rattlesnake Ledge… when Lo and Behold, with a little breeze the thick moody fog cloud broke a hole open for me to see behind the curtain for about 5 minutes, which was absolutely splendid! The view went from a socked in blank page of white cloud nothingness to a bit of blue sky and super peak-a-boo glimpses of the surrounding mountainsides. I peered down the cliff I was standing on taking in a wonderful little alpine valley below.
From there it was back down through the snow being ever so careful on this icy slip and slide picking my course through the woods, over and around logs, and brush making my way. Knowing all too well I was on my own if anything should go awry. Especially with the snow covering any path that there might be, a downloaded GPS maps is important.
On the way down I was afforded some wonderful views from Dirty Harry’s Bench.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Dirty Harry’s Peak CLICK THE PIC!
Tall Trees and Mountains Please
Thanks for joining me on this enchanting and exciting journey ‘Pursing Balance Through Adventure’ in this PNW wonderland near North Bend. This particular trek is not for the faint of heart, but a challenging peak to bag especially with a name like “Dirty Harry” even if it has nothing to do with the 44 Magnum the most powerful handgun in the world! Stay with me for more adventures in Washington. Please note that PBTA travels all over this great West of ours and if you go the Menu above you just may gain some insight for contemplating your own journey of Balance. Balance that is so important to our body and soul. Each category in the Menu is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. Speaking of which, the best way for us to remain connected is simply by these actions: FOLLOW, COMMENT, LIKE, and SHARE. Get your PBTA Merch at SHOP APPAREL.
My plan starting out was that I was only going to do Little Si Boulder Garden. Well, that led to a loop is always better than out and back, which led to the summit is only 1.5 miles further.
I did the Boulder Garden Loop counterclockwise. If I had it to do over I would have done the Little Mount Si Summit first then the Boulder Garden Clockwise. The way I did it featured beautiful green luscious ferns, stately firs, and moss covered boulders. It was steep, but the decline was even steeper. I would rather tackle the steepest portion going up hill. Going down a slippery steep incline is problematic.
I am so glad that I added the summit on to my trek. It was wonderful. It had all the fantastic features of a proper PNW forest plus add large moss covered boulders, rocky bluffs, cliffs with ferns, and then the views of Mount Si, (Mount Si is a heavy duty hike that hopefully I will get the chance to take on at some point), from Little Mount Si were heavenly. Looking the other direction trekkers are treated to a glorious view of the Upper Snoqualmie Valley and North Bend
Mount Si
This is a very popular hike, so plan accordingly. You will need a Discover Pass for parking. I was there on Father’s Day, apparently a day that Dad get’s to choose the activity, and he chose hiking. Trekking poles are helpful as this hike starts out on the steep with switchbacks then levels out, but the last portion become steep once again.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Little Si and Boulder Garden Loop CLICK THE PIC!
“In every walk with nature one receives more and then he seeks.” – John Muir
Thanks for coming along ’Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ with me on this journey to find balance between the everyday world filled with obligations and duties, and this magical carefree world of nature and adventure. We need both in order to thrive, but we certainly need that balance and the healing that profound experiences in Nature can bring. Stay with me as this is a never ending journey into Nature and ourselves. You can do that by these simple tasks: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. If you like my hat in the photo you can purchase one and other top quality PBTA logo gear at SHOP APPAREL. If you peruse the menu above you will see that PBTA ventures to many extraordinary locales, each is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently.
4 miles, 1165′ elevation gain, 2.5 hour duration, rated Moderate
The forest is plush with thick greenery. The trails well kept and simply nature at it’s finest, but the only bummer to me was this particular trek starts our on a gravel road with power lines. The worst part was that the journey parallels the freeway and the traffic noise is always within ear shot until you reach the falls and that is where the magic is.
There is no question where the magic begins. A wonderful and proper PNW trail, green as green can be, thundering, tumbling, cascading water to set all the senses on overload. The music of the water flowing in the stream across smooth rounded rocks leading to a big bountiful falls. The sights, the sounds, the mist from the crashing water, the scent of fresh damp earth it is so powerful in it’s rejuvenation of the soul. What can I say, “Ya’ just gotta’ luv’ it!”
Twin Falls
You will need a Washington Discover Pass for parking in this area. There are other routes to the falls. This particular passage is a little longer and more rugged. Since there is not a lot of signage to the falls from this location it would be helpful to have downloaded a GPS map such as I did as you can see from the picture. Also keep in mind this is a very popular hike, Summer weekends would be the most crowded.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Twin Falls CLICK THE PIC!
Waterfalls are said to symbolize the flow of life. Notice how nothing is able to stop in its fast flowing current. They remind us to let go and move with the ever changing flow of life. To stop and reflect, in order to find the calmness in the chaos. And, to befearless chasing after the unknown.
Thanks for chasing waterfalls with me, a favorite activity when I am ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. Listening to the sound of the water as it plunges down the rock face and into the collecting pool below is so relaxing. A peaceful feeling of tranquility takes root. This is in direct contrast to the hustle and bustle anxious feeling that a fast paced world leaves us with much of the time. Balance from wondrous outings like chasing waterfalls and thus experiencing Nature’s reward is so important to quality of life. This my friends is what ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ is all about. Stay with me for more adventures that I expect will provide ideas and inspiration so that you will hit the trail and experience that Balance that we all need as part of our soul’s diet. Follow along by doing this: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. The menu above will enlighten you to many other locations and activities that you can enjoy. Each location is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. SHOP APPAREL is the place to go for purchases of my fine line of Adventure Wear.
Activity: Day Hike, Chasing Waterfalls, and Peak Bagging
11.7 miles, 4748’ elevation, 4308’ elevation gain, 7 hour duration, rated HARD
Date: 6-18-22
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Teneriffe Falls and Teneriffe Mountain Loop CLICK THE PIC!
Teneriffe Falls, words can’t describe it, at least I can’t find the words that would do it justice. The falls were just super amazing, so beautiful, so powerful, so glorious. There are also plenty of little falls and lots of stream crossings, none of which were hard to maneuver. The forest, green, lush and silent- aside from the occasional bird call, babbling brook, or far off falls. A dank, fresh, earthy smell filled the air, yet every once in a while I would go by some flowering plants and the aroma… such a sweet and wonderful experience.
Trail to Teneriffe Falls is fraught with difficulty.Majestic Teneriffe Falls
I decided to add on Teneriffe Mountain to my adventure. Being a Peak Bagger I was eyeing it as an additional feat. I spoke to a young hiker along the way. He asked if I was going to the peak? I said I had thought about it. He had been to the falls many times and was on his way to the top afterwards. He said it was “hard”. I asked, “Harder than what we had just done? His reply was, “A lot harder”.
Trail I took to the summit of Teneriffe Mountain can hardly be called a trail at all. I suppose this is why it is called Kamikaze Trial.
That turned out to be an understatement. From the very beginning the going was so tough that it appeared as if there wasn’t a trail at all. I had to really pay attention and check my GPS as the path intersected animal trails that could confuse the direction. On a trail named ‘Kamikase’ I was always glad to meet other people which led me to believe I was on the right track. But basically It was just straight up the mountain. A hiker above dislodged a rock about the size cantaloupe and it came tumbling down narrowly missing me. He apologized and exclaimed that he tried to yell, but was drowned out by the sound of the falls. The trek was a lot of scrambling up a muddy, rocky, and slippery steep incline. It encompassed category 2 and 3 scrambling.
I met some good people along the way, and joined them to the top. It was near the summit that we clambered into snow and post holed our way up the rest of the journey. The snow was patchy during the last portion of the assent. However on the way back down there was a good amount of the trail covered in snow. The weather at the peak unfortunately was a Pacific Northwest cloudy misty drizzly kind of day. So the spectacular view that we should have been enjoying was instead just the inside of a cloud. It was still special to be on top. The forecast had called for a brisk 39 degrees at the summit. I was still super heated from the difficult climb, so I was fine in just my short sleeve shirt.
Then came the fretting about trying to make it down that treacherous and very steep mountain. I opted for the longer way down which made it a loop and added some different sights to experience. It turned out that it was a good choice although it was still a pretty good decline so certainly not an easy journey. My legs can attest to that.
“If happiness is the goal, and it should be, then adventure should be top priority.” – Richard Branson
What happened to the beautiful view I was expecting atop Teneriffe Mountain?
Thanks for joining me on this epic adventure as I found myself ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ at a gorgeous water fall, and on to top making it a magnificent day. There are more of these spectacular days ahead so I invite you to stay with me by doing a few easy tasks: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. You just might find some ideas for your own adventure at the above menu. PBTA ventures all over this wonderful West of ours, enjoying Nature and seeking the Balance it can bestow. The menu is categorized mostly by location, but sometimes by activity, each is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. If you are looking for great quality Adventure Wear than look no further than my line of PBTA logo items at SHOP APPAREL.
>2 miles, 45’ elevation gain, 45 minutes duration, rated Easy
Date 6-17-22
Nice way to be communing with Nature beside a beautiful lake along a ADA access pathway of wild flowers and wonderful trees with views of Rattlesnake Ledge. Well, on the day I was there it was a misty moody Pacific North West day. I only got a fading glimpse of the mountain.
Rattlesnake Lake in the foreground with Rattlesnake Ledge in the background.
There is an exhibition that is interesting if you are so inclined at the end, Cedar River Watershed Education Center.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Rattlesnake Lake Nature Walk CLICK THE PIC!“So lovely was the loneliness of a wild lake.” – Edgar Allan Poe.
Thanks for joining me at this lovely spot with it’s tranquil lake, the graceful geese, and the misty clouds encapsulating the mountain, all leading to that peaceful easy feel’n that we sometimes seek when the world, with it’s hustle and bustle, gets us down. Nature can take the Humpty Dumpty pieces and put them back together again, something all the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t do. Rattlesnake Lake was a perfect setting for relaxation and reflection, and for me this came right after climbing up to Rattlesnake Ledgewhich was also peaceful, but certainly not easy. I travel all over this great West of ours ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ and striving to bring that inspiration to others. If you mossy on up to the menu you will discover this intention. The menu is categorized mostly by location, but sometimes by activity. While you plan your next escape to Nature also plan out your Adventure Wear. SHOP APPAREL literally and figuratively has you covered, so check it out.The best way to stay connected, so as not to miss out on the next grand hoorah, please LIKE, FOLLOW, COMMENT and SHARE.
This is a very popular hike an hour out of Seattle, in the North Bend area and although there were hikers it definitely was not crowded like I have heard it is on nice weekends. I hiked it on a Friday and it was a misty, moody Pacific North West type of day.
The Forest was green and lush, the trail was great, but the views from the lower, middle, and upper Rattlesnake Ledge were not to be had on this day. That is too bad as the view was the star of this show. Still standing on the side of a cliff where you see nothing is still sort of exciting when you find yourself ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’.
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Rattlesnake Ledge Trail CLICK THE PIC!
“There is always an adventure waiting in the woods.” – Katelyn S. Bolds
Thank you for joining me on a ledge starring off into the space. It is hard to have a fear of heights when you are gazing at a blank page. It is a eerie experience to see the rock in front of you and then nothing, just fog. But that is sometimes what it is like when you are ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ in the PNW. There are more adventures right around the corner, ( such as the jaunt that I took directly after this hike: Rattlesnake Lake Nature Walk), but be careful on that corner, because although you may not see a huge drop off due to the fog- it certainly doesn’t mean that it isn’t there. Stay with me by doing a couple of things: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. If you go to the menu above you will see that PBTA travels extensively all over this great West of ours. The menu is categorized mostly by location and occasionally by activity. Each is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. My hope is that these description of my adventures will encourage you to find your next adventure soon. Nature can bring Balance into our lives and that is so necessary to our well being, it exercises both body and mind. If you are looking for Adventure Wear, (see my picture), look no further than SHOP APPAREL where you will find my line of top quality hats and shirts with the PBTA logo and mantra.
Alec and I enjoyed one last outing together in the PNW. Deception Pass State Park is one of the most popular of Washington’s State Parks. The Park is over 3,800 acres of luscious old growth forest, surrounding by rugged coastline on Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands connected by the Deception Pass Bridge.
This was our third outing in Deception Pass State Park. We had earlier completed North Beach on Whidbey Island and Pass Lake Loop Hike on Fidalgo Island.
This short hike at Rosario Beach has a nice picnic area, bathrooms and a grassy area for family to enjoy. The little hike I took alone, because my teen opted to just kick back by the rig, was both cultural as well as a scenic.
I went out on the point that was a sort of peninsula with Rosario Beach adjacent to the North and Sharpe Cove just to the East off of Bowman Bay. The trail to the point was rather steep in places and there was more than one way to go so I pretty much wandered around taking it all in. The scenic waterways could be enjoyed from high on a cliff, but watch your step.
There was an entire squad of First Responders there while I was hiking about practicing their belaying and cliff rescue skills giving me a feeling they picked this spot for a reason.
Certain parts of this area are dangerous. As a matter of a fact, there was a large team of first responders practicing different life saving techniques on the cliff there.
The center piece of the area is the Maiden of Deception Pass Totem Pole. The carving depicts the story of Ko-Kwal-alwoot, a legend of the Samish Native American Tribe.
The Legend of Ko-kwal-alwoot.
Pursing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Rosario Beach CLICK THE PIC!“I firmly believe that nature brings solace to all troubles.” – Ann Frank My son Alec and I celebrating being together in the PNW for almost a month of Adventures before he headed off with buddies to Cancun celebrating his graduation from the Army and Navy Academy.
Thanks for joining Alec and I- while I was ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ and Alec was just kicking back by the rig, (being a little hiked out I suppose, lol). When you are looking at all of that gorgeous water you can’t help but have a feeling of calm envelop you, which is some of that Balance this website speaks about. Nature can do that, bring things into perspective, adding some Balance to an otherwise stressed out, hurry up, do this, do that existence that is modern life. I am sure those early people stood on this spot as well taking in all of the beauty of Nature and needing that little break as they struggled to find food, and shelter. There is more adventure to be had in the great state of Washington so I invite you to stick with me by doing this: LIKE. COMMENT, FOLLOW and SHARE. If you go to the menu above you will discover that PBTA travels not only all around Washington, but all over the West seeking Balance and Adventure. The menu is categorized mostly by location, and each is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. I hope these Adventures in Nature will inspire you to get off the couch, breath some fresh air, getting the heart pumping, fill the senses with all of the goodness of Nature, and set your soul soaring. For Adventure Wear I suggest checking out my line of PBTA hats and shirts at SHOP APPAREL.
2 miles. 423′ elevation gain, 1 hour duration, rated Easy
Date: 6-15-22
Started out a great little trek with a nice lake, well maintained trail, and a proper PNW forest. About halfway through the trail became a little over grown, then some muddy spots to maneuver, and all of that was okay, but the part I didn’t like is the portion of the hike that is near a busy road. Still an enjoyable hike.
My recommendation in this case would be do this particular hike as an out and back instead of a loop to avoid the road noise.
Be advised you will need a Discovery Pass for parking.
Proper PNW Woodland
Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel Alec entertains Nature CLICK THE PIC!“Nature is the purest portal to inner peace.” -Angie Weiland Crosby
Thanks for joining my son Alec and myself on this little jaunt in the woods. We were very busy on this day trying to take in and experience as much as we could of this beautiful area. Our first hike of the day was North Beach. To make sure you don’t miss any of the up coming outings such as the one we had just after this at Rosario Beach be sure to COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. If you go up to the Menu you will discover that PBTA ventures all over this Great West of our seeking that Balance that we can experience when soaking up Nature in an Adventurous manner. Breath in Nature exhale stress, breath in Adventure exhale anxiety. I have ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ Adventure Wear. It is fun, top quality, and available for purchase at SHOP APPAREL.
Washington State Hiking Pursuing Balance Thru Adventure 