A Pacific Northwest Hiking Blog — Pacific North Wanderers

Fall And Winter Camping Inspiration In Washington

The temperatures have dropped, the leaves are falling, the rain is here, and winter is coming. With all of that being said, now is still a great time to get away and spend time with nature. Don’t let the change of seasons get you down, there are opportunities for all comfort levels, from backpacking in with the proper gear to sleeping in a cozy cabin at a state park. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind, unique, maybe even luxurious experience, there is also the option of “glamorous camping” through Glamping Hub. No matter your preference, there are plenty of late-season camping options favorable for all. We have put together a list of ideas to get you started.

7 Places For Discovering The Northwest’s Most Spectacular Fall Foliage

It may be hard to fathom with the sizzling temperatures the Northwest region of the country is experiencing this summer, but autumn really is just around the corner. And, with this wonderful season brings colorful fall foliage that includes deep, rich golds, fiery reds and golden yellows.

The Ten Essentials

The Ten Essentials was first published in 1974 by the Seattle-based club The Mountaineers in the third edition of their book Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. Since then, many hiking, climbing, backpacking, scouting, and more like-minded organizations recommend that all outdoor enthusiasts carry these items. In 2008, the 8th edition of the book was updated to take a "systems" approach to this list by grouping items together.

ArticlesPacific North WanderersMarch 16, 2017Pacific NorthwestComment

Find Yourself: Everything You'll Need for Your Life-Changing Adventure to the Pacific Northwest

Do you ever get the feeling that you don't quite know who you are yet? Maybe you need a voyage of discovery. A journey like no other that will help you to find yourself. Many people like to get away from their regular lives for a time and do something completely different. Trying to figure out who you are on the road can be hard, and that's why you need a really specific kind of trip.

ArticlesPacific North WanderersNovember 11, 2016Pacific Northwest, Guest PostComment

Planning Your First Hike: Essential Items People Tend to Forget!

There are so many reasons why you will love hiking. Being surrounded by nature, feeling free, and enjoying the views of the area are just a few things we like about it. And there are so many great places to go for the ultimate trekking experience. You can find many on our blog which should be on your to-do list. But if you are new to hiking, you need to ensure you adequately prepare for the trip. After all, it’s so important to stay safe while on the hike. We've put together a few items people often forget to take on their adventure, but they are must-haves for a first hike!

ArticlesPacific North WanderersNovember 4, 2016Pacific Northwest, Guest PostComment

Our 3 Favorite Washington Hikes Of 2016....So Far

As the end of the year approaches, we've taken a moment to consider a few of our favorite hikes in 2016. While the rain may have begun in the PNW, there's still time to get out and find some favorite hikes of your own. Here are three that topped our list this year!

ArticlesPacific North WanderersOctober 28, 2016Pacific Northwest, WashingtonComment

Awe-Inspiring Autumn

Fall is here, the air is crisp, the light is golden. A favorite time of year for many, the transition from the heat of summer to the chill of winter, Fall offers mild temps, colors and aromas unique to the season. As might be expected, imaginings of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, scarecrows, and hay bales are standards in the more rural locales.

Exploring, ArticlesPacific North WanderersOctober 22, 2016Pacific Northwest, Washington Comments

5 Places to Beat the Heat While Exploring the Pacific Northwest

Summer is here, maybe. Actually, it comes and goes every few days. We're still trying to figure out this crazy weather. However, when the sun is around it warms up quite a bit! Enough to discourage many from leaving home to explore. We don't want you to stop your adventures because of the heat. So we put together five great spots worth checking out on a hot day. Each location will keep you cool enough so you don't melt!

Eocene Period Fossils at Racehorse Creek Landslide

About a month ago we set out in search of fossils at Racehorse Creek Landslide in the Mount Baker foothills area. Although we were on the wrong path, and didn't make it to the actual landslide location, we still managed to find a pile of recently fallen rock with some good leaf fossils scattered about it. We'll make our way to the landslide one day, but for now we'd like to share a little info about this area and what we found.

The Campaign to Save Mount Grant

We talked a bit about Mount Grant in a previous story of ours, Visiting San Juan Island. It is just one of the many attractions to see and experience on this magical islet. We're going to go a little more in-depth with this article, specifically about Mount Grant, the San Juan Preservation Trust, and the campaign to save the Mount Grant Preserve.

ArticlesPacific North WanderersJune 7, 2016Pacific Northwest, WashingtonComment

Getting Healthy a Mile High At a Time

It took a summer of working in the Sierras, a little over a mile high to get me healthy again. That was against Doctor’s orders also. He felt being a mile high would hurt my breathing and then cause havoc to my heart. Little did he know.

ArticlesMark John CliffordMay 10, 2016Guest PostComment

Interview of Beers at the Bottom

We've recently had the pleasure of connecting with a couple of fellow hikers and bloggers through social media. They are Brandon & Rachel of Beers at the Bottom. We were honored when they asked to interview us for their website and we felt that interviewing them, in return, would be a great opportunity. As their name suggests, after a good hike they head back to the bottom and find a local brewery for a couple of brews.

Articles, InterviewPacific North WanderersApril 26, 2016Pacific Northwest Comment

The Wonder of Wandering

We are Stacy and Brandon of Pacific North Wanderers. We are transplants to the Pacific Northwest, from Florida and Colorado respectively. The bug to explore has been in both of us since childhood. Adulthood, however, provides many more opportunities to roam. The PNW is an amazing combination of oceanfront, ancient forests, mountains, gorges and high plain deserts. As people who love to explore, this place is an absolute paradise.

ArticlesPacific North WanderersJanuary 10, 2016Pacific NorthwestComment

National Park Service Centennial GeoTour

On August 25, 2016, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) will turn 100 years old! It has begun holding celebrations throughout the country while building up to its centennial. Here in the state of Washington the NPS has teamed up with Visit Rainier, the official Mt. Rainier tourism organization, to create a centennial GeoTour. It consists of four series, each series having 25 geocaches. This year long GeoTour is a celebration of the park’s birthday which explores a total of 100 geocaches in and around Mt. Rainier National Park.

Geocaching, Exploring, ArticlesPacific North WanderersOctober 18, 2015Pacific Northwest, National Park Service, WashingtonComment

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