I’ve been fascinated by Mongolia for years. I have no idea why. I’ve never been there, don’t know anybody who’s been there, and don’t really know much about the country, its history, or its people. Perhaps I’m drawn because, like my home state of Alaska, it’s vast and remote, with…
View More The Road to MongoliaMonth: July 2019
Lake St. Clair
Friday, July 26, 2019 This was my first visit to Lake St. Clair. I joined another MeetUp gathering, this time for kayaking and paddle boarding at Lake St. Clair on a stunningly beautiful Friday afternoon. There were only four of us today–three on paddle boards, and me in my kayak.…
View More Lake St. ClairTrail Ratings
I’m a triathlete. I like metrics and benchmarks. Metrics give me a common means of measurement, and benchmarks provide a way to track my progress. In triathlon training, I can use heart rate, pace, speed, distance, timing, power, etc. to track my progress. Pretty standard means of measurement. Hiking has…
View More Trail RatingsTiny Living
Living in a tiny space In March 2019, I traded my comfortable two-bedroom house on a spacious 1/3 acre mountainside lot for a 20′ travel trailer in a tiny rented space in an urban RV park. Many people questioned my sanity, and most asked if it was a temporary move.…
View More Tiny LivingTolmie State Park
Saturday, July 20, 2019 I had planned to join a day hike with a Meetup group at Sequalitchew Creek early Saturday morning, but I had a pretty rough night and ended up sleeping in. After doing a load of laundry and a few other chores, I decided to head out…
View More Tolmie State ParkNisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, July 21, 2019 I woke up early Sunday morning to absolutely fabulous weather. Not a cloud in the sky, and not even a hint of wind. Hmmm. It was also high tide. I knew that because I had checked the tide tables the night before. I’ve never kayaked in…
View More Nisqually National Wildlife RefugeNorth Fork Sauk River
Two days, one night backpacking in the northern Cascade Mountains June 1-2, 2019 This was my first hiking trip with the Mountaineers, an outdoors group I joined in late April. The Mountaineers describes itself as “teaching skills, sharing adventures” and “getting people of all ages outside safely and responsibly for…
View More North Fork Sauk RiverA New Kayak
Wrestling with loading it by myself for the first time and its maiden voyage A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a fiery red Inuit LiquidLogic 14.5 kayak I saw listed on Craigslist. I met the seller in the pouring rain just south of Yelm. I inspected it pretty carefully,…
View More A New KayakLena Lake
Three days, two nights backpacking in the Olympic Mountains July 12-14, 2019 I signed up for the Lena Lake trip on MeetUp. I didn’t know anybody in the group, so it seemed like a great opportunity to both meet new people and explore a new area. I met up with…
View More Lena Lake