Tag Archives: Southern Olympic Coast

Featured Video: Backpacking the Olympic Coast

March 22, 2013  |  In Backpacking, Family Adventures, National Park Adventures   |   Tagged , , , , , , , ,   |   2 Comments

Washington’s Olympic National Park protects the longest wilderness coastline remaining in the continental United States, and the season for hiking it is fast approaching. Watch this short video of a classic, three-day, 17.5-mile backpacking trip along the southern section of the coast, where you’ll see sea stacks rising out of the ocean, seals, sea otters, and tide pools filled with sea life. Read the story and check out a gallery of photos from the adventure.

 

December 19, 2012 Gran4-67 Tonto East Trail, Grand Canyon

Inspiration For 2013: My Top 10 Family Adventures

In Backpacking, Family Adventures, Hiking, National Park Adventures, Paddling, Skiing   |   Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   |   3 Comments

At this time of year, I start pulling out maps and guidebooks and poring over my lengthy—and always growing—list of outdoor trips I want to take. (My document slugged “Trip Ideas” is now 11,855 words long.) There are two reasons: First, to make those big dream trips happen, you have to think, plan, and dream months in advance. Plus, the planning is almost as much fun as taking the trip.

Here are my 10 favorite family adventures at The Big Outside (another list that will keep growing and evolving), to help give you some ideas and inspiration for 2013. Continue reading →

April 16, 2012 Olym5-112 Hiking to Strawberry Point, Olympic coast, WA

The Wildest Shore: Backpacking the Southern Olympic Coast

In Backpacking, Family Adventures, National Park Adventures   |   Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,   |   6 Comments

On a remote, sandy beach on Washington’s Olympic coast, we stop in our tracks and gaze up. A wall of muddy earth rises some 300 feet into jungle-like rainforest. A thick strand of hemp rope dangles down this steep, eroding embankment. A ladder of wooden steps built into the muddy ground rises in tandem with the rope.

We’re going up it. Continue reading →