Tag: Washington State

Oo-la-la! A Fall Trip to Mt Rainier

On our last sunny Saturday we headed to Mt Rainier for a fall hike, and we took the Stevens Canyon entrance on the east side of the park and avoided the crowds. The mountain was out and glorious, and interesting clouds filled the sky.… Continue Reading “Oo-la-la! A Fall Trip to Mt Rainier”

Pileated Woodpecker – a Visitation

“It’s a woodpecker!” Bob saw him in the backyard and called me to come quickly with my camera. (He knows me well.) And not any woodpecker, a Pileated Woodpecker, the largest in North America, a flaming, red-topped beauty. I didn’t want to miss the… Continue Reading “Pileated Woodpecker – a Visitation”

Coulon Park – for All Seasons

I took a walk at Coulon Park yesterday, before summer turns to fall. The sun was shiny, and the lake was sparkly, enjoyed by turtles and boaters alike. The Olympics were mostly bereft of snow, that will change soon enough. Mt. Rainier is never… Continue Reading “Coulon Park – for All Seasons”

Close up on Ospreys!

I witnessed something marvelous in Wenatchee the past few days, on a high platform above the Columbia River, (them not me,) a pair of Osprey with their young. The platform was in front of our hotel, fronting the river, and the two adults came… Continue Reading “Close up on Ospreys!”

American Goldfinch

I rarely see a Goldfinch in my yard; I guess the accommodations and food supply are not to their liking. So, I was happy to see our state bird recently in Westport on our way to Long Beach. Happier still that this handsome male… Continue Reading “American Goldfinch”

On the Wing at Willapa Bay

Last week I spent a few days in Long Beach, perhaps my favorite place on the Washington Coast (you’ve already seen sunset.) I’ll have more to say about our trip in the coming days, including our excursions into Oregon. But for now, I’ll focus… Continue Reading “On the Wing at Willapa Bay”

Landscapes of Olympic National Park – Staircase

On our recent trip to Hood Canal, we ventured into a remote corner of Olympic National Park, that surprisingly, we’d never been before – Staircase. We drove south on 101 from our campsite at Dosewallips State Park to Hoodsport, then west, past lake Cushman… Continue Reading “Landscapes of Olympic National Park – Staircase”

Now that was a hike! Big 4 Ice Caves

Never was there such a payoff for such a short hike, 2.2 miles round trip! A drive north on the Mountain Loop Highway brought us to Big 4 Mountain, known mostly for its (dangerous) ice caves. I remember hiking to those caves once on… Continue Reading “Now that was a hike! Big 4 Ice Caves”

Wildlife of Hood Canal – Elk, Eagles, Seals, and Surprised by Killer Whales!

On our first camping trip of the year, we parked our trailer at Dosewallips State Park on Hood Canal and enjoyed a bonanza of wildlife, some expected, some not. Roosevelt Elk welcomed us our first night; we often see them here. There were oysters… Continue Reading “Wildlife of Hood Canal – Elk, Eagles, Seals, and Surprised by Killer Whales!”

The Beauty of the Great Outdoors – How I Survived 2020

Remember 2020 and lockdowns, quarantine and social distancing? What were we to do to keep our sanity? Thank goodness for the Great Outdoors! For this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge, celebrating the Great Outdoors month of June, I perused my photos from 2020, surprised at… Continue Reading “The Beauty of the Great Outdoors – How I Survived 2020”