Helpful LInks/Inspiration Sources
Choose you own adventure
This is meant to be a collection of links that inspire you to get outside and help you plan where to go next.
Washington Trails Association (WTA)
If you’re looking for trail reports in the state of Washington, they’ve got it. This is mostly run and supported by volunteers and the hikers who get out on the trail. Want to know how much snow is on your favorite trail? Look it up and scroll to the bottom. You may even find one of my lengthy adventure reports disguised as a trip report. I have no idea why more states don’t use this.
They also have an incredibly useful mapping function that shows all the local trails in a given area. Check it out!
The national/international version of WTA with worse trail reports, but more maps; a literal life saver.
Going out for a day trip, but don’t want to get lost? Use this app! Yes, you have to create an account to get full use out of this site, but you don’t have to purchase the subscription to have access to incredible off-line topographic maps. Instead download the app and search your trail. Make sure to open the map before you lose service and then you should be good for the rest of the time!
When they say “AllTrails” they mean all trails. It’s incredible the trails you’ll find on here that you didn’t even know existed, but sometimes they may be little more than mountain goat paths. The map and sort function are also incredible if you’re looking for new trails to run.
Do you feel like trails are too mainstream for you? This might be your solution. An incredible collections of photos and instructions detailing how to get to the top of mountains across the US. If you’re “a peak bagger” you’re probably already familiar with this website, but you can definitely get lost for hours looking up different adventures in nearby mountain ranges.
Also has a map function that can help you find nearby summits to climb. Super interesting to read the trip reports and dream about being in the mountains.
The ultimate social media for running, biking, swimming, and every other athletic activity.
Really the great thing about Strava is you can plan runs/hikes based on the most popular trails and elevation
If you have a GPS watch it’s also amazing to keep track of your adventures and return to them years later.
Blog/Photography Adventure Links
Through words and images these people/websites have motivated me to get out and explore!
If you live in Washington and use only one website for trip inspiration, this would be it. I don’t know how he manages to create so many well-written trip reports and come up with so many adventure ideas, but his website is second to none. His trip reports were the inspiration for many of my adventures in 2021.
His page on Washington High Routes and Traverses is veritable gold mine of information and ideas.
Incredibly engaging blog written about adventuring (climbing, hiking, trail running, skiing, etc) throughout the PNW. Discovered this within the last year and I can’t stop reading this woman’s posts. Her trip reports are insightful and eye opening and are some of the funniest things I’ve read in the past few years. I really hope the blogger has some sort of writing job because the reports are incredibly well written.
These trip reports have already given me fantastic ideas for the next adventure and reading them was part of the inspiration for a more engrossing blog on this website.
Little bit dated/cluttered, but incredibly informative blog/photo site about an adventurer and her travels
Some of my favorite parts of the website are under projects such as her labeled panoramas, investigation into the fire lookouts of Washington, and mathematical analysis of peak naming
She no longer lives in the PNW, but there’s plenty enough information to keep you busy
One of my favorite PNW photographers and someone who I hold in high regard (even if I’ve never met him). This website follow some of the styles of his website closer than I would like to admit.
Relatively recent transplant to the PNW, he spends much of his time photographing the Cascade Range
In 2019 for the 50th anniversary of the creation of North Cascades National Park he climbed 50 peaks in the park and then made a book out of his images. Definitely captures the ruggedness of one of my favorite places.
If you follow landscape photography this photographer needs no introduction. Chris is probably one of the most famous landscape (especially surf and aerial) photographers alive today.
His work is so full of vibrant colors and interesting patterns that I could spend hours looking at it. No blog component, but super nice, honest guy who was a pleasure to meet at a book signing in Seattle.
Backcountry Preparedness
By no means is this comprehensive, but this is a start to the links you should know if you’re going adventuring.
Always good to have LNT principles in mind when you’re in the backcountry or in the middle of the city.
The goal is always to minimize impact without being too authoritarian about it. Like if a couple drops of your pasta water end up on the ground it’s not a calamity, but also don’t leave anything behind.
Perhaps a little corny, but I really do love the idea of “Leave only footprints, take only photographs.”
The national weather service may not be the most accurate forecast, but they are the most likely to be able to tell you what will happen for a remote wilderness location.
Just click where you want to go on the map and eventually you will get the “Point Forecast”
Make sure to pay attention to the weather warning (High winds, Winter Storm, etc)
Remember that the only predictable aspect about mountain weather is its unpredictability. It can change at a moment’s notice with no warning so be prepared for anything even remotely possible
If you’re planning to go out exploring in the winter (alpine touring, xc skiing, snowshoeing, etc) in the Cascades this website is essential. It provides the most up to date avalanche conditions for different sections of the Cascades with first hand conditions reports.
Provides avalanche forecasts for up to two days in advance as well as weather forecasts and other resources to keep yourself safe in the backcountry.
Always be over prepared. Always.
Yes, carrying extra weight is annoying, but things will never go exactly according to plan and if you aren’t prepared you’ll be at best uncomfortable and at worst dead.
This is REI’s list and I think they have all of the basics covered so create a little package and carry it with you whenever you get off the road.