#the HOH RAINFOREST PLEASE

[samwisefamgee]

Just found out Multnomah Falls are the most visited national recreation site in the PNW and I might flip

[amalgamatedalcove]

Hoh Rainforest by Adam Martin Via Flickr: Washington Pacific North West Trip 2016 + Please follow me on Flickr + Follow me on Instagram @Adam620 + www.AdamMartinPhoto.com

[hammerandsickbro]

maybe if i laid on the ground in the hall of mosses i would finally achieve enlightenment

[mercuryislove]

Once again, I’m late with a tiny grocery list. The questions were so good this week tho, like I really struggled to pick! Anyway, as usual, I’m excited to see your answers 😊

❌ for Ciaran

🍑 for Anwei

🌳 for Yixing

💤 for Vera

🌸 for Andhira

Please pretend it's still Friday so I can also pretend that this wasn't just posted three days later than intended lol

❌ What kinds of things would end any relationship for them? Is there a history behind why these things bother them? Could they ever take someone back despite this? If so or if not, why?

CHEATERS CHEATERS CHEATERS. If there's one thing Ciaran can't fucking stand it's a cheater. It's a totally unforgivable offense too. No second chances, no “i didn't mean it,” no “it was uhhhhh an accident,” no NOTHING. It should be obvious that one of the reasons he has such a hard stance because he's been cheated on! Several times for some reason! The first time it happened was bad enough because it was like. his first Actually Serious relationship and it turned out the guy had a second boyfriend for almost a year and was using him to boost his career lmao. And then the second time it happened with someone totally different, he was like “well. If I push this man in front of a bus, do you think I can get away with killing him?” And then the third time it happened like two hundred years later, he absolutely did hide the body and Anwei helped. The other reason he hates cheaters so much is because his already mediocre excuse of a father cheated with another woman while Ciaran and Anwei's mother was in the middle of cancer treatments, so he has zero tolerance for that bullshit.

--

🍑 Where is your oc's favorite place to relax or calm down? Recount a story of their time spent in this place! What makes it so special to them?

Is there anywhere your oc hates to go? Anywhere that stresses them out or have negative memories of?

It's hard to get to because it's on the other side of the planet, but Anwei's favorite place to go is what used to be her hometown. Obviously the landscape is wildly different and there isn't any civilization there now (it's kind of like the Hoh rainforest in the pacific northwest lol), but she still remembers what it used to be. If she looks closely enough, she can find little remnants of what life used to be like there. If she closes her eyes and listens closely, she thinks she can still hear the tram that ran down the main street downtown. When she was a largely unsupervised kid, she would get out of school and ride the tram up and down the main street because she had nothing better to do while waiting for either her mom to get off work or for her brat of an older brother to get out of his dance classes. So even after all that time, she can show up to a random fucking rainforest and still feel a strange sense of belonging to the solitude. As for places she hates, well it's pretty similar. It's the remains of the city where she witnessed firsthand the, uh, mass suicide event of the gods. (in the context of my dnd campaign, this city has been built and rebuilt like a thousand times and it's where the players like. home base is lol) I mean, watching the unnecessary deaths of tens of millions of people is enough of a reason to hate the place, but beyond even that the place holds so many grim and depressing memories that she would never go back under any circumstances.

--

🌳 Compare your oc to themself from ten years ago. How has their mental state changed since then? How have they aged and grown up? Would they say they're in a better place than they were back then or do they need help? What advice would they give their younger self? What advice would their younger self give to them now?

UM WELL. Yixing is a totally different person lol (generally speaking, he has been many different people because he's had a weird fucking life). It depends WHEN this question is being asked because there is a sizable difference in time between when the reader first meets and like the end of the third book. But for my own sanity, I'll say it's based on when we first meet him. So ten years ago was most certainly a totally different person. Um he had short hair. Ew. Why do you as a man have short hair? (WELL it wasn't short like what you think of when you think of short hair on a man, but it definitely wasn't long enough to put it all in a ponytail) Ten years ago he was in the middle of his ultimately disastrous relationship with Sonam, though at the time he was SO happy. He was also 25. UM I would say being away from her is an extreme improvement for him. So maybe he drinks way more and also has a couple of ribs that ache when he sleeps on one side and his hip clicks in the mornings but like. At least he's sort of happy. But those are all physical things!! From a mental standpoint, well he's in a better place in some ways and way worse in others because like. Trauma. (Once again I must reiterate that this man desperately needs therapy.) Better in that he isn't so naive and doesn't let people take advantage of him and can actually see a fucking red flag waving in front of his stupid face (though honestly that's up for debate). Worse in that he does NOT open up to anyone ever and has very little sense of self-preservation because he isn't worried about like. being alive for anyone's sake. Um, advice he would give to his younger self is 100% without a single fucking doubt: RUN. GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE. And the advice his younger self would give is like. quit being such dumb slut because you're going to get an std and/or an accidental child.

--

💤 What was your oc like as a baby, a child, and as a teen? How have they changed since then? What lessons have they learned and what things about their youth do they miss the most? Do they have any general regrets?

Vera was what I would consider a “difficult” baby lmao. The kind of kid that doesn't want to sleep, doesn't want to eat, fusses all the fucking time, randomly has problems that amount to nothing, etc etc etc. (I was a difficult baby!!! notorious for randomly just Not Breathing. Until I would turn purple!) And that translated into being an equally difficult child, but for totally different reasons because she was just a BRAT. Josef had his hands full when he agreed to raise her lmao. She was that kid that had a Smart mouth and made sure everyone knew it. She read too many books and thought she knew everything all the time. Also still a very picky eater. And she was an EXTREMELY angst-ridden teen, which like. she had good reason because the whole “my parents died when I was six and nobody in my immediate family wanted me and my black sheep of an uncle was the only one to step up and take care of me” thing, but she was still so so so difficult. Josef started taking her on hunts when she was 14/15 because she begged him to (she didn't care about the profession. She just wanted to see the violence), and found she had a natural aptitude for the, uh, murder, and it totally changed her life lol

The thing she misses most about childhood is how she would stay with Luka when she was too young to get dragged along on Josef's hunts. He served as a messenger of sorts (or maybe dispatch is the better word?) who would make the calls to hunters around the continent and/or hemisphere to give them information about their hunts and benefactors. Basically he called people and told them where to go and what to kill and how much they would be paid and who would pay them. Anyway!! When she was still little, she would sit on the floor of his office while he spent several hours making all these calls to hunters and benefactors, and he always had tons of art supplies for her to keep her entertained, so she spent so many days just like. painting and coloring and making weird little kid sculptures while sitting and listening to him speak to all of these people. Sometimes she would sit next to him at his desk and he would teach her all the things he said in other languages (and of course swear words, because he knew Josef wouldn't know if she was saying shit in Portuguese). As for regrets, she is STILL guilty about how MEAN she used to be to her uncles. Like. they were doing the best they fucking could with their weird fucking lives while trying to raise a weird little girl, but at the time she sure as hell didn't realize that. She was straight up vile at times as a teenager. They would get into screaming fights and she would run away or even threaten to hurt herself, and eventually she would calm down and apologize, but deep down she knew how much it hurt them when she lashed out at them. There were spans of time as a young adult where she couldn't even make eye contact with them because she was so ashamed and guilty for how she used to treat them.

--

🌸 What does your oc's voice sound like? Their laugh? Are they good at singing? Do they have an accent?

The most noticeable thing about Andhira's voice is that it's deep and sort of musical. Her native tongue is sort of singsongy and that quality comes through no matter what language she's speaking in. So I guess technically she does kind of have an accent? But she is completely fluent in most of the languages she speaks so that isn't too much of an issue. Her laughter is dependent on the company she's with. With people she's close to, her natural laugh is boisterous and husky, but in more reserved situations, she most certainly does that like. really demure/coy laugh where she fully covers her mouth and hardly makes a sound (which is also a good way of hiding your fangs lol). OR she just doesn't laugh lol. Can she sing? Yes,I guess? She's definitely had the time to train her voice, but she doesn't much care for singing (she leaves that to her mom). I imagine that singing comes naturally to her because of the lyrical quality of the language she grew up speaking. It lends itself very well to those kinds of like. folk ballads and such, if that makes any fucking sense.

[neardeparture]

Day 3 : Riddles are hard, but not that hard. Also, stay on the trail please your instagram followers will survive.

Hoh Rainforest —> Ruby Beach —> North Cascades National Park

8.18.20

[xodaniellevictoria]

Seattle, I love you

Seattle is my favorite city in the US. Followed closely by San Diego and NYC. It is also the city I have visited the most! I started coming here when I was 17, and have come almost every year since. I wanted to share my guide to the city so if you're planning a trip you can know some of my local favorites!

1. Pikes Place Public Market

First things first PIKES PLACE.

This is the farmers market of your DREAMS. Located in the heart of Downtown, right by the water. Everything you can think of is here. Great food, local seafood, fresh flowers that are gorgeous and CHEAP, and of course that legendary first brick and mortar STARBUCKS.

Some of my Pikes Place MUST SEE’S are:

-Rachels Ginger Beer

Some of the best ginger beer ever. They offer a bunch of flavors that change with the seasons, and they even have cocktails featuring their ginger beer!

-The Flower Vendors

You can’t go to Pikes without grabbing some of their famous flowers. My favorite vendors are towards the end of the market. You can get a giant bouquet for $15-$20.... INSANE! Great for photos, and if you want to spruce up your hotel room or Airbnb.

-Beecher’s Cheese

This is a Seattle staple, they even have it in the airport. The best Mac n cheese according to all my Seattleite friends. Their cheese is featured in almost every cheese plate in Washington, and even on Alaskan Airlines cheese and fruit platter!

-La Panier

This is a quaint French bakery that has the best macaroons I’ve ever had. Their pastries and French bread are made fresh daily. Definitely stop here if you can!

-Seafood Vendors

You can’t go to Pikes without seeing the freshest seafood EVERYWHERE. The vendor in the beginning of the market, right under the famous sign, is the most well known. When you order your catch, they THROW the fish to another employee to wrap it up for you. There is always a crowd just waiting for someone to order something so they can witness the infamous throw. It’s truly a sight to see.

2. Ballard

Ballard is my favorite neighborhood of Seattle. The streets are covered in cute shops and restaurants. Some of my favorites are:

-September

A gorgeous lifestyle shop with dreamy clothes and gifts. A Ballard staple.

-Lucca

A curious gift shop with some amazing finds. (They sell my favorite candle of all time and every chance I get I buy a few to take home!)

-Portage Bay

THIS IS MY FAVORITE BREAKFAST SPOT IN SEATTLE. HANDS DOWN. On weekends you're going to have a wait, but weekdays are pretty mellow. Please check this place out. It’s amazing.

-Salt n Straw

I am not sure if you have a Salt n Straw where you live, but they're a gourmet ice cream chain and they're outstanding. They change flavors every season, and its truly some of the best ice cream you will ever have.

-Hot Cakes

More sweets, amazing hot chocolate, and cookies!

-The Gerald

Craft cocktails, amazing food. Great date night spot

-Lucky Vintage

An amazing vintage store with reasonable prices!

3. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery

THIS is the Starbucks holy grail. If you love coffee you have to come here. I am not a fan of the original Starbucks store in Pikes Place... Hate to break it to you but it sucks. It’s not cute, and there's an hour long line... The Reserve Roastery however is everything you want the original store to be. Massive, Impressive, and beautiful. Theres a bar featuring some coffee cocktails, a place to eat, and 2 coffee bars featuring limited edition items, that you won't find on a normal Starbucks menu. My personal favorite is the cold brew malt. Its a cold brew milkshake and it is to die for. 

4. Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is another one of my favorite neighborhoods. It houses a bunch of cool bars and restaurants, and shops! Here are some of my favorites:

-Everyday Music

GIANT record store. My favorite music store!

-Cha Cha Lounge

This is my favorite bar. Ever. It’s a dive bar in the basement of a Mexican restaurant and plays vintage pinup films, while playing rock music. GO HERE.

-The Unicorn

Another favorite bar. The drinks aren't great, but the atmosphere is incredible. Make sure to take pictures in the Photo Booth downstairs!

-Poquitos

An amazing Mexican restaurant. I find myself coming here almost every time I am in Seattle.

-Quinns

Another amazing restaurant. I always get the Fish and Chips!

-Molly Moons

Delicious ice cream!

5. Discovery Park

If nature is what you're wanting out of Seattle these next few options are for you. Starting with Discovery Park. Seattles biggest park, it has some old military housing, which make for great photo backdrops, and there's a light house!

6. Hoh Rainforest

 The Hoh is the only rainforest in the continental US (apart from Hawaii and Alaska) It’s beautiful. A ferry ride and a 3 hour drive from Seattle but absolutely worth the trip.

7. Gasworks Park

Gasworks is the best view of Seattle. Great for a picnic or just a scenic view!

8. Volunteer Park Conservatory 

The prettiest greenhouse! Great for photos

And that's a wrap on my guide to Seattle! I hope this helped give you some ideas of things to do in one of the best cities in America! 

[elegant-etienne]

25. Which area/location would you live in if given the opportunity? Why? / 30. What do you hope for in the next expansion?

FFXIV Ask Meme!

25. It’s a toss-up between the Lavender Beds and Shirogane. The climate and terrain of the Lavender Beds, as well as the general aesthetic, are more what I’m used to and like. However, I have island blood and I’d have trouble living anywhere not near the ocean of some kind. My Japan-loving heart would probably do alright in Hingashi, but I don’t know about the heat - honestly the same problem I’d have with Costa del Sol or the Mists.

30. I’m fine with us going to Garlemald in terms of the plot, I hope it’s handled well. I’m more excited about the possibilities that could open for us once a conclusion with the Garlean plot (a suitably epic one, mind you) is reached. None of my characters have a horse in that race, aside from Kadin who has connections to the conflict through his mate and through his friends and faith. I get the feeling that the whole of Garlemald will be quite monochromatic and stark, as well as somber, violent tone with lots of shadows and shades of gray in terms of the story. I’m very interested to see where it will go, but we’ll need a palate cleanser after that.

Let’s see Thavnair or Meracydia next. Let’s see lots more dark-skinned, important NPCs - and some gorgeous takes on either desert landscapes and or tropical rainforests as well as the related mythos and civilizations. I’d love to see more takes on the mythos from places other than East Asia and what we traditionally associate with the West - nothing has ever gotten me over the fact that the witch-queen Rangda of Indonesian mythology is a throwaway second boss in a HW dungeon - there is so much there! I’ve seen a great deal of mythologies namechecked in mobs and creatures, but with a desert setting we could have Persian or African mythologies, with the tropics we could have again African, potentially Southeast Asian, Central Asian, and Central and South America - I’m excited just thinking about the potential.

I’d just like to see more regional cultures, especially for the non-hyur races. Let’s see the work ethic and intelligence of lalafell showcased as brilliant alchemists and researchers in Thavnair - how about geomancers? Let’s see the hunting abilities and botanical wisdom of Keeper tribes in a gigantic jungle. Let’s see a proud culture of roegadyn with tons of puns on Moana and the Rock with a tribe based on Oceania.

I would love, love, LOVE any expansion that had a focus on an area that was Oceania inspired, and we could literally lift wholesale tons of concepts from FFX for it.

I think we still have plenty of places we could potentially go - to the North Seas to see the Viking-inspired Sea Wolves, for instance, could be a lot of fun - and it would just be wonderful to continue that feeling of exploration. I’m sure eventually we’ll get to Sharlayan and it would/should be a huge urban player hub and more than anything I think that would be an excellent setting for RP. I hope we explore every corner of Eorzea before we take the freaking space elevator from HoH to the moon. Please let’s not go to the moon yet. Even if it would be kind of hilarious to have Viera be Lunarian moon rabbits please let’s not do it yet.

Once we’ve had something bright and lively, then we can go underground to Gelmorra - though, who am I kidding, a duskwight expansion? :/a I’d still like to see more of it since we’ve definitely gotten the sense there’s a lot of shit still down there. Drums… drums in the deep…

Thanks for the ask, @actualkomodo !

[drysia]

Tagged by @thedosianexplorer​ <3

Are you named after anyone? I’m pretty sure I was named after a song that was playing in the hospital. My parents had a TOUGH time agreeing on a name.

When was the last time you cried? Tuesday because I watched BoJack Horseman. Fuck, that show.

Do you like your handwriting? OMG no. It’s super inconsistent and never looks the same, I hate it. I’ve been practicing hand letting, though. So I don’t hate it as much as I used to.

What’s your favorite lunchmeat? Salami is where its at~

Do you have kids? Nope, none for me thanks. I have 2 dogs and my mom refers to them as her grandchildren, does that count?

if you were a different person, would you be friends with you? Maybe I’d be fair weather friends with myself. We’d both be really bad at keeping in touch with each other. At least until one of us got sucked into a fandom and needed someone to yell at.

Do you use sarcasm? Yes, but only if I’m comfortable with you. :x

Do you still have your tonsils Yup!

Would you bungee jump? No way, I hate that lurching feeling you get when you fall. That feeling is what I imagine hell feels like.

What’s your favorite cereal? Fruity Pebbles, it isn’t filling or good for you but it’s so tasty.

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? I don’t care about future-me enough to do that.

Do you think you are a strong person? Yeah, I might cry about things but I power through it and do what needs to be done. But physically-- oh god no.

What’s your favorite ice cream? Strawberry cheesecake ice cream that my sister makes. It is so good.

What’s the first thing you notice about other people? They way they carry themselves or their hair.

What’s your least favorite physical thing about yourself? That I’m lactose intolerant. I wish I could eat all the cheeses with no consequence.

What color pants and shoes are you wearing right now? Black shorts with hobbit shoes bare feet

What are you listening to right now? Talisman by Air

if you were a crayon, what color would you be? Fern - wow, there were a lot more colors than I thought there’d be.

Favorite smell? Bakery smell, hands down.

Who was the last person you talked on the phone with? Probably a client at work, I don’t use the phone much otherwise.

Favorite sport to watch? I’m drawing a blank.

Hair color? Dark brown

Eye color? Very dark brown

Do you wear contacts?

No, my face would feel weird without glasses. I’m like pre-movies Geordie LaForge that way.

Favorite food? Plums. I’m just gonna go with that.

Scary movie or comedy? Both at the same time! You’re never sure why you’re crying.

Last movie you watched? It

What color shirt are you wearing? Black

Summer or winter? Neither, fall forever please. (x2, you said it perfectly)

Hugs or kisses? Hugs, I’m all about the full body hugs.

Book you’re currently reading? The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden (vol. 1) by Catherine M. Valente

Who do you miss right now? My mom, she’s far away and can’t visit for a while.

What’s on your mouse pad? A blue and purple galaxy

What’s the last tv program you watched? The Good Place, man I am so into this show. About to start season 2!

What’s the best sound? The perfect music for your mood.

Rolling Stones or the Beatles? :D

What’s the furthest you’ve ever traveled? Hoh Rainforest in Washington state. Super cool.

Do you have a special talent? I’m really good at finding loose quarters for laundry. I call it Quartermancy.

Where were you born? California, USA

I don’t remember who has done this, so anyone feel free to do this!

[j0sgomez-blog]

By Michael Lanza

Imagine this: You’re heading out on a long, beautiful hike deep in the backcountry, but instead of a full backpack, you carry a light daypack. You’ve avoided hassles with getting a backcountry permit. There’s no camp to set up and pack up, because you’re not backpacking, you’re dayhiking. Yes, I love backpacking—living in the wilderness, getting into that mindset of not knowing or caring what day it is or what’s going on in civilization. And I do it a lot. But sometimes, I prefer to knock off a weekend-length—or longer—hike in one big day.

A completely different way to experience a hike, walking 15, 20, or even 30 or more miles in a day feels liberating in how lightly you travel and how much ground you can cover. I’ve done it many times simply because I had just one day free and wanted to see as much as possible. But there are some long stretches of trail that, to me, just cry out to be hiked in a day—for aesthetic reasons, because the length and access are just right and the scenery top shelf.

The following list of 14 hikes represents the very best long—and huge—dayhikes I’ve taken over more than three decades of hiking all over the country. If you have a favorite long dayhike that you think belongs on this list, tell me in the comments section at the bottom of this story, and I’ll try to get to it.

Find your next adventure in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter now.

  David Ports hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim

Arguably the granddaddy of ultra-dayhikes, traversing the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim and back again constitutes not only the most demanding stroll on this list, but a double, top-to-bottom tour of one of Earth’s most magnificent and unfathomable natural features. By its shortest route (depending on which trails you use), the r2r2r, as it’s known, is 42 miles round-trip with a cumulative elevation gain and loss of over 21,000 feet.

Backpacking the route requires obtaining one of the most hard-to-get backcountry permits in the National Park System, so if you possess the fitness and skills to knock it off in a day, that may offer your best chance of actually doing it. Of course, the shorter (and perhaps saner) alternative is to hike across the canyon in just one direction, halving the distance, using available shuttle services to travel between the rims before or after your hike (depending on your lodging arrangements). I hope it goes without saying that this is an extremely arduous undertaking in an extreme environment and should only be attempted by very fit, experienced desert hikers.

See my stories “Fit to be Tired: Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in a Day,” “Ask Me: Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim in a Day,” and “A Grand Ambition, Or April Fools? Dayhiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim,” and all of my stories about the Grand Canyon at The Big Outside.

Click here now for my expert e-guide to hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim!

Geoff Sears hiking the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park.

Logan Pass to Many Glacier, Glacier National Park

Take one of the prettiest moderate-length dayhikes in the National Park System—Glacier’s Highline Trail—and tack on waterfalls, a view from above a glacier, and a walk down a valley flanked by peaks, and you have the 16.4-mile, point-to-point traverse from 6,646-foot Logan Pass on the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Many Glacier, via Swiftcurrent Pass. This hike delivers uninterrupted views of the park’s jagged peaks and cliffs, and there’s a good chance you’ll see bighorn sheep and mountain goats. The distance includes the optional but very worthwhile side hike—1.2 miles and a steep 1,000 feet—to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, a notch in the long cliff known as the Garden Wall.

See my stories “5 Perfect (Big) Days in Glacier National Park” and “Descending the Food Chain: Backpacking Glacier National Park’s Northern Loop,” and all of my stories about Glacier National Park at The Big Outside.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside, which has made several top outdoors blog lists. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. Please follow my adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

  Vernal Fall on the Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park.

Tenaya Lake to Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

From the post-card view of the granite domes and cliffs flanking Tenaya Lake, to two of Yosemite’s finest summts and two of its most spectacular waterfalls, this 21-mile traverse hits many of the park’s best and most famous landmarks. After admiring the view from Tenaya Lake’s southwestern shore, hike up 9,926-foot Clouds Rest, culminating with its gripping, sidewalk-width summit ridge, with a drop-off of several hundred feet on the left and a cliff on the right that falls away a dizzying 4,000 feet—a thousand feet taller than the face of El Capitan. Then comes Half Dome’s thrilling cable route (lead photo at top of story)—for which you need a permit—followed later by a descent of the Mist Trail past 594-foot Nevada Fall and 317-foot Vernal Fall, before finishing at the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite Valley.

See more photos and information in my stories “Ask Me: Hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome,” “Best of Yosemite, Part 1: Backpacking South of Tuolumne Meadows.” “The Magic of Hiking to Yosemite’s Waterfalls,” and “The 10 Best Dayhikes in Yosemite,” and all of my stories about Yosemite National Park at The Big Outside.

Have the right gear for a huge hike. See my reviews of the best hiking shoes and the 7 best hiking daypacks.

David Gordon hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park.

Traversing Zion National Park

Few “dayhikes” on any list of ultra-hikes get as long and scenic as this, but the north to south traverse across Zion National Park has earned something of a cult following among uber-fit hikers and ultra-runners. From Lee Pass Trailhead to East Entrance Trailhead—with a short shuttle-bus ride in Zion Canyon from The Grotto to Weeping Rock—you’ll navigate a 47-mile grand tour of some of the most amazing scenery in the Southwest: deep chasms with burnt-red and white walls, soaring cliffs and beehive rock formations, and edge-of-the-rim walks high above labyrinths of slot canyons. Throw in a few stunning, short side hikes along the way—Northgate Peaks, Angels Landing, and Hidden Canyon—and you log more than 50 miles on one of the most incredible days of hiking in the entire National Park System.

See my stories “Mid-Life Crisis—Hiking 50 Miles Across Zion In a Day” and all of my stories about Zion National Park.

If you like this list, check out my story “The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes.”

The North Fork of Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park.

Paintbrush-Cascade Canyons Loop, Grand Teton National Park

Probably the most popular backpacking trip in the park, the nearly 20-mile Paintbrush Canyon-Cascade Canyon loop from String Lake Trailhead, with a bit over 4,000 feet of elevation gain and loss, sees hikers and runners regularly notching it in a day. The scenery is classic Tetons: serrated peaks and deep canyons with rock walls soaring thousands of feet overhead, and waterfalls tumbling off those walls in Cascade Canyon. Plus, the loop crosses the highest point reached via trail in the park, 10,720-foot Paintbrush Divide, where the panorama takes in a huge chunk of the Tetons; and passes cliff-ringed Lake Solitude on the descent through the North Fork of Cascade Canyon, where you’re looking straight down the glacier-carved valley at the towering north walls of the Grand Teton and Mount Owen.

See all of my stories about Grand Teton National Park, including “Ask Me: 8 Great Big Dayhikes in the Tetons.”

Dying to backpack in the Tetons? See my e-guides to the Teton Crest Trail and backpacking the beginner-friendly loop described above.

Sol Duc Falls, Olympic National Park.

High Divide-Sol Duc Loop, Olympic National Park

Like the above hike, this 18-mile loop with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain is popular with backpackers, but a doable objective for many fit dayhikers—and a great day in a mountain range that’s largely beyond reach to all but backpackers and climbers on strenuous, multi-day outings. Hiking counter-clockwise, you’ll pass lovely Sol Duc Falls, with its triple columns, and climb through old-growth rainforest to higher meadows carpeted with lupine and other wildflowers. On a clear day, the High Divide Trail’s long alpine traverse delivers views across the deep, lushly green trench of the Hoh River Valley to ice- and snow-blanketed Mount Olympus. After passing beautiful Heart Lake, set in another sprawling meadow, the loop makes a gentle descent below ancient, giant trees along the Sol Duc River. You’re likely to see elk and mountain goats at higher elevations and black bear almost anywhere.

See all of my stories about Olympic National Park at The Big Outside.

I can help you plan any trip you read about at my blog. Find out more here.

Shelli Johnson hiking across the Lizard Head Plateau, Wind River Range.

Crossing the Wind River Range

Huge vistas for much of the way, in one of the highest ranges of the Rocky Mountains, are the payoff on this 27-mile, east-west crossing of the southern Winds, from the Bears Ears Trailhead in Dickinson Park to the Big Sandy Opening Trailhead. With a cumulative elevation gain of about 4,500 feet, this traverse stays above 11,000 feet for many miles, with views of peaks rising above 12,000 feet on the Continental Divide. Don’t pass up the 20-minute, off-trail side trip up 12,250-foot Mount Chauvenet, overlooking a row of peaks that includes Buffalo Peak, Camel’s Hump, and Mounts Washakie and Hooker. But the hike’s highlight is the Cirque of the Towers, a mind-boggling horseshoe of sheer-walled granite peaks standing shoulder to shoulder.

See my story “A Walk in the Winds: Hiking a One-Day, 27-Mile Traverse of Wyoming’s Wind River Range,” and all of my stories about the Wind River Range.

Read this entire story and ALL stories at The Big Outside, plus get a FREE e-guide. Join now!

My son, Nate, hiking below The Mountain in Mount Rainier National Park.

Mowich Lake to Sunrise, Mount Rainier National Park

From any angle, Mount Rainier looks impossibly big, rising 8,000 to 11,000 vertical feet above trails around its base—more relief than all but a few peaks in North America. Still, the best views of The Mountain are from its northern flanks, where you look up at the largest glacier in the Lower 48, the Emmons, and get close-up with the Carbon Glacier, the longest (5.7 miles) and thickest (700 feet) American river of ice outside Alaska. On a rugged, 22-mile hike from Mowich Lake to Sunrise, you’ll also cross sub-alpine meadows like Spray Park, renowned as one of the Pacific Northwest’s power spots for wildflowers like lupine, beargrass, phlox, goat’s beard, and pink monkeyflower.

See my story “Wildflowers, Waterfalls, and Slugs at Mount Rainier,” and all of my stories about Mount Rainier National Park at The Big Outside.

Which puffy should you buy? See my “Review: The 10 Best Down Jackets” and “Ask Me: How Can You Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is?”

. . .

  Tell me what you think.

I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons at right, and leave a comment or question at the bottom of this story. I’d really appreciate it.

  Feeling inspired by this story? Join now for full access to ALL stories and get a free e-guide!

[nicepoethere]

SHARE WITH U.S. VETS AND NAT'L PARK LOVERS EVERYWHERE!

If you enjoy dramatic cloudbursts, epic wet vistas and torrential rains when you hike, bike, tour and experience the great national park outdoors, then you need to visit Olympic National Park in Washington state. You won't need a boat but galoshes and a sturdy umbrella may come in handy!

Established on June 29, 1938 and located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, this park includes a wide range of ecosystems from the Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the alpine slopes of the Olympic Mountains, the tallest of which is Mount Olympus. The Hoh Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest are the wettest areas in the contiguous U.S, with the Hoh receiving an average rainfall of almost 12 ft (3.7 m) of rain every year. But it's beautiful to behold and soak in!

To learn more about this epic national park, visit this site: https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm. And to learn about us and our project to help veterans, please visit us online at http://59veterans.com/. We can't wait to ascend this summit with torrential pleasure and Olympian reward!

[queenofir]

SHARE WITH U.S. VETS AND NAT'L PARK LOVERS EVERYWHERE!

If you enjoy dramatic cloudbursts, epic wet vistas and torrential rains when you hike, bike, tour and experience the great national park outdoors, then you need to visit Olympic National Park in Washington state. You won't need a boat but galoshes and a sturdy umbrella may come in handy!

Established on June 29, 1938 and located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, this park includes a wide range of ecosystems from the Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the alpine slopes of the Olympic Mountains, the tallest of which is Mount Olympus. The Hoh Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest are the wettest areas in the contiguous U.S, with the Hoh receiving an average rainfall of almost 12 ft (3.7 m) of rain every year. But it's beautiful to behold and soak in!

To learn more about this epic national park, visit this site: https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm. And to learn about us and our project to help veterans, please visit us online at http://59veterans.com/. We can't wait to ascend this summit with torrential pleasure and Olympian reward!

[eledritch]

Yeti, please.

yeti: if you were a cryptid, where would you live?

probably the olympic natl forest in washington. or the hoh rainforest, that place is so cool and there’s at least 2 other cryptids in there to keep me company i bet

[lightgreyartgallery]

APPLICATIONS ARE LIVE! We just launched two new Pacific Northwest Art Camps! Come wander the dramatic coastline, watch for bald eagles and whales, peer into tide-pools and hike through incredible old-growth forests!  ---All with the company of some amazing creatives!  We’re looking for people that want an adventure, and we’ll provide the gear! Let us take you on a wild journey where we’ll learn about the incredible wonders, animals, culture and sketch, draw and converse together in this magical place! 12 spots available in each program. (details in the links below!) VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA (MAY 12- 16) HOH RAINFOREST / OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK (MAY 17-21) or join us for both and get a free night’s accommodations and activities on the night of the 16th! 

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CREATIVE FRIENDS (Especially the ones with a bad case of wanderlust! ) :) Hope you can join us!

Questions? Send us a note! hello@lightgreyartlab.com

[automaticvr]

This month, Guernica is pleased to present our first virtual reality documentary, Sanctuaries of Silence. According to acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton, silence is on the verge of extinction. Billed as an "immersive listening journey", filmmakers Adam Lofton and Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee join Gordon as he seeks to document the impact of noise pollution in the Hoh Rainforest, one of the quietest places in North America. Watch this documentary for Gordon's profound meditation on how to listen to both sounds and silence. 

[misterbike]

Signs you grew up in (western) Washington

“Washington” on it’s own is NEVER referring to D.C

You can pronounce Puyallup, Sequim, and Issaquah

“I live near Seattle”

SAM

It’s always hoodie weather

Torrential downpour? No biggie. 1 inch of snow? Everything is closed.

We don’t have umbrellas. Anyone with an umbrella is a tourist.

Do the Puyallup

“Wanna go to the beach?” “Sure, let me grab my coat!”

Western Washington and Eastern Washington are like two completely different states

Huskies vs. Cougars

We know a lot about salmon

Almost nobody has air conditioners (for some reason)

Fred Meyer

Stop Bugging Me!

“I went to Chelan for vacation” or “I went to Great Wolf Lodge for vacation”

Went to lakes often, never swam in them

Usually a wet christmas, not a white one

Starbucks everywhere… literally everywhere

Half of your friends parent’s work for microsoft

You probably know someone who’s met Macklemore

Always talk about Mt. Saint Helens in science

Galloping Gertie

Ride the Duck

Pike’s Place Market

Seattle Underground

Stop comparing Seattle to Portland!!! Seattle is way cooler!!!!!!!!!!

Snoqualmie vs. Steven’s

We’re like always eating asian food

Kirkland Signature

Top Pot Donuts

Pagliacci

The Hoh rainforest

“The Sound”

Alki beach

We don’t have Walmarts

Taco Time (It’s better than Taco Bell)

Tillamook (ice cream)

Bartell Drugs

Gum Wall 

Please add anything I forgot my fellow Washingtonians!

[kirklandrvsales]

8 Best RV Parks in Washington State

RV camping is a regional pastime in Washington State, so it’s no wonder that there are numerous wonderful RV parks to choose from when planning a camping trip.

Our Evergreen State is known for its lush pine forests and majestic mountain ranges, so it will come as no surprise that Washington residents enjoy spending lots of time camping in nature.

We know you’re on the hunt for the best parks to set up camp in Washington State, and we want to help you find them. Kirkland RVs team of RV connoisseurs decided to find the eight best RV parks in Washington State so that you have a resource to consult when it comes time to plan your next trip.

Here are our top 8 picks for best RV campgrounds in Washington State.

1. Olympic National Park Camping

Explore the gorgeous Olympic Penninsula in maximal comfort by reserving a spot at Eagle Tree RV Park.

Adjacent to some of Washington State’s most exotic landscapes (visit the Hoh Rainforest if you have the chance!), Eagle Tree RV Park offers convenient amenities to RV campers such as full hookups, showers, and a WiFi connection.

2. Icicle River RV Park

Near to one of Washington State’s prided historical sites (a small Bavarian town called Leavenworth), Icicle River RV Park offers conveniences such as hot showers and laundry facilities.

Take the opportunity while at this RV campground to explore Leavenworth and learn more about the historical sites surrounding you.

3. Whiskey Creek Beach Campground

Whiskey Creek Beach Campground offers stunning views of the Strait of Juan De Fuca as well as wildlife. Be on the lookout for otters, seals, whales, and bald eagles as you catch the sunrise under your RV awning.

Escaping into nature for a breath of fresh sea air and a relaxing few days at one of Washington’s best RV parks is the ultimate kind of getaway.

4. Midway RV Park

If you are looking for a sweet halfway point between Seattle and Portland, Midway RV Park might just be Washington’s best campground for you. Enjoy the quiet of nature with the luxury of two of America’s coolest cities, only a short drive away.

5. Harmony Lakeside RV Park & Campground

Serene lakeside afternoons and outdoor activities? Yes, please! At Harmony Lakeside RV Park, you will find a fun-filled community of RV campers who have made it their mission to reconnect with nature by finding the best, most peaceful RV park in Washington State.

With shower and WiFi access for campers, Harmony Lakeside RV Park will feel more like an RV resort for campers. Enjoy the perfect ambiance of being surrounded by nature while also having all of the amenities of home at your fingertips.

6. Lake Pleasant RV Park

Located in Bothell, a short drive from Seattle, Lake Pleasant RV Park offers a serene waterfront scene to campers. If you are looking for a quiet, natural landscape only a short way from the main city, Lake Pleasant RV Park in Washington State will suit.

With hiking trails for the active campers and a golf practice green for avid golfers, this Washington State RV campground is ideal for families and solo travelers alike.

7. Kalaloch Campground & RV Park

Offering seaside views and peaceful forest walks, Kalaloch is one of the most visited areas in Olympic National Park — making it one of the best places to park your RV for a few days of beachy twilight hours and sultry Washington evenings.

The Olympics will be your playground in nature’s best RV resort as you spend a few days recouping as a family and enjoying all the best that Washington State has to offer.

8. Columbia Sun RV Resort

If you’re feeling fancy, reserve a parking spot at Columbia Sun RV Resort in Kennewick. This amenity-packed RV resort is the perfect place for campers who want a relaxing vacation while still being able to enjoy nature and Washington’s best sunsets.

With a heated swimming pool, hot tub, and private showers, this Washington State RV resort affords every luxury to RVers.

Besides all of the luxurious amenities, Columbia Sun RV Resort builds a sense of community among campers. There are sports and recreational activities that RVers partake in together. Facilities like a fitness center and sports courts are just a few that Columbia Sun RV Resort can boast of.

Find the RV of Your Dreams & Set out to Find the Best RV Parks Washington Has to Offer

Here at Kirkland RV, we offer a wide variety of RVs curated to match the needs of various campers. No matter if you are a family looking for the utmost convenience or a solo-traveler trying to find an affordable travel vehicle, we can help you find the perfect RV.

Call or contact Kirkland RV today and let us help you find the RV of your dreams so that you can enjoy the best RV parks and nature that Washington State has to offer.

The post 8 Best RV Parks in Washington State appeared first on Kirkland RV Sales.

via Kirkland RV Sales https://kirklandrvsales.com/best-rv-parks-washington-state/