The Redwoods have been calling my name since I was there 2 years ago. I was fortunate to go back recently, this time with my husband and friends, none of whom had been there before.

There is something magical and mystical about the northern California Redwood forests that is hard to describe. There is a sense of time and history there that I’ve ever only felt before when visiting ancient places in Europe. It’s very humbling to stand at the base of a 2000-year-old tree and understand that we are only a very small part of a much bigger picture. These forests are Mother Nature’s natural cathedral. To quote John Muir, “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” I definitely believe this to be true.

Over several days we hiked to and visited the Boy Scout Tree, Stout Grove, the Cathedral Tree, the Tall Tree Grove, the Lady Bird Johnson Grove, and Carruthers Cove. I can’t say how many trees I hugged, or simply paused to touch briefly while walking through the woods. Their energy is palpable and beautiful.

I highly recommend reading the book The Wild Trees by Richard Preston about these majestic beings. It will forever change the way you think of them.

Last week a friend of mine and I packed up the Hiker Trailer and headed for sunny skies in Eastern WA. It had been 25+ years since I’d been to Steamboat Rock State Park. I like heading east of the mountains in April to chase the sunshine, and to hike before the rattlesnakes wake up! The campground at Steamboat Rock was lovely, right on the waters of Banks Lake.

We hiked up to the stop of Steamboat Rock the next morning. There’s a section of trail that’s more of a scramble than a hike, but it’s short and actually pretty fun. The Rock is about 800 feet tall and 600 acres total. Wildflowers were just starting to open up and we spent several hours just wandering, looking at the incredible views, crouching down to see the tiniest of wildflowers, saying hello to a couple of fat marmots, and just sitting cliffside and taking it all in.

Dry Falls State Park is 30 minutes away from Steamboat Rock, and I’d never been there, so of course we had to explore. This is another place that makes me realize I should have been a geologist. The geologic history here is fascinating! Dry Falls was the result of the ancient Missoula Floods, and is believed to have been the single largest waterfall in the history of the planet. When it was flowing, it would have been many many times larger than Niagara Falls. We drove to Dry Falls Lake and from there hiked back to another “alcove” to Alkali Lake. Standing there looking up at the sheer size of the cliffs was amazing, and something that is impossible to describe through photos alone.

If geology is something that interests you, look up the Missoula Floods, Dry Falls, and the Scablands. Our planet is a pretty amazing place 🙂

I collect postcards and stickers from all of my travels… They’re inexpensive, easy to carry, and a lot of fun. This wall has a double meaning for me – It’s a daily reminder of the incredible places that I’ve been fortunate to visit, and it always has space for adding more, and more, and more. To quote Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the places you’ll go!”

She was so brilliant at capturing a feeling with her words

I’ve lived here for over 30 years, and I see Mt. Rainier every day that isn’t overcast. Sometimes she surprises me and is still able to take my breath away! We woke up to the Winter Solstice with this amazing sunrise.  What a fitting way to celebrate a little bit more light every day 🙂