Shelby Olson
This month was everything March should be: glimpses of sun to get you excited for warmer weather and just enough snow for some satisfying spring skiing. Read on, dear friends, for lunar landscapes, trolls, and churning currents!
Cross-country Ski - Lost Lake - 3/1
"Made a lot of new friends and I didn't have to leave planet earth to do it!" -Lisa Elliott
A lovely day for spring skiing at Lost Lake. If you’ve ever wondered what a trip to the moon might look like, this trip report has you covered.
Winter Scramble - Bearjack Ridge East Peak - 3/2
"Completely beautiful and exhausting day in the mountains with wonderful company." -Ananth Maniam
This summit in the Teanaway region gave these scramblers a major workout. The deep, heavy, “concrete-like” snow gave ankle weights a run for their money. Read on for serious adventure inspo and stunning ridgeline views.
packraft - Nisqually River - 3/2
"1200-1500 is probably the sweet spot for this reach with the most fun play spots and clean lines." -Logan DeGrand
At first, a large boulder garden and horizontal tree (threatening to fall) tested these packrafters. But the latter half of the journey proved wide and calm, which made for an amusing juxtaposition with a “danger” sign. Read on for boat loads of fun!
Alpine climb - Lane Peak: Lover's Lane - 3/8
"Lover's Lane climb in optimal, stable conditions with great weather." -Paul Wade
Lover’s Lane graced these climbers with supportive snow and minimal ice – no postholing here! (Okay, maybe some.) In true Mountaineers spirit, this trip report demonstrates how important it is to come prepared, even if you don’t end up using all your gear. Sometimes the best ascend is knowing when to descend, especially when the views are this stunning the whole way.
Intermediate Alpine Climb - Copper Mountain, Iron Mountain, & Pyramid Peak - 3/8-9
"Winter ascent of Copper, Pyramid, and Iron linkup in Mount Rainier National Park." -Rodica Manole
An Iron summit for the iron-willed, this climb was not for the inexperienced. All the same, good conditions made for a safe journey, which this trip report reflects in its seriously gorgeous photos.
Day Hike - Squak Mountain - 3/14
"Jakob Two Trees, Bullitt Fireplace, Alpine Jelly Cones were today's treats." -Roseanne Lorenzana
These hikers practically danced up the route in what became an optimal interval conditioner. Read on for friendly trolls, snow sprinkles, and jelly fungus (I’m not so sure this group didn’t accidentally just wander into a magical forest).
Cross-country Ski - Hyak Lake, Nordic Pass, Windy Pass, & Mount Catherine - 3/16
"The grooming doesn't get any fresher than this." -Mike Forsyth
I couldn’t have put it better than Mike – this trail was getting groomed while the group was skiing it! Read on for friendly encounters (with humans and groomers alike), impressive maneuvers, and two participants with a very promising modeling career.
Navigation - Field Trip: Raging River State Forest - 3/16
"Rain, snow, and blackberry vines, oh my!" -Courtenay Schurman
Gaia or map and compass? Whatever your preference, anyone who’s ever practiced wilderness navigation can appreciate this trip report. On top of all the relatable stumbles, both literal and figurative, this report is jam-packed with good advice.
Day Hike - Teneriffe Falls - 3/18
"I had a record 18 people cancel from this trip, but all we needed was three." -Courtenay Schurman
This trip report makes the greatest case for getting out when you’re unsure. Featuring beautiful sunbreaks amidst fresh snow, a dozen bird species, and dogs, dogs, dogs!
Packraft - Green River - 3/23
"It felt like a completely different river from the other times I floated this reach." -Logan DeGrand
A very active packraft, this group learned that a construction project on the dam the day before had caused the river flow to rise dramatically. Not to be deterred, the intrepid party of six weathered every hazard with ease and had fun doing so. This trip report featured several waterfalls, and no falls into the water.
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