Trail Running in the North Cascades: Festival 542
Highway 542, the Mt Baker Scenic Byway, runs east-west from Bellingham to Artist Point. It is the access point to some of the Northwest’s best mountain terrain: fantastic trails, North Cascades National Park, mountaineering, skiing at Mt. Baker Ski Area, and some of the best backcountry skiing in North America …
Tyler Farrar Sighting at Lake Sammamish Half
You never know who are might see at our local running (or bicycle) races. 33-year old Tyler Farrar is a Wenatchee-born bike racer who ascended to the highest levels of the sport. His accomplishments include stage wins at the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Tour de France, Three Days of …
Richard Kresser Running Toward Joy
Beaming with exuberance and emanating positivity, Richard Kresser is a prominent activist expanding the boundaries of running and multisport endurance adventures in the Northwest and beyond. Richard grew up in Iowa, where he felt challenged by an older brother who demonstrated abundant athletic talent. “Growing up, I was always undersized …
Ras & Kathy Vaughan: Just Ordinary Human Beings
Within the progression of ultra running, Ras & Kathy Vaughan are rather unlikely activists. Ras’ first backpacking trip at age 11 ended with his Boy Scout troop being rescued by helicopter. When Ras and Kathy met in 1996 neither had any formal athletic experience, and Ras in particular was doing …
A Lexicon for Ultra: Running | Mountaineering | Hiking | Walking
Like all athletic disciplines, ultra running has its own unique vocabulary which can be off-putting at first. For starters, the term “ultra running” is a bit of a misnomer. A major misconception is that “ultra (and trail) running” involves running at all times. Yes, depending on the route, the very …
Destination: West Coast Trail
Located along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, the West Coast Trail (WCT) is called “the (backpacking) trip of a lifetime,” and it’s been on my hit list for over 20 years. Because of the relatively remote location, it is as much a project as a backpacking trip, and I …
Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Essentials
The #1 ingredient to bring on every outing is Common Sense. What’s in your pack? This winter I’ve been having a grand time nordic skiing and snowshoeing at local Sno Parks in the Cascade Mountains of Central Oregon. I’ve made some new friends and strengthened already-established relationships through the sense …