Peaks & Hikes

A Hike Log about Washington Hiking, Climbing and general cool mountain stuff.

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For people of color, hiking isn’t always an escape

Non-white hikers sometimes forced to carry racial baggage on the trail

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How the return of just 66 wolves rejuvenated Yellowstone’s entire ecosystem | Aeon Videos

Yellowstone’s reintroduction of wolves in 1995 is one of the best-known instances of a trophic cascade – a single change in a food chain that transforms an entire ecosystem. The return of the wolves rejuvenated wildlife in the park from top to bottom, even changing the area’s physical geography as native animals and plants reasserted themselves. Narrated by George Monbiot, How Wolves Change Rivers chronicles how Yellowstone’s extraordinary success in rewilding stems from a decrease in invasive and overpopulated species such as coyote and deer thanks to just 66 wolves returning after a 70-year absence from the park.

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Inactive volcano spotted on largest object in asteroid belt

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A NASA spacecraft has spied what appears to be an inactive volcano on the surface of Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres was once considered a planet before it was downgraded to an asteroid. Since 2006, Ceres has been classified as a dwarf planet like Pluto, the former ninth planet.

Here’s an interesting mountaineering objective on Ceres.

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You Can Now Get Every U.S. Topo Map for Free–Easily

Everybody loves free topo maps, right? 

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The real value of our national-park system is conservation

Our actions outside park boundaries bleed into the parks themselves. Climate change, development, agriculture and invasive species are impacting national park ecosystems, threatening some of the species that have made them so iconic.

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Solo Hiking: The Gifts of Going Alone

Almost all of the outdoor experiences in my life have been undertaken with a group of people. From growing up fishing, camping, and exploring the Idaho wilderness with my family to guiding backcountry trips and being a part of a group of friends who are always up for an adventure, I don't get out into the wilderness alone very often. There are the occasional day hikes, trail runs, or overnighters by myself, but part of what I love about being in the outdoors is sharing that experience with people!

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The World Bank has invested $2 million in creating a long path in the West Bank. Can hiking help where politics have failed?

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The "Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act" was introduced into Congress by Utah Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, both known for their efforts to roll back environmental protection.

Do not trust Republicans on wilderness legislation. 

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Northwest Senators Renew Call To Revise Federal Wildfire Fighting Funding

Listen Listening...

It’s wildfire season again. 

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Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey - The Cleanest Line

This all began when I decided to hand-write a letter that I figured would never be read. I definitely did not expect it to be answered. First, I had to fin

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At 93, legendary climber Fred Beckey still plotting routes

He's notched more first ascents than any other American mountaineer, wrote the definitive guidebooks to a major North American mountain range, and at age 93, Fred Beckey is still plotting routes — though more slowly and buoyed by a cadre of fiercely protective partners.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Reading the Stars

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Meteor shower at Mt. Rainier. 

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Plotting out this weekend’s route on Google Earth. 

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A Space-Age Food Product Cultivated by the Incas

Astronauts need lightweight, long-lasting provisions for hazardous trips. So did the Incas, and villagers in the Andes have made their version for centuries.

Sounds better than Mountain House.

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2017 Winter Weather Forecast | Long Range Prediction From NOAA

Cover Image From Colorado Mountain College Forecast, outlooks, predictions, everyone wants to know who is going to get snow this upcoming winter. To help in our projections, the National Weather Se…