In 1985 a geology professor came up with the concept of types of fun which is a scale that outdoor…read moreenthusiasts use today. Type 1 is experiencing fun in the moment. Type 2 is looking back on a strenuous experience which was not fun in the moment but fun in retrospect. Type 3 is zero fun. No fun in the moment and no fun in retrospect. I just came back from the AAI alpinism 1 course and this was definitely type 2 fun. The course for a true novice like me is designed to take you out of your comfort zone and experience something radically different from what you are used to. Although it was quite strenuous for me, looking back on it, I'd do it again. Before you tackle this course, don't do what I did to train. Most of my time was in the gym, doing heavy leg and back work. While this is useful, a better approach would have been to practice hiking up hill with a pack. This is the strategy that one of my team mates used and it makes total sense for the hiking portions of the course. I'll detail the trip: 7 am: show up early like 645 to the store. Here you will go over all your gear and get rentals. One thing I would advise is to purchase a down sleeping bag of your own to minimize weight and volume. The rental bag at the store is a mountain hardware lamina synthetic bag which is very warm but bulky and will take up a bunch of space in your pack. Most things I rented. I definitely agree with a four season double wall tent. A single wall is not a great idea in the early season. If this is your first time, rent as much as you can to see what works for you and what doesn't do you can buy your own gear later. The first day is rock climbing at Mt Erie. After the gear review at the shop, you will get into a van and carpool to Mt Erie. Having never done this before, it was fun and totally safe since you do have belay devices etc. if I could do it again, I would practice for a couple weeks on an indoor rock wall. After the first day you go to a campground and spend the night. There are showers there so take advantage while you can. The second day is the day that will really test your mettle. You drive from the campground to the trailhead area at Baker. In the early season, there will be a lot of wet heavy snow on the ground. The hike is 5-6 miles uphill (sometimes very steep) carrying a 50-60 lb pack on snowshoes. If you haven't done this before, this is where endurance training comes in. Don't take this lightly. You then make it to basecamp and set up. Third day: recovery day. You learn self arrest, rope tying, and picket anchoring for crevasse rescue. Fourth day: steep hike up to the glacier to practice crevasse rescue. This was probably one of the hardest uphill hikes I have ever done but the views were amazing. Look up some videos beforehand on crevasse rescue. Fifth day: probably a summit day if weather permits. This is an 8 hour hike from base camp to the summit. Since I was the slowest one on the hike in and up to the glacier, I opted out and hung out at basecamp to recover. Summit day is probably more unpredictable in the early season. It was raining and was overcast on the summit that day. Sixth day: hike out. This is naturally much easier and faster than the hike in. All in all, I was glad I did this. My guide was Andrew who was amazing and gave me some much needed pep talks during hiking. In fact all the guys in the course were awesome and kept me going and encouraging me to keep pushing forward. In sum, a great course if you're thinking about taking it. Just train properly with a mix of strength and endurance work and some practice rock climbing. If you do this kind of preparation, you may get closer to type 1 fun rather than type 2.

I took the Alpinism 1 course with AAI, the last course of the season. It was an amazing experience…read more We covered everything from glaciology to glacier travel, and crevasse rescue systems. Even though it was a late-season course with no snow, the guides improvised creative demonstrations for skills like snow anchors so we didn't miss out on the learning. They were patient, kind, funny, and extremely knowledgeable, creating a supportive learning environment and providing clear, helpful feedback. By the end of the course I felt confident in my ability to be a safe member of a rope team. I would 100% recommend this course to anyone interested in mountaineering.

Just did this trail yesterday. We made it to the lookout. There are some snow crossing which you…read morehave to be careful on. There are a few creek passing that you have to navigate around. Poles would make your hike more enjoyable. We didn't bring crampons but would suggest you bring some just in case. Very beautiful hike and the glacier view is amazing.

My 9-year-old practically ran up this hike, he is in great shape! Took my family and spent about…read more3-hours round trip. Awesome old-growth trees, some work on the trail, lots of switch-backs, great views of the mountains, amazing waterfalls. The last creek to cross was too much for me, but my brother & dad made it across and the glacier views are worth crossing (their photos were incredible)! I saw a few dogs packed in backpacks to cross the moving water (no bridges, expect to get wet!), and many folks used poles for assistance. It was a busy day of hikers. Scenic views all around! You have to get your pass to park at the Rangers station, and there's a "toilet" trail which consisted of a wooden box, so bring your toilet paper. Temperatures changed from 60 degrees in Glacier to 50 degrees when we parked at the trailhead and hiked up. Be sure to wear layers and boots to get wet/muddy, as the water crossings are more like jumping across rushing water!

Oh my god, this place was a blast. I took my son and a friend (both 13) and we bought 30 minutes…read moreof time. They had us run in 2 - 15 minute segments and none of us could quit smiling from the time we completed the first lap. The carts are pretty fast and driving them is an experience. No power steering, no power brakes, my hands and arms were tired when we were all done from zipping around the tight corners and trying not to crash into the walls. The only thing I'd do different is see if we could run 3 -10 minute segments versus 2 -15 minutes. Breaking it up a little would have been better.

Ok, the place was empty other than some members practicing. I and my buddy were the only customers…read more We paid more than $100 and they didn't open the full track, only the half which is really tiny. Should've notified before we paid for the ticket. Also, the karts are super slow compared to competition. So far it's been the most pricey, slowest and most boring and short track.

I accessed the trail from 1206 Birch St. As a…read morewalker/runner, this offers an interesting challenge as it is geared more towards cyclists. A lot of jumps, hills, and steep areas over a large area. As a cyclist, I'm sure that this would be perfect for any level of skill. If on foot, be sure to listen for riders and step off trail. They come down the trails at varying speeds and would likely cause some real injury to themselves or you. Some pathways are quite narrow, so if your legs are exposed, be prepared for scratches. There's a parking area at the end of Birch St which offers about 9 spaces if people park correctly. I didn't notice any bathroom facilities throughout the hour that I was here. This is not my favorite hike but I'll certainly keep it in mind as a close hike from home. For more information: https://wmbcmtb.org/galbraith/

This mountain, privately owned but open to the public, has some of the best mountain biking on the…read morewest coast!!

When on island time I love to seek out a high viewpoint. Our hike on Turtleback Mountain had some…read moreof the most breathtaking views we had. There are two parking lots, one at the South trailhead and the other at the North. We took the South Trail to the West Overlook to the Ridge trail and stayed on it to the Ravens Ridge trail and the outside of Center Loop trail to return. The South Trail starts in the woods as it goes up and up to the ridge and mountaintop. The first mile and the early part of the hike were tough, it felt like walking on my elliptical with the ramp all the way up. You'll be quickly rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding islands. Did you pack a lunch or a beer? This was a perfect break spot. Carry on through the woods, fields and cliffs and complete your loop. Wildflowers were blooming anywhere the sunlight found it's way through the canopy. Simply stunning. Take a photo of the map at the trailhead Pack a lunch and beer You're going through the woods and exposed at the top, you need bug spray and sunblock Pack it in, pack it

Second Stop: "A Perfect Day on Orcas island" Collection…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/collection/Bgd9G40BjYMmHuJoM5MpHw Well this is an awesome hiking trail system with spectacular views. We did the short 1.5 mile to Ship Peak. 931" straight up and 931' straight down. That ham and egg omelet was sitting pretty heavy on the way up. LOL We have done other trails and they are all awesome. Check it out.

This was a great day trip when we stayed in Bellingham. There's lots to see and the area is so…read morebeautiful. Whether you are a hiker or you just want pretty views, there's a lot worth driving for. We went in September so we didn't do any snow activities. The weather was cool and we just went for the cool views and the scenic drive. By the time we got to Artist's Point, it was VERY windy and a little bit colder, but the walk was nice and the views were great of the mountain. Picture Lake is a beautiful spot, although I wish they have more picnic tables. You can also stay in a cabin in this area, which sounded awesome. Maybe next time. We went during COVID times, and not everyone was wearing a mask, so be sure to keep your distance. Also, if you're into Pokemon, I took over a gym and my Pokemon lasted several days in there before being kicked out. I couldn't believe it!

Beautiful area with snowy mountains and beautiful waterfalls. Definitely a great drive and you can…read moreget out and hike and walk!

It's a hike that you must do in the Bellingham area, hell, in the state. It's one of those gems…read morethat everyone talks about - and I know in Washington, everyone talks about hiking trails, but this is one of those that you have to do...if you like hiking and are in the area. We spent a weekend in Bellingham and not gonna lie, Oyster Dome was one of the primary reasons for spending time up north. Located along the Chuckanut Drive on Blanchard Mountain, it's a hike with a rewarding view at the end. So yes, it's worth it. This hike is about a five-mile, round-trip trail with an elevation gain of just over 1000. It's a good climb, but not difficult or challenging. The parking area can get filled up quickly, and you'll likely see many people along the trail and definitely up at summit. It's dog-friendly; we saw a lot of dogs on the trail and brought our little hiker, too. You'll need a Discover Pass to park here and in the lot is where there are restrooms. The hike goes through a forested area, providing tree canopy and cooler temperatures. But some parts can be rocky, especially towards the summit. Descending was worse as it can be sore on your knees, so it felt longer going down than up in my opinion. The views are incredible. You can see the mountains, the valley and even Canada. Pretty amazing.

Yet another great hiking trail we softly explored, to help our toddlers calm down before we headed…read moreback home. Oyster Dome Trail has multiple markers for guidance throughout it. Now that we've all thawed out from the winter, exploring WAs beautiful trails, parks, and landmarks come naturally; investing in a Discovery pass could be helpful. We will definitely return, and recommend!

First impressions only, as I was only there for a short time to video a ride for a friend…read more The grounds are very clean and well-kept, with large trailer parking areas and a circular driveway around the barn for all you non-trailer-backers out there. The horses turned out in runs and pastures all looked well fed and cared for. They have an impressive Extreme Trail Course built outside, see pictures -- this is not open to the public to ride or walk through, which is understandable as it looks like they want to keep everything nice for competitions. There is a huge outdoor ring (maybe 100x200?) with sand/small rock footing -- nothing that I would jump in, but it works for flatting well enough, and they had a bunch of de-spooking obstacles set up at the time that were interesting. They allow haul-ins I believe for $20 per horse/rider combo, which is very reasonable considering how nice the facility is and that you are allowed to use their obstacles. There is an indoor arena also, but we only used the outdoor so I don't know if haul-ins are allowed to use it or not.

Taking a Horse of mine to a one day clinic at this facility changed him forever, and not in a good…read moreway. The owner, Cindy, took him from me to demonstrate and beat on him On the neck and face with a whip. He was terrified and was trying to back away and escape from her but she wouldn't have it. She just kept hitting him. I asked her to stop and she told me she had to show him who's boss. If you believe that you should train a horse with physical pain, this is your place. Otherwise, avoided like the plague.