Isaac Desautels

During warm summer days in Seattle it is nice to leave the city and nothing is better than the beach. Westport is a small coastal town west of Aberdeen. Westhaven State Park offers the easiest access to beach parking and is the best beginner beach to try surfing for the first time. If you want to surf, Westport Surf Shop offers cheap rentals and the owner, Al, is quite the character who is very...

Begin your hike at the Lava Camp Lake Trailhead. The trail winds through a forest flush with hemlock and fir while opening up into black lava flows. Continue for a little over two miles until you reach North Matthieu Lake. This is your first stop. Go for a swim out to the little island and have a snack. Once you have gotten your fill, hike on until you reach the South Matthieu Lake. South Matth...

This is a very difficult hike. Camp sites are scarce and access to water is very limited. Overexposure is a concern so be sure to pack a hat and apply sunscreen frequently. There are sketchy sections of the trail where you will be forced to navigate steep washed out gullies that are unstable due to loose rock and pumice. Additionally, there have been cougar sightings so be sure to be alert at a...

Ein Gedi was declared a nature reserve in 1971. The oasis is one of the most important in Israel. There is a hiking path that winds its way up the canyon, which begins at 1300 feet below sea level and climbs to 600 feet above sea level.As you hike up the trail you soon see small waterfalls and wildlife. The most common wildlife are Nubian ibex and rock hyrax, however some nocturnal creatures so...

Begin at the Lower Lake Campground and take the Lower Lake trailhead. The best direction to hike is counter clockwise, however you can do either.  Continue along Trail #717 and very shortly you come out to Lower Lake featuring Mt. Jefferson as the backdrop. From here keep hiking and you reach your first junction. Either you continue on #717 to Fish Lake and then take trail #706 or you bear lef...

This hike is actually on a nature preserve owned by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge, on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. It's fairly unknown and you can enjoy amazing views of the Gorge, wildflowers during the springtime, and a trek through an old oak forest. The hike begins at an unmarked trail, just off the large turn off on the north side of the Lewis and Clark Hwy just east of t...

The trail is 12 mi round trip but don’t let the distance for an out and back turn you off - this hike is fantastic and even better with a beer at the top. The trail winds its way through an old growth forest and shortly joins the Wonderland Trail. After crossing a crick the trail steepens and begins to switchback alongside Fryingpan Creek. Continue on in the forest; as you climb the trees becom...

Set out at the Lower Lake trailhead along trail #717. After only half a mile the trail opens up to Lower Lake, with views of Olallie Butte. The trail winds around the north east side of the lake and you come to a junctions with trail #706. From here take the left onto #706 and continue about .6 or .7 miles to a small trail to the left. This trail is unmarked, but is quite obvious. The trail hea...

This scenic destination begins at the Paradise parking lot. Head north from the parking area towards Myrtle falls. Make sure to stay left of the Paradise in and cross Edith creek over a footbridge near Myrtle falls. From here, head east towards Mazama ridge by crossing through upper Paradise Valley. The next half mile steepens until you reach the top of the ridge at 5700 feet. Towards the south...

There are multiple ways to reach the top of Mt Arbel. You can ascend the Mountain from the south as part of the Israel National Trail or the west as part of the Jesus Trail. However, you can also park at the top and explore the magnificent views of Mt. Arbel. Connecting a few of the walking trails heading west will lead you down the side of the mountain on a steep, almost rock climbing trail. F...

This is a rather long out and back, however, it can also be done as a backpack, which would give you more time to explore the Goat Rocks Wilderness, which is highlighted in other Adventures. For your trip to Elk Pass, begin your trek in the Snowgrass Flats parking lot. A Northwest Forest Pass is required. A short spur trail takes you west towards Trail #96 to Snowgrass flats. Two miles in woods...