-Erin Russell, Chinook Book Sales Coordinator

The fall leaves in the Cascades are one of my favorite things about this time of year. I made a point to plan a fall hike just to take in the reds, oranges and yellows that splatter the green mountains before falling for the winter. But, you are probably asking yourself, what do donuts have to do with this? Well what else are you going to fuel yourself with before a hike?! More...

Love is complex and finding true love is difficult and rare.  However when you find a partnership that will last there is nothing more fulfilling.  It finally happened for me; I am in love with a wonderful new pair of hiking boots! 

Hiking boots are your companion on the trails.  They should be supportive, comfortable, and lasting.  The first step in finding the right boots is knowing what you want from your boots.  Are you looking for something that’s light and fun or are you looking for long-term (and long-range) commitment?  Will you be hiking every weekend and facing arduous switchbacks or will you be hiking once or twice during the summer on relatively flat terrain? More...

The old sports rallying cry, “you’ve got to want it to win it” is never truer than when you’re taking on a new challenge.   Often you may find that the hardest obstacle to overcome in training is your inner naysayer.  If given an inch, that voice will take a mile and before you know it you’ll be back at square one.

Currently, I'm about halfway into my training for Half Dome.  I can see and feel the positive changes of my increased activity and my new found (and loved) hobby of hiking.  However, earlier in the week I was struggling a bit.  After hearing yet another person reference the insanity of my endeavor, I gave into the temptation of reading online reviews of the Half Dome hike and a slight panic began to set in:  am I really crazy - can I really do this?
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Old Man Winter finally appears to have lessened his grip on the Pacific Northwest and the sun will be returning this weekend!  With temps in the 60s it is definitely time to celebrate and take advantage of the amazing trails around us.  As snow may still be on the ground causing muddy terrain in our area mountains, this is an excellent opportunity to appreciate the wonderful trails right in your own neighborhood.  Whether a beginner or an expert there are many options to get out and explore. More...

The inevitable occurs this October. Turning 30 is a milestone for some and a phobia for others; admittedly I fall somewhere in between. This past February I decided to take on a personal challenge as a way of celebrating turning 30 (also as a way of thumbing my nose at it). In August, my father and I will be hiking Yosemite’s legendary Half Dome. Turning 30 has made me take stock and the challenge of climbing a mountain seems the best way to celebrate and defy it!

Well.....YES!

The excitement of bushwhacking a new trail MacGyver style is short lived compared to the years of enjoyment that can be experienced on a well respected trail.

The long-term effects of going off trail may not be noticeable right away, yet has a very real long-term effect that would be noticed over several years of hiking your favorite trail. More...

Two weekends ago I participated in the Pacific Crest Half Ironman in Bend, OR.  The 1.2-mile swim, 58-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run was a curious challenge in 95-degree heat.  I probably went through 50 paper cups filled with water and electrolytes.  No sweat.  (Well, at least about the paper cups).  Kind of like the "paper v. plastic" debate, there's a broader sustainability picture to be painted when talking about waste generation at mass sporting events.  More...

List four things you’ve been meaning to do, such as run a race or look into biodiesel. (You'll find a notes section for this in the travel section of our book.) More...

The best part of embracing local living is meeting the people around you. Meet other locals at places like the neighborhood farmers market, where you’re ten times more likely to chat than in a store. And consider taking your next vacation locally. Airplanes have significant CO2emissions (find out how much at carboncounter.org). More...

Kids may be more aware of environmental issues than most adults realize. Some studies have shown that children worry about the state of the environment more than their homework!