This quarter, winter 2024, I took a class called “Living With Volcanoes”, in which we learned about a number of volcanoes that have erupted recently (in geologic terms), including our local Mount St. Helens (located about 200 miles south of Seattle)! This quarter, I was also fortunate enough to be able to summit Mount St. Helens with a group of Peaks and Professors trip leads.

A female’s journey on the tallest mountain in the Americas

As an individual who loves to spend time in nature, I had to get creative in how and where I recreate. To help you all I want to share places where I recreate near or in Seattle so you can too when you aren’t hiking with Peaks!

We all know those people who can’t stop complaining about the cold. As a self-identified member of this community, I recognize the horror of ice cube-like conditions.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. It is a renowned bucket list item for trekkers and climbers alike, as it is a “non-technical” mountain.

I love the feeling of pushing yourself and being rewarded with the untouched and undisturbed smells, sounds, and sights of the earth. It almost feels as if you are handed down a secret every time you uncover something new.

As Trip Leader you carry the Garmin inReach to communicate with base camp, keep track of the maps and emergency protocols, and most importantly you make all final decisions —especially in times of heightened stress. What made me qualified to be the Trip Leader when David was over twice my age and harbored a lifetime more experience?

If you’re like me, this is the time in the quarter when you begin sacrificing spending time with friends, being active, and getting outside to keep up on school work. Even if you don’t have the time to get out of Seattle and go hiking, here are some suggestions for some fun urban hikes in Seattle!

If you’ve been backpacking, you are probably well aware of the feelings of bruised hips and aching knees after a few nights in the backcountry. The basis of ultralight (UL) backpacking aims to remedy these problems through minimalism and use of lighter gear.

Outdoors culture can be so incredibly intimidating. It's easy to feel like you aren’t good enough, you don’t belong, or feel like people are judging you (believe me I've had every single one of those thoughts).

Despite the numerous mishaps, this was the greatest hands-on learning experience I could have undergone. Staying calm under pressure, tending to medical issues, and making due with nonfunctional gear were skills I was forced to practice in real time.