The Hiker Mama

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Baker Lake Trail, Southern Terminus, Trip Report

    Baker Lake Trail, Southern Terminus, Trip Report

    Last week Gabriel had state standardized testing to endure.  By the end of the week we were all feeling frazzled and ready for a hike.  Luckily our friend Jessie was able to join us.  The weather looked iffy, but we hoped it would turn out to be not too wet.  As we were packing the…

  • Low Tide Beach Walk

    Low Tide Beach Walk

    Puget Sound has abundant beaches, providing place to explore wilderness in the midst of the city.  Back in my previous life (before Kids) I worked as a park ranger for the Edmonds Parks Department.  One of my duties was to lead beach walks for groups of school kids and the general public, and provide education…

  • Exploring Nature Article in ParentMap

    I’ve got another article up in the ParentMap online edition.  It’s chock full of great ideas for getting outside when you don’t have a ton of time.  You’ll even see a few photos of my own kids mixed in. There is so much you can do even if you can’t take time for a day…

  • Go Raw Snacks

    Go Raw Snacks

    I’ve been seeing a newer product at the store recently, and decided to try them out.  I chose the Go Raw Pumpkin Super Chips to snack on while on the go.  The ingredients ate Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Sprouted Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Dates, Raw Organic Agave Nectar, and Celtic Sea Salt.  The package advertises that…

  • Bird Note Podcasts

    Bird Note Podcasts

    When we go on long drives, we bring a lot of things along for the kids to do – coloring, books, stuffed animals, paper and pencils.  We also like listening to podcasts to pass the time. One of our favorites is Bird Note, a local production on one of our NPR stations.  Each 2-minute show…

  • Volunteer Park Conservatory

    Volunteer Park Conservatory

    We don’t always have time to go on day-long hikes, but we have so many wonderful resources in town we can visit to immerse ourselves in nature.  One such destination in Seattle is the Volunteer Park Conservatory.  We went there a week ago as a family.  It’s situated in a wonderful glass building, reminding one…

  • Interview with Patricia Ellis Herr, Author of Up

    Interview with Patricia Ellis Herr, Author of Up

        A couple of weeks ago, I heard about a new book coming out by a mom who climbs mountains with her young girls.  I was intrigued, and clicked over to her site to read more.  I was so moved by their stories, and I knew I had to get the book and interview…

  • Moran State Park, Orcas Island

    Moran State Park, Orcas Island

    All week we had been debating on where to go for our Friday hike.  The weather looked good, but there is still so much snow in the mountains.  None of our ideas inspired us.  No one felt like climbing a mountain; we didn’t want to go anywhere we had been before.  We flipped through the…

  • Easter Sunshine

    Easter Sunshine

    Easter Weekend is always a bit dicey in terms of weather here in the Pacific Northwest.  Often it is rainy and cool, making those egg hunts and pretty Easter dresses a bit impractical.  But this year we lucked out and got some fabulous sunshine and warm weather.  We were able to enjoy our egg hunts…

  • Spring Hikes with Children

    Spring Hikes with Children

    I have an article up on the ParentMap online edition.  Click on over to read about 7 hikes you can take your kids on this spring that have indoor options if you need to escape the weather.  Get out there and have some fun!

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