After having read/heard about the snowshoe walk that Snoqualmie Falls Park offers, a group of us…read morefinally went and had our chances to snowshoe for the first time at Snoqualmie Falls Park. The rangers at the Snoqualmie Falls Park Visitor Center were very friendly and helpful. You could tell they love the nature and love showing off how amazing and beautiful the nature in the Pacific Northwest is! Our 90 min (the walk was actually free, but with a suggested donation of $15/person) snowshoe walk was scheduled at 10am and the weather happened to be perfect! It was sunny, not too cold...and clear sky! :) Very beautiful! The walk itself was not too strenuous...as it was just a mile walk (although it involved going up and down the hill a bit...so if you are taking someone senior, make sure they are comfortable with walking...a couple people brought their own snow/walking poles too!). There was so much snow (and even a thick, fresh layer of snow when we went!) even though it was already getting into Spring in early March. From what we found out, the walk that we did was on the snow that was 5-6 feet above the ground...how amazing was that! We started off the walk with how to put on snow shoe, then did a little race to get us more oriented into our snowshoe, did some nature walk and ended with time for some photo / snowball fight opportunities. If you are interested in the snowshoe walk, I highly recommend calling and making reservations ahead of time. They only offer free walks on weekends and only in Jan-Mar and even though we called almost a month ahead of our scheduled, the tours were very much booked (although there may be a few spots open up because of last min no-shows if you happened to get lucky). This snowshoe nature walk is a great, very fun experience for anyone (family and/or friends) and a good, short trip away from Seattle!

Did the photo snowshoe hike led by Chuck Davis on Feb 15 . http://alpinescenes.net/biography.html…read more The snow was coming down pretty hard and the cloud cover was low so not great photo ops but Chuck was terrific and prepared with thoughtful lessons on composition, histograms, etc - he covered a lot of territory and was very knowledgeable. He was warm , friendly, entertaining,and professional. His walk really had a great blend of nature, photography and safety education. He took us off trail a little which was great and we tried to find the elusive snowshoe hare. The caboose ranger was Hailu who was very nice, friendly and professional. I always felt safe and able to ask any questions or let them know if I was cold or working too hard. They were very aware of how people were feeling and ensured a pleasant time by keeping a good pace. The staff in the office was also terrific - all of them. I called several times in advance with questions and if it went to voice mail, they ALWAYS called me back - WOW! Don't get that much anymore. You can tell they love what they do and want the best for the patrons. If you have never tried snowshoeing before they'll provide you with free snowshoes, poles and only ask for a donation. It is a great safe environment to go tromping including younger ones. Highly recommend for beginners or not. http://snowshoeingsnoqualmiepass.wordpress.com/ Our trip was in Commonwealth Basin and I think it was about 3 mi roundtrip - pretty easy exercise, but some uphill. I think it ended a little early because we were getting a little chilled. The photo walk is not very aerobic so be prepared with layers to do some stopping for discussion, lunch and picture taking.

It's a short loop that's not too long or difficult, and it's super close to the Seattle area, which…read moremakes it a perfect escape. We visited in the afternoon and were happy to find plenty of parking spaces open, though we're not sure if it gets busier earlier in the day. The trailhead is very well-maintained and easy to follow. Just a heads-up, the short gravel road from the highway to the parking lot is a bit rough with potholes, so you'll want to drive slowly. The trail also has some cool information posts that teach you about the land, which is a great touch. The trail itself is relatively flat, making it accessible for a variety of ages and fitness levels.

I was drawn to the Tehaleh Evergreen Trail Runs due to the fact that I wanted to do a double half…read moremarathon weekend, which meant one half marathon on Saturday and one half marathon on Sunday. *Crazy ain't it? But that's me and my life for a good portion of my life. The Tehaleh Evergreen Trail Runs running event is a small event that showcases and draws many seasoned trail runners, as well as experienced marathoners, to the Pacific Northwest during the last weekend in September. Typically, the weather during that time is generally cooler and makes for a great race atmosphere. To most, this race is not known to the masses, as trail races cater to the chosen few who want a cheap race but not be bothered down with big crowds, heavy logistics, and high entry fees. For those of you who love a good time and want to run a technical trail (at some spots), this may be the one for you, although there were some parts of the course that were paved, but 75% of the course is all trail. I was here for the 2015 installment of this trail race and ran the half marathon. The Tehaleh Evergreen Trail Runs offers the full marathon and a half marathon, as well as a 10K, 5K, and the kids run. I was privileged to see the kids race while waiting for the half marathon to start. Since this one is a very low key affair, they only offer race day packet pick up. They don't have any race t-shirts and don't give out finisher medals at all. I should have known that before signing up, but then again, I don't read through the fine print at times and assume that all races have finisher medals. The race starts and finishes at the Donald Eismann Elementary School in Bonney Lake. Parking here is quite plentiful, as long as you get here early enough to covet a great parking spot near the start / finish line. The race registration is as cheap as you can get and I paid $41 for the half marathon, whereas the marathon is priced at $48. Pretty darn cheap for a race, but bummed that there was no race t shirts nor finisher medals. For me, it was just 13.1 miles and on a trail no less. On some spots along the course, it felt like I was lost and in the middle of nowhere. The course was basically a loop course, where the half marathon did it once, but the marathon does it twice. The course had some hills and some uphill climbs. There was a grossly narly downhill section on the course, which was basically a 45 degree section of trail that was a challenge to get down without breaking anything. That took me a while, but at least I didn't break anything or fall down. Bonney Lake was about 30 - 45 minutes from downtown Seattle, so best believe that it takes a while to drive down to get into the trails out here. In the end, the volunteers were great and the trail was marked with orange ribbons that was tied to tree branches and signposts, so it was marked pretty well. Thank goodness I didn't get lost and the weather was comfortable and didn't get too warm. This trail race is what it is. If you love trail distance racing, this one may be the right one for you. If you like bling with your racing, it may not be the one for you. But it's just running and be glad you are out here and competing. It's a fun way to see the country and the travel is quite nice too. While I am not keen on trail racing myself, it's a nice race with fantastic organization, so I'd recommend this one, if you are chasing states and don't like the urban vibe of the Rock n Roll Seattle marathon (June) or the Seattle marathon (November). Run more! Support local! B+

Great race organization. The first race I did with ETR was my second half ever. It was up Tiger…read moreMtn. I like to look back and laugh. The next with them was this last weekend (Lake Sammamish). The runs have grown in size drastically and so have the quality. There was a DJ and more sponsors and schwag. I like that at the end of a race they have food to accommodate any craving- sweet, salty, crunchy and reusable cups!! My only complaint came from the Tiger Mtn race. It was really hard to figure out on the course which way to go in the maze of trails based on the various lengths people were running. I'm sure that has been cleared up though. Also, maybe one more water station on the routes.. Great runs, though, with great organization. THANKS!! I'll keep truckin with them for sure!

If you're looking for a unique outdoor experience definitely give tree canopy climbing a try! This…read morewas a great way to get a physical workout with a beautiful view of the Deception Pass area. Having no climbing experience, I thought it was challenging but fun and totally do-able. Besides skydiving, this was my second favorite activity so far in Washington. The session kicks off with a safety overview and a practice climb up 30 feet before moving onto the next tree. Depending on the pace of your group, you could climb up to 3 trees in one session. At no point do you feel any pressure to have to climb all the way to the top. You can stop anytime and just "hang out" or descend to the ground. The guides are very helpful and patient. The equipment is checked multiple times to ensure everyone's safety. Make sure to bring some snacks, water, and a camera. You might get lucky and spot some bald eagles like we did.

Climbing with Brandon was fantastic. He clearly explained everything and what we were going to do;…read morethen was super helpful as we actually did climbing for the first time. He was super patient (and chill!) to answer any question and made the climbing a great experience. Also really like the flexibility for start, end and Lopez island tips! Will definitely do again!

These are free monthly walks led by experts who lead you on walks/little hikes around the Sammamish…read morearea! Great Saturday morning activity!

Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club has the goal to make Washington one of the best places in the…read morecountry to ride a mountain bike. Working to build and maintain trail systems, educate and train riders, and hosting group rides through out the State. They have built the I-5 Colonnade park as well as many others. I have only been on a few rides with the BBTC but all of them were really fun. I really like the web site and wiki page for finding spots to ride around the sound, and people to ride with. A great organization to volunteer for or just meet some like minded singletrack junkies.

So, Are you interested in running a 50km trail trail race near Snoqualmie? It was my 77th marathon…read more/ ultra & kicking off 2nd round 50 states marathons with WA. :) The Mount Si 50 mile / 50km ultra marathon distance events are for those seasoned marathoners who want to get into the ultra distances, but don't want to have a tough course. Don't get me wrong, 50 km (31.4 miles) is a long way on two feet, regardless of running, jogging or walking (or a combination thereof). I had signed up for the 50 miler, thinking that I can try to finish within the time limitations of 12 hours, but my training for it seemed to dictate otherwise. And with that information presented to me. I opted to drop down the distance to the 50 km instead and have a better experience rather than trying to slog through 50 miles. They also have an ultra marathon relay as well, having many teams covering 50 miles and 50 km in a faster time. The Mount Si trail ultra marathon events are a small bunch, attracting those who love to run and run longer they thought possible. The experience of being in Washington state astounded me, especially when you're outside the Seattle sprawl. Entry fees for the Mount Si 50 mile and 50 km were exactly the same! I was kind of floored when I saw that on the website. It was $50 for both races, which was definitely affordable and a great price for an ultra marathon. It's comparable to those urban city marathons that charge $75 or more for the same experience. Online registration accepts major credit cards, so that's always the industry standard for registration. It's a race that's somewhat low key and the scenery along the course was quite scenic. The 50 km course was an out and back course along the Snoqalmie Valley Trail, 16 miles out and 15 miles back. It starts and finishes at the Snoqalmie elementary school in Snoqualmie, WA. I really don't like out and back, since you see the same stuff twice, not like point to point courses, where you just see anything once and be done with it. What I liked about the course was the stunning views of the mountain scape and the lush scenery along the trail. Yet, seeing the same thing twice is okay, on the trail - just not in an urban setting. Packet pick up is held at the Everyday Athlete specialty running store in Kirkland, WA. It was kind of weird having it in Kirkland and the race itself was about 45 minutes at least in Snoqualmie. Not sure how this came to pass, but that's how it is. There is even race morning packet pick up, but you would need to get there early enough to secure your bib and get everything ready before toeing the the start line. At the Snoqualmie elementary school, be there early, as many relay teams take up a lot of the parking stalls. I was lucky enough to find a space on the other parking lot next to a curb. The official time limit for the 50 km is 8.5 hours, but it's flexible if you need to take more time. I'd advise that you notify the race director, if you do so, so they can make the necessary adjustments for you. The Mount Si 50 km race was indeed a humbling experience. Having drank an entire bottle of wine 30 minutes to the start, I managed to score a PR / PB in the 50 km distance. How I did that is beyond me, but it worked. It's not recommended. Still, the mount si ultra distance events are well run with a touch of beautiful scenery. There aren't any individual mile markers, so you would have to rely on the scenery, your sanity, and the love of nature to get you through the miles. The nice part of the out and back is that you get to see your faster friends speeding past you. It's nice to see them and say hi. And so, if you are a trail runner and a long distance endurance athlete wanting to test your limitations, physically, mentally challenged and spiritually, you may want to come here and take on this challenge. Run more! Support local! A+

Great group of volunteers! Had so much fun. Well run and beautiful viewsread more

First of all, if you have money to burn, Marquetta is your gal. We used her on a recommendation…read more We wanted a trip to Italy for two weeks. Her first quote was 30K. Yes, THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. Then she got it down to 25K. That's when I started doing my research. I used several reputable companies for tours and hotels and my costs (with the EXACT same flights, hotels, tours) came in at TEN THOUSAND LESS. When I sent her the info and asked if she could look at it, because maybe I was doing something wrong, she wrote me a very interesting email. She said I wasn't comparing correctly because I used different hotels with different class ratings (uh, no, I used the EXACT same hotels). She also said I hadn't included transportation. I did - I went page by page of her quote and priced everything she included. She even went so far as to say she wasn't sure what company I used for a tour (even though I noted it on the spreadsheet). She said they were "some unknown company - good luck!" I've used Viator for dozens of tours, had a customer service issue once, and they have been fantastic. Her quote, "You cannot compare a high-end tour company with the likes of Viator." I did suggest a different hotel in my email but did not include it in my cost comparison. She told me it wasn't suitable and that it was a party hotel. Well she clearly didn't know her stuff there because that hotel came as a recommendation from a friend with two children! They loved it! Direct quote: "I can tell that the price point for the level of arrangements we do is not where you are comfortable spending. But I cannot delve into using random services of unvetted tour companies (Viator) and just booking the cheapest of everything- it never works out for our clients and in my experience only causes issues when in travel." Another, "In the end, I do want my clients' travels to be an unforgettable and memorable experience, and therefore, I cannot cut corners just to make it happen price wise." As a travel agent are you not supposed to get the best deal for your clients? You may warn them with your experiences but you don't make fun of them and tell your customer to basically F off! I asked her specifically if there was any markup because I was OK with something reasonable for her. She swore up-and-down there was no markup. Yes there is, it comes in kickbacks from the companies she uses. And again I am OK with a little something but not $10,000 and an F you attitude. Honestly if she had said so upfront - that she only uses certain companies - then I probably wouldn't have even engaged her for $400. But she never said that. And I POLITELY asked her to let me know why I was so far off. She could've told me all the same things - that she used more reputable companies and worked with the hotels themselves, without the attitude. Snotty and condescending. Unbelievable.

We recently completed a fabulous trip to Ireland and Scotland arranged by Marquetta Chambers. It…read morewas truly a very enjoyable, adventurous, informative and memorable experience. Marquetta began the planning process by interviewing us and listening very well to our desires and budget, allowing her to tailor a perfect match. She provided great input including pushing us to extend our trip a few days given our stated list of objectives. Her advice, which we followed, turned out to be very insightful. Marquetta also proved her flexibility and resourcefulness when she responded to a mid-trip request for another private tour addition on our last full day in Scotland. She responded quickly and fulfilled our request for what turned out to be a true highlight of our trip. All of the hotels recommended and booked were very good and all of the arranged tour guides were excellent. We also enjoyed several additional perks from our hotels given Marquetta's relationships with them. Another great tool provided by Marquetta was a phone app that captured our entire trip and also provided easy one-click access to important phone numbers and a variety of easily accessible resources describing our destinations, maps, tipping hints, etc. It was an excellent resource that also included an easy path to communicate with her during our trip. We are so glad that we utilized the very professional services of Marquetta Chambers of Hill Barrett Travel for our recent vacation. We are already thinking about the options for our next journey and look forward to using Marquetta's assistance again.