Lauren Danner - Lauren Danner

Badger and Grand Valleys

After a summer filled with forest fire smoke, we headed to Olympic National Park to try to escape the heat.

“You’ve got to do the Chief,” she said, leaning across the table intently. Perhaps I should have taken her enthusiasm as a warning?

Marmots, mountain goats, and bears — oh my! Testing gear and stamina on an overnight trip to Berkeley Park at Mount Rainier National Park.

We had eclipse plans. Then we didn’t. And then we did. A tale of enthusiasm, hesitation, dithering, serendipity, and fulfillment.

Beat the crowds and the heat. Head to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap for close-up wildflowers and distant volcanoes.