One of the biggest highlights was a trip to the eastern side of Mt Ranier on a 35 mile Wonderland/Owyhigh Lakes/Eastside loop that toured us through some of the finest scenery on the mountain. This was mid July and even though it was cloudy almost all day it was still one of my fondest memories of the year:
Marmot at Summerland:
Mountain Goats on Panhandle Gap:
One of my favorite photos from the year was taken on the PCT in the Goat Rocks Wilderness:
There were many memorable sunrises, like this one on Larch Mountain on October 9th:
And this one from Bald Butte on a 60 mile Oregon Trail attempt:
Back up toward Ranier and in mid June we hiked up to Norse Peak and dipped down off trail to Basin Lake. It was incredible up there!
That same day we drove up to Sunrise on the flanks of Ranier:
There were wildflowers and raindrops in the spring everywhere from the eastern gorge to the coastal range:
There was also a first time trip to Silver Falls State Park:
And on March 29th, a snow-less Herman Creek/PCT loop with Tomlike and Chinidere:
Rabbit on a logging road on the way to Onion Peak in the coastal range:
And Joie and I admiring the views out over the Pacific from a high-point west of West Onion Peak:
A few visits to the nearby Arcadia Cedar(my head on the right)
More wildflowers on the 400 trail near Wyeth last spring:
And the bridge over Gorton Creek near Wyeth this fall:
Common Murres nesting on Chapman Beach:
Another big highlight was a trip to the Dark Divide in late May. Here's Jo and Jack on the way to Juniper Peak:
It was a cold and wet morning:
We warmed up later that night at camp just across a lonely forest road from the Wobbly Lake TH:
And woke up and took our sleeping bags out before breakfast:
Most of the summer was a real scorcher. To beat the heat we floated around in the Devils Lake Fork of the Wilson River and swam in the ocean a few times. I think I've gained about ten pounds since this picture was taken(can we blame Santa, or ice cream?)
There was a memorable trip to the House Rock Shelter near the Lewis River in late April:
And a great trip to a very green Gorton Creek Falls on my birthday(Joie's on the left)
There was harmony restored:
And a trip to Red Mountain with old friends:
Fall brought with it so much beauty, like this morning scene at Eagle Creek:
And this rainy midday shot from the old highway near Horsetail Falls:
A short exploration up Harphan Creek made for another fun adventure:
On the way back from the lowest tier of the falls up Harpan Creek Joie spotted a Larch Mountain Salamander:
In early November we hiked a stormy Smith Creek/Plains of Abraham Loop from Lava Canyon:
The storm hit really hard just before we reached the plains in the afternoon:
Fall also brought more big trees, including a fun exploration to a few rarely seen giants up Herman Creek:
There were lots of mushrooms popping up all over the forest floor:
Icy Indian Racetrack and Elk near Wind River in late November:
Black Friday at Covell Creek Falls and Burley Mountain near Randle, Washington:
There was a trip to the gorge to see a few waterfalls on one of the rainiest days in recorded history(dec 7th). A day rainy enough to help an old waterfall come back to life
And then most recently, there was the snow. Jo and I set out for Green Point mountain a few weeks ago but decided to cut it short, making a snowman and getting in the holiday spirit at the Casey Creek/Nick Eaton junction:
Camp Creek was raging pretty good on the way back to the TH but not enough to keep our spirits down
The next day we drove up to the gate on Larch with the pups and made another giant snowman about a 1/3 mile up from the gate. Apparently, not everyone was ok with that
On Christmas Eve we took the gang back to the gorge to see a few waterfalls before a nice quiet night at home. Here is Cabin Creek Falls on Christmas Eve with Santa's Hat:
Little Santa on the way over to Lower Ruckle Falls:
And Tanner Creek that same morning:
On the 28th we hiked the PCT from Cascade Locks to Dry Creek Falls. The dogs had a good romp in the snow at the powerlines and then we hit the falls, looking really beautiful in winter garb:
Determined to get out a lot during the break I went for a short run on the Marquam Trail on the 29th and made another stab at Green Point on the 30th. All the blowdown on Nick Eaton and the deep snow higher up had me calling it off again only this time I headed back from the Casey Creek junction to hit Peak 3152 and Indian Point. I carved "Hope" in huge letters on the mountainside as to be read from the air(or below) but couldn't fit it all in the picture, so it looks like hop
To end the year I got to see an old friend and we hiked up to the top of Larch Mountain, which was pretty wild on New Years Eve:
All in all I feel really fortunate for all that I have and hope to continue tromping all over the PNW with the person I love most. Last year brought lots of ups and downs but as time heals wounds it will also bring an ever increasing fondness to the good memories. Looking back over the last 5 years I have hiked just over 9,000 miles, never dreaming that my feet could have taken me to so many unforgettable places with so many amazing people. Again, thanks to this community for all the support and motivation and for an incredible resource that many of us practically call home when it comes to e-hiking
Happy 2016 OH 
